tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43110176398955371112024-03-05T03:35:23.991-05:00The Soap BarJoanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.comBlogger800125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-51733717783332530762017-12-01T17:24:00.003-05:002017-12-01T17:31:34.513-05:00Glitter In Bath Bombs - FDA Regulations<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Bath bombs are considered a cosmetic and there are rules and regulations imposed by the FDA for coloring bath bombs. This has been a challenging time for people who make soap who have recently added bath bombs to their catalog. Soaps are a rinse off product, whereas bath bombs are used in bathwater and are in contact with mucous membranes (genitals) for extended periods of time.<br />
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Glitter has been mostly ignored in the community as a color additive. Suppliers who offer these glitters often have untrue statements or misinformation on their website about their approved applications.<br />
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Many cosmetic glitters contain aluminum. If you don't know if your does, look at the ingredient list on the label or on the website of your supplier. If it contains aluminum, you <u>may not use these safely</u> in bath bombs (or bath products made for the tub).<br />
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The Director of Color Certification at the FDA confirmed that if a color additive contains aluminum or aluminum powder, it is approved for the following for cosmetics<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><b>Eyes: YES</b></li>
<li><b>Generally (includes lipstick) <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;">NO</span></span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="background-color: white;">External: YES </span></b>This means it should not come in contact with mucous membranes for extended periods of time. </li>
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<i style="color: #212121; font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">From the CFR:</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i> </i></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>73.2645 Aluminum powder.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i> </i></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>(a) Identity and specifications. The color additive aluminum powder shall conform in identity and specifications to the requirements of §73.1645 (a)(1) and (b).</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i> </i></span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b><i>(b) Uses and restrictions. Aluminum powder may be safely used in coloring externally applied cosmetics, including cosmetics intended for use in the area of the eye, in amounts consistent with good manufacturing practice.</i></b></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: red;"><b>So in layman's terms, ALUMINUM is:</b></span><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="color: red;"><b>Not permitted on lips</b></span></li>
<li><span style="color: red;"><b>Not permitted in bath bombs, bath salts, bath bubble bars, etc.</b></span></li>
</ol>
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It is hard to keep track of all the rules. We understand. We try hard to keep up on all of the color additive rules and regulations,keep you informed so you can comply with the FDA regulations. The FDA list all color additives that are approved for cosmetics and their safety applications. If you are having trouble deciphering what all of it means, feel free to email me at info(at)madoils(dot)com or contact the FDA.</div>
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To read more on FDA Regulations, see my other FDA blog post here: <a href="http://thesoapbar.blogspot.com/2017/04/fda-regulations-regarding-color.html" target="_blank">http://thesoapbar.blogspot.com/2017/04/fda-regulations-regarding-color.html</a></div>
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Keep your peeps safe and your reputation intact.<br />
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please feel free to try our <a href="https://www.madmicas.com/collections/glitter/products/sparkle-plenty-fluffy-glitter" target="_blank">Sparkle Plenty at Mad Micas</a> for a sparkle that is absolutely permitted by the FDA and deemed safe. </span></span></h4>
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Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-64376158006300871332017-11-01T17:47:00.000-04:002017-11-01T17:47:46.236-04:00Frosty Blue Sea Salt Soap Recipe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The trick to making salt soap is to use a multi-cavity silicone mold to pour your soap into because it will harden to what feels like a block of concrete and will be useless if not cut at the perfect temperature and timing is tricky and hot soap burns... ow... There was a time when I'd make a sea salt soap in a loaf pan and I'd put it in the oven and when it was "done" cooking, I'd have to remove it from the mold and cut it with a large butcher knife. This entailed holding the loaf to secure it while cutting with the other finger. I think I burned my fingerprints right off my fingertips! So now, I don't cook my salt soap, nor do I cut them! Now, I just use a multi-cavity silicone mold and pour. Wait 12 hours and unmold - - POP! Out they come. They don't fall apart, or burn my fingers and they are all pretty much uniform!</div>
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I have always loved sea salt bars. They have a creamy lather and the soap seems to last forever! Because salt inherently diminishes lather, we used <b>100% coconut oil</b> to get the biggest bang for the lather. Yes, a very cleansing bar of soap, but that is why we <b>superfatted it at 20%</b>. That counteracts the drying feeling that too much coconut oil can cause. If there is too much coconut oil in your batch of soap, you'll get lots of bubbles, but your skin will feel overly cleansed, or dry. This bar has the best of both worlds.... with some extra superfatting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkA_f65kHrwkR58TLL2GRaKIVx7sndiS5Vg0ToDFp_fl4N4Ih2sl6bEa1oHVXHLfeQp_1i5VqLnn_mbN7JtK4an5oy-lAXUSOBuy97dbLhq-Ful70pASL1NIaqGbwgovhdjHJd3gTZJXZC/s1600/aphrodite+blue+frosty+salt+bars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkA_f65kHrwkR58TLL2GRaKIVx7sndiS5Vg0ToDFp_fl4N4Ih2sl6bEa1oHVXHLfeQp_1i5VqLnn_mbN7JtK4an5oy-lAXUSOBuy97dbLhq-Ful70pASL1NIaqGbwgovhdjHJd3gTZJXZC/s640/aphrodite+blue+frosty+salt+bars.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you do not know how to make cold process soap, please do not attempt this until you have a full understanding of how the process works. A beginning tutorial can be found <a data-mce-href="http://thesoapbar.blogspot.com/2008/02/birch-barks-cold-process-soap-tutorial.html" href="http://thesoapbar.blogspot.com/2008/02/birch-barks-cold-process-soap-tutorial.html" title="Cold Process Soap Tutorial"><strong>here</strong> </a>or <a data-mce-href="http://www.lovinsoap.com/makesoap/" href="http://www.lovinsoap.com/makesoap/" title="Free ebook"><strong>here</strong> </a>for basic cold process soapmaking.</div>
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This is the recipe I used but you can adjust how much you make by putting in the number of ounces or lbs of oil you will use in Soapcalc.net:</div>
<ul style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">
<li>36 oz Coconut Oil</li>
<li>10.55 oz Distilled water</li>
<li>5.28 oz Lye</li>
<li>1.13 oz Fragrance (<em><a data-mce-href="https://arizona-mad-oils.com/collections/fragrance-oil/products/snow-witch-fragrance-oil" href="https://arizona-mad-oils.com/collections/fragrance-oil/products/snow-witch-fragrance-oil" target="_blank" title="Snow Witch Fragrance Oil">Snow Witch, available at Arizona Soap Supply</a></em>)</li>
<li>36 oz <a data-mce-href="https://www.madmicas.com/collections/botanicalsandadditives/products/sea-salt-fine" href="https://www.madmicas.com/collections/botanicalsandadditives/products/sea-salt-fine" title="Fine Sea Salt">Fine Sea Salt</a></li>
<li>8 grams <a data-mce-href="https://www.madmicas.com/collections/all-micas/products/aphrodite-blue-mica" href="https://www.madmicas.com/collections/all-micas/products/aphrodite-blue-mica" title="Aphrodite Blue Mica">Aphrodite Blue Mica</a> MAD MICAS (one sample jar)</li>
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I made this soap once the lye water and oils were both warm, but not at room temperature (about 100 degrees F). </div>
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In the melted warm (not hot) oils, add all the mica and blend with a silicone spatula until fully incorporated. Add the lye water and blend until emulsified until you reach a light trace. Add the sea salt and blend until fully blended and so that the salt is suspended and not resting at the bottom of your bowl. Add the fragrance last and blend well with your stick blender until fully incorporated.</div>
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Pour into silicone molds. Let sit overnight or for at least 12 hours. Pop out and let cure for 4-6 weeks. They turned out great and of course, I washed with a bit of a broken off piece and the lather is better than just creamy, there are lots of bubbles and the scent is intoxicating!</div>
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Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-82300759257654377112017-10-27T11:43:00.000-04:002017-10-27T11:43:05.308-04:00Halloween Inspiration Soap Porn<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sometimes as an artist it is hard to be inspired when work and life consumes. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and these inspire me completely! I found some Halloween soaps that make me swoon and want to smell candy corn, eat sticky apples and run through (fake) cobwebs!<br />
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Here are a bunch of beautiful soaps I found on Etsy this morning. Some are creepy, funny and all in the spirit of the Day Of The Dead:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2spSUpve-PGfYRiLIRtpWapsbatWpnmNbL23Qt03j42fH1V0VRsYL69-s4hBytbPtRd3F109SHIw5s6eRxd8JrHN6M43svJ-8OtcetoOodtrJTkA3QYaNN-kDKFKCdxB-jofiMoYokKgd/s1600/il_570xN.1370012747_pykg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="570" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2spSUpve-PGfYRiLIRtpWapsbatWpnmNbL23Qt03j42fH1V0VRsYL69-s4hBytbPtRd3F109SHIw5s6eRxd8JrHN6M43svJ-8OtcetoOodtrJTkA3QYaNN-kDKFKCdxB-jofiMoYokKgd/s640/il_570xN.1370012747_pykg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/111379419/zombie-fingers-soap-gross-dead-fingers?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=ZOMBIE%20halloween%20soap&ref=sr_gallery_12" target="_blank">ZOMBIE FINGERS - THE PURPLE HIPPY SHOP</a><br /><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXEu9lD5C_-vz_gQAAzd4MRtNFWhEbI4c5u1z4zp-RItCLtVnefvIDDmL8A9BMcffm9bZ50AM3lBqbvndgTZDBqqw2fbENwVL0wRZRwkBrbyhNIeCTecZtqNOuTjmjRhlRSndA7KJ0Mwm/s1600/rats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="570" height="603" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXEu9lD5C_-vz_gQAAzd4MRtNFWhEbI4c5u1z4zp-RItCLtVnefvIDDmL8A9BMcffm9bZ50AM3lBqbvndgTZDBqqw2fbENwVL0wRZRwkBrbyhNIeCTecZtqNOuTjmjRhlRSndA7KJ0Mwm/s640/rats.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/105827632/halloween-soap-rat-tail-soap-geek-gifts?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=halloween+soap&ref=sr_gallery_27&favorite_listing_id=105827632&show_panel=true" target="_blank">RAT TAIL SOAP - SUN BASIL GARDEN SOAP</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0l8Y4sUHpi5b1bj0sM35LQY8e8IWaQvwmbwzF2gY7CGJdq7E1rjfcJteaBG4RrhHa7ELYOVqp0dWcR7y9zhR-CRkkkr5ksEUwSHDeCS2MzR51p2vcI9zsCdE_b8eP2UEThsGaVbcQiLm7/s1600/il_570xN.1272240778_upva.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="570" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0l8Y4sUHpi5b1bj0sM35LQY8e8IWaQvwmbwzF2gY7CGJdq7E1rjfcJteaBG4RrhHa7ELYOVqp0dWcR7y9zhR-CRkkkr5ksEUwSHDeCS2MzR51p2vcI9zsCdE_b8eP2UEThsGaVbcQiLm7/s640/il_570xN.1272240778_upva.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/537763254/creepy-crawlers-soap-shots-halloween?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=halloween%20soap&ref=sr_gallery_30" target="_blank">CREEPY CRAWLERS SOAP SHOTS - B SWEET SOAP</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4M_E_hytv2kXwn4tPKpziDYJ1LARqQBZjYBOVhywGSRNk2D09hNXgXxQ6Tn0ooTa5LP2RUxXxOrVejFZdosv_p49BO-eqlEWYeSSqSqWNEXfcRrZntj5F5DLZrdBnJ7BQE-tJHRE3MeX/s1600/il_570xN.829208839_6a3y.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="570" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4M_E_hytv2kXwn4tPKpziDYJ1LARqQBZjYBOVhywGSRNk2D09hNXgXxQ6Tn0ooTa5LP2RUxXxOrVejFZdosv_p49BO-eqlEWYeSSqSqWNEXfcRrZntj5F5DLZrdBnJ7BQE-tJHRE3MeX/s640/il_570xN.829208839_6a3y.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/247036962/zombie-apocalypse-soap-loaf-walking-dead?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=halloween%20soap&ref=sr_gallery_44" target="_blank">ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE - AJ SWEET SOAP</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuhRinEMu7yaahQUdJbQP3b9IeSJyATgR558Q0y7PXJdl1TB0gdRFaFgvOlkbcS6v_lJfygz3hu_I_V9Bp4SOK9tvdEBy67Z5RKVQ4cI_c62OQ0YynujuBhpECWWv2n89fBsqg7tZozMv/s1600/il_570xN.1246136386_6fi0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="570" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuhRinEMu7yaahQUdJbQP3b9IeSJyATgR558Q0y7PXJdl1TB0gdRFaFgvOlkbcS6v_lJfygz3hu_I_V9Bp4SOK9tvdEBy67Z5RKVQ4cI_c62OQ0YynujuBhpECWWv2n89fBsqg7tZozMv/s640/il_570xN.1246136386_6fi0.jpg" width="490" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/530931374/hand-painted-living-dead-zombie-soap?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=ZOMBIE%20halloween%20soap&ref=sr_gallery_30" target="_blank">LIVING DEAD ZOMBIE - FIZZ POP FUN</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbU9UP4cOIcTOoESftabx7iVMmAzKwg1WYTeoVWuBV0fdPQ-kvoo9Alzl3j3s5cMR1T5i8dTO3eArU3-1nF0kfTG6DPNQCnU46Zw8IeYx2XCGKfeB5VGeXKejO3AuFbFyCuJdYKhpRDvh2/s1600/il_570xN.1068278148_dymg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="570" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbU9UP4cOIcTOoESftabx7iVMmAzKwg1WYTeoVWuBV0fdPQ-kvoo9Alzl3j3s5cMR1T5i8dTO3eArU3-1nF0kfTG6DPNQCnU46Zw8IeYx2XCGKfeB5VGeXKejO3AuFbFyCuJdYKhpRDvh2/s640/il_570xN.1068278148_dymg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/399220905/michael-myers-halloween-soap?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=halloween%20soap&ref=sr_gallery_25" target="_blank">MICHAEL MYERS - SICK SOAPS</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxpcCTvaQxaOf7Oct-hUQNRJ1QdX4z9Q4WTPK42MeZVQPNff1Eil_SOj8K6nPf0BmJKea6Cn_nSYOUql7jd44AXe8yrlUJ4wPcnHLHmO4GRJ8HHddEoP5lbWNuROlykxGNOhCSW96foHm/s1600/il_570xN.1024081097_sr4i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="570" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxpcCTvaQxaOf7Oct-hUQNRJ1QdX4z9Q4WTPK42MeZVQPNff1Eil_SOj8K6nPf0BmJKea6Cn_nSYOUql7jd44AXe8yrlUJ4wPcnHLHmO4GRJ8HHddEoP5lbWNuROlykxGNOhCSW96foHm/s640/il_570xN.1024081097_sr4i.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/294358301/abby-normal-brain-specimen-soap-mason?ref=shop_home_active_44" target="_blank">ABBY NORMAL BRAIN SPECIMEN - SICK SOAPS</a></td></tr>
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Which one is YOUR favorite? What spooky soaps are you making?</div>
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xo</div>
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Jo</div>
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Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-28696706846191334942017-06-19T20:26:00.002-04:002017-06-19T20:39:14.982-04:00Summer Blue Handmade Soap<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've been missing browsing for hours looking for beautiful soaps to admire. Today marks a week of rain and clouds, not to mention the oppressive humidity here in south Florida, so the browsing has upped my spirits.<br />
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Thank you to all the incredible soap/bath & body making artists that brought me solace. Here are a few that stood out for me especially. ;)<br />
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<a href="https://bathhousesoap.com/collections/soap-by-the-slice/products/gypsy-soap" target="_blank">Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium</a>, <i>gypsy soap </i></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/115383250/loofah-soap-soap-in-teal-for-her-for-him?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=teal%20handmade%20soap&ref=sr_gallery_4" target="_blank">The Charming Frog</a>, <i>loofah soap</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/80219536/handmade-glycerin-soap-island-breeze?ref=related-3" target="_blank">The Pig and the Peacock</a>, <i>island breeze</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/520756477/handmade-soap-azure-blue-artisan-soap?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=blue%20handmade%20soap&ref=sr_gallery_20" target="_blank">The Lathered Lamb</a><i>, azure blue soap</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/490231472/blue-geode-soap-gem-soap-citrus-soap?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=blue%20handmade%20soap&ref=sr_gallery_15" target="_blank">Nature Nurture Soap</a>, <i>blue geode soap</i></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/491686757/greek-sea-salt-soap-with-cambrian-blue?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=blue%20handmade%20soap&ref=sr_gallery_47" target="_blank">Elixirium</a><i>, greek sea salt soap</i></div>
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<a href="https://auntieclaras.com/gallery/" target="_blank">Auntie Clara</a><i>, ballsy</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jogCfelVDn3m52H8OzhHhnmEItC2fdwwji3-Yu93nbjePSU3hY1ONPZ9rXIcYA0WHiQF_EWNi6Ntem7pETAXgWjjj6uqEBu_g8Lt16R_bzDB4kX1IfLkM5anJrp73DTKcyHvgGJA6Sai/s1600/soap54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="570" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4jogCfelVDn3m52H8OzhHhnmEItC2fdwwji3-Yu93nbjePSU3hY1ONPZ9rXIcYA0WHiQF_EWNi6Ntem7pETAXgWjjj6uqEBu_g8Lt16R_bzDB4kX1IfLkM5anJrp73DTKcyHvgGJA6Sai/s640/soap54.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/512829040/lavender-soap-essential-oil-soap?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=blue%20soap&ref=sr_gallery_15" target="_blank">Soap 54</a>, <i>lavender soap</i></div>
