Today we’d like to introduce you to Dragon “Linda” Walker.
Hi Linda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Soapy Toads really began long before it became a business. Years ago, I watched the movie *Practical Magic* and fell in love with the idea of having a magical little shop filled with soaps, ointments, shampoos, and beautiful handmade things. Something about that world stayed with me. I always dreamed of creating a place like that someday. It took a while because I was honestly too intimidated to try.
I had already been making chapsticks and beauty products for myself, but the one thing I truly wanted to learn was soapmaking. The problem was lye. Having worked in the plumbing department at Ace Hardware, I knew exactly what lye could do, so the process felt a little terrifying. Then one day I mentioned it to my mother-in-law, and she told me she knew how to make soap. I immediately asked if she would teach me, and she did. That was the moment everything changed.
Once I learned, I completely fell in love with the craft. Every product we make by hand in the shop is created from my own recipes, developed through a lot of experimenting, learning, and testing on the most honest focus group possible—my family. I care deeply about every product we create, and I still get excited every time something new comes together.
When I first started taking the business seriously, I remember asking my mom, “Am I too old to be doing this?” She gave me an answer I’ll never forget: “You’re too old not to be doing this. If you don’t do it now, you’ll never get to.” I took that to heart and jumped in.
We started by doing farmers markets, craft shows, and every event we could get into. Our first year, nearly every weekend was booked. It was a lot of hard work, but it helped us grow and connect with people face-to-face. Over time, we became more selective and continued building the business in new ways.
Eventually, we opened a storefront at King & Case Marketplace. When that chapter ended, we were fortunate to move into the Pioneer Endicott building, where we are today. Our current space is beautiful—full of natural light, open windows, and the energy of a working studio where we handcraft our products every day.
The shop has also grown into more than just our own creations. I try to feature as many local artists and makers as possible, alongside a curated mix of other fun finds. Supporting creative people and building a space that feels special to visit has always been important to me.
Today, you can still find us out in the community as well. We continue to do select farmers markets, including Minneapolis and Stillwater, and we’re proud to be part of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, which is one of the largest in the country. It’s such a fun, unique environment, and we love being part of it.
I also know I could never have built any of this alone. The support of my family, my coworkers, and the people who have believed in me along the way has meant everything. I’m especially grateful for my closest friend, Jamie Haas, whose encouragement and support have been such an important part of this journey. Jeanaya Anderson needs a shout out as well. She’s worked for me since the beginning, even when there was no business to be had.
What I’m most proud of is that Soapy Toads still feels like that dream I had all those years ago—something creative, joyful, a little magical, and built by hand with a lot of heart.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely was not a smooth road. There have been plenty of rough bumps along the way, and honestly, that’s part of building anything by hand.
The first challenge was simply learning how to make soap. It may look beautiful and effortless when it’s finished, but there is a lot of science, labor, and mess behind the scenes. Sometimes I think people imagine I walk into the shop tossing flower petals everywhere, singing a song while woodland creatures gather to help me make soap. The reality is much less glamorous and a lot more hardworking. It takes research, trial and error, heavy lifting, cleanup, patience, and a willingness to start over when something doesn’t go right. Whenever people ask me for advice about getting started, the first thing I tell them is: be prepared to ruin your first few batches. There is so much to learn in the process, and mistakes are part of it. I probably ruined close to a thousand dollars’ worth of soap while learning, but every failed batch taught me something valuable.
One of the trickiest parts is that every fragrance has its own personality. Each one reacts differently during the saponification process, so you’re constantly learning how ingredients behave. Even after learning the basics, the work doesn’t stop. Then comes refining recipes until they’re exactly right. My conditioner bar, for example, took eight tries before I got it where I wanted it—and I almost gave up on the final version before realizing it was actually fantastic.
That mindset of always learning has stayed with me. I never really believe a product is “finished.” I’m always adjusting, improving, and finding ways to make things look better, feel better, and work better for customers.
There were practical challenges too. In the beginning, I was making soap in our laundry room in our small house on the East Side of St. Paul. Soap had completely taken over the house. We had bars curing in corners, stacked in the entryway, and filling every available space. My poor daughters would remind me that it was their laundry room too—and they were right. So moving production out of the house was a huge milestone for all of us. The only downside was that once the soap was gone, we realized what our house actually smelled like.
Then came the challenge of retail. Creating products and running a business are two very different skill sets. I’m confident in what I make, but the business side has been its own learning curve. Marketing, budgeting, planning, rent, slow seasons, growth—it all requires constant attention. Thankfully, my husband Jake is incredibly smart and supportive, and he helps keep me steady when things feel overwhelming.
