Getting on her soap box

By Catherine Gibbs

When Ellie Trinowski mixed up her first batch of soap in the late 1990s, she never dreamed her craft would bubble with success.

"It started off as a hobby," Trinowski said. "I'd give it to my friends and Steve (her husband) would give it to his friends. Eventually, I couldn't afford to do that anymore, so I put a price on it to see if it would sell and it did."

A Florida resident at the time, Trinowski soon had her own business, Moonshine Soap Co., and was selling out of her products at soap parties and shipping soap to retailers in North Carolina.

"Moonshine Soap was taking off in Florida," Trinowski said.

But then another dream eclipsed the success. She and Steve had longed to move to western White County, especially after purchasing property here in 1997.

"We thought we'd never have a way to come up here," Trinowski said.

Then her husband Steve, a supervisor in the electrical department at Home Depot in Florida, found out the company was building a store in Dawsonville. Steve pursued and received a transfer. The couple moved to White County three years ago and built their own home, working a little at a time. Ellie also continued to homeschool their daughter, Alesha, 14.

Last fall, thoughts of reviving her soap business bubbled to the surface and Ellie sought direction from Appalachian Community Enterprises, a nonprofit organization that helps entrepreneurs develop business plans and pursue financing to launch their businesses. She and Steve participated in the classes and attended the networking meetings. This past spring they revived Moonshine Soap Co.

The admiration the couple has for one another is readily apparent. The two met through a friend of a friend and dated off and on for four years before marrying in 1989.

"I consider her to be my best friend," Steve said.

Ellie said she feels the same way.

"He brings a lot to this marriage," Trinowski said. "When I think of words, there's love, there's support. He's the epitome of a best friend."

Unlike the couples who say they cannot work together, the Trinowskis have discovered that building their home and re-awakening Moonshine Soap Co. has made them stronger.

"I'm enjoying the pleasure she gets out of it," Steve said. "Being a spouse, you support her dreams. Ever since she started doing it, I've used it (the soap). Even when we travel, we take our own soap."

What sets her soap apart from commercial products is shea butter, a moisturizing ingredient that is credited with helping skin resist wrinkling and retaining elasticity. Her Signature Shea Collection contains 20 percent shea butter.

She also uses essential oils for the scents and her current Signature Shea Collection has names like Lavender Lunacy, Enchanted Earth, Spirit and Moonglow Mint.

In addition to the shea butter soaps, Trinowski has developed a seasonal line.

"It is inspired by the mountains, and the scents honor each season," Trinowski said. Her Seasonal Selections include Cucumber Melon, which does not have shea butter. Bar soap sells for $6.95 and is available at her Web site www.moonshinesoap.com or by calling 219-2404.