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<i><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/529618413/deep-blue-sea-bath-salt-bath-salt-ocean?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=salt%20soap%20blue&ref=sr_gallery_1" target="_blank"><br /></a></i></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/529618413/deep-blue-sea-bath-salt-bath-salt-ocean?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=salt%20soap%20blue&ref=sr_gallery_1" target="_blank">F and L Company</a>, <i>deep blue sea salts</i></div>
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Go check out some of these artists and support handmade! </div>
Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-65218083589192797722017-04-19T14:00:00.001-04:002017-12-01T17:32:12.493-05:00FDA Regulations Regarding Color Additives In Cosmetics <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I have been corresponding with the Director of Color Certification & Technology Division at the FDA regarding exactly what is legal to use in Bath Bombs</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> specifically. We (at </span><a href="https://www.madmicas.com/" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;" target="_blank">Mad Micas</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">) carry Batch Certified Lakes and we carry neon pigments. There seems to be some confusion regarding whether the use of neons in bath bombs is within the FDA regulations. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These are my findings:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Bath bombs, bath salts and nail polish are regulated as cosmetics</b> so they should only contain FDA approved color additives. You must check the uses and restrictions for <i>each </i>approved color additive. Refer to the list of approved color additives. <u>If you don’t see the color on this list it is not permitted in the U.S.:</u></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/Labeling/IngredientNames/ucm109084.htm">https://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/Labeling/IngredientNames/ucm109084.htm</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">If the color additive is only allowed for external use, then it is not allowed in lip products or bath salts/bombs. Please see the definition of external use in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 Part 70.3(v):</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>§70.3 Definitions.</i></span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>……</i></span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>(v) The terms externally applied drugs and externally applied cosmetics mean drugs or cosmetics applied only to external parts of the body and not to the lips or any body surface covered by mucous membrane.</i></span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><u>Regarding neon pigments or other pigment blends:</u></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">If the dye or lake, such as Yellow 5, Red 28, Red 40, etc. is not from a certified lot, then the pigment blend is not permitted in FDA regulated products. It may be okay in Europe or Asia, but in the U.S. it is not allowed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">In layman's terms, if you use an approved color additive in your bath bomb, it must be batch certified. Period. Neons are not permitted at all unless the blend uses FDA batch certified dyes or lakes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Micas, on the other hand, are not regulated by the FDA even if they are cosmetic grade and <i>can </i>be used in any bath products unless they contain ultramarines or chromium green oxide. Cosmetic micas can be used in cosmetics depending on their ingredients (depending on if they are lip and eye safe, etc.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I hope this has cleared up some fuzzy areas when making bath bombs or nail polish for sale and staying within the FDA regulations regarding these products. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<b><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Please see an </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">updated (and more bath bomb specific) <a href="https://www.madmicas.com/blogs/news/fda-regulations-what-colors-are-allowed-in-bath-bombs" target="_blank">blog post here</a>.</span></b></div>
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Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-40621940401768650042017-02-09T17:18:00.002-05:002017-02-09T17:18:22.295-05:00For The Newbie Soap Maker: Safety Precautions and Warnings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There is a lot of misinformation out here in the soap world and it has become clear to me that many people will take the advice in a DIY video and just make soap without looking into getting some safety information. There are a lot of things that are dangerous about cold process soapmaking if certain safety precautions aren't taken. <br />
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Making a basic soap is actually easy to do and anyone can do it as long as basic steps are taken and a general knowledge of chemicals being used are clearly understood. This is not a tutorial on what soap is or what superfatting is or the chemical science behind it all, although all of these things are important to learn before you make soap, but I am simply focusing on safety and ease of this process.<br />
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I have listed a link to a cold process tutorial with photos along with some resources and MUST READS at the bottom of this post so you can read some excellent descriptions and words of wisdom from excellent master soapers I believe are trustworthy and will provide you with free, solid information.<br />
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Let's look at some simple truths that one must understand before diving into making cold process (CP) soap:<br />
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1. Lye is caustic. If you use it, know that it can be dangerous if you aren't careful, but it won't bite you and shouldn't scare you off as long as you follow the rules. Here are basic rules:</div>
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<li>Wear latex, rubber or nitrile gloves while handling lye, whether it's dry or in your water/lye mixture. Lye will sting and burn if it touches you. Yes, it hurts.</li>
<li>Wear safety goggles over your eyes, even if you already wear glasses. Eyes are beautiful and they help us navigate this life of ours. Kind of a big deal, so protect those eyeballs <b><u>always</u></b>. No need to take any chances of blinding yourself. So wear them. No excuses!</li>
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2. Use an online soap calculator. I use SOAP CALC, but there are others and I think all of them are free. Here is a link: <a href="http://soapcalc.net/calc/soapcalcwp.asp">http://soapcalc.net/calc/soapcalcwp.asp</a><br />
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If you are just starting out you will need to first figure out how much soap you are making and what mold or container you will be putting it in. Now this is all personal preference. You can skip purchasing expensive molds at first while you make a number of practice soaps in everyday containers that are pliable, such as Gladware disposable "tupperware". These can be used several times before they become useless, so choose any size. They are easy to clean, easy to unmold your soap and are inexpensive and easily accessible. Also, while you are buying plastic food containers, grab a heavy weight plastic pitcher to make your lye/water mixture or use one from home, that you label "LYE-POISON!" on and never use it for food or drinks again.<br />
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You will be using lye, also known as sodium hydroxide, which, in the Soap Calculator is NaOH (the chemical name for lye).<br />
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<b>In section #1,</b> choose NaOH. Then you need to determine your batch size in oils. I would start with 1 lb of oils. Making a smaller sized batch than that is more difficult to do without the experience of using your stick blender and you may end up with too many bubbles or splashing.... Remember, this post is designed for the absolute beginner. Before you get the hang of your tools and how they work on different speeds, the rotation of your stick and air bubbling in melted oils, etc, it is probably easier to stick with this sized batch at first. </div>
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Once you decide on your batch size, enter it in <b>#2</b> of the calc. <br />
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<b>Section #3 </b>will determine the concentration of your lye to oil. Choose the "Water: Lye Concentration": Enter 2:1. This means that you will use twice as much water as lye which is a good place to start. If your lye in water concentration is more concentrated, your soap may go to trace faster than you may want and right now, you probably just want to make soap without panicking. </div>
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<b>Section #4</b> is named: Superfat. Because this may be your first soap, and the batch will be on the small side, I would start at the default 5% or 6%. I prefer my soaps to be around 8-9% superfat which is more moisturizing than 5%, but the soap may be a bit softer and harder to unmold after 12-24 hours. Trust me when I tell you, that when your soap is cooled off completely, you will want to pop it out of that Gladware and cut it to see the magic you just created way before it gets to the cooling point. It is very satisfying to have created an actual soap from a dangerous powder, some water and some oils. It is massively addictive once you see what that chemical reaction creates, and that YOU made it.<br />
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Now you get to choose your oils. Again, this is your first soap and will most likely NOT be your last, so don't concern yourself too much about the properties of your oils for a magnificent bar. You will have plenty of time to learn about the different qualities each oil brings to the table of soap, but this is your test batch. You can use lard, sunflower oil, canola oil, Crisco, olive oil and/or coconut oil or any variation of any of these if you want ...all of these can be purchased at your grocery store. Enter which oils you will be using and at what percentages. For instance, Coconut oil: 30%, Olive oil: 40%, Sunflower oil: 30%<br />
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"Calculate" your recipe and click on <u>View and Print Recipe</u> which will open up a new tab for you to print out and follow exact measurements for your soap. It is crucial that you follow the exact measurements that the calculator provides. I always follow the gram measurements so that my soap is exactly what the recipe calls for so that if I am not happy with my end result, I can tweak my recipe based on the end result.<br />
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Thing to always remember:<br />
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1. When mixing your lye and water: Never add the water to the lye. Always add the lye to the water. Please wear a surgical mask or avoid the "steam" that is caused when the two mix together. Do not breath the steam into your lungs. It hurts and it isn't good for you.<br />
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2. When letting the lye/water mixture cool to room temperature, always put it out of reach of children or pets and make sure the container is properly labeled as poison in case you leave the room and someone else touches it. Avoid any mishaps that can end up with permanent damage.<br />
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Again, soapmaking is fun, addictive and creates a functional art, but can be dangerous if you don't take the proper precautions. Don't be scared. Wear goggles (even if you wear glasses!), gloves and clothes while doing every step and read the following articles and you should have a safe and fun experience. Who know?! Your second batch of soap could change your life! It only took two batches for me and I was hooked. It seems to be a common feeling among soap makers: that it is an addictive, empowering process. <br />
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So read up and have fun!<br />
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Once you've made your soap and decide that it is for YOU, then swing by Facebook and join our group called Soaper's Retreat and get involved in the community of other soapers: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/soapersretreat/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/soapersretreat/</a><br />
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">IMPORTANT RESOURCES:</span></u><br />
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<b>1. Cold Process Soap Tutorial with photographs:</b><br />
<a href="http://thesoapbar.blogspot.com/2008/02/birch-barks-cold-process-soap-tutorial.html">http://thesoapbar.blogspot.com/2008/02/birch-barks-cold-process-soap-tutorial.html</a><br />
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2. Amanda Gail Aaron's <i>Lovin Soap</i> website is an invaluable resource you will want to use when learning about soapmaking. A basic cold process <b>soapmaking guide</b> is here: http://www.lovinsoap.com/cold-process-soap-making-guide/ Read it. Also, she has an article that lists <b>oils and their properties in soap</b>: <a href="http://www.lovinsoap.com/oils-chart/">http://www.lovinsoap.com/oils-chart/</a></div>
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3. Kenna Cote's <i>Modern Soapmaking</i> article is an explanation of <b>what makes a good, balanced soap</b> bar: <a href="http://www.modernsoapmaking.com/secret-to-the-best-soap-recipe">http://www.modernsoapmaking.com/secret-to-the-best-soap-recipe</a>/</div>
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4. Information on <b>superfatting</b>, read David Fisher's <i>Candle and Soap</i> on About.com explanation here in detail: <a href="http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/soapmakingbasics/ht/htsuperfat.htm" target="_blank">http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/soapmakingbasics/ht/htsuperfat.htm </a></div>
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Have fun!</div>
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Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-67201966633690844982016-10-29T18:02:00.000-04:002016-10-29T18:02:39.220-04:00Reinventing Myself<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There isn't a way to reinvent myself without blips, wrinkles or road bumps. Of course it will take time and energy and a lot of hard work to unravel myself...to put myself together mindfully...thoughtfully. There isn't an easy 5 step program that can tell me what to do to be successful or happy. Time and a lot of insightful self discovery can mean one thing; that growth is inevitable if I keep my eyes open.<br />
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I've learned a lot over the past 9 years writing this blog. I know I haven't been present here much for a few years. Life. That's really it. Life happened and my need to write and connect dissipated, and my need for it came in ebbs and flows. <br />
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A little about my life; I grew up in Brooklyn, New York to a family that was broken before I was even born. My youngest memories are filled with magic among the fog of tension that existed at home. Oh I felt the bad deeply, but I found my own kind of magic, whether it stemmed from coping with misery or if I was just a creative little girl, stuck in a sad cycle. I had amazing friendships as a young girl in Brooklyn. Wonderful memories fill my head with thoughts of friends (some lost, some gone forever) and our intimate times together. Every summer, I visited my grandparents in the mountains of North Carolina. That's where most of my childhood magic happened. I had freedom to explore the creeks, forests, pastures and gravel windy roads, play in wonderment and create my own fantasies and realities. The trips to the local library in my grandmother's convertible Camaro, top down, wind through our hair was one of my fondest memories. And the smell of the library and the sound of the crinkly plastic covers on all the books brought me great comfort.<br />
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My mind often runs off to Black Mountain and the wholesome, plentiful times I experienced every August. And so. And so, I sit here, 40 years later, wishing to tap into some of the good and magical moments spattered through my life, and especially in the mountains, so that I can gain some inspiration. If I am to reinvent my person, which I am already knee deep into, which direction do I go?<br />
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I immediately think that I must tap into my creativity because great knowledge has emerged from doing my art. I have dabbled in printmaking, ceramics, photography and making soap. I don't make soap anymore since starting my new company. I just don't have the time to get back in the groove.<br />
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Okay, that has to be bull. I AM a very busy woman. I run a company.... wear 500 hats at <i>least</i>, and my home life is busy, but I realize that if something is important to me, I have to make time for it. It's true for everyone. I can browse Facebook, Instagram, YouTube....for fun, inspiration and to fill my void... but the reality is that if I took a portion of that time looking at what OTHERS do, and I used it to invest in MY work/art/moving on.....then I will FEEL good. At least better. "Good" may take time to sit right there on my shoulder, but it feels like the right step. The first step.<br />
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Here goes. <br />
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The first thing I have to do is get my eyes checked. Hit 45 years old and stopped being able to focus on anything. Got glasses and now, a year later, I can't see the details of anything anymore. Not only is that frustrating when taking photographs, but downright impossible to feel good doing it if I can't see clearly. That is my Step One!<br />
