Once more, I wish this was a Scratch & Sniff blog! This soap smells wonderful!
I finally dug out my stuff to make soap. It took HOURS but I finally located all the oils, utensils, small appliances, log molds, soap cutters, etc. that I needed. Thought I was going to go NUTS going through all those boxes in the basement! We have just got to get down there and get everything unpacked and straight. Problem is - the basement isn't finished so I don't want to do but so much unpacking but I do want things organized and straight so I can find things.
Back to soap. My cousin's son is getting married and the happy couple requested my soap as favors at the reception. The wedding is planned for October on the beach at Emerald Isle, NC. I'm sure it will be beautiful!!
The soap turned out well and my house smells divine! I used Herbal Essence Fragrance Oil and I think it's
perfect
for a wedding - fresh and clean and not overly sweet. I don't want to give away any wedding secrets but each bar of soap will be decorated in a beachy theme. I've asked them to send me a picture and I'll show you then.
So.....as I type, there are about 124 or so wedding bars and a few regular bars air-drying in the kitchen. I cut them each about half the thickness of my regular size bars. The regular size would have been just too big for a reception favor. I can smell them all the way upstairs. Heavenly!
After a few days of drying, I'll package them up and ship them to
North Carolina. I hope they meet their expectations.
I love watching the stages that my soap goes through. From the pudding consistency or "trace" stage (first picture) to the cooking stage with a pool of glycerin on top to the out of the mold and cut stage. I love the color, the feel, the fragrance, and of course, the bubbles!
My afternoon appointment took me to Lebanon, OH - just down the road a bit. I cut through Oregonia on my way back home and spied a batch of pottery goblets setting out to dry. I turned the car around, stopped in, and introduced myself. Turns out the goblets are the work of this fellow of Bove Pottery. He does beautiful work. Thrown pottery is something I've always wanted to try. It reminds me of spinning - there's such a quietness about it. When I go back, I'll be sure to take my camera for a picture or two.
In talking with Jason, I learned that he is going to Crozet, VA soon to participate in the Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival held October 9 & 10. I told him that it is a wonderful show and beautiful area. This will be his first time there. I hope he does well.
I can't believe August is over. September is here and Fall is just around the corner. Every now and again, I see some trees whose leaves have started to turn. The Saturday before Labor Day 2009, I packed my car, gave Valium to three cats, and left Virginia heading to my new home here in Ohio. It's so hard to believe that a whole year has passed.
Last Saturday, we had a nice group at knitting. Everyone was busily working on something. We decided to put all of our projects together for a group shot. Here you see Karen's baby sweater, Jan's sleeve, Donna's scarf, Anne's baby hat, and my EZ Baby Surprise Jacket and baby blanket.
We'll be knitting again this Saturday. As usual, I can hardly wait!!