Soap Porn Photo Challenge Results

Some of you may not know about the Facebook group I started called Soaper's Retreat.  I really started it as an extention of this blog....to extend it into more of a community.  It has taken off and I am so in love with how things are going.  There are over 600 members and there is consistent sharing, advising, asking, venting....etc.  We are tapping into eachother's knowledge banks and saving all sorts of time and heartache.  You must request to join, but anyone can accept your request.

Sooooo... I decided that as an artist, it's always good to be challenged out of my comfort zone once in a while to explore a new perspective, experience a new medium....whatever the challenge may be.  So I set up an impromptu challenge for everyone in The Soaper's Retreat and gave only 30 hours to complete and post the photos from the challenge.

This was the challenge:

Soap Porn Photo Challenge:

We need some serious soap porn here. Get your cameras out. Everyone has an assignment: Take one picture by natural light at a different angle than you usually take your photos. Then post in this group. Winners of this CHALLENGE will be in my next blog post on The Soap Bar blog.  I'll choose three winners. All entries need to say "Soap Porn Photo Challenge" and need to be posted here in this group by Thursday at 3pm Eastern time (Florida, USA time!)
This is supposed to be fun, so have a good time!

Such nice shots were taken.  Not just beautiful soaps, but great photography!  I think, perhaps, some of you stretched out of your comfort zone and were pleasantly surprised.  Am I right?  I am proud of every one of you who put yourself out there.  This is a community and I am honored and proud to be a part of it all.

Now, on to my three favorites of the bunch:

Soap: Heaven in a Cup (Mocha, Hazelnut, Coffee + Vanilla with Cherry on top)
Location: On worktable with window lighting in the afternoon
{newt+fig soap co}

Soap: Lavender Mint
Location: My Lanai
Light: Natural light from the window

Soap: Unscented/Uncolored Pumpkin Soap
Location: Work table
Light: Natural light from the window

 I personally believe that natural light takes products and enhances their natural beauty.  I urge you to continue taking no-flash photos of your soaps until you are more comfortable.  Thank you so much for participating in this quick and fun roller coaster ride.  Let's do another one soon!

 

Sliding soap. Bombs Away.

Every so often, my mother has an experience to share regarding my business, soap....whatever and writes a little short story.  This one was from last weekend and not so much regarding anything business related other than the horror I found under her sink.

the tragedy of body detergent.  Yes, this is what I found.

 __________________________________________________________________________

A story about my daughter, a sweet freak


I don't know if I ever brought this up in any of my stories, but Joanna and her husband and children all regularly go through my pantry and medicine cabinet pointing out and tossing those things that have expired.  Even Nina's friends have been heard to say "this is expired."  This is rather embarrassing, humiliating and obnoxious on their part, but I take a deep breath, being the good sport that I am and put up with their nonsense.


However, Joanna went too far this week end. Too much coffee or something.  She was sitting on the floor of my bathroom with the cabinet wide open pulling everything out and throwing everything into the garbage pail.  I should have known I was in trouble right then and there.  Suddenly she began yelling "bombs away" and slid the first bar of Irish Spring soap down the long hall until it went under my bed.  Then the second bar, the third bar and 16 bars later (all under my bed) with my grandson, Desmond bent over laughing.  She was done.  I couldn't even speak. 


I said "you come from very good breeding.  Your father was a college professor, your mother a psychotherapist, and you're a freak.  

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Ma." 

My daughter the diplomat.

__________________________________________________________________

When I found a jumbo box of Irish Spring under my mother's bathroom sink (you know the kind you can get at Costco or Sam's Club bulk stores) I was semi-mortified.  Semi, you ask?  Well, I do periodically find 20 year old aspirin or a box of cotton balls, where the box looks almost vintage, so I kind of figured that the soap must have been bought from before I started making soap.  I just want to mention that my mother keeps an incredibly clean house and everything is immaculate, so I don't want to paint a picture of my mom having vintage cotton ball boxes and 20 year old aspirin in a dingy water stained, hoarder-like household.  Not even close to reality.  My house will never reach the cleanliness state that hers has been like since I left for college.  That is, unless I have a cleaning service - which I sadly don't.

