SOAP MAKING BY Heritage Woods Soaps

I started making soap about two years ago.

Normally I would feel the need to start from scratch but somehow it felt a bit daunting. It was suggested that I start with the

"melt and Pour" method. I have found it to be fairly simple, versatile and allows room for a great deal of creativity.

After trying several different soap bases I have settled on a goat's milk base as my favorite. I now buy it in 25 pound boxes. While experimenting to find your favorite you can buy it in one or two pound containers.

There are hundreds of scents to choose from.

I add to my collection each time I visit my soap supply store. I attach a dropper with an elastic band to the top of each jar to keep the right dropper with the right jar of scent. My favorite at the moment is "buttercream snickerdoodle"

The staff at OTION The Soapmaking Bar in Bellingham Washington are very helpful. I love visiting their store. http://www.otionsoap.com/

To buy your soap making supplies on line go to http://www.brambleberry.com/

I use a food grade color paste. Most of the colors last well with some of my soaps keeping their color after a year. Sadly I find a very pale pink will fade in just hours.

Soap molds come in an edless selection. I sometimes use decorative one dollar ice cube trays.

I most enjoy using "Kudos Design" molds shown

here in the foreground. They have lovely detail and are

food grade so you can make chocolates to match your soap.

A great gift idea.

http://www.kudosoap.com/html/?bWFpbg==

Once you start making soap your imagination starts to see everything as a soap mold. I use small wooden boxes, plastic butter trays, shells, most any plastic packaging. I line the mold with a heavy plastic wrap in order to lift my soap out once it has hardened.

The grandkids love getting involed in creating their own soap.

Here my grandson is grating colored glycerin soap...

placing it in his mold and pouring melted clear glycerin soap base over his many colors of grated soap.

Once removed from the mold and cut it looks like candy.

I am making a layered, pink and white, goat's milk peppermint soap. I allow each layer to harden before pouring the next. The soap base is first melted in the microwave. Once it is liquid I add the scent and color.

Final Layer

Once it has hardened, usually with in an hour, I remove the block of soap from the mold.

I slice down the side to create soap curls.

Cookie cutters may be used for different shapes and themes.

Using a vegetable peeler will create more delicate curls.

Almond Scented Soap

Pearberry scent

Clear Glycerin Hearts

DRESS FORM

DIY DRESS FORM

Here I am ready to "build" my very own dress form...

with help from my husband

Completely taped!

I started by wearing a tight fitting T shirt that I no longer wanted. My husband proceeded to completely cover the T with a crisscrossing of packing tape. 

Cut through the tape and T shirt

 all the way up the center of the back.

Place the unfinished form on an ironing board to give firm support while you retape the cut up the back.

Taping the back

Tape on the inside of the form as well to strengthen where the cut was made.

Cover the neck and arm holes with stiff cardboard followed by more packing tape. As you cover the neck opening add a heavy wooden coat hanger.

Reinforce the breast area to help it hold its form and not become fatigued after long time use.

Stuff the inside with crumpled newspaper.

Cover the bottom of the form with heavy cardboard. Include a center hole to allow the form to be supported by a stand as well as by hanging. 

Can't wait to start sewing using  my dress form for fittings instead of going through all manner of contortions!

NEXT DAY. . .

A fun little dress for just under 2 dollars!

Many thanks to "Making It Well"

for your helpful tutorial

 which I adapted to develop my own method.

http://makingitwell.blogspot.ca/

PAINTING ON FABRIC

THIS IS THE EXACT PRINT AND COLORS THAT I WANTED TO MAKE AN INVITING COOL SUMMERTIME BED FOR THOSE HOT NIGHTS. I COULDN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE SO DECIDED TO "MAKE" IT MYSELF.

I used acrylic paints on white broadcloth. I made a runner for the foot of the bed, cases for the throw pillows and ribbons for the pillow shams.

Inviting and cool

I loved the outcome so much that I also made a table cloth for my dining room covering it with clear vinyl.

I did learn (the hard way) that this is an outdoor project. I'm still cleaning up splatter from walls, chairs and carpet! oops...

The kids enjoyed this project as well. . .

making pillow cases for themselves. . .

working inside was fine

as they didn't use the splatter technique. . . :)

SUMMER FEET, FLOWER POTS AND FOUNTAINS

CAREFREE BOY

GRAM AND THE BOYS AT THE BEACH

RELAX

PLAY

POLKA DOTS AND PARSLEY

COOLING SPRAY

REFRESHING FOUNTAIN

SUMMER SAND

MULTIPURPOSE GYOTAKU APRON

GUY OR GAL APRON

 THREE DEEP AND WIDE POCKETS

BBQ...GARDENING...HOUSE CLEANING...BAKING

I USED INK TO COVER MY FISH, PLACE  FABRIC OVER THE FISH, RUB FRIMLY TO GET A GOOD IMPRINT.

I SPLATTERED MY FABRIC WITH BLUE INK TO MAKE BUBBLES. THE FABRIC NEEDS TO BE WASHED A NUMBER OF TIMES BEFORE THE "FISH SMELL" IS NO LONGER NOTICEABLE. I IRONED THE FABRIC WITH A VERY HOT IRON TO SET THE INK.

TIES FOR THE NECK AND WAIST I MEASURED TO FIT MYSELF, FOLDED AND IRONED THE FOLD IN PLACE...READY FOR THE SEWING MACHINE.

THE END OF THE TIES ARE INSERTED, ABOUT AN INCH, BETWEEN THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE APRON.

TIES ARE PINNED INTO PLACE FOLLOWED BY A TOP STITCH.

POCKET OPENING

READY TO START BAKING

I KNOTTED THE NECK TIE TO MAKE IT ADJUSTABLE FOR HEIGHT