Soap talk

I first got obsessed with making soaps about 10 years ago. Back then, the kids were younger (and cuter and sweeter, possibly...but I digress), and I didn't want to get into lye and hot oils. So, I started with melt and pour soaps, and made some pretty cool soaps if I say so myself.

sushi soap with ginger and wasabi soap...you should see the cute nori pattern!

But recently, after the kids have grown (it happens so fast...waaah), I decided to make good old-fashioned lye soap. It's a bit of work but I love the results. Most of all, I love the different scents I can try out when making my own soaps.

a mess on my table

Christmas Spice scent

Jade scent

soaps I made in the spring

close up of the cut Christmas Spice soap

top rack has the 3 recent batches of soaps

If you're interested in making old-fashioned soaps, there are a lot of YouTube videos to follow. I also recommend the products from Bramble Berry (and their Soap Queen blog). Their products are reliable and excellent quality. The micas and glitter I used in the soaps are from Mad Mica, another company I highly recommend for great service and quality.

Would you try making soaps if you don't already?

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be." ~ Douglas Adams

Late for Labor Day

I was going to post yesterday, but I was...um...laboring at various things (laundry, sous cheffing, art, writing).

I had some clever little write-up in mind about having labored long and hard on these soaps, but, really, puns aren't as funny when it's a day late.

The purple-orange soap on the lower rack was made with the new mica I got from Mad Oils. Really nice stuff!

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be." ~ Douglas Adams

Soaps make me clean and happy

Many moons ago, when I first started blogging, I also became interested in making soap. I started with melt-and-pour because it was something easy and fun to do with the boys as part of our homeschool learning.

Sushi soap...with wasabi soap and pickled ginger soap

skull and crossbone soaps

 In researching soap-making, I stumbled upon the thoroughly awesome Soap Queen blog and was immediately drawn into the whole wonderful world of soapers. I have made some of the nicest friends from this caring and encouraging community.

Anyway, as a fun break from writing, I've started up with soaping again, this time cold process soaping. I like making tangible, useful things when not writing or doing art. Baked goods fill my tummy, knitted good keep me warm, and soaps clean us up and help us smell better. Writing does none of those things.

I had made a bunch that turned out pretty well last fall to give as holiday presents. Then, I had to take a few months off to prepare for the NYC Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conference. With that stress behind me, I can now make soaps between writing and drawing again.


Since I'm still a newbie, I've decided to stick with an easy recipe in Anne Marie Faiola's "Soap Crafting: Step By Step" book (which I highly recommend).

Southern Peach scented soap

Linden Blossom scented soap (on left)

Champagne scented soap

I've already promised a couple of bars as gifts, and might offer a little bundle of them as a prize to celebrate my 600th blog post over at my One Good Thing 365-blog. But I should have enough soaps to last my family a little while. Besides, I'll be making more! Can't wait to try out some other formulations. :)

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be." ~ Douglas Adams

Free stuff, good stuff, tasty stuff

I've been wanting to do a post on spring wildflowers (because I love them!), but it's not happening yet. Here's a teaser with Virginia bluebells to show you what you can expect:In the meantime, I've found other goodies to share with you!

The talented Elizabeth of Gassner Custom Soaps (and more! Her lipbalms are tops in my book) is offering a bar of free soap for the price of postage. How generous is that?! While you're there, check out her weddings and Mother's Day offerings.

Carrie, Under The Willow Gifts, has Earth Day and Mother's Day specials, and I encourage you to try her incomparable Natural Laundry Soap.

For those of you who make your own body and bath products, there are a couple of ladies who are offering some nice specials too. Joanna is having a Destash sale on some of her EOs and FOs...mmmm! For those of you in Europe, Gracefruit is having a 20% off sale...yes!

For others, still, who are more interested in gardening: if you're wondering what you should be planting now, Mother Earth News has a helpful guide.

And those of you who are wondering what to do with your bounty of radishes and asparagus (oh, was that only us??), Mother Earth News has a nice recipe to try.

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be." ~ Douglas Adams