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Step Two: Write in this blog more. <br />
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Step Three: Crack open my stone walls and TRUST there is still wonderment and innocence inside and set it FREE.<br />
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Step Four: Evaluate<br />
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Step Five: Unknown at this time...<br />
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Let me say something about something:<br />
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<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>I have never claimed to be a writer.</li>
<li>I am Grammatical Error Queen. I own that title, so try not to evaluate my errors. You will become tired and bored. I type what I think and I rarely look back or edit. I write from the hip. Is that a term? I do that.</li>
<li>I do not assume anyone sees the value in what I say. This isn't to say I don't care. I do. But this blog starts here. With me. So you will have to decide whether to take me or leave me. In my journey to be the best me I can be, I really understand I will never please everyone all the time. It helps to focus more on goals when I realized that notion. Common sense makes the thought available, but it is much harder to implement. Easy to see. Not to do.</li>
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Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-49296858579384459372016-10-10T16:22:00.001-04:002016-10-11T16:51:13.832-04:00Soap Dough Art Through The Eyes of Bee Iyata... she took my hand and led me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Bee Iyata of Sorcery Soap has touched me yet again with her eerie insight. I first noticed Bee’s work over a year ago… images of her colorful and expressive enchanting creatures.</div>
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Perhaps it was my deep love for my childhood book, The Velveteen Rabbit and the magical and emotional presence I felt when reading it. Bee Iyata unknowingly touched my inner child and sparked wonder and excitement every time I saw her images.</div>
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Bee’s Soap Dough book “The Enchanted Book of Peculiar Ideas and Soap Potions” contains recipes and tool suggestions so you can create 3D images to adhere or insert into your soap. That is probably why you are reading it. But let me tell you that those things, the tools of her trade, are only a tiny aspect of the enchanted book’s contents. Bee writes in depth about inner presence, the state of mind and guides the reader to find their Muse. Pure wisdom exudes from the very pages to gently bring us to the very place as an artist before we set out on the path of trying to hand mold soap.</div>
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She clearly is one of the most thoughtful, patient and insightful artists of our time. I would recommend this book to any artist of any medium…a book that can offer structure and gentle guidance to help free our minds and encourage walking with the Fairies and magic that our inner art can possess.</div>
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Your creativity may be frozen in a state of sheer fear. Bee can help you break that barrier and set it free. Let her hold your hand through the Magical Forest.</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">You can order her EBOOK by hitting the BUY NOW button below.</span><span style="color: blue;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><a class="ec_ejc_thkbx" href="https://www.e-junkie.com/ecom/gb.php?ii=1511999&cl=317327&c=cart&ejc=2&aff=317701" target="ej_ejc"><img alt="Buy Now" border="0" src="https://www.e-junkie.com/ej/ej_buy_now.gif" /></a></span></span></div>
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Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-57189098918845495132016-07-28T16:35:00.000-04:002016-07-29T11:45:58.896-04:00Pull Up Your Chair ToThe Black Bomb Bar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I think I have a little fascination with black bath bombs. Why would one want to bathe in black or dark water of any kind.... then I started thinking that activated charcoal water with other skin loving ingredients could feel GREAT! And why not? Who's taking notes or giving one hoot about having to clean lightly after a bath. I, for one, would love to try them. I think the photo below of someone actually IN a bath after the bomb fizzed away is alluring and I now want a hot bath filled with black water. Bring it on!</div>
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I chose a few "makers" and their bombs from Etsy and ... well .... you could call it BLACK BOMB PORN.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMtuoEsek41JHRU-C-i7bERQ8ToRe2ntHIQcDKFvCW9Q8kpx2wXhsGV3MgZbtFLB0ZGn68yOQCJkM4farzK_d7ITDkgcs7fxZ42zF_4Kg3hCAxeAAnV9gZLmQCDKiz11F1lSClcuEgN51/s1600/black+bath+bomb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMtuoEsek41JHRU-C-i7bERQ8ToRe2ntHIQcDKFvCW9Q8kpx2wXhsGV3MgZbtFLB0ZGn68yOQCJkM4farzK_d7ITDkgcs7fxZ42zF_4Kg3hCAxeAAnV9gZLmQCDKiz11F1lSClcuEgN51/s400/black+bath+bomb.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Black Bath Bombs?!?! BBB: Bodacious Black Beauties.</span><br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TickTickBloom?ref=l2-shopheader-name" target="_blank">Tick Tick Bloom</a>. A creative duo making the biggest bath bombs I have ever seen. Their photographs are <b><i>on point</i></b> and the size of the bombs are beyond my fantastically wildest dreams.<br />
Best friends and biz partners... band together for a colorful bomb business. They grabbed MY attention and you should check them out! They sell on Etsy and there BIG BOMB is $20.00, but I bet it's worth it. Too steep for my current budget, but they are on my list of things to buy! :)<br />
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Others I saw also made me want to sell my soul in order to get a hold of them..... Such as these.... yum...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbg0dSz2LIdj57F840Y4M4LPF8dIKGDDcGCbE10Z-HSfA6HM52Ds4PABF0XCP5Kmil7ecBFkAX4vXd8IiOsNQgEewdt0nY3QbcW9TQeTaa338QCt8Rk3shvE-IPVAoLPm8kutYO-bwQoPR/s1600/Universe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbg0dSz2LIdj57F840Y4M4LPF8dIKGDDcGCbE10Z-HSfA6HM52Ds4PABF0XCP5Kmil7ecBFkAX4vXd8IiOsNQgEewdt0nY3QbcW9TQeTaa338QCt8Rk3shvE-IPVAoLPm8kutYO-bwQoPR/s400/Universe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Universe Bath Bomb by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/387523774/universe-bath-bomb-black-bath-bomb-dark?ref=shop_home_active_6" target="_blank">Kiyi Kiyi</a> is another eye catcher!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh535zN08FvJdKcTSOgTaDpnZzLIZ92AOQrXqK3b5llaNWMhyphenhyphenBZSvP-DLfjI68xL0eY0z3uNhxr9bkwt_UivmOX99_VOjX7P_Y6whRczH-xEDa8JNp-soCXNNXyRpepe81YPFJvz6qNkEsj/s1600/gold+and+black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh535zN08FvJdKcTSOgTaDpnZzLIZ92AOQrXqK3b5llaNWMhyphenhyphenBZSvP-DLfjI68xL0eY0z3uNhxr9bkwt_UivmOX99_VOjX7P_Y6whRczH-xEDa8JNp-soCXNNXyRpepe81YPFJvz6qNkEsj/s400/gold+and+black.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/386793298/black-foaming-bath-bomb-gold-shimmer?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=black%20bath%20bomb%20glitter&ref=sr_gallery_42" target="_blank">CrystalMaeCreations </a>has a bath bomb offered has a regal, dark, goth appeal to it. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsmn6BzS-FWdJZAwUyG61KiBeXXKAp8nOcTahpfmY1CMUlt22oRqW8gvcb7mMGqzguIsG7t-YVChm6XGHuGC9IG25VuE3IMRfyYJL0pGrwOi1t2-oc-G2gy6sgsrp4zkiMo0yv226Jclv/s1600/multiple+black+bombs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsmn6BzS-FWdJZAwUyG61KiBeXXKAp8nOcTahpfmY1CMUlt22oRqW8gvcb7mMGqzguIsG7t-YVChm6XGHuGC9IG25VuE3IMRfyYJL0pGrwOi1t2-oc-G2gy6sgsrp4zkiMo0yv226Jclv/s400/multiple+black+bombs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/293789383/black-bath-bomb-bubble-bath-bomb-glitter?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=fun%20bath%20bomb&ref=sr_gallery_2" target="_blank">SouthernBelleSoap </a>has a bunch with different sparkly glitters to go with all there black bomb offerings!<br />
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I love the photography in the next one, a bunch!! Love the rustic wood table with the naked hand holding the bomb. Nice product shot!! This one is Black Gothic by <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/401090229/black-gothic-bath-bomb-all-natural-bath?ref=listing-shop-header-1" target="_blank">ParadiseSkinClub</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqWYJ3jtRNDt2QLwHkjJcRxKQTrlzz2ei2NGjzr8ctbwWL4qCwaIjedyIzIMCUG9c9Adry086cSCikwUGAf6MQTK2mUhGCJjhpp2wwMXhFIfGH-twXY3GV1bA6H63hoG_A1AbGUCuodyH/s1600/hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqWYJ3jtRNDt2QLwHkjJcRxKQTrlzz2ei2NGjzr8ctbwWL4qCwaIjedyIzIMCUG9c9Adry086cSCikwUGAf6MQTK2mUhGCJjhpp2wwMXhFIfGH-twXY3GV1bA6H63hoG_A1AbGUCuodyH/s400/hands.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now I will grab one of these, although hard to choose.... I will have a black bath soon, I tell ya! <br />
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xoxo Joanna</div>
Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-48468610776106380742016-04-20T14:00:00.000-04:002016-04-20T14:17:21.764-04:00The Cuppa Jo Challenge Winners<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Cuppa Jo Soap Challenge had three beautiful entries and three beautiful winners! The Challenge was described in the previous post, but here is an excerpt:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">Since I've moved into my new place, I often wake up before sunset, take my fresh coffee and walk, in my pajamas and slippers, to the Intercoastal Waterway/Lake Worth Lagoon, which is only one block from my new place. I love the salty breeze that wafts into my face and through my short hair..... while I listen to the small waves slapping against the concrete ledge I sit on. Within minutes, the black sky turns twilight blue and from the horizon, emerges orange and pink colors.</span></span></span><br />
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<span 21.56px="" background-color:="" line-height:="" style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;" white="">It has been a new experience living near the water and enjoying the sunrises I get to witness when I sit out there and ponder life's curves, dips and surprises.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">This one may be hard because I'd really like you to tap into your creative mind and try not to be too literal in your interpretations (if you CAN).</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">I want all of you to design and <u>interpret in your own way</u>, my morning cup of coffee at the Lagoon.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;" /></b></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.56px;">If I were to participate in this challenge, I'd start of with a layer of soap mixed with sea clay or mud with superfine coffee grounds (this would represent the concrete ledge I sit on). I'd then make an orange to pink ombre technique. But that's just me.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsrqvqxq8y1VVQRbdyIoQC_pOeWclXaTpPH5SxUsm5ORESQh-H4MsdcWaEuG-ZTClgFUb3x0zpSrqIjp2nLWbwynvzmE-RV8zwYMpykKcJ1RdwhNJ96HFX9I0k1aI55rlle0c6EzyJbxJ/s1600/Janel+Gruber+cuppa+jochallenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsrqvqxq8y1VVQRbdyIoQC_pOeWclXaTpPH5SxUsm5ORESQh-H4MsdcWaEuG-ZTClgFUb3x0zpSrqIjp2nLWbwynvzmE-RV8zwYMpykKcJ1RdwhNJ96HFX9I0k1aI55rlle0c6EzyJbxJ/s640/Janel+Gruber+cuppa+jochallenge.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>JANEL GRUBER-STEVENS, Colorado, USA</b></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px;">"Okay, here is my interpretation of Jo drinking her coffee in her new place. (a little background first - this has ocean critters, but smells of grapefruit, coconut and tropical goodness)...</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As <a class="profileLink" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1302143079&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A334173340109450%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/joannaschmidt" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Joanna</a> walks out onto the terrace of her new place with cup in hand, and looks out to the sand, ocean and sea, and smells the crispness of the citrus, coconut that is Florida (ha, don't know just guessing here that that's what FL smells like) she sees all the critters of<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"> the sea. Dolphins, sea turtles, sea horses, and tropical fish rising to the top of the ocean to greet her for the sunrise, while just under the crashing waves there is turmoil in the sea, but the sandy bottom is calm. Mixed in with the creatures, there are a few shells because they have to get stirred up and taken to the beach somehow, right? </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"></span></i></span><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><i><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And as she is most every morning at sunrise -- she is at peace...</span></i></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i><i><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And as she is most every morning at sunrise -- she is at peace...</span></i></i></span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHU-796DqwuDIR9j8akB8Z7LcRtoLrtx2nJZ2CO6oBz4M93GLpzlXxu-LNf_8XvJ9WHLu6X3C14njEak3g-XwR9Yu_IfiH6BDd4tRrIbSMIvrFOX1HakDGX3UqkfvqIR5_iHsYioUFXvC/s1600/cuppa+jo+challenge+-Havlice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHU-796DqwuDIR9j8akB8Z7LcRtoLrtx2nJZ2CO6oBz4M93GLpzlXxu-LNf_8XvJ9WHLu6X3C14njEak3g-XwR9Yu_IfiH6BDd4tRrIbSMIvrFOX1HakDGX3UqkfvqIR5_iHsYioUFXvC/s640/cuppa+jo+challenge+-Havlice.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">BRENDA MERRICK-HAVLICE, California, USA</span></b><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"<span style="line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;">At the Intercoastal Cafe and Reflection Center we strive to cleanse our minds and enjoy each sip life has to offer. We manifest our intention to allow our souls to bubble forth with all the promise of a new day!</span></span></i></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="line-height: 19.32px; text-align: start;"></span></i><i><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="line-height: 19.32px;">Goat milk salt bar with coffee grounds, scented with a blend of espresso and sea spray. <b>Mad Oils micas:</b> <b>Tahitian Teal, Neon Orange, Neon Pink</b> </span></span></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i></i><i>(note to self: double check which salt you pull off the shelf... Dead Sea Salt results in a gloopy mess and a need to start over...)"</i></span></blockquote>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>RACHAEL BROWER, Montana, USA</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px;"><i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">"The smell brings you in, coffee, mocha, espresso, the grit, the bluster of the wind, the wake me up caffeine of it all in one bar, a coffee flavored world. Here is my soap Cafe Mocha, made with cocoa, brewed coffee, and coffee grounds" </span></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thanks, you three, for participating! </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because there is a lack of entries for the last couple of Soap Challenges, there is really no way I can continue doing them right now, while I am so busy at Mad Oils. So....I would love some participation regarding photo tutorials made for this blog or a blog post on ingredients or processes....etc. Hit me up jo@madoils(dot)com.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">peace</span></span><br />
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Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-16896505777577500772016-03-15T19:01:00.001-04:002016-03-15T19:04:51.228-04:00Cuppa Jo Sunrise Challenge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have been neglecting the challenges for WAY TOO LONG. I have to offer my sincere apology for the major delay in fun. Mad Oils has exploded and not only are we understaffed, but between seasonal colds and unforeseen employee childcare issues, we have had quite a time keeping up with the floods of orders (which <b>we love</b>! Thanks to all our loyal customers!) So having been a bit overwhelmed at work and tirelessly navigating my personal life and continuing to improve on myself....<i>I have been a very bad blogger, and I am sorry.... :(</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I challenge you <b style="font-style: italic;">up</b>, baby!</span><br />
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Since I've moved into my new place, I often wake up before sunset, take my fresh coffee and walk, in my pajamas and slippers, to the Intercoastal Waterway/Lake Worth Lagoon, which is only one block from my new place. I love the salty breeze that wafts into my face and through my short hair..... while I listen to the small waves slapping against the concrete ledge I sit on. Within minutes, the black sky turns twilight blue and from the horizon, emerges orange and pink colors.<br />
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It has been a new experience living near the water and enjoying the sunrises I get to witness when I sit out there and ponder life's curves, dips and surprises. <br />
<br />
This one may be hard because I'd really like you to tap into your creative mind and try not to be too literal in your interpretations (if you CAN).<br />
<br />
<b>I want all of you to design and <u>interpret in your own way</u>, my morning cup of coffee at the Lagoon.</b><br />
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If I were to participate in this challenge, I'd start of with a layer of soap mixed with sea clay or mud with superfine coffee grounds (this would represent the concrete ledge I sit on). I'd then make an orange to pink ombre technique. Ombre is a gradual GRADIENT change from one color to the next.....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZvr6aqLIaoqtpJfNzIrPef0JeYDZxlgen293heqFtZ1y9EOTsMe-RbW_AdXIbyd2nxButg0w0HRI6oAUz_e-L9mpL4I7oapRihWUQU_jX3sKjo2xu9MEWLDwTOmNlfCsF_4Bf1RmhgvG/s1600/ombre+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZvr6aqLIaoqtpJfNzIrPef0JeYDZxlgen293heqFtZ1y9EOTsMe-RbW_AdXIbyd2nxButg0w0HRI6oAUz_e-L9mpL4I7oapRihWUQU_jX3sKjo2xu9MEWLDwTOmNlfCsF_4Bf1RmhgvG/s320/ombre+cake.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
