Spotlight on Margot Fedoruk
Sweet Serenity, New Goddess Blend, Thrill Me!
Margot Fedoruk first moved to Gabriola Island over 12 years ago and began teaching melt-and-pour soap making classes in her own kitchen. A desire to make soap from scratch using natural ingredients and pure essential oils motivated her to develop the soaps she makes today, and the Starfish Soap Company was born – thanks to her partner, Rick, who helped by building the signature starfish soap molds. According to Margot, “I soon realized that I wanted to make not only soaps that are good for your skin but are gorgeous too.”
Her favourite occupation is researching new ingredients to add to her soaps that have healing skin-care properties. For instance, rhubarb root or stinging nettle that are good for relieving eczema – and they look great in the final bar as well.
Margot’s products epitomize the ocean theme with items such as natural mermaids with seaweed powder or, if you are lucky, a lavender-infused crab. She also makes a wildly popular nettle shampoo bar and soap made from local goats’ milk.
Like many other home-based artisans, the Farmer’s Market has allowed Margot to build a good customer base since she first moved to Gabriola, and this face-to-face contact has provided a forum for great feedback from her customers. As a result, she admits that she often returns home to invent something special that same day.
“I sometimes feel like a mad scientist, with my goggles on, stirring up big pots of fragrant things, adding pinches of orris root and splashes of honey.”
Being able to help support her family and be there for her kids at the end of the school day is what initially drove Margot to start a small business on this island. “I feel grateful that I can pour (quite literally) my creativity into everything I do and produce something that I can be really proud of.”
Amen to that!