Being a small business owner also means it never fully turns off. Even on days off, your mind is still working—thinking about ideas, new products, improvements, displays, future events, or how to make things stronger than they were yesterday.
Financially, there are challenging seasons too. After the holidays, for example, the next few months can be tough for many small businesses. But you learn resilience. You learn how to adapt, stay hopeful, and keep showing up.
So no, it has not been a smooth road. But it has absolutely been a road worth traveling. Every challenge has helped shape Soapy Toads into what it is today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a creative person at heart. I’m classically trained in oil painting, which gave me a strong foundation in technique, composition, color, and detail. But creativity, for me, was never meant to stay on a canvas. I’ve always wanted to create things people could experience in everyday life—things that are useful, beautiful, and bring a little joy.
That’s what led me to soapmaking and product design. At first, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t thinking about changing lives. I simply loved handmade soap—how it felt on my skin, the scents, the experience of using something made with care. But once I started creating my own products, I realized it could be much more than that.
What makes my work special is that it blends creativity with purpose. My products are fun, colorful, and full of personality, but they also genuinely help people. Living in a climate like Minnesota, where winters can be brutally cold and dry, good skincare matters. I love knowing that something I made can bring comfort, moisture, and relief during those harsh seasons.
Our soaps range from playful scents like Monkey Farts and Peach Rings to more elevated favorites like White Tea Ginger, Lavender Sage, and other sophisticated blends. We try to create something for everyone. Visually, I treat each bar like a small piece of art, using swirls, layers, and natural colorants such as mica, charcoal, and cocoa to make every batch feel special.
Some of the products I’m most proud of are the ones that have made a real difference for customers. Our pine tar soap, for example, has become a favorite for people dealing with dry, irritated skin. While I never claim to cure medical conditions, I’ve heard incredible stories from customers who found relief and renewed confidence after using it. Those moments mean everything to me and remind me why this work matters.
We also create facial bars, handmade lotions, bath bombs, lip balms, candles, and more—always with the goal of balancing quality, effectiveness, and a little fun. I’m constantly refining formulas, improving ingredients, and looking for ways to make products even better. I don’t believe creativity stands still, and neither should a business.
Professionally, I see myself as both an artist and a maker. I create products that care for the skin, brighten someone’s day, and turn ordinary routines into something more enjoyable. What sets me apart is that everything comes from a place of hands-on creativity, personal passion, and a real desire to give people something made with heart.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Luck has absolutely played a role in both my life and my business. There are times when I feel like I have a lot of bad luck—stress about money, rent, finances, a batch that doesn’t turn out, or spilling oil all over the floor and realizing I’ve just created one more mess to clean up. Those moments are real, and every small business owner knows them well.
But in truth, even a lot of my bad luck has turned into good luck. Some of the hardest moments in my journey have led me exactly where I was meant to go.
I’ve had beautiful surprises along the way too. At one point, a magazine reached out to interview me about goat milk products. I remember thinking, how did they even find me? I felt like such a small fish in a giant pond, and yet they singled me out and wanted to share my story. Moments like that feel magical.
When our first shop at Keg and Case closed, we truly didn’t know what would come next. That could have been the end of the story. Instead, someone who had worked with leasing there remembered us and reached back out. He asked if we’d be interested in trying something downtown. Our answer was an immediate yes. We wanted to be part of downtown St. Paul, and that connection opened a brand-new chapter for us.
Through the St. Paul Alliance, Lee Kruger worked with us and helped us find opportunities. We started in a smaller space in the Pioneer Endicott building, and when a larger shop became available, we were able to move right into it. Looking back, what felt uncertain at the time became one of the best things that could have happened.
I also feel incredibly lucky because of the people in my life. Many of the products we carry in the shop come from people I know personally—friends, fellow makers, people I met at markets, talented local creators, and even my husband’s coworker’s maple syrup. Customers are often surprised when I can point around the store and say, “That’s my friend’s work,” or “I know the person who made that.” To me, that is one of the greatest blessings of all.
Luck, to me, isn’t just random chance. It’s people remembering you. It’s doors opening after one closes. It’s community. It’s support. It’s finding joy in places you didn’t expect. So yes, luck has played a huge role in my life—but often in ways I only understood after the hard part was over.
Pricing:
- bath products range $3-$13
- pet products $5-@)
- vintage glass wear $10-$700
- cards $4-$15
- Novelty $3.5-$65
Contact Info:
- Website: https://soapytoads.com/
- Instagram: @soapy_toads
- Facebook: soapytoads.com
- Other: TikTok@soapytoads
Image Credits
Jake Walker
