Wednesday, May 28, 2008

The Iris Festival - Swan Lake, Sumter SC May 23, 24 & 25





The Iris Festival at Swan Lake was loads of fun. They had lots of things for the family to do. Good selection of vendor foods and a lady's group that sold sandwiches and such. Plus my favorite vender food - Funnel Cakes. It was hot Friday, then rained Saturday. The park is famuse for there ducks and geese. Plenty of them for the kids to chase and feed. We used a differant booth setup this time. Met some other soapers from Blythewood SC.
Back in shop cooking up some new things. The Pine Tar soap seems to be working out. A little soft, should get harder. A little too quiet around the shop. Not much business. But it lets me get some thing finished. Some new soap pics coming soon.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Well I finished my bathroom project, got the wiring finished. All works fine.
Christina now has modern electricity setup in bath. She is happy.
Getting ready for the Iris Festival this weekend. Should be a good show.
Made a new soap Saturday that totally trashed. First time that has happened in a very long time.
It turned out to be a very big caustic mess. Solid but, yuck. Always fun trying something new. Never quite sure how it will turn out. Tried the new "swirling technique" I learned from Lori Nova. http://www.thenovastudio.com/ A very nice girl. She is a Pro at swirling soap. Well it turned out pretty good. Will be adding it to the collection soon. Have lots of new things to work on; new fragrances and blends, techniques and products.
I miss the creative part of soapmaking. Do not get enough time to do "Play" I am starting to make time to play. Only way new things can come to life. Pull them out of the cracks in my brain - See if they are something nice or something you "poke with a pointed stick" see if it bites.

Friday, May 16, 2008


Got this today, pic of me receiving certificate from Marie Gale, President of the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild. Taken in Vermont, April 30.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

I guess it is a southern expression for "wallowing". To roll around oneself in a lazy way. Kids wallowing in the yard, pigs wallow in mud, dogs waller in grass ( on there back - feet in the air wiggling around). things like that. My mother would tell me to quit wallering in bed and get up.
Another use would be "quit wallering in self pity" I learned proper speech and grammar from my Mother and Sister growing up. Spelling is another matter. But some of the southern expressions just don't have the same "feel" if spoken correctly or incorrectly. I find myself using more of them as I get older.
So far this morning I have labeled jars, packaged mud, packaged soap, cleaned up and had some juice. Off to Myrtle Beach today to sell some soap & herbs. Bike Week is on, so traffic should be fun. later.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

fixing my bathroom

You figure out what you are going to do... then it all goes to sh&#t!
I spent all day yesterday fixing my bathroom. The medicine cabinet broke, so took out the old one and replaced it with one that went right in. No extra work, put it in the hole and screwed it in. Amazing! Next was installing some extra plug-ins. Ok I am not an electrician, but can do some simple fixes. After making 3 extra holes I didn't need in the wall. The plugs were in. Next comes running the wire to the box. That's still to be done. but the plugs look good. Nice and neat, but still not working yet. It took me 10 hours for all that and 5 trips to Lowe's. After, I helped the kids plant some vegetables they stated in the yard. Hermes had to waller all over them. He does that. Wallers on stinky stuff, wallers in the dirt, wallers just to waller. I hope they live. Found a rogue Tomato plant growing in the herb patch, a nice size.
Made some body butter and coffee soap today in the shop.
Never have enough time do-ya,
to get it all done.
Start early again tomorrow.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Hi

Hi!!!
I am glad you found this!!!
This is my ramblings... from the crazy alchemic mind of a soapmaker who
mixes up some of this, a little of that, add a touch this and BAM!!! I have made soap.

I hope you enjoy....
I do not spell good, LOL, so sorry about any typos in my postings.

I have returned from The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild Conference in Burlington Vt.
What a beautiful state. Met many nice soapers and made a new friend of like mind. I am now a "Certified Soapmaker" The first certified by The Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild in the state South Carolina. Learned some new techniques. Had a great time.