A New Craft .....

I do love my sewing

This week I felt like doing something new ....

I have been following Rhonda's blog Down To Earth for some time - she always has something sensible to say and has recently put out a book.... 

I went to her talk when she was in Toowoomba but silly me messed up the times and I couldn't stay long

..... and of course I forgot my camera ... 

.....and it was in general one of those days when I should have just stayed in bed ......

.... anyway.... amongst other things she makes her own soap .... 

and Bev made some HERE and recommended the recipe.  

I read up all of Rhonda's soap-making posts HERE, gathered the ingredients and fired to go.....

I didn't have a thermometer so my neighbour (the lovely friend up the road who brings me pumpkins) lent me this beauty..... 

I think I had just as much fun using a lovely old kitchen utensil

(luckily Rhonda's recipe is in both Celcius and Farhenheit)

I also wanted lavender and thought I would be smarty pants and put it on the base of my moulds....

I have this basket of dried lavender from out my garden.... every now and then I give it a couple of drops of extra oil.... handfulls of this get taken out .....

to stuff into lavender bags

(made from Cheryl's pattern in the Little Bit French series)

.... and pretty tea cups.....

I didn't take pictures as I was busy making sure I did it right.....

but here it is ... cooled and cut .... 

Verdict.... much easier than I thought to make it

I think it is a bit messy how I have done the lavender

.... rustic ....

I'll get back to you on it's effectiveness - I am leaving it to dry for 6 weeks - 

Do any of you make soap?  any tips?

Whilst the soap has been out basking in our winter sun Mr Postie came by with thes pretty fabrics from Sue ... thanks so much Sue... they will be great to use in my growing collection of Japanese blocks - look at those Geisha Girls.... I would be happy in gowns of silk ....

- look at those Geisha Girls.... I would be happy in gowns of silk ....

... making soap....

Righto, Gotto Go -  'normal' transmission to resume... after that burst of making something else energy ..... back to stitchin' ....