I digress.

So... the soap scenario was fun.  My son (11 years old) was 20 feet away, at least and I am sitting on the floor, sliding each boxed bar of Irish Spring down this long, perfect-brand-new-and-double-shiny wood floors and would slide right by my mother (who's face looked stunned), went under her bed and my son would laugh and pick it up from the other side.   We all laughed so hard, except, I had to explain that if I ever find another commercial soap box in the house, I may have to be more extreme with my sliding measures.

;)

Unique Soaps

Decorative soap in Thailand - hand carved

Ice Cream Soapwich by AJ Sweet Soap

Fragranced with Cake Batter and chocolate fragrance.

Makes this a sensation for all the senses! Almost 6 ounces.

One Angel Wing Soap In Grace by Satin And Birch

The Wings are 4 x 3 1/2 And they are fragranced with Amazing Grace.

You have to see this chair being made by soap:

Soap Chair

"Soap

exaggerated

to the

scale of a chair."

Created by Nancy Wu

courtesy of bookofjoe.com

Crazy talent, right??!???

Perky Bubbs

This is a compilation of beautiful soap photographs I'd like to call Perky Bubbs. Aren't they, though? So happy. Each and every one of them are just happy and joyful. :O)

Enjoy gazing as I did.

Citrus Bliss by SV Soaps (Indulgence)

"Top notes of green, citrus, kumquat, with light notes of sweet strawberry, and pineapple"

Nicotiana Soap by GreenMtnSoapworks

"Fresh, sweet, light"

Macapuno Sorbet by SwanMountainSoaps

"...sweet jackfruit, lychee berries, mango chunks, macapuno (a kind of coconut) and crushed ice, smothered with pineapple juice and a scoop of your vanilla ice cream"

(really sounds like my kind of dessert!)

