What I've Been Up To


Monday night (while Joe was crashed out on the sofa) I made soap. "Honey Blossom," which smells like Bit O' Honey candy. It has honey and beeswax in it, with no artificial colorings or scents. The coloring turned out gorgeous. I can't decide if it's going to lighten or not. The little clump of light tan soap in the bottom right corner was from the same batch.


And then yesterday I made a batch of lavender soap. From lard. I know it sounds gross, but I just wanted to try something "new." New to me, that is. Not new to our great-grandmothers and ancestors.

I added some lavender essential oil and some finely ground, dried lavender leaves. I was (and still am) a little concerned about the dried lavender. I've heard that it can make the soap look like it has mouse poop in it. Just like this rosemary soap...

These batches won't be cured and ready to use for four weeks. If I can wait that long.

[Tonight Joe and Taylor (and my brother and nephew) are camping out for the Klondike Derby. The low temp is supposed to be 17 degrees. I am so worried for them!]

Comments

Karyn said…
The look GREAT!!!

I love the lighter colour of the lavender soap, I hope it doesn't end up looking like mouse poop soap too!

And, your poor boys, camping in January?!?!? Better them than us!
9:02 AM EST
nikko said…
I'm sure the lavender soap smells heavenly, even if it ends up looking like mouse poop! LOL!
9:31 AM EST
Amanda Jean said…
your soap is amazing! I am so glad that I won your last give away. I am using my chocolate mint stuff and loving it!
10:01 AM EST
Anonymous said…
They are brave! Scott said he wasn't camping out. I'm glad because I'd worry too.
11:10 AM EST
Kira said…
Oh wow .... can I come over to your place?!? LOL. Those look amazing ... I am so impressed with your soap makin' skills ... and I hear you on the campin' stuff, DH is takin' his scouts tonite but there is a plus side ... free craft time! :)
11:18 AM EST
Anonymous said…
I can smell the bit-o-honey now.
Bundle up Taylor & Joe! I want to hear if they have ice on the inside of their tent in the morning. :)
12:24 PM EST
Anonymous said…
Your soaps look awesome! I would have no patience for the curing process. You're so cool!
(Klondike Drby--BRRR!! Hope they stay warm.)
12:37 PM EST
Anonymous said…
I just came across your blog and I am enjoying it immensely ,what a cute bunch of babes you have:0)
2:50 PM EST
laura capello said…
it cures for four weeks? i'm completely soap-retarded so i don't "get" that but FOUR WEEKS?

they both look pretty. the soaps, of course.

and 17? brrrrrrrrrr.
3:30 PM EST
Anonymous said…
i would love to learn to make soap...maybe that will by my weekend's project (to read up on it...not to actually DO it)...

any pointers?
5:34 PM EST
atet said…
That soap looks beautiful and I bet it smells wonderful! I actually like it when you can see the additions in homemade soap. It kind of makes it more homemade to me. Weird, I know. The wait on that would kill me though!
5:35 PM EST
Jana Nielson said…
I love homemade soap too. Someday I might even make some.
I always worry about the boys at Klondike, but they seem to come home unscathed...and unfrozen!
8:08 PM EST
Anonymous said…
mouse poop soap? sounds like it would be a huge hit at your house full of boys! i can hear the giggles now!

soap. i think, one day, i'll try it..
9:23 PM EST
Heidijayhawk said…
i can smell the lavender from here! i have never tried making soap!
12:43 AM EST
Tonya said…
The soap looks yummy, one more thing I would really like to try.

I can't believe they are gonna camp in 17 degree weather! I am down here in South Louisiana and we are whining because it is 40 degrees today LOL I don't think I know what 17 degrees feels like!

Thanks for the comments on my blog, I didn't realize anyone read it : ) LOL
4:27 PM EST
Anonymous said…
I am dying to learn to make soap! Karyn recommended some books to me and I hope to get them this week at the library.

Yours looks great!
11:01 PM EST
Chara Michele said…
Oh they sound like they smell lovely! I really like the light color of the lavendar soap too... Hopefully it won't look bad, although even if it does I am sure it will still smell wonderful!
11:42 AM EST
jessica said…
they look great! I really need to learn how to make soap. I love the homemade stuff.
2:24 PM EST
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reusable Swiffer WetJet Cloths

Image
I promised myself that, when I bought a box of Swiffer WetJet refills at the wholesale club, it would be the last box I bought. Something had to be done. Now, to be honest, part of the reason was to help the environment, but the other part was because I was tired of running out of those darn things. I took some towels, folded them in half cut them into 5" widths. (The towel was just about 25" or so from side to side when flat.) Then I cut two 5" pieces of elastic and serged it all together. Two layers of toweling and two elastic strips. That's it. (The finished piece was approximately 4.75" x 12.") Within minutes I had a stack of eight. Slide them on and mop away. You will have a clean floor and have saved one more thing from ending up in the landfill. Now, if I can just do something about the cleaning liquid ... Something environmentally-friendly, economical, and won't cause further pain to my arthritic back.
Read more

Cloth Napkins

Image
Happy Earth Day! Last year I made a bunch of cloth napkins using the rolled hem feature of my serger. And, while we used them a lot in the beginning, I kind of forgot about them and paper napkins crept back into our lives. (Although, I must admit that paper are better for cleaning up spilled lemonade and for packing in my boys' lunches. I'm afraid I'd never see them again if they were in a lunchbox.) I am trying to be more mindful of our waste. I find myself asking, "Can I reuse, reduce, recycle, or repurpose this?" about every thing. I recently discovered our town has a receptacle just for paper recycling. That makes me giddy. We get tons of papers from school, so now I can load it up and drop them off at town hall. So, in honor of Earth Day, I am giving away this set of six cloth napkins. They are made from thrifted, vintage (therefore repurposed) sheets that are leftovers from various projects. If you'd like a chance to win them, please leave a comment on ...
Read more