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<i>{You can see<b> <a href="http://thesoapbar.blogspot.com/2012/07/gradient-soap-tutorial-emily-shieh.html" target="_blank">the tutorial that was posted here on The Soap Bar Blog in 2012</a>. </b> The tutorial was written by Emily Shieh of Shieh Design Studios.}</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnyXoNpGhQl5epq0FIjpW_6tQU0KE8kpWnGgdqmwvpTz0tf9ioxDBo0v9xUPLiyBn08Lu95OKOmUON7D7-hak1E02scwEVWuyN3LNe7Z98MR0bjHx2Yb6ThpgFD-VFHggqX0zuAwVs7kA/s1600/IMG_7032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnyXoNpGhQl5epq0FIjpW_6tQU0KE8kpWnGgdqmwvpTz0tf9ioxDBo0v9xUPLiyBn08Lu95OKOmUON7D7-hak1E02scwEVWuyN3LNe7Z98MR0bjHx2Yb6ThpgFD-VFHggqX0zuAwVs7kA/s640/IMG_7032.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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I think I would take some dark mica and mix into a cup of soap batter and pour it in <i>blips </i>and <i>plops </i>from high up, so it reaches close to the bottom of the first layer. One of those <i>bloops </i>would represent me, a figure. In the photo below shows some designs from the soap I "<i>blooped</i>".</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQZ0BmqyLZGZB1Fn6SDTnrBNYIS1xdvbR88aODpA7eQoZuM2K0WMvD0a5I6OG37gFAQiTxUif-q4IPPGYh07RWLh6zPea4XUr_HDym7I45ymlpPMNifMvCAulDv48cFlGawVVfFrzxmSr/s1600/bloop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQZ0BmqyLZGZB1Fn6SDTnrBNYIS1xdvbR88aODpA7eQoZuM2K0WMvD0a5I6OG37gFAQiTxUif-q4IPPGYh07RWLh6zPea4XUr_HDym7I45ymlpPMNifMvCAulDv48cFlGawVVfFrzxmSr/s400/bloop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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So I suppose even if I did a tutorial, everyone's soap design would end up being unique because of the haphazard way of the plop/bloop "technique".<br />
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So there you go. Challenge has been assigned. Please post your final creations on our Facebook Group,<b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/soapchallengegallery/" target="_blank"> Soap Challenge Gallery</a>. PLEASE tag your post with <span style="color: #741b47;"><i><u>#cuppajosunrise</u></i></span></b><br />
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Challenge starts now and all soap entries (entries are posted photos) are due by April 9th! The grand prize winner will receive Mad Oils Micas ~ FOUR <b><a href="https://www.madoils.com/" target="_blank">Mad Oils</a> </b>mica samples <i>of your choice!</i><br />
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Good luck and soap on!<br />
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xoxo<br />
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Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-51256548622802325842015-11-30T09:25:00.000-05:002015-11-30T09:25:01.298-05:00Inspiration For Today<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">- Jimi Hendrix</span></blockquote>
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Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-10232644462228459882015-11-16T07:38:00.000-05:002015-11-16T07:52:56.141-05:00Local Yocal Ingredients - Special Soaps Using Special Ingredients<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Using local ingredients adds a holistic approach when making handmade soap. Not only does it feel great to use your own soap in the shower when you're supporting your local businesses or using ingredients from your own garden. When someone purchases your soap with local ingredients, it adds an element that many who seek the pure, the handmade, love to see special ingredients added to a soap. Why? Perhaps it stops a piece of their vacation in time, like if you added sand to your soap and sold it where people typically come to escape the ice storms up north. Then when they take it back home and use it, it brings them back to the town they loved so much and brings them a sense of relaxation. I know when I visit an area that is new for me, I love to see local artisan's work, especially when they incorporate their immediate environment's elements.<br />
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We had a challenge called LocalYocals and it challenged all the soap makers to incorporate a local ingredients into their soap. I thought it would keep people thinking about ingredients and how simple one local ingredient could transform a regular soap into a gem.<br />
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We had some great entries with unique ingredients! Here are some to give you an idea of what YOU can do to spark it up.<br />
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Curtis Hayden used multiple ingredients from his area in Charleston, South Carolina: <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfpNAKsdyxO1myV98z6-ymFRi6uie5dUPFafeU8RLRil7fXEgLRpcz97VO7qdGsSB4VTSs_oN02VclD5W4JlfRknXTQJaDxDYUhmAsO54gWBUbK1wguv6b_bYfnv9ZqzFZxTxRsVEzLzH/s1600/Curtis+Hayden+Basic+Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfpNAKsdyxO1myV98z6-ymFRi6uie5dUPFafeU8RLRil7fXEgLRpcz97VO7qdGsSB4VTSs_oN02VclD5W4JlfRknXTQJaDxDYUhmAsO54gWBUbK1wguv6b_bYfnv9ZqzFZxTxRsVEzLzH/s640/Curtis+Hayden+Basic+Beach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basic Beach by Curtis Hayden</td></tr>
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<i>"This soap features a cold pressed juice from my local juice shop <u>Huriyali</u> which gets the majority of its produce from local farms. The juice is their "Aloe-Ha" juice consisting of raw unpasteurized coconut water, raw local honey, and much more! I don't see how I could get more local than that! But then I figured out a way to get even more local, I used sand from one of the local beaches I go to all the time on the bottom of the soap!! Scented with 3 different scents and made with a lot of love! The juice shop is actually featuring this soap in their store and the pictures I am featuring of the soap were taken at their store!"</i></blockquote>
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Bhakti Iyata lives in Phoenix, Arizona and used <i>her </i>local ingredients: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKiH_4Or9gmHBHhgp3nX3JI6ljNjsomBfa6Vg002_asqWIomy6BDKWrm3CCnEmpfMMBbXxl9OlD4wam8x3WSDxO9iqfpH21xLw-CUkdXDoUAo5GgLyxCTon2OdAbOMwkN2Ot3DWqB9VP4/s1600/Bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKiH_4Or9gmHBHhgp3nX3JI6ljNjsomBfa6Vg002_asqWIomy6BDKWrm3CCnEmpfMMBbXxl9OlD4wam8x3WSDxO9iqfpH21xLw-CUkdXDoUAo5GgLyxCTon2OdAbOMwkN2Ot3DWqB9VP4/s640/Bee.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desert Flower Soap by Bhakti Iyata </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqoYTlnHYR1DM_c2jg3kV2qZW262wcDWMq8r_FJyBuVDWBkYJsSf1JGIjxA5gCXxW14zF_KgCYb0vO__8NuTY2EezbZaJ7o4rqVp9Dd-gG_VeocjwnOQz5vRZs8TweAA48W2PX8nM9QGH/s1600/Bee2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqoYTlnHYR1DM_c2jg3kV2qZW262wcDWMq8r_FJyBuVDWBkYJsSf1JGIjxA5gCXxW14zF_KgCYb0vO__8NuTY2EezbZaJ7o4rqVp9Dd-gG_VeocjwnOQz5vRZs8TweAA48W2PX8nM9QGH/s400/Bee2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>"Desert Flower Soap, made with Prickly Pear Cactus Extract (Prickly Pear
Products, LLC Mesa, Arizona) and scented with Cactus Flower FO. Hand
molded flowering cactus and little hummingbirds on top."</i></blockquote>
</blockquote>
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Leanne Timm-Chevallier lives in Southwest France and used THREE local ingredients!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53n8EOdkJt9rxFzF3efz7IOKOafRTIo41pwVVAxdun_v09r_JUn3b1B_X0SGGI6kgW7RDDaVb9JzGiWyCBsd0EbJbSg2K__tyO4u1gROLsVWcrhCv764yEb0frr2xqsvvvnAvQ7_Y1Hw5/s1600/Leanne+Timm+Chevallier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53n8EOdkJt9rxFzF3efz7IOKOafRTIo41pwVVAxdun_v09r_JUn3b1B_X0SGGI6kgW7RDDaVb9JzGiWyCBsd0EbJbSg2K__tyO4u1gROLsVWcrhCv764yEb0frr2xqsvvvnAvQ7_Y1Hw5/s640/Leanne+Timm+Chevallier.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soap by Leanne Timm-Chevallier</td></tr>
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<i>"Love this challenge ! For the Local Ingredient challenge, I used local organic french green lentils from a farmer down the road here in SW France.... I also used local Duck Fat. Makes a nice scrubby soap. Colour is Chlorophyll powder."</i></blockquote>
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There were so many good entries......great soaps, but I can only choose a few to feature. Thank you everyone, for trying out new ingredients! It always feels like you all take these challenges to heart and that makes me happy. :D<br />
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We will be taking a break from Challenges until well after the holidays, but I'll be back with some beautiful pictures as I spot them. So keep it real and send me pictures anytime! Maybe YOU will be featured in my Soap Porn! Send pics of YOUR soaps to me at joannaschmidt@live.com. Leave your name, email, where you live and if you'd like to share, ingredients you used. Have a great Thanksgiving holiday and stay clean!<br />
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xox Joanna</div>
Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-45679282423874569442015-10-04T18:23:00.003-04:002015-10-04T18:23:53.011-04:00Local Ingredients...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0">Years back, I
was asked by </span></span><span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0"><span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0">the local glossy magazine, <i>Palm Beach Illustrated</i> (PBI)</span></span>, to create a soap that would represent this area (Palm Beach county). Their 60th anniversary issue was being put together and they wanted a local soap maker to design something just for them.</span></span><br />
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<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0">Hrrrm. What would feel good to me if I visited a local beach area for the first time? Because my county snuggles the ocean, I decided that I'd collect ocean water to make my lye mixture with. I would go to the beach with my empty </span></span><span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0"><span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0"> water gallon jug, </span></span>fighting the waves (no sand) until I past the swirling water. Collecting ocean water from the edge of the breaking waves proves to be a sandy water collection. Ask me how I know. I would hold the empty jug under the surface in order for
it to fill: <i>glub, glub, glub, glub. </i>An empty water jug is harder to hold down than one would think. Then I'd return to the beach with my gallon of
ocean and fully drenched from toe to chest.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0">PBI ended up loving the way it came out and featured it in their magazine. It DID look tropical and the ingredients I used were luscious. It included
coconut milk, ocean water, shea butter and sea salt and it looked like an abstract ocean beach scene. </span></span><br />
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<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0">People love the idea of
handcrafted items made with local ingredients. And the more "LOCAL AND COMMON" the ingredient, the more interesting it is that the soap almost becomes a celebrity on its own!</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0"><br /></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0">Now, I have never heard of potato soap, but if I lived in Idaho, I would love to buy a local soap made from Fingerlings, or Russets. Wisconsin....cheese (maybe goat??), Florida? Palm sugar, perhaps??... and so on. Some of us have spent many hours looking for common ingredients that can make our soap unique and compelling, and it doesn't always have to be food!</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0"><br /></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0">I have used actual sand on my soap. I dipped my freshly cut soap into a pan of white sand and sold it like a pumice soap, but the sand gets washed away after the first few washes. People loved it! Especially Northerners who miss the beach sand when they are cold and slushing through snow, sleet and the bitter cold in the middle of winter.</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0"><br /></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRwMwX0rpoeuWTH1kH3wO69eSoq_YYixhCaLJs2cGC_UvfrLlOhNwp5pBrGHUPCdL4FpQYtSdNIe54CRYO66ZU5vxrw35G0Cq52i0SvkEkUHQw9_MUTXEU3dzEMyl9H-s1OwaVIKqaEWQ/s1600/black+sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRwMwX0rpoeuWTH1kH3wO69eSoq_YYixhCaLJs2cGC_UvfrLlOhNwp5pBrGHUPCdL4FpQYtSdNIe54CRYO66ZU5vxrw35G0Cq52i0SvkEkUHQw9_MUTXEU3dzEMyl9H-s1OwaVIKqaEWQ/s400/black+sand.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0"><br /></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0"><br /></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0">My friend, Charlene Simon, of <a href="https://bathhousesoap.com/" target="_blank">Bathhouse Soapery</a>, gave a presentation at the 2013 (?) Soap Guild Conference regarding additives. She brought 20-30 cut up soaps made with different ingredients she had tried, including volcanic rock, which of course, made me want to go roll in that rock just thinking about it! She emphasized the importance of incorporating local/regional "ingredients" that can uplift your soap from plain ol' soap into a classic art form. It adds depth to an otherwise basic item. (I'm not calling soap basic, but when people stand in front of a soap made with ground oatmeal, they may want to see that it's made from the local OAT farm in Wasau County.) </span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0"><br /></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0">Perhaps finding a local farmer, local winery or other business owner may be good for business. Perhaps include them in your plans to make a local soap, tourists. And you and the biz owner could benefit from it. Equally!and discuss a possibly partnership of sorts. I know there are soap makers that use their local winery to make wine soaps and the winery sells the soap at the winery! Or a microbrewery, a sugar farm, even a diamond jewelry maker could grind up unsavory diamonds and you could use the diamond dust in your soap....one never knows if there could be a common thread that can be an uplifting hit to the local area, to you and to your business choice.</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0"><br /></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0">So for this challenge, I want you to take some time to think about your area and what may bring tourists there or what might be a surprising tidbit about your area that interests you and work that into your soap plans. Then perhaps after you make soap with that ingredient and share with our group, you may even be able to approach your local business with your soap in hand and talk it out. Expound on the idea and make it exciting.</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0"><br /></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0">Post your photos <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/soapchallengegallery/" target="_blank">here on Facebook.</a> Use hashtag #localyocal so I can quickly find it. Challenge ends on October 20th. Then we shall talk a bit about Halloween! Bwahahaha!</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0"><br /></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0">xoxo Joanna</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0"><br /></span></span>
<span data-offset-key="8d7v9-0-0" data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0"><span data-reactid=".2.1:5.0.1:$replies444578002402316_445075419019241/=10.0.1:4.0.$right.0.0.0.0.1.0.0.$editor0.0.0.$8d7v9.0:$8d7v9-0-0.0"><br /></span></span></div>
Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-60005597234050825142015-09-20T11:54:00.001-04:002015-10-27T08:38:54.428-04:00Sweet Soap Porn Saturday<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have been taking photographs for my business' <u>new</u> website (<span style="font-family: inherit;">not live </span>yet), and <span style="font-family: inherit;">also</span> working on post production, editing each photograph carefully until the crop, light <span style="font-family: inherit;">and </span>color was just right for the photographs of <span style="font-family: inherit;">Mad Oils' <span style="font-family: inherit;">colorants</span></span>. As a mica supplier, it is incredibly important to make sure the colors I put up on the screen are identical to the colors we <span style="font-family: inherit;">carry</span>. <span style="font-family: inherit;">All month I've </span>been photographing micas, fragrance oils, poppy seeds, (yes, <span style="font-family: inherit;">Facebook</span> viewers, most of you figured out <span style="font-family: inherit;">that the </span>"<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Who Am I</i>?" photo I posted was indeed a gaggle of Spanish Blue Poppies.) </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of m</span>y real passions, however, is photographing <span style="font-family: inherit;">s</span></span>oaps. It's my favorite subject matter <span style="font-family: inherit;">and I realized that in 2007<span style="font-family: inherit;">, when I started this blog<span style="font-family: inherit;"> reviewing soaps from <span style="font-family: inherit;">a</span>round the world.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I <span style="font-family: inherit;">do miss reviewing soaps, but at some point after a couple of years, there were a <span style="font-family: inherit;">bunch </span>of <span style="font-family: inherit;">soap review blo<span style="font-family: inherit;">gs</span> that popped up</span> out of nowhere<span style="font-family: inherit;">, so my soap reviews didn't seem necessary anymore. <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">O</span>ther<span style="font-family: inherit;"> bloggers</span> were doing <span style="font-family: inherit;">a great job <span style="font-family: inherit;">reviewing soaps, and because I was getting increasingly <span style="font-family: inherit;">busy,</span> I turned the blog into my personal diary and <span style="font-family: inherit;">for displaying soap. I<span style="font-family: inherit;"> basically handed it over and begin something else: SOAP PORN. The only reason I ever started the blog was to <span style="font-family: inherit;">expose <span style="font-family: inherit;">talented </span></span>unknown <span style="font-family: inherit;">soap makers to the world through photos an<span style="font-family: inherit;">d <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">positive</span> </span>reviews</span>. Giv<span style="font-family: inherit;">ing</span> the handcrafted soap world a place to reveal themselves was my goal and I think I <span style="font-family: inherit;">was involved in </span>something <span style="font-family: inherit;">wonderful</span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This weekend, </span></span>I found fantastic soap blogs with better than dynamite photos of </span>super-<span style="font-family: inherit;">stunning soaps.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Three</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> women soap makers and bloggers. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I share with you</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">, the three artis<span style="font-family: inherit;">ts that I think have incredible talent and need to be further exposed.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">SOAPJAM, <i>Philippines</i></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaebB0Z-0D04ijNCF0ueJTSEV4rCgGyCkUSyuvJdpviDivSPvrJPy_AzITm7Rs98i1sUNC-cmSCvDqRGZLJveBqwAJb4geKyLFdQYrwFGmjq6HzObs6xgbgENdiv6he0E6GNNRneMLZDKp/s1600/deauville2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaebB0Z-0D04ijNCF0ueJTSEV4rCgGyCkUSyuvJdpviDivSPvrJPy_AzITm7Rs98i1sUNC-cmSCvDqRGZLJveBqwAJb4geKyLFdQYrwFGmjq6HzObs6xgbgENdiv6he0E6GNNRneMLZDKp/s640/deauville2.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijsrqRxlmQvVRSZuj3oj-ljb7HxUYBbO_ohTjk_8jGsbkIFvsnQ58Fus04drkvvrByDEocj9o7G_nTTYVYDErz8pNCRxoWnDLpL030Yi07QHgRaL51bVUYYnZDxzqX1bKvCq8ZvybwNBy/s1600/brv-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijsrqRxlmQvVRSZuj3oj-ljb7HxUYBbO_ohTjk_8jGsbkIFvsnQ58Fus04drkvvrByDEocj9o7G_nTTYVYDErz8pNCRxoWnDLpL030Yi07QHgRaL51bVUYYnZDxzqX1bKvCq8ZvybwNBy/s640/brv-5.jpg" width="640" /> </a> </div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7rp6N6LiAjktH0XaL9SUJEo0WaZuX6TLz0N4ZLJ-d4L1Vk72obrbn7Kwm3PO51pkNTqk_9_nB3gAHc5eo96M10fuAQfkgRuJgW2PP20n81BpmlYJNsUtBUvVoIK9faoC_W7PMhsGaE4n/s1600/soapjam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7rp6N6LiAjktH0XaL9SUJEo0WaZuX6TLz0N4ZLJ-d4L1Vk72obrbn7Kwm3PO51pkNTqk_9_nB3gAHc5eo96M10fuAQfkgRuJgW2PP20n81BpmlYJNsUtBUvVoIK9faoC_W7PMhsGaE4n/s640/soapjam.jpg" width="640" /></a> </i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmA-zTfrmkU1HvmIlcBvw41AN24yt2VPQ-1M9PnRjGQ2DB_hbxAN7HX5Rmy32ptvA0CsGHXmmfJvHkECWLX_a8l9rRw_4paT1Bn0VrFJysxjUr9u5TLDD6ycnEfhmA_jct41zNT2-obzs/s1600/vetiver-and-sage-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmA-zTfrmkU1HvmIlcBvw41AN24yt2VPQ-1M9PnRjGQ2DB_hbxAN7HX5Rmy32ptvA0CsGHXmmfJvHkECWLX_a8l9rRw_4paT1Bn0VrFJysxjUr9u5TLDD6ycnEfhmA_jct41zNT2-obzs/s640/vetiver-and-sage-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://soapjam.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>soapjam</i></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love everything about <span style="font-family: inherit;">Soap Jam's </span>soap, from the colors she <span style="font-family: inherit;">puts</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>together<span style="font-family: inherit;">, t<span style="font-family: inherit;">o </span>the designs she <span style="font-family: inherit;">creates</span> all the way to </span>the stamp that<span style="font-family: inherit;">'</span>s perfectly <span style="font-family: inherit;">placed</span>. <span style="font-family: inherit;">The photogr<span style="font-family: inherit;">aphy is also spot on! Thank you, Sylvia, for being an inspiration and for sharing your beauties! I am so happy I stumbled on you this weekend<span style="font-family: inherit;">!</span></span></span></span><i> </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i> </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">INFUSIONS</span></b><i><b>, Maya</b></i></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRc3oNEp2vAkdJzdRkIJXIKlxEgcsRKVKsbu-reDNQhOds2RS2GNgVATlrolZObnNYRaHM-DXIteNlY7N2TcYmWntcaprxbAuGht9UKyxhAslIPU4R5OHofMa3R6e68sYXrqCSZPLtyGe/s1600/dsc_0628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRc3oNEp2vAkdJzdRkIJXIKlxEgcsRKVKsbu-reDNQhOds2RS2GNgVATlrolZObnNYRaHM-DXIteNlY7N2TcYmWntcaprxbAuGht9UKyxhAslIPU4R5OHofMa3R6e68sYXrqCSZPLtyGe/s640/dsc_0628.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0xBpJ1hqo9exQw49f4b4c0VzgpMKq8rcTdldHuCpbGbt42kH_AgfQXfh3K2wMFJIILfRJnfRHhNMdtiI2-55mSxFiFCcqRWESxhS88stVhORMzhhbDkwyqAXtz-P349r_7O4xU7Vphnv/s1600/dsc_0866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0xBpJ1hqo9exQw49f4b4c0VzgpMKq8rcTdldHuCpbGbt42kH_AgfQXfh3K2wMFJIILfRJnfRHhNMdtiI2-55mSxFiFCcqRWESxhS88stVhORMzhhbDkwyqAXtz-P349r_7O4xU7Vphnv/s640/dsc_0866.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwlZ4eyNC9LiEFGRCOJ14ZxwxaP4CGTGThQuchBH9GPxtNhyphenhyphen5i4BnnKqZAeeL2w4vTGRJ8sbzg9_dHe5ie0eAesr9WQsl8rxUEq6AV95pHnOTKcHac55svmwtrQEPaV6PwLJlntvCsT0S/s1600/black+infusion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwlZ4eyNC9LiEFGRCOJ14ZxwxaP4CGTGThQuchBH9GPxtNhyphenhyphen5i4BnnKqZAeeL2w4vTGRJ8sbzg9_dHe5ie0eAesr9WQsl8rxUEq6AV95pHnOTKcHac55svmwtrQEPaV6PwLJlntvCsT0S/s640/black+infusion.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Infusions.</b>.. I am breathless. I wish her <u>About</u> page has more information so I could share that with you and also know myself, more about her background.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span><i><b>SAVONS FANTASIES, Jazz</b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIXAN-ssftb8pWhuT_B1SQsmOIGJQxGpv5nKHRY1-Wn12TOujsA7h9U4b44D4XaEta-HcwonBMv6ldFsKMxY-OW1rnX1xKgRAvjymCBk4lNRVLmFXiIHeEI-F7yizhrAK9kWO9C5_wiR4/s1600/chat+def.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIXAN-ssftb8pWhuT_B1SQsmOIGJQxGpv5nKHRY1-Wn12TOujsA7h9U4b44D4XaEta-HcwonBMv6ldFsKMxY-OW1rnX1xKgRAvjymCBk4lNRVLmFXiIHeEI-F7yizhrAK9kWO9C5_wiR4/s640/chat+def.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4J76bizp7g1rQQ1f7GvWV1dMVd03JzAOCDj3XcuqWPh17tR2LC18StioiAVyrjwA0-t7GTSAylpK0QVGVfRhuvToNRd7bOIOjdZeUCTG1PWd4sQay6GQw-sroYriiBxhMbGHRsdlOQix/s1600/blue+water.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4J76bizp7g1rQQ1f7GvWV1dMVd03JzAOCDj3XcuqWPh17tR2LC18StioiAVyrjwA0-t7GTSAylpK0QVGVfRhuvToNRd7bOIOjdZeUCTG1PWd4sQay6GQw-sroYriiBxhMbGHRsdlOQix/s640/blue+water.jpg" width="640" /></a></i></span><br />
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<b><a href="http://savonsfantaisies.blogspot.fr/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> savonsfantaisies</i></span></a></b></div>
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Jazz, who writes the <i>Savons Fantasies </i>blog, has a wide range of techniques she uses. I do love the different styles she attempts (and does well!) and it's wonderful to see one soaper try all of them. Some soap makers can find their groove with one style and then find it hard to expand their horizons by trying<i> new </i>techniques because of their comfort zone. It seems as if Jazz tries everything and does it with style!<br />
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This is one of the reasons I run Soap Challenges on Facebook (and here). Expanding the way we think, look at things and reveal the artist within us all. <br />
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To wrap it up, I am sharing a photo from Soap Jam's blog of Sylvia and Maya together! Sylvia on the left and Maya on the right:<br />
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I lift my coffee to you both and to Jazz! Thank you, soapy ladies.<br />
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xoxo Joanna<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.madoils.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #666666;"><i>(Joanna began The Soap Bar blog & now owns Mad Oils, a wholesale supplier of colorful micas, fragrances and more soap supplies)</i></span></a></span></div>
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Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-42631650429403008202015-09-06T08:45:00.002-04:002015-09-06T08:45:38.016-04:00Origins Concept<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">August has always been a pivotal month in my life. One, because I always dreaded school and two, because the weather would change from warm to cold and I was never able to handle the dreary dark, windy, cold days with great discomfort, both physically and emotionally. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, living in Florida is no picnic for me 6 months out of the year. I especially can't deal with weather like it has been for weeks. Over 90° F and 90% humidity. I am like a flower that wilts and shrivels in that heat/humidity combo, I assume it is because I have an auto immune disease and the heavy heat steals a bit of thunder.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">I digress.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">To the ORIGINS challenge! It was a basic, back to its roots challenge and I am eager to see the results. The challenge was to "...use a food in your soap and .....then photograph the soap at the place of the food ingredient's origin." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hence the name: Origins. So I will pick the winner and 2 additional entries that I think deserve space here.... As mentioned in the challenge, the winner will receive a small, personal gift from me. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The winner for this challenge is Helka Finn! She posted many different ORIGINS photos </span><span style="font-size: small;">and they were all excellent!</span><em> Here are three of my favorites of hers:</em></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiflf49nZmJX3qg19qgz_vW_PaXiiYyG8-Yqh2LMR5GINa94XjiB-COwRlWhbbdbLKjlpPil8lHusQW7N2nLAFXG5w4R50HRbw74Wegb-ok8onaY5-lXmv3oogKSVXg-eUotbQC8yxZCtE/s1600/helka+finn+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiflf49nZmJX3qg19qgz_vW_PaXiiYyG8-Yqh2LMR5GINa94XjiB-COwRlWhbbdbLKjlpPil8lHusQW7N2nLAFXG5w4R50HRbw74Wegb-ok8onaY5-lXmv3oogKSVXg-eUotbQC8yxZCtE/s640/helka+finn+3.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">honey is the ingredient in this soap</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4uq4aenudXaqgKc0ZgjbuvIuyXC1JyRceVZQw3ry0WNXm6DnRoXEIs7mC8nSm9ObrEmhuxW8F8kY6An6Xhrp_WMY1QkLnMe-jAD6ebHcs1VpWbm8Qo5-vb76kyZb_ij78gcjKL2c8bAQ/s1600/helka+finn2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4uq4aenudXaqgKc0ZgjbuvIuyXC1JyRceVZQw3ry0WNXm6DnRoXEIs7mC8nSm9ObrEmhuxW8F8kY6An6Xhrp_WMY1QkLnMe-jAD6ebHcs1VpWbm8Qo5-vb76kyZb_ij78gcjKL2c8bAQ/s640/helka+finn2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">water is the ingredient used in making this soap :0)</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyZhDrc-Pf0YBa5r6whJ61Oxi696TzpAgh1Tvfgow4EaX40YoV4uuHaHxIRJEHeyIVJ0cXUyR3ijUo1SZKk-JUwLaTV4c_dPICAY5OTMXVwQ5pKVqYTydvbOUC78KSRCy6EcC9YEjuh0j/s1600/helka+finn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyZhDrc-Pf0YBa5r6whJ61Oxi696TzpAgh1Tvfgow4EaX40YoV4uuHaHxIRJEHeyIVJ0cXUyR3ijUo1SZKk-JUwLaTV4c_dPICAY5OTMXVwQ5pKVqYTydvbOUC78KSRCy6EcC9YEjuh0j/s640/helka+finn.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lye originally came from ashes... a required ingredient to make soap</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Helka attempted ingredients in two of these that aren't "additional" elements but elements nonetheless. Not only were they brilliant concepts, but very well executed. All three photographs were very beautiful, original and unique. Thanks, Helka, for digging deep and taking on this challenge with great thought. This is what I talk about when I say "dig deep".</span></div>
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Phuong Ly made beautiful soap with avocado and this picture was well lit, lit naturally and the colors are to die for!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EzTVEzzx8at-J4dIV2yD9yKlt9WxmPf9gbLzn2BnzLLLqv3zNH_yDOuwmlGizf-hY3kUXRdmklbVmryBQzodl6NeQLm6Z6MZPjPs7nHx6ifNBetyZUBYLDvF8BgtEL6SKXR4AmsKAByl/s1600/phuong+Ly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EzTVEzzx8at-J4dIV2yD9yKlt9WxmPf9gbLzn2BnzLLLqv3zNH_yDOuwmlGizf-hY3kUXRdmklbVmryBQzodl6NeQLm6Z6MZPjPs7nHx6ifNBetyZUBYLDvF8BgtEL6SKXR4AmsKAByl/s640/phuong+Ly.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ingredient: avocado</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7IfyDnfd5z-ADoAsMn4K9IoFFQqNk78-Hjx-_uCNctySwSZHzyawsCn1PMEs8D-9qj8gZl8nUqHnjhtP_uEPRVRlxdy3J24KqEAQgDGz0_kaVfjHDZtReHMd7qvlFQ5bv00m75_609-A/s1600/HuyNguyen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7IfyDnfd5z-ADoAsMn4K9IoFFQqNk78-Hjx-_uCNctySwSZHzyawsCn1PMEs8D-9qj8gZl8nUqHnjhtP_uEPRVRlxdy3J24KqEAQgDGz0_kaVfjHDZtReHMd7qvlFQ5bv00m75_609-A/s640/HuyNguyen.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huy Nguyen used tomato as the ingredient</td></tr>
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Beautiful camera work, Huy Nguyen! I know it was very hard to choose a photo from all the pictures you took, but it gets easier to do once you get into doing it <u>often</u>, to not choose your favorites, but rather eliminate ones you don't like until you get to a number that feels reasonable. Then you can more easily choose your favorite... or just eliminate all the way through. </div>
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Doing this is counter intuitive (especially with the "glass is half full not half empty" attitude and approach, but it tends to work for me. Try it and feel the difference. <em> </em></div>
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<em>You all did a wonderful job and in the future, I hope more of you take the challenge. Love from here to there. Peace! xoJo</em></div>
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<br />Helka, please send me an email with your address so I can send you the "Origins" challenge giftie! :)<em><br /></em></div>
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Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-15526337334051717432015-08-02T18:27:00.002-04:002015-08-02T18:27:52.114-04:00Origins<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Peridot is the birthstone of August and green is one of my very favorite colors. It has many symbolic meanings: It has been said that its owner, when worn would have the power of invisibility. Some people believes it can bring peace and protection. It has also been worn to calm anger by soothing ones nerves, expelling negative energy. My favorite symbolism and the one I found inspriation from was that it promises growth for the future and gives strength to individuals. GIVES STRENGTH.<br />
Onward and upward. We shall gain strength this month <em>from the process</em> of this challenge.<br />
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August is a transitional month for many of us who are effected by school. Summer winds down, vacations come to an end and nerves arise because of going to a new school and the weather will be changing. It's a time where we may need to find love and strength from a new source. Focus on something bright green and go with it.<br />
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This challenge has a few challenges to meet.<br />
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I want you to make a soap with a food product that, after some cure time, you can photograph next to or on food product's place of origin. For instance: incorporate cherries into your soap recipe and when it's ready, photograph your soap at the base of a cherry tree next to the fallen berries. Or use milk in your soap and take pictures of a cow alongside the soap maybe on a fence, or stump. I have to insist you take photographs by natural light.<br />
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In short, find a food product that you will be able to access its source at a later time, then use the food in your soap and once that is complete, you must then photograph the soap at the <em>place of the food ingredient's origin. </em>I will accept ONLY those photographed by natural light. Be creative. Be you: unique. Think outside the box and don't be afraid of trying new things. Remember, I do this so you can grow as an artist and expand your thought process. We all think so differently from each other that it's fun to see all of the interpretations of these challenges!<br />
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Please post your photos in my Facebook group: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/soapchallengegallery/" target="_blank">Soap Challenge Gallery</a> with the hashtag: #origins to be considered for this challenge. Ends: August 25th. You can take on this challenge multiple times if you wish. Please do not post photos of previous soaps. That is cheating. You have to MAKE the soap for this. That is the point of these challenges.<br />
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Good luck! There is a tiny prize for the winner of something meaningful. Thank you again, for all your wonderful participation. <br />
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Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-12155230691309072912015-07-18T12:48:00.000-04:002015-07-18T12:48:00.747-04:00Winners of "Photo Skillz Part One"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So you shook it up and I am beaming like a mama bear.<br />
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I asked you to shut off your flash, move around your soap and step out of your box and you all trusted that it could work and it did! Every picture was interesting and creative and there's no way I could choose the best.<br />
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I will choose three, as I promised, but there were dozens that I wanted in the trio today. <br />
