Brooke Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska and has been a soap maker since 1999. The same year she and her fiancé moved from Denver, Colorado, bought their first house, got married, and started new carriers. Brooke got involved in soap making after taking a class on herbal skin care while still in Denver After moving to Reno she began to experiment with the soap making process in her kitchen using vegetable oils, botanicals and essential oils.

It took nearly 5 years to make the transition into full-time soap making. She had a business where she was an artist/manufacturer representative and sold art & other goods to designers and retailers in the Reno/Tahoe area. As part of this, she sold her pine cone and pine tree soaps to her tahoe clients and they became a hit.

In 2000, Brooke started an Internet business called www.HarveyandLees.com where she sold her soaps, natural skin care lines and handmade products from artists around the country. Despite its success, Brooke closed the business and now puts her focus on soap making and managing their small ranch.

I've overcome my fears of being an artist. Now when I start to get overwhelmed with creative ideas, I channel them into my work instead of ignoring or sidelining them, like I did in the past. I've been told that the love of what I do comes through in my soaps. People can feel it.

For me, that's what being creative is all about.