Finding My Way Back to Making: A New Chapter for Salt & Shea

There are some things in life you can walk away from and feel completely at peace with. And then there are the things you walk away from because you know you need to, even when a little piece of you isn't quite ready to let go.

For me, that was Salt & Shea.

It's officially been a year and a half since I temporarily closed my business after almost nine years of making, creating, and building something I never imagined would become what it did. I never thought I'd be stepping away for this long, and if I'm being honest, I never really expected the break to turn into such a big life change.

But here we are.

And lately, I've found myself asking a question I didn't think I'd be asking again: What if I'm not finished making things after all?

Why I Stepped Away From Salt & Shea

When I closed the business, I didn't really explain everything that was happening behind the scenes. There were a lot of moving parts, logistical challenges, rising costs, and the constant balancing act of trying to make everything work.

I was spending so much of my time creating products, sourcing ingredients and supplies, formulating recipes, designing labels, filling orders, preparing for markets, and trying to keep all the pieces moving. I loved what I did, but there were times when it felt like I was running in circles—putting in endless hours and wondering if the reward and financial return were worth everything I was pouring into it.

I also wanted more time with my family.

I wanted to spend more time in our home enjoying the everyday things that had started to feel squeezed between business responsibilities.

Eventually, I had to be honest with myself. Something needed to change.

Closing Salt & Shea wasn't an easy decision, and it wasn't one I made because I stopped loving what I did. I needed a break. I needed to make room for other parts of my life, and I needed to figure out what I wanted life to look like outside of constantly running a business.

At the time, I thought I was temporarily stepping away.

I didn't realize that temporary would turn into a year and a half.

A Year and a Half of Learning to Slow Down

Since closing the shop, I've leaned into a lot of the things I wanted more time for.

I've spent more time cooking and baking from scratch, growing our garden, raising chickens, learning how to preserve food, and figuring out this whole suburban homestead thing. I've focused more on homemaking, my kids, and taking better care of my own health and wellness.

I've learned new things, started new projects, and found joy in parts of everyday life that I wanted to make more room for in the first place.

And I really have loved that.

There's something satisfying about growing food in your own backyard, gathering eggs, making something from scratch, or finally having the time to work on a project around the house without mentally calculating how many orders you still have to fill.

But somewhere along the way, I realized that even though I had more time for so many things I loved, something still felt missing.

Because as much as I love gardening, homemaking, and all the little things that make up our life, creating has always been a part of who I am.

And apparently, taking a break from running a business doesn't automatically turn that part of your brain off.

Making Was My First Love

Salt & Shea started almost 10 years ago with a simple idea: I wanted to make products for my own sensitive skin.

That's it. No elaborate business plan. No grand vision of where it would eventually go. I just wanted to make something that worked for me.

I started with shea butter soaps and bath salts, which is where the name Salt & Shea came from. Little by little, that idea grew into something I never could have imagined. What started as making products for myself became a business that lasted almost nine years, with customers, markets, retail relationships, new formulations, and products that people came back for again and again.

It became so much more than a hobby.

And somewhere along the way, I realized that making things wasn't just something I did. It was something I genuinely loved.

Even while the shop was closed, I would occasionally make a few things for our own use or put together small batches for a birthday or special occasion. Nothing for sale. Just making things because I wanted to.

Then the messages would come.

"When are you going to make products again?"

"I really miss your stuff!"

"Any chance you're coming back?"

I heard those questions throughout the year and a half I was away. And while I appreciated every single person who reached out, those messages also made me realize how much I missed it myself.

Not necessarily the markets, the deadlines, the endless to-do lists, or the pressure of keeping an entire business running.

I missed the making.

I missed creating something with my own hands, experimenting with ingredients, developing products, and knowing that something I'd spent time and care putting together was going to become part of someone else's everyday routine.

I missed that little piece of myself.

Does Coming Back Mean Going Back to How Things Were?

Here's the thing: I don't know.

Life looks different now. I no longer have my dedicated studio, which was a big part of the logistical puzzle that led me to close in the first place. I have less space, limited time, and different priorities than I did when Salt & Shea was operating at full speed.

I don't know if I'll ever return to the version of the business that involved regular markets, retail stores, constant product development, and the hours of work that went into keeping everything stocked and running.

And honestly? I'm not sure I want to.

I still love the products. I still love the ingredients, the process, and the finished result. But I also know what it cost me in time and energy to run the business the way I did before.

I don't want to recreate a life I intentionally stepped away from just because I miss one part of it.

Maybe the answer is doing things differently this time.

I'm still figuring that part out.

Making Room for the Things We Love

The funny thing about life is that sometimes you step away from something you love to make room for other things you love, only to realize you still need to find a place for the original thing.

For me, that's been the past year and a half.

I've loved having more time for my family and our home. I've loved learning new skills, growing food, and figuring out how to make our little backyard work harder for us. I've loved the slower moments and the freedom to explore interests that didn't always get the attention they deserved.

But I've also learned that slowing down doesn't mean you have to stop creating.

And I think it's time to make room for that again.

A New Chapter, at My Own Pace

If you've been here for a while, you've seen this space evolve. You've seen the handmade products, the gardens, the chickens, the kitchen projects, and all the little pieces of life that have found their way into Salt & Shea.

I hope you know that even though things look different, the heart behind it hasn't changed.

I'm still someone who loves making things, learning new skills, taking care of my family, and finding ways to make everyday life a little more intentional. I'm still drawn to quality ingredients and products that serve a purpose. And I'm still figuring things out as I go.

Maybe this next chapter looks like a few small batches of old favorites. Maybe it grows into something I can't quite picture yet.

For now, I'm just happy to pick up the mixer again, start making a few things, and see where it takes me.

Thank you for sticking around, for checking in, for asking when I'd be back, and for giving me the space to figure it out in my own time.

I'm glad you're here.

Here's to finding our way back to the things we love, even if they look a little different than they did before.

xo, Jayme