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These are in no particular order....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55Uns0j16EcFu_C-2e0OHu0ZosCWuidrjXegBCk0Bri1OUxGhH2CrRjniDkVOcYsejq_KwAQSIr8_66vlRV6xkKPe1ud0HZtEMEBrsb7FezKDSfTT9PVCrHKBj-Iad-tnovbI18WAqJy3/s1600/Amanda+Wolf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi55Uns0j16EcFu_C-2e0OHu0ZosCWuidrjXegBCk0Bri1OUxGhH2CrRjniDkVOcYsejq_KwAQSIr8_66vlRV6xkKPe1ud0HZtEMEBrsb7FezKDSfTT9PVCrHKBj-Iad-tnovbI18WAqJy3/s640/Amanda+Wolf.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amanda Wolf</td></tr>
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Amanda Wolf, you stepped right off that box and added an interesting and relevant background image for your soap and it works! In fact, the movement of the water makes in work. If it were just on a sink next to the faucet, it wouldn't work because it would look posed, but this with the straight on perspective feels like someone's prepping my bath. MY bath. It makes it intimate and not a show. Well done!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BjLyUX8eBBuqtN7b8ttFvBT7tK7WeBbEiLf4KSqU1xCqfietn50tJOAMnVz4HVwMmKtSxVW-CEj7Kh9N8PC7H3gowdpQGw-epjuFa3TqgFc1m7GfVzHtdWcTEAm_n00z5fyPigKCZWvK/s1600/tanya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BjLyUX8eBBuqtN7b8ttFvBT7tK7WeBbEiLf4KSqU1xCqfietn50tJOAMnVz4HVwMmKtSxVW-CEj7Kh9N8PC7H3gowdpQGw-epjuFa3TqgFc1m7GfVzHtdWcTEAm_n00z5fyPigKCZWvK/s640/tanya.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tanya Rasley of Canard Labs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The pearly light peach splatter of color in this background of varying whites, draws the eyes attention to the detail. It transforms the soap into a creative blast of wonderment. Flickering images of shooting stars, Pollack's flick of the paintbrush or bioluminescence. <br />
<br />
<i>wonderment: <span class="ssens">the rapt attention and deep emotion caused by the sight of something extraordinary </span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2cLKgFXk6ng2gXg3sPuy6DaWLcoP1EzfnBjtO61WU-LXK9ZC2TodKGsmrEyjBoiGg_FpvyJh9QlOBrs53yO-JibtiBYcKxLw3LpWTLrOHzcF_lIpdZjYghyPjQBgABU-h7ziqnaWrcox/s1600/Sorcery+Soap+Company.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2cLKgFXk6ng2gXg3sPuy6DaWLcoP1EzfnBjtO61WU-LXK9ZC2TodKGsmrEyjBoiGg_FpvyJh9QlOBrs53yO-JibtiBYcKxLw3LpWTLrOHzcF_lIpdZjYghyPjQBgABU-h7ziqnaWrcox/s640/Sorcery+Soap+Company.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bee Iyata</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="ssens"> Bee has taken soap making to a new level with her artistic hand molding and scene creations. This one is one of my favorites, but it's not just the soapy birds and eggs that made me choose this photo. </span><i><span class="ssens">No... </span></i><span class="ssens">It was taken on a different angle than all others. It's an overhead shot but askew instead of straight down, which adds a depth I ever noticed before. It works especially with the subjects and the nest of eggs in the natural light. It's breathtaking and it is focused perfectly. Bee used the light to make her creation pop.</span><br />
<span class="ssens"><br /></span>
<span class="ssens"><br /></span>
<span class="ssens">These are three very different soaps with different angles a vibes. Each one of them speaks to me in a different way. Thank you, Amanda, Tanya and Bee for the inspiration.</span><br />
<span class="ssens"><br /></span>
<span class="ssens">I do hope that you continue to shoot around your subject, <i>turn off</i> the lights and <b>shut off your flash</b>! Natural light makes for better photographs of objects. Flash photography has its place in the world, but with soap, it is much harder to get that intimate feel.</span><br />
<span class="ssens"><br /></span>
<span class="ssens">Which leads me to the next Soap Challenge. But that will have to wait. I have something secret I'm working on that needs a little time to get ready. Keep shooting and stick around for the next fun game to play with your soap.</span><br />
<span class="ssens"><br /></span>
<span class="ssens">WELL DONE, EVERYONE!!!!</span><br />
<span class="ssens"><br /></span>
<span class="ssens">Love,</span><br />
<span class="ssens"><br /></span>
<span class="ssens">Joanna</span><br />
<span class="ssens"><br /></span>
<span class="ssens"><br /></span></div>
Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-44505199373699341162015-07-06T14:50:00.002-04:002015-07-06T14:58:19.824-04:00What's in YOUR red colorant?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">I know this is my soap blog and I try not to include too much stuff about Mad Oils, my wholesale supply company, but I thought this was just too important not to post here:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mad Oils carries only vegan ingredients. We believe in using and selling only cruelty
free products. We are an animal loving
team here with a vast array of rescued pets between us.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Carmine is an ingredient very often used in red and pink micas. You may not be aware of what it is or where
it comes from, but it might be in the micas and other colorants you use in your products. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUP3dBvCnsuBs5IQ2fGSg0BPISAELGX2PdBWzFlFFhdjvK7txrl1sSqGVogDEYFz3PxjB1shI2mUPw0CNF3Yof1nDk20TX7hBpzGfQaUm8fIu7PDsDE9jqBfxI-QMSzWVh-GL8E44o0tY-/s1600/carmine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUP3dBvCnsuBs5IQ2fGSg0BPISAELGX2PdBWzFlFFhdjvK7txrl1sSqGVogDEYFz3PxjB1shI2mUPw0CNF3Yof1nDk20TX7hBpzGfQaUm8fIu7PDsDE9jqBfxI-QMSzWVh-GL8E44o0tY-/s400/carmine.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of http://safewithdrsandraelhajj.com</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">“Carmine” is an ingredient used often in the food and cosmetic
industry. It is often found in micas and
other colorants to produce red, pink, purple and brown colors. What is carmine? Cochineal bugs that are dried and crushed to
produce a red dye, are called cochineal, carmine, or carminic acid. The dye comes <i>specifically</i> from the <u>female</u> insect called Dactylopius
coccus. These bugs are killed, dried and crushed to create the color.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="line-height: 107%;">It takes about 70,000 insects to make
one pound of cochineal.</span></u></b></span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="line-height: 107%;"> </span></u></b></span></h3>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHzA93ZBkmz5deDQq7lob6y0q7PKHfq6pM6LafWaQ7EhKleBIuHdrt49NjI-reMBwIPUl9R3rY7LeTVM2BRYrNuXhyphenhyphenBGj2zju-on-GxSmK0Py1l56EPe7a9DCKWzw50zskCItSvGgyfbc/s1600/carmine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHzA93ZBkmz5deDQq7lob6y0q7PKHfq6pM6LafWaQ7EhKleBIuHdrt49NjI-reMBwIPUl9R3rY7LeTVM2BRYrNuXhyphenhyphenBGj2zju-on-GxSmK0Py1l56EPe7a9DCKWzw50zskCItSvGgyfbc/s400/carmine.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of http://www.hottopixnow.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Carmine is generally safe, but manufacturers of products <i>need to know</i> that in a small number of
people, carmine can cause swelling, skin rashes and even respiratory
problems. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">The red powdered pigment is used as a natural
alternative to artificial coloring, but it is not vegan. </span>It is important to be <i>aware</i> of ingredients we choose when
making our products so that customers can choose for themselves what they want
to use on their body. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We share this information with you, not to gross you out,
but to ensure that when choosing Mad Oils, you know exactly what you’re
getting. We stand by our claim that Mad
Oils will carry only 100% vegan micas.
In fact, all of our products are 100% vegan, even our fragrance oils. (Yes, fragrances often contain animal
products). We know this is important to
many of you, as it is to us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s important to make an educated choice when purchasing
reds, pinks, browns and purples. It is up to you whether to use products
containing carmine or not. Remember that knowing what is in your products and
providing full disclosure about their ingredients is empowering to you, as well
as your customer. Knowledge is power.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Xoxo - All of us at <a href="http://www.madoils.com/" target="_blank">Mad Oils</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Note: Please refer to the FDA website for color additive
regulations to find out what label requirements are in effect.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/ColorAdditives/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/ucm153038.htm?utm_source=fdaSearch&utm_medium=website&utm_term=cochineal%20extract%20carmine&utm_content=1#QA">http://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/ColorAdditives/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation</a></span></i></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></i></span> </span></div>
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Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-84254697388077923002015-07-04T14:29:00.000-04:002015-07-04T14:29:13.068-04:00Shake It Up With Photos Skillz, Part One<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Some of you want to sell your soap but are having a hard time doing that because getting a good picture of them isn't easy. Photographs of your product are more important than you think. Images are what speaks to people more and more these days, because isn't the internet all imagery?<br />
<br />
We all have a comfort zone: Things we do that make us feel secure in our abilities. But in my opinion, <b>that comfort zone needs a little <i>shaking up</i></b>. That's what <i>I'm</i>
here to do. We all need to open ourselves to see new perspectives.
Some of us make soap for fun, or for the sake of art, and some make soap
for a living, but the one thing you have to do, no matter why you soap,
is document your soap journey. Even if it's just for yourself. If you are <i>sharing </i>your
documentation, you want the viewer to really <u>see your work</u>. Not just
photos lined up with a back drop taken 3 feet away, one - after -
another.... It's boring to see "catalog-type" photos one after the other. <br />
<br />
If you take pictures of your soap just to get the image on paper (or screen), you need to stop that right this second... just S T O P !<br />
<br />
One of my personality traits that I can't help, is trying to see things from other people's perspective. I put myself in the shoes of others in order to understand what they see and feel. And then examine WHY.<br />
<br />
This trait carries through into everything in my life. Relationships, art, political discussions, and crime stories (random, I know, but my whole life I've been fascinated by stories of deranged people doing what they do and then trying to understand why). Putting myself in other people's shoes helps me with photography. Whhhhaaaaat?? When I look at a photograph in a magazine or on a website, it evokes a response in me. This is true for product imagery and that's why advertisers use <i>everything </i>in their power to create emotions in consumers. Why? Because consumers purchase things mostly by how they <i>feel </i>when using, wearing or having a product. If I put myself right into the shoes of a person, for instance, looking for soap, I try to photograph the soap in a way that is intimate or shows a different scene that is out of the ordinary. Photography creates a silent image, sometimes so powerful that words are not even necessary. THAT is what I try to do. What do I want to see? What do I want? I use that, too, all the time. <br />
<br />
Evoking an emotion in someone will make them take a second look, which may turn into a soap sale for you.<br />
<br />
Natural light and position/perspective are KEY. I will go into why and where in the next post, but this post is going to focus on practicing the technique of light and position...<br />
<br />
<br />
<u><b>Find a new perspective ~~ Basics</b></u><br />
<br />
So go grab your camera (or phone) during the day and make sure your flash is OFF. Set your soap on a steady surface near natural light and take TEN photographs of your soap from all different positions. YOU need to move in different positions, not the soap. Take a photo from above looking straight down; This will give a dimensional view. Take a shot from below the soap, looking UP at it; This will enlarge its presence. Take a super close shot....get intimate with your bar. <br />
<br />
You have to try new perspectives to see what you like. But you will never know if you like them until you try it. It's a pretty low risk, taking photos, so just DO IT.<br />
<br />
Here are some examples of the same soap photographed from different angles:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyvAzjuzzf7w5yNwnnR5oGXNMH2-Y6hX-pShQrTKJkULPRSRROiqI7OthVKvnxHpFz9HiqdxQgjQr4JNCIAe5KbANslKrOTCMDvCzT_X8-36ysl2XEvXK7vA2_33qrOmZdmZIls391i05/s1600/closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyvAzjuzzf7w5yNwnnR5oGXNMH2-Y6hX-pShQrTKJkULPRSRROiqI7OthVKvnxHpFz9HiqdxQgjQr4JNCIAe5KbANslKrOTCMDvCzT_X8-36ysl2XEvXK7vA2_33qrOmZdmZIls391i05/s640/closeup.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My soap: close up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfJq231LZDmGZ3wXhYOE_pCU4BWRgr9gx47AFiOeOp_otUWihbcKB529wd_UbzxJI2owzlXy7hmNeni0VN1EsmGgPqsMJJeuZ_-d8kDOLXj0i7MKEBNzlTc6OjVEf__9OHK8N1X6MhH_H/s1600/sexylaundrydaystraighton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfJq231LZDmGZ3wXhYOE_pCU4BWRgr9gx47AFiOeOp_otUWihbcKB529wd_UbzxJI2owzlXy7hmNeni0VN1EsmGgPqsMJJeuZ_-d8kDOLXj0i7MKEBNzlTc6OjVEf__9OHK8N1X6MhH_H/s640/sexylaundrydaystraighton.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My soap: straight on. Taken at the same level </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2K-11By7sllDycj2pwFDAra-DpJr3_6PY97acHEKCwo1AAmEjAc97stnhjag8kHVBinVK1Jt_o1aC3YaqwOs3bs1TZU8dsaQipYD0xZSpskf3AyMCMolvyTe_MD1zPmBM-ylkF0BJFumv/s1600/sexylaundryday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2K-11By7sllDycj2pwFDAra-DpJr3_6PY97acHEKCwo1AAmEjAc97stnhjag8kHVBinVK1Jt_o1aC3YaqwOs3bs1TZU8dsaQipYD0xZSpskf3AyMCMolvyTe_MD1zPmBM-ylkF0BJFumv/s640/sexylaundryday.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My soap: photographed from above (and close).</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
These are photographs of my soap from 4 or 5 years ago, so if you were a customer of mine at Absolute Soap or a reader of my blogs, you've probably seen these already, but they show you one soap, shot 3 ways. Now, think about what each one makes you think, feel and like. Which is your favorite position? Try the all and MORE!<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Out of the ten photos, choose one picture
(don't forget! Shoot in natural light and at a different angle than you usually take your
photos). That photo will be your entry photo that you need to post in our group on Facebook: the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/soapchallengegallery" target="_blank">Soap Challenge Gallery.</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I want everyone to participate. All
entries need to say "#photoskillzpartone" and need to be posted one week from today: My birthday, JULY 11th and the deadline time is at 3:09 pm (EST), the exact minute I was born. The top 3 photos will be posted on this blog (and for those of you who don't realize how many people come to this blog, let me shed some light: between 17,000-25,000 page views per month. And I only write on this blog, LATELY, once a month. So participate and fight to get some exposure!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This is not only an assignment to make you better, but it's meant to be fun, so have a good time!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Peace out.<br />
- Jo</div>
Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-81532085970607068782015-06-28T10:58:00.000-04:002015-06-28T10:58:19.217-04:00Summer Loving. The Memories Don't Die.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There were very few entries this month, but they were all wonderful and I thank you for participating.<br />
<br />
As with our latest challenges, I have asked for an explanation along with the soap you made, so that we, as artists, draw out our thoughts as we create and really get in touch with your art and your inner artist. It also makes the soap more interesting to look at as a viewers standpoint because the history adds depth and understanding.<br />
<br />
When I say dig deep, some of you clearly do and I am honored to have the remains of the upheaval shared with me.<br />
<br />
I loved EVERY submission. This was about memories (or fantasies) and you all rocked it! The most original soap in my opinion along with the back story is Milo & Otis. She describes the moments of her lying at the bottom of the river, looking up at the surface while listening to the unique sharpness of stones tapping together underwater. The description of that magical moment of time brought back huge memories for me...being underwater in complete oneness with no angst. I remember loving the feeling of being immersed in water. It erased the tensions of the world above and made me float. It muffled all the yelling and hatred and calmed my soul. I wanted to be a fish and never leave or sometimes wished I would painlessly and magically drift away into the bliss I found alone and under the world I knew.<br />
<br />
Milo & Otis made this soap:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSFN_FW58KJfH8IfXZrUH4U9W7f-MDolHGsfU3AAL2Vzy_3sX23UO1fCjs9bSwdFD8qesvEB-uSjQa2t27a1rDeHoB4dmbOh8PvK9aTjb6KSc_8LEYw1SDyK3ozdG5d1xJwZ71l3jrhgl/s1600/milo+and+otis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="465" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSFN_FW58KJfH8IfXZrUH4U9W7f-MDolHGsfU3AAL2Vzy_3sX23UO1fCjs9bSwdFD8qesvEB-uSjQa2t27a1rDeHoB4dmbOh8PvK9aTjb6KSc_8LEYw1SDyK3ozdG5d1xJwZ71l3jrhgl/s640/milo+and+otis.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9hG4jzU27L0_NFDtib2KlKq49kNzYO531RybnRfxQIsS6GnUGa2NwNkR5wMEcZPw2XElfXz7ydQJo0D5yn93NssnuFXg25J15g8WE7SaBHoUcd399xRtuM7MPseYtZHHHxOW9J88TnvJ/s1600/milo+and+otis2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9hG4jzU27L0_NFDtib2KlKq49kNzYO531RybnRfxQIsS6GnUGa2NwNkR5wMEcZPw2XElfXz7ydQJo0D5yn93NssnuFXg25J15g8WE7SaBHoUcd399xRtuM7MPseYtZHHHxOW9J88TnvJ/s640/milo+and+otis2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This is her story verbatim:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />
Summers in my childhood meant one thing, the lake and the cottage.
