It is cherry blossom season here in DC, and I'm now obsessed with incorporating the fairy-like flowers into a soap. If only I were more adept at cake decorating... if I could make those little flowers out of marzipan, surely I could make them out of soap! And wouldn't it be a beautiful bar to have a big chunk of transparent soap with a tiny branch of the lovely little pink flowers suspended in the middle. Hmmmmm... Now how to capture the scent?! 

As the temperature rises, our senses heighten and we are drawn outdoors to witness the bursts of color, the explosions of scent, and all the sensual evidence of this yearly natural renaissance. These experiences can provide all manner of inspiration for your soap. What do your springtime strolls suggest that you do to your soap? Send your letters and comments to me at: soapeditor@hotmail.com. 

This month, we feature a springtime story by Sue Frelick that will help you as you select and plant your garden--with an eye to your soaps! We've all been curious about the mind that created the famous "Voodoo Berry" scent, and here is your chance to find out! Holli McCarty interviews Kathy Ezeh. 

I'm very pleased to announce several new columnists. You will get your first taste for Peg Frye's Newbie Reviews, and for Confessions of a Soapnut, by Chatzie Massey--everyone's favorite cottager. Next month we will introduce another new column, and I urge everyone to "Ask Miz Bubbles!" Miz Bubbles is available to give advice on soap and non-soap topics. Send email to mizbubbles@hotmail.com. Real names will not be published and the identity of Miz Bubbles will not be divulged... so don't even ask! 

Our regular columns this month include Nicolle Field's Co-ops, Swaps, and Sales "roundup" in which she also reviews last month's highly successful toiletries swap, and our list gossip column, Camille's Spiel, which, this month, was written, not by Camille Pratt, but by guest host, Becky Erisch. Thanks again to Becky, for stepping in!

Please don't be shy about contributing! You could write a monthly column, interview a fellow Nut, let us know about a great sale on avocado oil, describe how to extract your own essential oils, or tell us how much you hate that new lilac FO. Please email random thoughts or full-fledged stories to: soapeditor@hotmail.com.