Pink Sugar by Ten Digit Creations

"cotton candy, lemon drops, caramel and raspberry jam on a dry down of musks"

~~~~~@~~@~~@~@~~~~~@~@~~@~~@~~~~~

And then I couldn't resist but to include three of Grumpy Girl's soaps because they really are the epitome of "perky bubbs" and I have always loved Sharon's designs and sense of humor.

Grumpy Girl Candle & Bath Co:

Love You Long Time

"Fresh mango, Clementine’s & black currants, peach, rose, & coconut milk along with white musk, vanilla, & tamarind"

Draft Up Your Skirt

"Fresh summer breezes, warm florals, light ozone and sunshine blow through the green meadows"

Ay Carumba!

"Margarita lovers won't believe how true this scent is to the refreshing salty-lime-tequila drink that brings us so much joy"

I hoped you enjoyed my choices for today. It's always fun to find porn of the soapy persuasion. Today was especially fun because it was very uplifting, bright and colorful.

Kisses and hugs from the soap kitchen.

S.O.A.P Panel Chosen For Brambleberry

Anne Marie, of Brambleberry, chose a few people to be on a panel to help choose the spring 2011 line of fragrances. I was one of the chosen! As part of the panel, I am supposed to test, sniff and give my detailed opinion of the fragrance. They are in for a treat because I have such a keen sense of smell and a picky nose. I think I smell nuances others might miss. In that way, I think I'd be good, because I'll be giving loads of information. Whether they use it or not is a whole other story.

I am excited. Anne Marie will be sending out 8-10 one ounce bottles of the fragrances she wants each panelist to test.

I know, I have nothing else on my plate. O.o

Oooooo. Excited!

Discovering Glycerin Soap (Guest Blogger)

Debbie Chialtas of Soapylove is a master at designing and creating beautiful glycerin soaps. I had the honor of reviewing her book and using her soaps and she is one talented woman! Thank you, Debbie for taking time out of your busy schedule to create a guest post for us all this summer. :)
------------------------

Discovering Glycerin Soap
Debbie Chialtas of Soapylove

Since I discovered glycerin soap more than 5 years ago, I have been endlessly fascinated by how versatile the craft is. When I began I couldn't find very many styles, though. Now things are really picking up and there are more soap crafters exploring their creativity with "melt and pour." If you haven't found your glycerin inspiration yet, here are some of my free tutorials I recommend depending on your style. I hope you like them!

You: Classic, casual, jeans and tee shirt kind of gal. You like things modern and clean.

Your project: "Parsons Soap Blocks Video"

You: Romantic, old fashioned. You love roses and tea cups, fragrances and cameos.

Your project: "Romantic Soaps Tutorial"

You: Eclectic, funky. Strange is best. You don't want to do anything remotely "normal," not even with soap.

Your project: "Soap Slime"

You: Lover of all things cute. Hello Kitty, smiley faces on everything, and fun prints.

Your project: "I Heart Soap" and "Ombre Heart Soaps".

You: Mega sweet tooth. Anything dessert inspired is right up your alley. Ice cream, cupcakes, donuts... and pile on those rainbow sprinkles!

Your project: "Two Scoops Please!" and "Pretty Parfait Soaps".

For even more tutorials with tons of great pictures and a huge range of styles, check out Let's Get Soapy, my glycerin soap crafting eZine.

No matter what your style is, there's a project for you!

Dr. Perricone Give Away Winner!

On May 24th, I hosted a give away for Dr. Perricone's Advanced Face Firming Activator and....

(by the way, retails on their site for $120 for 2 oz!)

This morning, I went to random.org which is where I go every time I pull a number for a give away because I don't want to pick one randomly. I like computer generated randomly chosen numbers because that way, there is no bias or mistakes on my part at all.

The results are (DRUM ROLL):


Teresa wins!!!!
Yay! I believe she just had a birthday, so this might make her feel better. ;)

Thanks to everyone for participating. I'm sure we will have more of these soon.

We'll get back to our normal soap programming shortly.

:D

Manic Monday :: Soap Porn To Cheer You Up

Mania (as described in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary): excitement manifested by mental and physical hyperactivity, disorganization of behavior, and elevation of mood

Let's see how this goes without putting anybody over the edge.

In a blog post, Delicious Citrus, Purple Sparkle Crafts shared her
chocolate orange cold process soap. Yummmm.

Found this one on Nerd Approved. "The 'Fight Club' for alternative lifestyles"
"The first rule of Gay Bar is “don’t drop the soap.” Or maybe not, depending on how you like to party."

wasabi shea butter soap

Erin, of Naiad Soap Arts, is a lovely person and excellent soap maker.
Cool manic bar o'soap!

Some people are a little obsessed with their electronics. Go see all the electronics they made out of soap....iPhone, Blackberry, PSP, video controller.... good replicas.

Tetris soap brought to you by Dirty Ass soap ;)
I love their company name....hehe

Loves Me Long Time
