arts & crafts
Soap-Maker Cleans Up with Nerd Appeal by Sherry Lucas miniature Stormtrooper and Darth Vader helmets inside the soaps. “I’m big into the cosplay/nerd scene,” says Martin, whose purple hair and rainbow glasses convey a flair for color. “I can make some for myself and my daughter and sell them to other nerds who want them as well.” “We try to get a lot of the different fandoms out there,” she says, including “Star Trek,” “Star Wars,” “Spaced Invaders,” Pac-Man, LEGO Minifigures, “Pokémon,” “My Little Pony” and anime characters. “So, if someone goes, ‘I want 17 ‘Minecraft soaps’ for my son’s birthday party,’ I can probably do that.” Martin keeps her eye on directions in pop culture, too, timing soaps with Marvel Comics, DC Comics and “Pokémon” movie releases. Her favorite to date was a glow-in-the-dark dice soap that was a hit with gamers and the Dungeons & Dragons sect. Daughter Allie, now 14, remains “my creative guru,” Martin says. Martin sells Lady Helen’s Soaps through her Etsy shop and at conventions and can take requests through her Facebook page. By day, Martin works as a paralegal. She’s also the executive director of the women’s charity, Jackson Homeless Women’s Outreach Project. To place an order, call 601-201-4024 or find Lady Helen’s Soaps on Facebook or Etsy.
courtesy Anisa Max Martin
Lady Helen’s Soaps hold toys that feature characters from various “nerdy” franchises.
“It’s like the Happy Meal of cleanliness. … Kids have to get clean to get the prize in the middle,” she says. Toys such as “My Little Pony” and LEGO Minifigures sit in full-size, brightly hued, glycerin-based soaps that range from $1 to $7. Martin also does “geeky molds,” such as “Star Wars”’ Han Solo in carbonite, a Dalek from “Doctor Who,” and
Looking for something great to do in Jackson? Visit JFPEVENTS.COM for more.
JFP SPONSORED The Fireworks 5k Run And Walk July 3-5, Virtual. The Capital Area Sunset Rotary Club hosts the Fourth of July-themed virtual 5k run/ walk fundraising event. Donations go toward the rotary club’s community service initiatives. Participants are encouraged to complete a 5k (3.1 miles) anytime, anywhere over the weekend. Finisher medals mailed to virtual attendees. $25 requested donation; call 601-441-1889.
HOLIDAY City of Pearl 4th of July Fireworks Show July 4, 9:30 p.m., at Trustmark Park (1 Braves Blvd., Pearl). The City of Pearl hosts a fireworks show for the Fourth of July. Attendees may choose to view the show in the stadium or drive-in style in the parking lot. Stadium gates open at 6:30 p.m. for the first 2,000 people. Guests may bring lawn chairs or blankets or otherwise sit in the outfield grass or in the stadium chair-back seats. Games and concessions available, as well as entertainment on the big screen. Social distancing regulated. Tailgaters in the parking lot can tune into 104.5 FM, or “The Pirate,” which will simulcast the music set to the fireworks. Free admission, concession prices vary.
50 balloons in competitions, balloon glows and a race for top prize money. Friday features vendors and live music around the square. Saturday includes the balloon events and the fireworks show. Free admission, vendor prices vary; call 601-859-4830; festivalnet.com.
CONCERTS & FESTIVALS The District Green LIVE June 25,July 2, 7-9 p.m., at The District at Eastover (1250 Eastover Drive). The District opens its central community green space for people to bring their lawn chairs or blankets and view the live performances held weekly by different artists. Social distancing required. Food available for purchase from nearby restaurants. Free admission, food and drink prices vary; call 601-914-0800; www. facebook.com. Swinging Bridge Festival June 26-27, 4-10 p.m., at Jackson Dragway (7557 S. Siwell Road, Byram). The annual festival features arts, crafts and food vendors; live music from Jason Miller Band, Miles Flatt, Mike Robb and The 601 Band, and Jarekus Singletoon; a classic car show; a barbecue cook-off; a beer tent; a corn hole tournament; and fireworks shows closing both nights. Free admission, vendor prices vary; call 601-372-7791; www.facebook.com.