Some of our friends referred to it as the cabin, but it was no cabin; It
was a sizable white clapboard house on one of two connected lakes that
was about 30 minutes from our house. Our family of seven had taken a few
vacations, which must have been quite expensive and no doubt provided
little relaxation for my parents. Instead of family vacations, they
decided to buy a house on a lake within striking distance of our home so
my dad could commute for work while we spent the summers and some
weekends there.<br />
<br />
I remember our first visit to the house for sale,
the foreign feeling of being in someone else's house and the
familiarity of a lake but the unfamiliarity of this one. While my
parents talked with the owners, we played in the shallows and had
seaweed fights. They bought it and the house took us on. </blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We
spent endless hours in the lake the way children can without ever
becoming bored. My sister and I were delegated the task of watching "the
babies" (my brothers are 2 and 3 years younger than I, so it's a
relative thing) swim in the area buoyed off for them. They would
daringly somersault over the line or swim underwater under it, then U
turn and swim back before coming up for air. We didn't mind their
shenanigans but occasionally yelled at them so it remained fun for them
to do. We all became excellent swimmers, completely comfortable in the
water, probably more home to us than the house was. I would man the big
net with my brother, catching minnows for bait. Within a couple hours,
my sympathies would get the best of me and I would move silently under
the pier to the bait can floating in the water, quietly open the top and
tip it over. Swim free, little minnows! I took a couple fishhooks to
the head, standing too close to my brother as he swung the rod back to
cast, then as he threw the rod forward, the hook would set in my scalp,
me shouting at him to stop before he yanked me off the pier. He was good
at getting them out.<br />
<br />
We played alone and together, the five of
us. I loved wearing a mask and swimming along the bottom, enthralled
with everything in the green light, watching the pull of the waves
sending swirls of detritus to and fro. I would lie on my back and exhale
enough that I would sink to the bottom where I would be lulled by the
ebb and flow as I followed the beautiful patterns of the sun on the
surface of the lake. I never failed (and still don't) to be amazed at
the clarity of the sound of stones being tapped together and how far it
travels underwater. We dunked each other, cannon-balled off the pier,
stood on inner tubes, and were generally loud and happy. The constancy
of our feet on the bottom packed it down into firm sand and obliterated
any weeds. Just beyond our pier, the water was over our heads and we
hated walking past the end of that demarcation. Your foot would sink
into the clammy, cold, obscenely mushy bottom and the seaweed would
brush your skin in way that felt perverse. As kids, we called it "the
ooglies." If we took running starts to jump as far out as possible off
the end of the pier, we all swam back as fast as we could.<br />
<br />
Sometimes our dad would take us out in the boat to our favorite swimming
spot. It was a ways offshore from an abandoned lakeside restaurant and
was instantly recognizable by the wide expanse of water that had no
weeds, in spite of being deep. We didn't know why there were no weeds
there and we imagined it to be unfathomably deep, although our anchor
told us otherwise. Every time we went, we would watch the anchor come up
from the bottom, waiting to see evidence of seaweed but all we ever saw
was sand floating off in a thin trail. We loved it there. We would do
flips off the boat and dive down, although none of us ever made it to
the bottom, perhaps to protect the mystery we felt. Hippo, our dog,
would occasionally jump in to swim with us, then, not understanding that
the boat was our station, she would take off for shore. One of us would
have to go get her and lead her back to the boat so someone could lift
her back to solidity.<br />
<br />
Two doors down from us was a restaurant
that got heavy traffic, being on the far side of two lakes and town.
They had boat slips, a bait shop, a boat launch. The pier ran through
the deep water in a big square and in the middle, although it was
thickly weedy, was where kids who were visiting would jump and swim. One
morning a man and his nephew went out to fish in the early morning
before it was light. It was a Sunday, their last day on the lake before
they went home, and during their horseplay, the man pushed the boy into
the lake. When he didn't come up, he thought the boy had snuck to shore
and gone home, a sore sport. He shrugged it off and headed out to fish,
leaving the boy in the dark cold water in the ever tightening weeds,
until he could hold his breath no longer. Later, when the day was hot,
the kids came to play in the water and in their jumping, they knocked
him loose from the weeds and he finally came to the surface under the
pier.<br />
<br />
Our neighbor's rule was that he and his kids would play
softball or volleyball every day. It was optional for us but not them
and anyone was invited to play. I watched the softball games rather than
play and that day, as I stood with the batting team, we saw people come
running up from the lake to the restaurant. One of the kids, in the
bald blunt way of children, yelled over to one of the batters, "Jay,
your brother's dead!" I could see Jay, caught half in paralysis, half in
panic, try to understand and finally start to move, jumping the fences
between the yard and the restaurant. We went down to the lake shore in
front of our house, where I saw my dad, sadly shaking his head, kneeling
next to the boy on the pier. He had been in the water for too long for
there to be any possibility other than death. My dad, his face grim,
crossed the yards back to our own, incongruous in his orange jumpsuit.
(He was not a convict. It was the 70's and his favorite color was
orange. You can get away with wearing just about anything on a lake.) As
I stood and stared at the still body on the pier, it started to rain.
The clouds were high and bright, casting a yellow light, and it seemed
too scripted but there it was. Maybe the skies do look down on us and
shed tears. My parents had been preparing to go back to our house and we
got in the car, driving in silence all the way home. I watched the rain
spatter on the windows and thought about the people who had only wanted
a weekend of sun and swimming. The lake broke that family.<br />
<br />
We
were aware of the dangers of the lake even before that boy's death, and
my parents surely were acutely conscious of it. We were not allowed out
in any of the boats without a life preserver. However, they were bulky
and hot and we were all good swimmers, to say nothing of the fact that
kids are notoriously overconfident. My sister and I took the paddle-wheel
out one day and of course took off our life preservers. We were on the
return leg, not too far out from shore or our house. I had gotten up to
stand and pedal backward when we heard the slap of the wooden screen
door and my mother's piercing shriek. It stopped us in our tracks and we
watched her bull-like charge across the yard with trepidation. Shouting
at us non-stop, she stomped across the neighbor's lawn, pushing a wave
of ferocity ahead of her. Her eyes lasered in on us, she did not look
where she was going and went down face first in the neighbor's hostas.
Laughter burst out of us for a mere moment, pushed back as quickly as
she snapped back up to continue her lambasting all the way to shore. It
was like laughing in church; the more inappropriate the place, the
stronger the urge, but we did not dare give in to it. You simply did not
laugh at my mother. Thankful for the distance, we reluctantly started
our trek in to the pier where she went to await us, but the moment her
back was turned, we laughed into spasms. She continued to exude fury but
we were shielded by the vivid image of watching her face plant.
Whatever her punishment was, the count was clear. We won that one.<br />
<br />
On some nights, we played Hearts. Before a remodeling, our long long
dining room table was on a porch barely wider than the table itself. How
my parents got it in there is a feat of engineering I'm not certain I
will ever understand. Family, friends, neighbors all, we would cram
around the table, its oilcloth tablecloth wiped down after dinner, our
places marked by sweating glass bottles of Squirt and Coke, the Real
Thing. We played to win. No mercy, no matter what your age. The two
losers would have to wash the dishes the next night, a duty that
defaulted to my sister and me otherwise. We used real dishes, no paper
or plastic, for a minimum of seven people and far more frequently for
10, 11, 12 or more. No dishwasher. I tried to win but I tried harder not
to lose; the feeling of lettuce leaves in dishwater still sets my teeth
on edge. We had to play under fake names. My Hearts name was Mabel.
Through the game, we would toss out cards and jabs and lighthearted
insults, but tensions built when it became clear that someone was trying
to moon (collect all the points). It could be a deal breaker. If
someone managed it, they had to literally moon the table, by law, which
we all did with relish. The exception was my mother. Fonzerella
struggled with the idea of dropping her drawers in front of everyone; I
think perhaps she worried it would undermine her authority. (It didn't)
It wouldn't surprise me if she purposefully avoided it except for the
times she was dealt a hand that made it impossible not to moon, and then
she would gloat. There were always shouts and cheers when someone
mooned, but when my mother got one, it was near bedlam. We would be
hooting, pounding the table and catcalling, drowning out her protests
until she finally got up and flashed us so quickly, you had to wonder if
it had even happened. How did she do it so fast? Did she practice in
front of a mirror? We could probably identify any other player by their
butt, but my mother retained her dignity in a difficult situation. After
the game broke up, everyone would go their separate ways, sometimes for
a night swim or skinny dip, if you weren't in mixed company, to read or
watch a movie or lie in front of a fan, making sounds into it so you
could sound like a robot. Too often, the next night, the losers would be
forgotten and my sister and I would be in the kitchen, singing theme
songs from TV shows to bide the time, getting dishpan hands.<br />
<br />
Summer memories jumble together. We went barefoot all summer and would
start the summer limping and hopping over the sharp stones of the gravel
driveway, "winter feet" we called it, and ending in hardened soles that
could take anything except a direct jab to the arch. We went all day,
swimming, then drying off, then pulling on our cold sticky suits once
again in the sweltering heat that existed behind the house and
miraculously disappeared as soon as you got to the lake. It made you
wonder why you were in such a hurry to get back in the water.<br />
<br />
We slept
in our clothes, ready to go the moment we woke up. Some mornings were
utterly still and the lake looked like "Glass lake! Glass lake!" my
oldest brother would shout, running through the yard, sending up the
alert to my cousin, brothers and neighbors. He would wade in to get the
boat off the mooring and bring it to the pier, unsnapping the cover as
he went. Within minutes, they would be ready to ski, heading out to
break the calm surface of the water with rooster tails from the slalom. I
spent most of my time in the boat watching for falls and signaling to
the skier the quality of their sprays. I wasn't much of a water-skier but
my cousin and I worked on a trick. Wrapping my arms and legs around the
thickness of our life preservers and him, I would hang on his back
until he got up, then I would climb up and sit on his shoulders. It was
our only trick, so its life was relatively brief. The last time I recall
doing it was when my mom drove the boat for us, which she didn't do
regularly. When we said, "Hit it!", she went full throttle, which was
more than required for two kids. I scrambled up to my perch on my
cousin's shoulders and realized we were going far too fast. We
frantically signed to slow down before my cousin wiped out. I fell from
the height as if onto concrete, skittering along before sinking. I
learned that if water is going fast enough, or you are relative to it,
it can perforate tender skin. I'm not sure my derriere has ever been the
same.<br />
<br />
Most summers we would walk across the lake on the logs of a long
fallen bridge that ended on our seawall. We knew where it was and,
dragging a boat with us to let other boaters know we were there, we
would pick our way, feet finding the slippery roundness of the huge
logs, long submerged, until we were at the sandbars all the way on the
other side. We'd play in their water for a while and then head back
across to our home shore. We would canoe into the lily pads, listening
to them hiss, feeling them on the underside of the boat. We'd watch for
the huge carp that loved the warm murky waters, fearful of falling in
and frantic if we did, sure we'd be eaten.<br />
<br />
My sister and I would canoe
around on 4th of July, singing every patriotic song we knew at the top
of our lungs before dusk fell. Once the fireworks started, we renewed
our singing efforts while sitting on the pier in the dark. Sound really
carries on a lake; I feel a bit sorry for the people across from us. </blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The smell of the water, the smell of boats, the sound of feet pounding
on the pier, the deep ka-ploosh of a well-done cannonball. The lake, the
green lake, was what summer was. I didn't like it there so much when I
was a teenager, but that's another story.<br />
<br />
My soap is made to look a little like the surface of the lake as I lay on the bottom, looking up to the sky.</blockquote>
<br />
Please go see some of the beauties that were submitted in the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/soapchallengegallery/" target="_blank">Soap Challenge Gallery facebook group</a>. Search for <i>summerloving</i> and see the art!<br />
<br />
Thanks for all the support of this soap challenge group. And thank you for following my blog. Kisses! xo Jo </div>
Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-38499517526074897122015-05-31T14:05:00.001-04:002015-05-31T14:08:02.793-04:00Summer Loving...It Happened So Fast<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Do you remember when you were a kid, school had ended and summer stretched out in front of you filled with endless possibilities? How you were full of optimism and excitement and it felt like you had all the time in the world to make anything you could imagine happen?<br />
<br />
Today's soap challenge is to design a soap that represents your childhood summers. Whatever the wonders of summer were for you, whether they involved new love, hours on the beach or the simple joy of opening a fire hydrant on a hot summer day in the city, represent them in your soap.<br />
<br />
When posting your Challenge photo on the Facebook Group, you must also tell your story or the photo will not be judged. You do not have to be a good storyteller, but it helps the viewers (me and others) understand your soap's content and a little about you.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCZxIOfWsIbDSPp441nlqPLdqvWY9I38RH3tuvjQBSrkU6TNb4CY-KpvLKJwo62yyaPX-IUdVt-x17G87WqI0QS26sfIRbjSCYE0BqfRPCF3mhmN_vCLMVBxSCiiGhvh-_bjLQxqU0fWQ/s1600/summer+fun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCZxIOfWsIbDSPp441nlqPLdqvWY9I38RH3tuvjQBSrkU6TNb4CY-KpvLKJwo62yyaPX-IUdVt-x17G87WqI0QS26sfIRbjSCYE0BqfRPCF3mhmN_vCLMVBxSCiiGhvh-_bjLQxqU0fWQ/s1600/summer+fun.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Memories can be extremely difficult to tap into for some, and for those of you that have almost no good memories, share with us just one, even if it was a childhood fantasy and not an actual memory. I understand we all have had different lives and experiences.<br />
<br />
Feed your artist; Feed yourself. <br />
Dig.<br />
Discover.<br />
Make Soap. <br />
Share.<br />
<br />
Challenge ends: June 25, 2015<br />
