The Happy Place

Note: What you won't see pictures of in today's post:

1. Me & my girls at the gas station trying to pump air into my vertical soap mold and having no luck.
2. Me at my local hardware store getting 2 ton glue to fix the seal on said vertical mold.

I am relatively confident that I'll get the soap out of my vertical mold by the end of next week. How's that for confidence? Meanwhile... today was a long day of soaping away. Pictures of soap will have to wait because yesterday we lived in our happy place. Yaaaaaaaaay!



This is one of the amazing dragonflies that hangs out in our yard. They are huge and I love them.

In the mornings I try and spend time in the garden when it's quiet and cool. The quiet is what I like best.

While I'm out there, I snitch peas.


And I spoil the bunny. After that I do stuff. You know. Clean. Laundry. Buy milk. Make trips to the library. Make stuff. Break stuff. Glamorous stuff like that.

Until the bat phone rings and then we go to the beach. And we wait. And play. And if we're lucky...

... we see whales. Not the best photo... but hey. Whatever. Not bad for a quick trip to the beach. -H

A Fitting Beginning

At the end of 2009 I posted a quick thank you to everyone out there who's been joining me on my Sandbar Soaps adventure. I'd like to do the same as we crack open 2011. 2010 was simply amazing. I learned a lot about myself, my business and of course, my soapies.

When I'm busy though, the first thing to go is the blog. It's not that I don't have anything to say... it's just that once I start this conversation with myself, I'd like to offer myself a seat. And some coffee. And probably a cookie. Pretty soon we're having a good old time and I'm behind in most of the rest of my endeavors. (Have I mentioned that I am never bored?)

So that is a long and round about way of saying "thank you." You're the best. And I'm sorry I haven't posted since the month of April.

So let's get this party started:

Chipotle Caramel Hot Process. Oh my.

Everyone like this one. It's got cocoa butter which compliments the deep sweetness. Cranberry seeds visually simulate the redness of chipotle peppers.

Oh. And look out. I now have a Dremel. Just you wait.

Cute as a bug.

Like my super-cute prototype ladybug?



Other cute things...

This jar of Peach Vanilla Bean jam I bought at the Farmer's Market.


And this tea! Hand blended by Amanda of Isla Botanica. I wish I would have taken a picture of the package it came in, but I forgot. I gave it to a friend. And saved half for myself. Yum.

It's a black tea called Vanilla rose. Real locally harvested rose in there. Amazing. Click on the image for a closer look. Seriously. There's a rose petal in there that looks like a seashell.

All for now. - H

Gah! I am like, so bisseh!

Or at least it feels that way.

So, you know when you are looking through your pictures and you think, "oh, I need to blog about that." Or, "oh, I totally forgot to blog about that." Those are the times when you've been ignoring your bloggy duties.

Granted, blogging isn't going to get my laundry done, or mow the yard so... I mow. Instead of blog. (Hey! Wake up out there! I'm talking!)

So this week, I'm working on soaps for Compost It. Compost It is a shop here in Friday Harbor that carries all sorts of neat stuff. Huge variety of things that are fun, handy, local goods, environmentally sound goods, you get the picture. Really good stuff.

I've been buying a good chunk of essential oils from them for my soaps. Did I mention that they are selling my soap in their shop? How cool is that? They carry mini bars of mine, and also my Orca Soaps.

The shop!

Look! A composter that says "Compost It!" Clever sharks.

So when you come to Friday Harbor, and I know you will, go to Compost It.

Did you know, that when I make an oatmeal soap, I hand grind the oats so that you get yummy exfoliation without getting too scratchy? Well. Know you know.

I know I've got much more to blog about, but I'm plum out of words. You know where to find me. - H

Spa Bar Results

This was a very interesting soap experience for me. I did a bunch of new things all at once and learned a lot. But it was also a success, so I'm happy. First of all, I used the molds that I made out of tape, cardboard and hot glue. And then any leftovers went into little silicone bowls.

I lined the molds with freezer paper using a folding method that is supposed to prevent your soap from leaking onto your mold. Mostly a success... but there's a little leaking in the corners. But it doesn't mess up the end shape of the soap. So, who cares. Due to my glue gun fest on the edges the leaks didn't go through, and that would be a real mess.

So there you have it. Shampoo bar on the left, and salt bar on the right. Interesting to note... I tested the pH of these and they are a little more alkaline than a normal bar of soap of mine is. The good thing is that I know why. Normally, my molds are pretty well insulated, but since these were made out of cardboard the heat escapes a lot quicker. The chemical reaction takes longer in a colder bar of soap. These guys will be just right after they cure. I'm pretty jazzed to use them.

I'm running out of clever blog titles... Bubble Gum,

This is the latest bar of mine to come out. It's a new formula that's heavier on Palm & Coconut Oil. It also has almond oil, shea butter and avocado oil in it. It makes a harder bar. This one I'm calling Bubble Gum. I blended essential oils (vanilla, pomegranate, melon) and a fragrance oil from Brambleberry called Energy and the bar smells like... Bubble Gum. It has little chunks of Vanilla Pomegranate soap in it.

Now for some big news... my molds came today!!! Yay! There are three pictured... but I bought six. This is really going to help me produce at a level that I am happier with.

Later this week I am going to try to make some 4th of July themed bath bombs. I can't wait to show you how they turn out!

Let's Give Them Something to Blog About...

I didn't make any soap today. The day's not over, but I think sleep may win out tonight.

*BUT* I had a great soap day! Let me tell you why. The other day I read this post on Anne-Marie's (of Brambleberry) Soap-Queen Blog. There are some super cute soap molds with knitting yarn on them. I immediately thought of my friends at Island Wools here in Friday Harbor.

I love Island Wools. When we moved here it was cold! Last winter with the help of Theresa on YouTube (tjw1963) and Island Wools, I taught myself how to crochet. Friday Harbor can feel pretty small when you have a new baby so I always looked forward to going in to Island Wools and figuring out what was next. (My favorite yarn is Puffin by the way.) Check them out when you're in Friday Harbor. They're right on the main drag (Spring Street.)

At any rate... I showed Rusti the molds and she loves them. Hopefully, I will have some pictures of knitters soap bars to show you soon. We shall see! So that was fun.

Now a confession. I peeked. I shouldn't have. But I did. This a lavender bar I made last night. There's freezer paper on the top of the mold there, but through it, you can see that the swirls looks good!

I peeled the paper back, just a little and then put it back. I really shouldn't look at it for another two days. Nighty, night! - H