Art Challenge Day 3: Soapmaking

For the past 2 years, I've made our own soap and it has become one of my favorite things to do.  it's a real labor of love, involving prime ingredients and 4-6 weeks of curing, just to get about 14 bars or so a batch.  But, it's worth it.

I just cut a new batch of soap (pink grapefruit and peppermint) into bars today after making it on Monday.  I use a basic recipe that contains some amazing ingredients (palm oil, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and olive oil) with various essential oils (and sometimes dried herbs like lavender or lemongrass, as well).  

I don't usually take photographs while I make soap because becoming distracted while using lye is NOT something one wants to do.  However, I took a few photos this time (although even then, not while I was working with the lye).  

Indeed, the greater challenge is putting my soap up on our Etsy site for sale!  It's on the list of things to do.  Meanwhile, if you are interested, just let me know.  I currently have lemon sage ginger soap, lavendin rosemary soap (with dried lavender), lemon rosemary soap, and a few bars of goat milk & honey (with oatmeal) available.  The American Horticultural Society's gift shop also sells my soap, and they have a different selection.

Art Challenge Day 2: Creativity while Chaperoning!

I just returned from a morning spent chaperoning my son's class at Lincoln's Cottage in D.C.  It was a fantastic outing, and I had my camera with me. When I worked as an assistant teacher, I had the emergency phone list, practical shoes, and no camera, but now I am along as a parent rather than school employee, I gave myself the luxury of both working as a chaperone AND thinking creatively as I toured the cottage (I still wore practical shoes, though!).  The cottage is sparsely furnished, and I found myself very interested in its textures and architecture (and the shadow puppets my son made on the bus ride!)

Art Challenge Day 1: Forging an Iron Heart

We've been challenged to post 5 days of creative endeavors, so we're starting the week off with an iron heart project in honor of Valentine's Day.  Jeff took advantage of some warmer temps and headed out to the forge yesterday to make two hearts; this is his own design and a very popular piece.  One has been spoken for, but the other is available. Just let us know if you are interested...

And, here's how the pieces will look when they are finished.  Lovely!

 

Another Snow Day...

 

 

Friday in Focus: The Herb Garden, After a Snow

Winter is a great time for an art class!

More art from our boys' art classes! Plus, an admiring cat!

A Snow Day

Happy Valentine's Day! Lovely Art Chocolates and a Broken Toe...

Happy Valentine's Day!  My kids made some wonderful art!  They also got chocolates from grandparents and, unfortunately, a confirmation of a broken toe from an intense game of dodge ball ...

Friday in Focus: And They Dance

A Few Favorites... Demo Season is Fast Approaching!

 

"Wetland Reflections" Awarded 1st Place Honors

I just learned that this photo, "Wetland Reflections", was awarded 1st place in the "Garden Views" category for Washington Gardener magazine this year. It was taken with my Nikon D7000 at Huntley Meadows Park.

Friday in Focus: Green Spires and Blue Sky

First Crocus

Winter Pursuits

I continue to try to weave.  Actually, weaving isn't a problem.  I love to weave.  Warping the loom, however, is a challenge that I haven't mastered by any means, yet.  Jeff says that there must be a tool or two that we are missing for the warping process! 

I've worked on a new packaging for my soap.  Shown below are a lemon/rosemary, milk and honey w/ oatmeal, and peppermint.  I just spent the morning making up a batch of lime/ginger.  I can't wait to try it in another month (the soap needs to cure for at least 4 weeks).

I've also been learning to dye with natural powders, using the beautiful white wool from Morehouse Farm.  So far, I've worked with sandalwood and cutch.  I need to figure out Glauber's salts, which I read were used in the 18th century....and I also don't have a good understanding of when to use cream of tartar, etc...  There's a lot to learn!  

Because I suddenly have a growing stash of wool,  I've also taught myself the basics of knitting in the round as I try to make a pair of wrist-warmers.  So far, so good.  At least I'm not knitting inside out!  That's a major improvement!

Spinning is still on my list to work on this winter....