by Grumpy Girl Candle & Bath Co.

Sharon, of Grumpy Girl, makes her entire line of products fun and the names of her products and descriptions are not only witty but hysterical. I love her!

Wish I had more time to get this going. I have more photos to share. Okay, back to work, people... There's nothing here to see!


*

Just Say It

thanks to sweetspot labs

Holiday Stuff That Caught My Eye

c a n d y!

Paper Lanterns
(found these on "How to decorate paper lanterns cheap and easy" on Associated Content)

Independence Day themed wedding cake made by
Philadephia's Whipped Bakeshop

Red, white and blue parfaits... mmm

looks just like a photo taken from the Martha Stewart Magazine. You are RIGHT!
You can find these on www.marthastewart.com

4th of July Soapsicles by anniepoo

Patriotic cupcake soap by machinegunlullaby

Enjoy your goodies on this 4th of July!

*

Sugar Cubes

These are interesting. I made these over a month ago and forgot about them. Aren't they cute? They smell amazing like some confectionery gift from God. I took one with me to the shower yesterday and I had myself a rockin good time. I like a scrubby, mean exfoliating shower bar, perhaps more than the next person, especially on my lower legs. I like smooth ones, too, don't get me wrong, but if you are into the scrub factor, come a little closer.

It's like a hard sugar scrub held together with soap - you may fall in love.

The Costumes

Halloween was different this year for me. Nina went trick-or-treating with her friend, Marin, around the neighborhood without adults (big step for THIS mom.) Desmond went with his buddies while Brad hung back a few feet to give them some space. I stayed home and gave out the candy which was great because I got to see all of the costumes and ask everyone who they were dressed as. I hadn't ever given out candy on Halloween before. I was always on the other end, either as a child begging for the loot or ringing doorbells with my kids reminding them to say thank you.

Nina was a dead girl this year (on the right)

Desmond was a military man with his Star Wars boys

Now we are in November which is rapidly whizzing by (yikes!) and Thanksgiving is approaching. All of a sudden, I feel like I am wearing stupid girlie flats on a downward sloped ice ramp where I can't stop even if I had to. Do you know what I mean? Is that just age? Aging? OY!

Cereal Challenge Results

If you didn't get a chance to read the Cereal Challenge feel free to before reading the results.

You all did SO well and I give you a gold star and an E for effort. Since the challenge, I added Honeycomb to my pantry, because it was calling to me the last time I shopped.

I'm a health nut. I know.

The results are in:

1) Frosted Flake

2) Grape Nut

3) Organic Clifford's Crunch (no one in this house likes these, so I'm eating them)


4) Rice Krispie

5) Cheerio

6) Fruity Pebble (awful-this was a moment of giving in...choosing my battles as I say with the 8 year old in tow)

7) Corn Pop (aka sugar pops -Karyn remembers)

8) Organic Wild Puff (my kids love these!)


9) Cinnamon Toast Crunch

10) Kix

So, who came closest?

• Leslie with 8 correct
• Marr with 8
• Heather with 8
• body natural soap with 8
• Crystal with 8
• Stickygooeycreamychewy with 8

Since no one won the challenge and there is a 6 way tie at number 8, I'll have to start a new game and give you all another chance at some goodies.

I'll try to think of another challenge.

Thanks for playing...it was too much fun for me. My favorite comment was from Crystal:

"Okay, here's my last try. I went to the store to buy cereal today and ended up in the cereal aisle for 15 minutes trying to find these."

Now THAT is a true competitor!

Cereal Challenge

I recently sent a Product Body package to Leslie Green of The Hungry Housewife and included an Apple Jack in a Ziploc bag labeled, "This is what I have to resort to since your banana bread is gone :( " If you didn't read about our trade, you can right here.

She thanked me for the Froot Loop, and of course, I had to correct her immediately. I gave her a bit of a hard time for not knowing the Four Basic Cereal Food Groups, Apple Jacks being one of them. This inspired me to give stuff away and thought a cereal challenge could really allow you to think back to older days, or just from this morning, what cereals you might have in your repertoire.

The remarkable thing about this whole thing is that I didn't have to prepare AT ALL. Yes, I have TEN cereal boxes in my pantry, not including oatmeal and cereal bars.

Are you a cereal connoisseur? Do you know your cereal and if so, prove it! The first person to correctly identify all ten cereals wins! What do you win? It'll be a surprise, but work hard, because you never know what the prize could be!

1 2 3

4

5 6 7

8 9 10

Leave your comments with your answers! A helpful hint: Click on the photo to get it enlarged and to see more detail. Sorry, #4 was a beast to photograph for some reason.

UPDATE! Bigger hint: Two of them you can find in the natural foods isle.

Keep trying!

Denture and Egg Soap?

So funny. Mollycoddle Soap on Etsy. Go see some of her groovy, comical soap. Here is a peek: