About crafted surprise

It started with soap

My name is Leonor, and I’m the founder of Crafted Surprise, an Australian-based, family-run business in Melbourne.

I started Crafted Surprise in 2014, making handcrafted melt and pour soaps. In late 2019, I moved into cold process soapmaking. I loved having more freedom over the recipes, ingredients, and the way I made my soaps, and, as I became more involved in soapmaking, I started looking more closely at the tools I was using too.

Then 2020 happened. Finding good quality soap-making tools locally became difficult, so with the help of the men in my family, we started making the tools I needed ourselves.

We never really set out to start a soap-making tools business. It happened because I needed something that I couldn’t easily find.

Then, during a soap-making video, someone spotted the handmade multi-bar cutter I was using and asked where I had bought it.

When they found out we had made it at home, they asked if we could make one for them.

So, we did. And then someone else asked. And someone else.

That was really the beginning of the tool-making side of Crafted Surprise.

Made here, because we use them too

Over the years, Crafted Surprise has grown through word of mouth and through listening to the people who use our tools.

We make a range of Australian-made soap-making tools, including soap cutters, soap moulds, soap stamps, bevellers, planers and other tools designed to make soapmaking a little easier and more enjoyable.

Because I’m a soapmaker myself, I tend to look at our tools from the same side of the bench as our customers. If something is awkward to use, difficult to clean, unnecessarily complicated, or simply doesn't make sense, I want to know about it.

A lot of our tools have also come from customers asking, "Could you make one that does this?" Sometimes the answer is yes.

That has led to custom soap cutters, different beveller sizes, personalised stamps, shampoo and conditioner bar moulds, kaleidoscope tools and other small modifications that aren't part of our standard range.

A small family business

Crafted Surprise is still a family business, and we still work around our full-time jobs.

Most of our tools are made to order, including different options such as left or right-handed tools, oiled or non-oiled timber finishes, custom logos, and smaller production runs.

The work happens after hours and on weekends, so there is a real person behind every order. From the first message to making, checking, packing, and posting your order, we take care with what leaves our workshop.

Meet the family behind Crafted Surprise

Leonor

I look after customer service, sourcing, finance, and posting. I’m usually the person answering your questions, sorting out an order or making sure your parcel gets on its way.

I also still make soap, so I understand why the right tool can make such a difference when you're standing at the bench with a fresh loaf of soap in front of you.

Domingo

Domingo is the tradesman and handyman behind our wooden tools.

He designed our first locally made soap cutting tools and still makes every timber item by hand, from cutting and assembling through to finishing and packing.

He also works with customers who need something a little different from our standard tools. If there is a practical way to make it, Domingo will usually find it.

Rene

Rene is our qualified Mechanical Engineer and looks after our 3D printers and CNC router.

He helps with the technical side of making our tools, including preparing parts for assembly and designing custom items such as altered beveller sizes, shampoo and conditioner bar moulds and kaleidoscope design tools.

Rene also designed our 3D printed soap bevellers, kaleidoscope tools and the engraved logo you’ll find on our timber tools.

If you have an idea that needs a bit of engineering behind it, Rene is usually the person who gets involved.

Fabian

Fabian is a qualified Graphic Designer specialising in digital communication.

He designs and produces our soap stamps and kaleidoscope kits, created our logo, and looks after the Crafted Surprise website. He also helped establish our Facebook and Instagram presence and takes care of many of the design jobs behind the scenes.

Still making things the way we always have.

Crafted Surprise has changed quite a bit since those first soaps in 2014, but the basic idea hasn't changed.

Make useful things.

Make them well.

Listen to the people who use them.

And when someone has an idea for a tool that doesn't exist yet, see if we can make it.

We’re proud to make our soap-making tools here in Australia and grateful to the soapmakers who have supported our little family business along the way.

Thanks for being here.

The Crafted Surprise family