An unexpected find at the fine art leaning First Saturday Arts Market is a soap maker. There’s often a crowd of people around this island booth taking advantage of free smells. Dogs head straight for the colorful bowl of water in the corner. Meet Cammie’s Handmade Soaps, a staple at the Heights market since 2006.
Cammie and Larry Cain are the creative duo behind their namesake moniker. They joined the market when it was still a mix of crafts and art. As the market matured and the artists (including the Cain’s) began jurying in more fine art in lieu of craft, the Cain’s continued to participate.
The Cain’s are popular regulars now that keep many artists and neighbors in the Heights, myself included, smelling good and coming back for more. After 17 years at the market, it seemed like a real introduction was past due.
Art Valet: You are both attorneys, tell me about your background.
Cammie Cain: “Larry and I are both from the Kansas City area,” Cain said. “We moved here in 1980 when Larry started law school. I decided that, if he can do it I can do it, so I started law school in 1982. We opened our own law firm, Cain & Cain, in 1986. We are now “recovering attorneys.” Just a little bit here and there. We live in Katy, along with our family of dogs and son Russell three blocks away.”
AV: When did the soap making enter the picture?
Cain: “I started making soap after we closed down our storefront law firm around 2002 to work from home,” Cain said. “I was always motivated to make soap with an artistic flair. I started doing art fairs at Market Square Market in 2005, and when it closed down in 2006, I hunted Mitch down. Many of our Market Square Market vendors bailed on the first Saturday of every month and I learned why!”
“We started at First Saturday Arts Market in March, 2006, and have been there ever since! Along the way I did farmers’ markets, other art fairs. As things got busier, Larry started helping me produce soap and doing the events as well. These days, we have pared back down to doing mostly “Mitch events.” After 20 years or so, it feels good to cut back!”
AV: As a customer, I know your soap is different, can you reveal your secret?
Cain: “My soap is made by the cold process method from scratch,” Cain said. “Lye, water, coconut oil, sustainably sourced palm oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, and organic cocoa butter. All of my pigments are natural and I use both essential oils and high grade fragrance oils in my soaps. Once soap is made and sliced, it must cure in the air for at least three weeks before it is usable.”
AV: Your soap has an artistic angle too, tell me about that.
Cain: “One day we were smooshing some leftover freshly made soap into a baked potato shape for us to use and realized that, at a certain point after soap is made and not yet cured, it has the consistency of playdoh,” Cain said. “A lightbulb went off! So Larry and I (honestly, mostly Larry!) developed custom extrusion equipment which allows us to make soap in many different shapes, creating soap designs not seen elsewhere.
AV: What scented soaps do you have now?
Cain: “We carry lots of great scents – lavender, lemongrass, sandalwood, nag champa, patchouli, eucalyptus, vetiver, pineapple mango, peppermint, spearmint, some with goat’s milk, lots more. Having made soap for over 20 years, I have had plenty of time to try and either keep or reject many scents.”
AV: How did glass nightlights enter the soaping business?
Cain: “Glass started out with soap dishes. One day I held a dish in front of a light and the night light idea began,” Cain recalls. “Our friend Shelia taught me basic glass fusing techniques maybe ten years ago. We now make and sell fused glass night lights, soap dishes, hair barrettes, key fobs, and Christmas ornaments. Larry particularly has really taken to the glass work. He loves doing it! Our overall theme is “functional art.” Soap, dishes, night lights. This Christmas season we will be trying a new design of fused glass and wood mantle pieces, with or without a tea light.”
During the year find the Cain’s at both First Saturday Arts Market and The Market at Sawyer Yards. They’ll be attending the market’s only summer event called BAM! Art Market at Silver Street Studios Warehouse, 2000 Edwards Street, Houston, TX 77007 on Saturday, August 12, 2023 noon – 7 p.m., coinciding with Second Saturday Open Studios. https://firstsaturdayartsmarket.com/ Contact the Cain’s via their website https://www.cammieshandmadesoaps.com/. First Saturday Arts Market at 540 W. 19th St. resumes September 2.
Cohen is an artist and founder of the First Saturday Arts Market and The Market at Sawyer Yards. Find him at https://ArtValet.com for additional highlights and artist’s stories.
