Cleveland Area Business Showcase - Sarva Soaps

I'm happy to present Michelle Gilbert as my next Cleveland area business showcase. Michelle is an artisan soapmaker and a very fun and interesting person to know. If you're in Twitter, you can follow Michelle at SarvaSoap and you can follow me at OhioRealtor. Michelle is quite funny and she's definitely, "Someone To Know." Let's get to know Michelle and her business, Sarva Natural Artisan Soaps.

"I'm an artisan soapmaker, the owner of Sarva Natural Artisan Soaps. Sarva soaps are completely natural, handcrafted luxury vegetable soaps. I create my own soaps in true artisan fashion. working entirely by hand in very small batches. I focus on the artistic aspect of soapmaking as well as the practical. I love to create works of art for my customers to enjoy and pamper themselves. I create my own custom essential oil blends (never synthetic fragrances) and use only natural pigments too."

A photo of my soaps were recently chosen for ad placement in the December 2008 issue of Martha Stewart's "Body + Soul" magazine by the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild.

About Michelle: I can't be fit into a mold, even though my soaps can! I've had a very diverse life surfing the waves of the non-corporate ocean. I've been a musician, a sign language interpreter, a movement therapist, a Reiki practitioner, a medical trascriptionist, a database manager, a meditation instructor, a trade show coordinator and lately, I also have taken on some we site design. I enjoy the movement of life and the many creative ways we can all bring out unique gifts to manifest. I run my soap studio out of my home in Cleveland Heights.

My hobbies are as varied as my professional life has been. I probably cook better Indian food than you'll find at many restaurants. I tremendously enjoy hitting the Metroparks, camera in hand, and photographing nature, enjoying the magic each season brings to Cleveland Ohio. I'm also a yoga buff, and you might find me at the Atma Center in Cleveland Heights. My quirky, geeky factoid is that I'm a member of Mensa. See? we don't all play chess and read astrophysics.

Michelle, what are your favorite Cleveland area restaurants and things to do here? Food is a passion of mine. I have too many favorite restaurants! As a Chicago transplant, I feared I'd not find great food here. I couldn't have been more wrong! Lola, of course, is near the top of my list. On the east side, must-visits are Fire, Sarava, and Moxie. But I can't neglect to mention all of the great affordable local eateries: Aladdin's, Cafe Tandoor, Yours Truly and my list goes on. For wings and great beer, though I'm a vegetarian, I'd send anyone to Winking Lizard. Visit the Mustard Seed Market in either Montrose or Solon and eat at their cafe. Fabulous healthy food, vegetarian and vegan friendly!

What do you love about Cleveland? and name one thing that could make Cleveland better for either businesses of for fun. I love many things. It's easy to get around; our freeways are truly free, and they're in a "grid system" that makes navigation simple. Everything is a half hour away! The cost of living can't be beat. We have everything that larger cities have. Sure, we don't have 10 Whole Foods locations, but we do have one, AND we have fabulous local businesses such as Nature's Bin in Lakewood or Mustard Seed Market. A city of this size provides a great opportunity to really build community.

Sadly, despite this, when I moved here I noticed the downtrodden attitude some Clevelanders seem to have about their own hometown. It's a great place! Be proud of your city as I am. There's so much to see and do here.

My favorite thing to do in Cleveland, without question, is visit any of the Metroparks. We have an absolute treasure of a park system. Or, the ideal summer weekend day: Drive down to Cuyahoga Valley, spend the day in nature, then enjoy the Cleveland Orchestra under the stars with a bottle of wine at Blossom Music Center.

Why should you visit Michelle's site, and check out her products?
I am one of the many fabulous local artists you'll find in Cleveland. You can shop at a mall anywhere; try something unique made here in our hometown! Rather than running a "bath and body company", I make one-of-a-kind, all-natural handcrafted soaps. We all need soap, so why not make it something special? Artisanal soap makes a great gift for yourself or someone else. A truly affordable luxury, especially in these trying times. When you buy from artisans like me, you are supporting local business and helping your city thrive in a very ground-level way.

Michelle Gilbert - Sarva Natural Artisan Soaps. Handcrafted luxury, in harmony with nature. Come visit my site to learn more or follow me on Twitter.