Post your photos here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/soapchallengegallery/" target="_blank"> https://www.facebook.com/groups/soapchallengegallery/</a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-71534941931308989612015-05-18T20:28:00.001-04:002015-05-18T20:29:52.952-04:00A Little Soap Porn, My Dear?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We haven't had soap porn in a really long time. I've been missing it....<br />
<br />
I know secretly you have too. Here is a handful of new bright and cheerful photos of hand crafted soaps I have never seen:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3b3uNb4uinj6i2z5bDQT9Ae4gZU4j09QbJ2m0ytzvZZqyo8zRoRdW4JwScVVQayhSr1o2SE51LT0jI3Ol-ITD6RYQZG1dBO_gLhPKqu3drIoq5gYlUt7bORx70h7LxL2ppmEKp85V0Cl6/s1600/dianesnaturally.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3b3uNb4uinj6i2z5bDQT9Ae4gZU4j09QbJ2m0ytzvZZqyo8zRoRdW4JwScVVQayhSr1o2SE51LT0jI3Ol-ITD6RYQZG1dBO_gLhPKqu3drIoq5gYlUt7bORx70h7LxL2ppmEKp85V0Cl6/s400/dianesnaturally.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dianesnaturally.com.au/" target="_blank">Diane's Naturally - Australia</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kYd8jTqhxSUo2a_4BSlqgqCSFyYZ_Leise92yzQusPyAp-nnxnWeXtwfcOHGiMPrW4lVBhfXSYgTif1TNhWCW3NjGPhHynTZziCbbKaTUchKNbxEHlaf_TmF1WOk6d5I4MLBqMqLDGxU/s1600/heavenly+bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kYd8jTqhxSUo2a_4BSlqgqCSFyYZ_Leise92yzQusPyAp-nnxnWeXtwfcOHGiMPrW4lVBhfXSYgTif1TNhWCW3NjGPhHynTZziCbbKaTUchKNbxEHlaf_TmF1WOk6d5I4MLBqMqLDGxU/s640/heavenly+bar.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://heavenlybubbles.co.uk/shop-category/luxury-silk-handmade-soap/" target="_blank">Heavenly Bubbles Soap - UK</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsuRLEfXZvsXsW9XB7_W1FZ2hadU70Y8XChoXPa3ndphA9_-ibKQw36fkpXfpHPA4xMZYsE7eZuaQTkDzahgz4RIqRYeLZ-Zq0B16prpaJTSiqdXrU-IJJq7XLgDhoSX2Gpt1_HC58iEz/s1600/carrot+yogurt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsuRLEfXZvsXsW9XB7_W1FZ2hadU70Y8XChoXPa3ndphA9_-ibKQw36fkpXfpHPA4xMZYsE7eZuaQTkDzahgz4RIqRYeLZ-Zq0B16prpaJTSiqdXrU-IJJq7XLgDhoSX2Gpt1_HC58iEz/s640/carrot+yogurt.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/182535626/carrot-yogurt-soap-great-for-mature-skin?ref=shop_home_active_2" target="_blank">Pink Parchment Soaps - USA</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuogq4RzVNyQMcYonegHQORF4mMVmHDAvdCGHNcw-5JSTdczRD1qDa_DxvvAQMllm3or6s-4u0sfvQFLCPpCRu2XB3Lkp6niBitrQ67-b2XEtECWC9KcJTL3GCe3wSh8mEi-XLitSecp-y/s1600/sunny+island+blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuogq4RzVNyQMcYonegHQORF4mMVmHDAvdCGHNcw-5JSTdczRD1qDa_DxvvAQMllm3or6s-4u0sfvQFLCPpCRu2XB3Lkp6niBitrQ67-b2XEtECWC9KcJTL3GCe3wSh8mEi-XLitSecp-y/s640/sunny+island+blue.jpg" width="596" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/151863957/island-coconut-bar-soap-glycerin-soap?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=soap%20bar&ref=sr_gallery_15" target="_blank">Island Coconut Bar - SunyIslandBlu</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXzx1bi5wg7BVebE8jojelPYyx3J60dvUDFhJXgwVcd7sUEK2fGzAmJFs2EvJ9lLpW8tsIB2gqrJvqJdlg91Sf3L-vrPWYcdFapLgtsXiPMjZYe8yBkc79MG2LBX2nLVsXUw9T1QfN99Z/s1600/hibiscus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXzx1bi5wg7BVebE8jojelPYyx3J60dvUDFhJXgwVcd7sUEK2fGzAmJFs2EvJ9lLpW8tsIB2gqrJvqJdlg91Sf3L-vrPWYcdFapLgtsXiPMjZYe8yBkc79MG2LBX2nLVsXUw9T1QfN99Z/s640/hibiscus.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/215155200/hibiscus-soap-yellow-and-peach-color?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=soap%20bar%20yellow&ref=sr_gallery_6" target="_blank">Hibiscus - CoquetteBath USA</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4pUehdw1QAEbPvsGDH4JOtNga0X7vG_p6jsJxxIpZVXDpB2ZNc_Hjb4OUucKPgD4_U2PUXOmqzdbDXqgfmRvNJYTCpzkON3D-tjBwfMULglk349G3Cp6aeb-EC6dy-Z3AZnOhJfHzV4p/s1600/white+bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4pUehdw1QAEbPvsGDH4JOtNga0X7vG_p6jsJxxIpZVXDpB2ZNc_Hjb4OUucKPgD4_U2PUXOmqzdbDXqgfmRvNJYTCpzkON3D-tjBwfMULglk349G3Cp6aeb-EC6dy-Z3AZnOhJfHzV4p/s640/white+bar.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/128660569/pure-soap-bar-ginger-grass-and-lemon?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=soap%20bar%20white&ref=sr_gallery_9" target="_blank">Ginger Grass and Lemon - the charming frog - USA</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCoHOsM5ay-OufbmnLy_T83VRe5DmOR0QUyQu6TbUKSjHgdVzlYRibYljnzLb3Z2Hy2E7v-oLcliADLclIGViJbbMl-wmxmXQr-0M9bzzhSNzIQA4NVhRcEDolMf-HGDjYZgfGkQxkydg/s1600/lavender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMCoHOsM5ay-OufbmnLy_T83VRe5DmOR0QUyQu6TbUKSjHgdVzlYRibYljnzLb3Z2Hy2E7v-oLcliADLclIGViJbbMl-wmxmXQr-0M9bzzhSNzIQA4NVhRcEDolMf-HGDjYZgfGkQxkydg/s640/lavender.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/98945008/cold-process-soap-handmade-soap-large?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=soap%20bar%20purple&ref=sr_gallery_42" target="_blank">Lavender - Kirk Estate - USA</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I just LOVE staring at handmade soap! Isn't it just beautiful??<br />
<br />
xoxo Joanna</div>
Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-79124696406493561732015-05-16T09:37:00.001-04:002015-05-16T09:37:18.739-04:00My Intimate Garden Walk With Milo + Otis <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>There is something almost primal in getting down deep into the earth... an element of connection and reflection. </i><br />
<br />
This challenge was meant to be an
exercise for you to get in touch with a primal emotion and infusing that
deep internal force into your art. I call it the Emotion Transfer Technique.(ETT).<br />
<br />
Art is complex and I don't claim to be an expert on the subject, but through my own experience I have found that art takes on the Maker's feelings. Think about some of the artists you know of, and think of the art that is/was so obviously theirs. Personality comes through. So to not lose sight of your inner self and artist, ETT is an essential element to exercise regularly. Terrible flops can occur from them, but that's why you <i>should </i>exercise ETT, because flopping is just a blip or bump in the works. We must all trip and fall before we can stand up tall, and then there is more tripping throughout our lives. If there isn't, my guess is that the person is either not an artist or they are a control addict and will not open themselves to FEELINGS.<br />
<br />
On that note, with coffee in hand, my garden walk begins. Join me and we'll walk together:<br />
<br />
I went on a short but deep journey through Milo + Otis' backyard Jungle. The story of her garden was told in such a way that I felt present, walking beside her as she told the story of the overgrown and oh-so-loved maze of plants that she navigates through and absorbs it all in. Well, the Creeping Charlie needs a flame throwing trim once in a while, but ...that's another story.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p526x296/11174767_417112678413701_966420863603037299_n.jpg?oh=6455c0cc903dbaeffbea1a1fb8dd8699&oe=560490FA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Milo AndOtis's photo." border="0" class="scaledImageFitWidth img" height="353" src="https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p526x296/11174767_417112678413701_966420863603037299_n.jpg?oh=6455c0cc903dbaeffbea1a1fb8dd8699&oe=560490FA" width="470" /></a></div>
<br />
You'll understand. This is her own explanation of the Digging In The Dirt soap she made. Read on.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I
love dirt. As a child, we would change into old T-shirts and crummy
pants and go mud sliding after a rain. I could sit in a chair in an
empty room doing nothing and come out dirty. I have a close and intimate
relationship with dirt; it can't stay away from me. Nor I it.<span data-reactid=".10k.1:4:1:$comment394429110750539_398746550318795:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".10k.1:4:1:$comment394429110750539_398746550318795:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".10k.1:4:1:$comment394429110750539_398746550318795:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".10k.1:4:1:$comment394429110750539_398746550318795:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0"></span></span></span></span><span data-reactid=".10k.1:4:1:$comment394429110750539_398746550318795:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".10k.1:4:1:$comment394429110750539_398746550318795:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".10k.1:4:1:$comment394429110750539_398746550318795:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span 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<blockquote>
Ever since I had my own yard, I have dug in the dirt, planting bulbs,
growing flowers and vegetables alike. My current garden has been
affectionately named The Jungle because my tomatoes grow to 7 or 8 feet
ta<span class="text_exposed_show">ll and after planting sunflowers one
year, they won't stop coming up. I don't have the heart to pull them up,
so every year, I have towering sunflowers whose heads get so heavy they
pull the thick sturdy stalks down, sometimes all the way to the ground.
When I walk through it every summer, I get to know the obstacle course,
when to step over, when to lift up and go under, and when to simply
duck. I know when to step around all the volunteers of cleome that
spring up in the paths that I can't cut down, either. When I go out late
at night, I can walk it essentially blinded. </span></blockquote>
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<blockquote>
I was out yesterday, pulling up grasses and clearing the way for the
day lillies, using my flame thrower to take out the creeping charlie (I'm
sorry, Charlie, but you won't stop!). It was perfect day with mellow
sunshine, fresh dirt, the green of the new shoots and the perfect blue
sky. Getting on my knees and turning dirt with my bare hands, getting it
stuck under my nails, finding last year's dead leaves in my hair, is
energizing but relaxing and calming.<br />
<br />
I made my soap after that,
using yellows for the sun, greens for the new growth and blues for the
sky and the water that make it all grow. Black of course is needed for
the dirt and the night. I used a round and round hanger swirl to
represent the continual change of the seasons. Honeysuckle is the scent
as I love my fragrant flowers. I was hoping for a soap that would look
interesting, with energy but ultimately gives a soothing feeling, just
like dirt on my hands gives me." </blockquote>
<blockquote>
- Milo + Otis<br />
</blockquote>
<br />
<a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/digginginthedirt?source=feed_text"><span class="_58cl"></span><span class="_58cm"></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7_KsQJNE4NzAT225pqmDqTifO7gpe4zJYboNrLZeSvdXwYz81dP4ewn6Z-QcUMMmAE0Zrw9urpoMk_R8l8_RtckyrFFKwRxHF0j_jGoTiM0dwRssr8odlSA_KV3MHsNwlrCMFWoC6QeN/s1600/milo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7_KsQJNE4NzAT225pqmDqTifO7gpe4zJYboNrLZeSvdXwYz81dP4ewn6Z-QcUMMmAE0Zrw9urpoMk_R8l8_RtckyrFFKwRxHF0j_jGoTiM0dwRssr8odlSA_KV3MHsNwlrCMFWoC6QeN/s640/milo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://scontent-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p526x296/11174767_417112678413701_966420863603037299_n.jpg?oh=6455c0cc903dbaeffbea1a1fb8dd8699&oe=560490FA" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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I was not only touched by her story, I WENT there and felt it. And the soap interprets her story. Just Beautiful! In a short interpretation of Digging In The Dirt in words coupled with a
thoughtfully made soap, I declare Milo + Otis the winner of this
challenge. A secret surprise gift will go out from <a href="http://www.madoils.com/" target="_blank">Mad Oils </a>to Milo + Otis. Congrats!!</div>
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Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311017639895537111.post-33718488766258001982015-04-06T07:39:00.001-04:002015-04-06T07:39:53.547-04:00Digging In The Dirt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="color: #134f5c;"><i>"Something in me, dark and sticky<br />
All the time it's getting strong...</i></span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #134f5c;"><i>The more I look, the more I find</i><br /><i>
As I close on in, I get so blind ..."</i></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b><span style="color: #134f5c;"><i>- Peter Gabriel</i></span></b></div>
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<div style="text-align: right;">
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<br />
All weekend I spent my time digging in the dirt and planting new plants into my front walkway. My husband and I ripped out a line of very "vanilla" hedge-like bushes along each side of the walkway. It was boring and cold and didn't feel like home. It was really hard work and took a number of sessions to complete.<br />
<br />
Yesterday we finished one side and we're really tickled with how it looks now. It's way more "US"; it has different heights, textures, colors, styles....with scattered potted plants taking up some of the nooks and crannies. Digging in the dirt felt so good. In fact, I was thinking to myself how much of a release it is to use my bare hands in the fresh dirt just as my husband asked me if the dirt on my hands made me crazy. No, I love it. There is something almost primal in getting down deep into the earth... an element of connection and reflection. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvnYu4Xw6VJNlYmSFZaBAMqPEYp3n2rG4S2QR7azfiHcbH21Y1g9ErY3Oby6h4Jn17LcEdsO07GND6OzRTRMLOjrSYXfKtMLB_isX_aeyAlAKZlHs20Z8NwShS1Jc_Mg-wXptg1LIY3dk/s1600/joannas+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvnYu4Xw6VJNlYmSFZaBAMqPEYp3n2rG4S2QR7azfiHcbH21Y1g9ErY3Oby6h4Jn17LcEdsO07GND6OzRTRMLOjrSYXfKtMLB_isX_aeyAlAKZlHs20Z8NwShS1Jc_Mg-wXptg1LIY3dk/s1600/joannas+garden.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cat Motor, stalking wild animals. Picture's blurry, but colorful :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
I know not everyone experiences gardening in such a zen-like, philosophical way, and believe me, it doesn't always happen for me every time, but often, gardening brings a sense of peace. Until I overheat and sweat so much I start attracting mosquitoes. Then I'm done. The spiritual side of me shuts down because I hate mosquitoes.<br />
<br />
Bare hands in the cool, rich dirt. Where does it bring you? Does it bring emotions up or does it make you forget everything? Or both at the same time? Is your ultimate goal to make colors or textures or a place called home? Creating something you may not have felt since you were a young child?<br />
<br />
So you are probably wondering how all this dirt and gardening junk relates to the Soap Challenge. As always, my words to you FOR YEARS has been: <b>Dig Deep. </b>Now it is literal.<br />
<br />
If you are in a temperate climate, get into the dirt and plant something new that you have been wanting. Even if it is small. Really experience the planting. If you currently live in a frozen tundra, use your IMAGINATION.....DIG! Then let your dug up feelings and colors of your garden blend or co-exist and make your soap reflect those two things together. <br />
<br />
You may have to really think about this one.<br />
<br />
It is April 6th. I blew the April 1st target date for starting this new challenge, so I know I messed you up. I will give you only until May 7th to complete this task. Once you've completed your soap, please post in the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/soapchallengegallery/" target="_blank">Soap Challenge Gallery on Facebook</a>. I expect there won't be photos for awhile because the work here is in your head, BEFORE the challenge.<br />
<br />
This soap challenge is called Digging In The Dirt. Use the hashtag #<b><u>digginginthedirt</u></b> with your photo or I won't find it. You also must <i>explain </i>your soap with your entry. Describe your experience and description of what you did. I can't judge just the soap. It has to come with an explanation.<br />
<br />
I occasionally will offer a small gift for the winner. This time, it will be a secret surprise for just the winner of the challenge, sponsored by <a href="http://www.madoils.com/" target="_blank">Mad Oils</a> (my company). Thank you all for the support and love.<br />
<br />
xoxo Joanna<br />
<br />
..... dig deep .......<br />
<br />
<br />
;)<br />
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Joanna Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02815987559964160910noreply@blogger.com3