What better way to get into the Christmas spirit then putting up decorations? I just saw these cute Christmas critter ornaments at Pottery Barn. I especially like the baby penguin. But $26 for a set of 4 is quite pricey!
Pinecone Critters. Along with the pine cone body, it’s very creative! Photo from Pottery Barn.
Smith & Hawkin, the garden shop I’ve enjoyed visiting, always had nice ornaments. But sadly they are out of business (since last July 2009). I found this photo from the Daily Green. I remember seeing them last winter but didn’t buy any. They are so cute and colorful too! I found some on Ebay and thinking of bidding for them (starting bid is $3 for all 6).
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Linen is the best fabric to wear in the summer. It’s comfortable and very cooling. The only down side would be that it wrinkles easily. Then again, it does iron easily too.
I used to always hesitate purchasing linen clothing because I thought it would be itchy and rough. My first linen item of clothing was a summer skirt. It was medium weight and didn’t feel too cooling. But then I found some light weight navy linen pants that were much more cooler to wear, especially on hot days.
Here is a photo of a simple flax flower and buds that provide us with so much. From healthy flax seeds to oils and of course, the fabric of summer!
Linen is made from the flax stalks (bast fiber). The luster of linen comes from the natural wax content. Linen can be creamy white to light tan as this fiber can be easily dyed. The color does not fade when washed. It is best to hang (line) dry them. Linen, like cotton, can also be boiled without damaging the fiber.
Libeco, a Belgian linen manufactured describes the flax as one of the most ecologically-correct plant. The seeds provide oil for dyes, paint, cosmetics and floor coverings. And the by-products of linen production are processed into a pulp used for banknotes or fiberboard. But most of all, flax is most renowned as the raw material for use as linen fabric.
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I’ve heard of beeswax but never of floral waxes until now. Floral wax is not beeswax, it is the solid, fragrant, creamy wax derived from flower petals.
Snowdrift Farms describes the process of obtaining floral wax by freshly picking and selecting flower heads which are then mixed with a solvent to produce a concrete. When mixed with high proof alcohol and then chilled, the concrete separates into a fragrant liquid and a waxy solid.
Jasmine floral wax photo from Natural Sourcing
Floral waxes are usually produced from delicate flowers such as jasmine, lotus and tuberose. Photo of this pretty and highly fragrant tuberose from Asha_Susan from flickr.
Floral waxes are used to add color to creams, solid perfumes, lotions, soaps, and candles.
It lends thickness and a beautiful aroma to your end product. These waxes hold many of the benefits of the botanical including the moisturizing phospholipids. Recommended use rate is up to 10%.
Nature’s Gift Aromatherapy advises that adding to cold process soap yields a slightly harder bar. The deeply colored waxes will also add a hint of color to your soap base. Of course fragrance too.
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For the longest time I could not get myself to try M & P (melt & pour) soapmaking. I think it’s because the idea seem too simple. And the varieties of mold were so limiting. And there just didn’t seem to be that anticipation of seeing your soap “cook” on it’s own like with CP soapmaking.
But after seeing all these neat and creative M&P soaps from Etsy, I now have a change of heart.
These mouth watering sushi soaps were made by BunnyBubbles, on sale at Etsy $15. Check out the pickled ginger and wasabi too.
These cute looking cupcake soaps definitely looks good enough to eat! This was made by SoapStore, on sale at Etsy for $4.50.
The world of soapmaking and crafts is only limited by the way you think. And all these soaps are such an inspiration.
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If you are crafty and have some time, try publishing your own book at home. Start by learning how to bind your own book (or journals) and start photocopying those pages!
I would like to give this craft a try… in the meantime I’ve found this one to be very cute! It’s made by JotScribbleDoodle’s of etsy. Her handmade journal is on sale at Etsy for $12.
More info:
Martha Stewart: How to Bind a Book
D*I*Y Planner: Bookbinding 101
Image source:
Etsy, JotScribbleDoodle’s Handmade journals.
