About eight years ago, one of Kelly Smith's co-workers gave her, as a present, a bar of hand-crafted soap. Kelly was amazed at the creamy, luxurious texture and the fact it doubled as a moisturizer. She was hooked and began working initially with a group of friends and then on her own to develop a better product. Within a year, The Rubber Ducky Soap Company was born with a logo and graphics provided by her illustrator husband.

Today, that first bar of soap has evolved into about 20 different scents including Poppy Seed, Sandalwood and Energizer -- the latter two being the favorites at the Grand Lake Farmers' Market where Kelly has been selling since its inception under the freeway. Other products that she offers include lotions, lip balm, liquid soaps, salt and sugar scrubs, body oil, bath tea and doggy soap.

The Rubber Ducky remains a one-person operation. Kelly formulates and packages all her own products in her home workshop. She uses all vegetable oils -- sunflower for lotions and olive, coconut and palm kernel for her soaps. During the winter months, she sells at the Grand Lake and two other Farmers' Market each week. Summers, she may be found instead at many of the local art and wine festivals. For more information or to order online, please visit her website.