About us
CRAFTED SURPRISE
My name is Leonor, and I am the founder and owner of Crafted Surprise, an Australian-based, family-run business.
I began the business in 2014, creating handcrafted melt and pour soaps. In late 2019, I moved into cold process soapmaking, wanting more freedom in how my soaps were made and what went into them.
During the global closures of 2020, sourcing quality tools locally became difficult. What started as a challenge turned into something unexpected. With the help of the men in my family, we began making the tools I needed at home.
A brief moment in a soapmaking video, where I used a handmade multi-bar cutter, led to questions about where it came from. When people learned it was made at home, they asked if we could make one for them too. So we did.
That simple beginning grew into the tool-making side of Crafted Surprise, built on word of mouth, quality workmanship, and a focus on Australian-made tools, prepared with care and sent out promptly from our home to yours.
Running Crafted Surprise alongside our full-time jobs is possible thanks to the understanding of our customers. Every item is made to order, whether it’s left or right-handed tools, oiled or non-oiled finishes, custom logos, or small volume runs. All of this work is done after hours and on weekends, with care taken at every step.
Meet the team
Leonor - I look after customer service, sourcing, finance, and posting, making sure each order is handled with care from first message to delivery.
Domingo - Domingo is the tradesman and handyman behind our wooden tools. He designed our very first locally made soap cutting tools and still makes every timber item by hand from start to finish, including packing them ready for posting. He also works closely with customers who need something a little outside our standard range, while ensuring each tool remains practical, durable, and true to our quality.
Rene - Rene is a qualified Mechanical Engineer and manages our 3D printers and CNC router. He supports the tool-making process by pre-fabricating parts for smoother assembly and designs custom items such as altered beveller sizes, shampoo and conditioner bar moulds, and kaleidoscope design tools. He also designed our 3D printed soap bevellers, kaleidoscope tools, and the engraved logo featured on all our timber tools. If you have an idea or need a modification, Rene is the one who brings it to life.
Fabian - Fabian is a qualified Graphic Designer specialising in digital communication. He designs and produces our soap stamps and kaleidoscope kits, created our company logo, and designs and manages our website. He also set up our Facebook and Instagram accounts and handles other design needs across the business.
We look forward to working with you.
The Crafted Surprise family