To continue with my latest hot process soap post, I used an empty juice container for my soap mold. Now I have little bars cut out of my hot process soaps. I imprinted them lightly with a leaf, it’s suppose to be an “olive leaf”. I call this my “Olive Leaf Luxury” bar since I used a combination of 5 very moisturizing vegetable oils (and no palm oil). I am trying to experiment without palm oil and see how the bars hold up. The basic recipe usually calls for 3 combination of oils. This bar also has goat milk powder and olive leaf extract.
Total amount of oils is 32 oz for my 4 quart crock pot. This was recommended as you do not want it to boil over if it’s too much for the pot. Or burn the pot if the batch is too small. I cooked my soap in the crock pot for 1 hr. You can tell it’s ready when it starts to look like Vaseline. Take a tiny bit between your fingers and rub it together, if it’s grainy then it’s not done cooking. But if it’s smooth, then you are finish. Start washing you hands and you will find tiny little bubbles.
Healthy looking green olives are used to make olive oil and the leaves have many health benefits. Photo by Gaia Herbs.
This bar has a very silky lather with lots of bubbles and slightly nutty aroma, plus my hint of peppermint essential oil. It’s still very soft now, but it should harden up by a week.
Percentage used:
Avocado Oil 15.38
Grapeseed Oil 15.38
Rice Bran Oil 23.08
Soybean Oil 30.77
Sunflower Oil 15.38
Sorry I won’t be adding any instructions here as I think there are many resources available in print and online. Some great soapmaking books are listed under my Resources page. Great pictures and tutorial from Zen Soaps here. Thanks. Read the rest of this entry »
I just saw the most pretty yet subdue knitting book ever. It’s Classic Knits: 15 Timeless Designs to Knit and Keep Forever by Erika Knight. I am not the expert knitter, as I have never successfully knit anything more than a scarf.
If you are interested in classic design and can’t really knit any of the patterns in the book, you can still find ready made items and include them into your wardobe. Personally, I always like the idea of mixing a few classic items with trendy ones. Classic designs are the best since the style will last much longer for years to come. Unlike trendy pieces that can only be worn for a few seasons.
The photography in this book is also very beautiful. The background feels like somewhere in an Irish or English country cottage mixed with Parisian city apartments. Katya de Gunwald, who is the photographer, did a great job highlighting the clothing and setting. At first, it felt a bit solemn, but it’s still bright enough to feel like spring is just around the corner.
This picture above is a classic, but mix the nice leather boots and it looks modern. I love the combination of polka dot dress and a simple sweater. The decor reminds me of a drafty English home. It could probably use some fresh flowers, or maybe even a sleeping cat.
The three pictures in the photo gallery are some of my favorite from the book. I also like the cute little navy vest. I think I have one like it in wool, but unfortunately it was thrown in the washing machine and shrunk! I love the classic knit messenger bag. Just the right size for all your magazines and books. And finally, the soft caramel color sweater is sweet, but with an air of elegance.
If you like classic designs, I think you’ll like this book. And if you can’t knit, just keep it as an inspirational picture book. Please note, all pictures are copyrighted by Erika Knight and Katya de Grunwald. Please do not take photos without permission of artist. Thank you!
I saw some of these beautiful crepe paper making flower kit from Martha Stewart’s Collection. They look really crafty and they won’t wilt. I actually had mixed feelings about them at first. It would seem cheaper to just whip them up yourself. Or you can always find a pattern from a craft book and use that instead. But if you still want a kit, they are now on sale at marthastewartcrafts.com 50% off the original price ($12.99 - $19.99).
Crepe Paper Dogwood Blossom
I like the dogwood the best. It looks simple and clean. The idea behind it is neat, at first I thought it would be a good project to do with kids. Except the crepe paper look a bit too delicate. Maybe more suitable for older children. Another down side is that the novelty will wear off. And soon they will be collecting dust and fading into the background, just waiting to be tossed out. So maybe fabric flowers are a better bet…
None the less, they look extremely pretty when taken by Martha’s talented photographers and art director. Here are some of my favorites:
Crepe Paper Peonies