COMMUNITY
LITERARY
Mississippi Championship Hot Air Balloon Fest July 3-4, 6-9 p.m., at Canton/Madison Co. Multipurpose Complex (501 Soldiers Colony Road, Canton). The oldest balloon race in Mississippi celebrates its 35th year and features over
Welty at Home | A Virtual Book Club June 24, July 1, noon-1 p.m., via Zoom. Eudora Welty House & Garden and Mississippi Department of Archives & History host Virtual Book Club to explore Eudora Welty’s novel “Losing Battles”
over a period of 10 weeks, an average of 45 pages per week with live book club discussion on Zoom led by Welty’s friend and biographer Dr. Suzanne Marrs. Those unable to make the Zoom video call can follow on Facebook and Instagram. For more information email info@ eudoraweltyhouse.com. Free to the public. Free admission; call 601-353-7762; email info@eudoraweltyhouse.com; www.facebook.com. “Living Between Worlds” Discussion June 26, noon, via Facebook Live. Author James Hollis, Ph.D, holds a discussion on his book alongside John Evans through Lemuria’s Facebook page. Signed, hardcover copies of the book available for purchase. Free admission, $22.99 signed copy; call 601-366-7619; email info@lemuriabooks. com; www.lemuriabooks.com. “Goddess in the Machine” Discussion July 1, 5 p.m., via Instagram Live. Sci-fi author Lora Beth Johnson discusses her debut teen novel on Square Books, Jr.’s Instagram page. Copies available for purchase. Free admission, $18.99 copy; call 662236-2262; www.squarebooks.com.
PROFESSIONAL & BIZ Quick Bite: Student Loans and Nonprofits, The More You Know June 26, 12:15-12:45 p.m., Virtual. Angela Howze leads a webinar that gives an overview of student loan literacy, the benefits of having a nonprofit with student-loan debt, and how COVID-19 affects student loans. Alliance training sessions are $25 for one, $20 apiece for two, and $15 apiece for three or more. $25 single training; call 601-968-0061; email connect@alliancems.org; alliancems.org.
National Principles & Standards: An Overview of Excellence in Action June 30, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Virtual. Mary Ellen Calvert leads the webinar to help nonprofit and philanthropy leaders, staff, board members and volunteers evaluate and improve their operations, governance, organizational culture, human resources, advocacy, financial management, fundraising and program delivery. $25 single training; call 601-968-0061; email connect@alliancems.org; alliancems.org. Leadership Through Crisis July 1, 9-10:30 a.m., Virtual. Christie Lawrence leads a webinar on the practical tactics nonprofits can use to help themselves maneuver through difficult times. $25 single training; call 601-968-0061; email connect@alliancems.org; alliancems.org. Quick Bite: GuideStar Advanced July 3, 12:1512:45 p.m., Virtual. Nancy Perret leads a webinar to help participants strengthen their GuideStar profiles in ways that appeal to funders and donors. $25 single training; call 601-968-0061; email connect@alliancems.org; alliancems.org.
BE THE CHANGE Golf Ball Drop July 4, 6-10 p.m., at Canton Multipurpose Complex (501 Soldier Colony Road, Canton). In conjunction with Canton’s Balloon Fest 2020. Participants purchase numbered golf balls that are dropped from a hot air balloon onto the festival field. The numbered ball closest to the target wins the $5,000 grand prize. Proceeds benefit The Good Samaritan Center and its community efforts. $20 ticket (single golf ball); call 601-355-6276; ballooncanton.com.
June 24 - July 7, 2020 • jfp.ms
EVENTS
Sherry Lucas
M
emories of her grandmother, Maxine Towner, first nudged Anisa “Max” Martin into soapmaking. But, a question from her daughter set the hobby in a playful direction that dabbles into nerd culture. Lady Helen’s Soaps is Martin’s home-based sideline. The name is a nod to her first high-school email address and “the dainty, crafty person inside of my head,” she says, picturing a 1950s-era housewife. “It’s weird, I know.” Her glycerin-based soaps hold tiny toys and salute sci-fi films, comic books, video games and more. Martin, who was Born in Indiana, has lived in Jackson since middle school, when her family moved to Mississippi. She started the soap-making hobby in 2015, focusing on fragrant, dainty soaps at first—the kind her grandmother collected on her travels. “They’d always smell so pretty, and as a small child, that kind of connected me to her,” she says. Then came her daughter Allie’s query: “Can you take (characters from) ‘My Little Pony’ and put them in soap for birthday parties?” Martin’s comeback: “Of course I can?” She gave it a try. Toy soaps proved more popular, and Martin, wrapping her mother and her daughter into the production, started selling them as a vendor at the annual Mississippi Comic Con and Mississippi Anime Festival events.
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