A New Little Project

Soapylove has certainly established itself as a place to find cute, sweet, and creative soaps, but there are always designs that pop into my head that don't fit into the Soapylove mold. Many of them I jot down in my book but never create since I know what people want and expect when they come to my shop.

So, thanks to Big Cartel (a great new shop host), I am opening a new shop called The Soap Lab (under construction) where I will be experimenting with soap styles inspired by modern art, textiles, fashion, and graphic design. I will be creating monthly mini-collections of 4 soaps tied together by a theme. My first collection is called "Antiquities."

To learn more about the inspiration behind The Soap Lab, check out my new blog. The shop will open July 1.

Soapylove eShop Now Open - Celebrating with a Soft Launch Sale!

Oh my gosh, I am so excited!! After 2 years of only selling to the public on Etsy, I have finally added a shopping cart to my Soapylove site. Lots of fun new updates have been made, there are loads of new pics, and if you make a purchase before June 1, you'll get 25% off! Just enter voucher LAUNCH25 when you're checking out!

One of the great things about creating my own eShop is that now you can use your own credit card instead of being forced to sign up for Etsy or using Paypal. It's so much easier!

So come check it out! Official Grand Opening will be June 1, when my full page ad appears in NEET Magazine!

More Bubble Bars and Tips on Soap Packaging

Here's #2 in the Bubble Bar series! This one is the Wonder Bar and was inspired by Wonder Bread. It has Strawberry Jam fragrance which is my hands-down all time favorite fragrance! It's the first bar that makes me want to wash my hands way too often, just to smell the yumminess.

I am having a lot of fun with these bars because it has also inspired me to do new packaging for them. I am doing a header card on my own printer. It's great because the whole soap is visible but there's lots of room on the card for ingredients info and cute graphics (which I make on my low-tech "Publisher" program).

Packaging is a big subject among Bath and Beauty folks. One resource for great ideas is the Flickr group called Soap Packaging. Check it out - you'll see everything from high end soaps from Europe, to hotel samples, to handmade styles. It's so cool!

Shop for Inspiration at Craft Ed Online!

One of the cool things I love about the Indie Craft community is that you can get project tutorials from some of the most interesting artists and crafters around - projects you would never see at Michael's or any other chain craft store. Now you can shop for these projects in one place online at Craft Ed Online.

There are many types of crafts including felting, polymer clay, glycerin soapmaking (ahem), yarn arts (like check out these cute crocheted cookies!), and lots more! You buy the pdf's and you get them delivered to your inbox! Easy!

They will also be having live craft classes, and videos you can buy. The teachers will be available for questions in a forum for 2 weeks after the classes which is so cool!

So the next time you're ready for a little inspiration, check it out - it might be the answer to your next gift giving quandry!

New Bubble Bars! My venture back to the classic "Loaf Soap".

One of the most fun projects you can make, and produce many bars at once, is with a loaf mold. I have one from Milky Way Molds that is really great. I was inspired by a loaf soap that Anne-Marie made on her Soap and the Finer Things Blog.

I have this awesome ice cube tray that I bought at a Japanese market a long time ago, which my dad drilled out the holes so I could pour soap into them. I made 3 colors - hot pink, neon yellow, and bright turquoise. I only scented the balls so I could have a super bright white bar (fragrance oils can tint the soap a creamy color). I poured white soap layer by layer, letting it set so I would have raised levels of soap balls. I tried to mix up the colors so they would be random when the loaf was sliced.

I think they came out pretty well. Every bar is different and the dots will change sizes as you use the soap. I'll put them in my Etsy shop today or tomorrow.

It was a fun project and next time I might let the balls stick out of the top when it's done because they're so cute!

Yay for Talented Family!

So about 2 weeks ago, I had this idea to do a photo shoot with my neice Emily as a "soda jerk" posing with my soapsicles. I was pretty excited and wanted to give it a shot.

I got my sister in law's permission to ask my neice and she said yes. I spoke to Emily and she said yes. Then I made a date with my sister, Cheryl, who has taken the best pics of my soaps, and she said yes. I called my friend Alison to see if she'd do Emily's hair and she was game, too. Everything was lining up quite well!

Next I started the hunt for clothes and props. I posted an Alchemy request for a custom bow tie and BibBon stepped up and not only made me an amazing bow tie but also matching trim for my hat and a pony tail button! I couldn't believe my good luck.

Finally Sunday rolled around and we all met at Cheryl's house. Emily arrived after getting her make-up done at the MAC counter looking incredible, and started getting her hair done. Soon we were ready to start snapping pics and I could tell it was going to be really amazing!

Here's a great shot just of Emily. I have lots more with my soaps that you'll see eventually, too. I'm so excited! For a sneak preview, sign up for my new Soapylove newsletter (see box on upper right of this page).

So thanks to everyone who pitched in to not only realize my vision but make it even better than I imagined!!

To see even more of what my sister can do, check out her site-in-progress at www.CherylJacksonPhotography.com. To contact her about a photo shoot, you can send her an email at cheryl(at)cheryljacksonphotography(dot)com for more info.

Be Still My Heart!

Etsy :: ndeurshoes :: Sweet n cool

Today on Etsy's homepage was an awesome collection of items that all said "80's" to me, and most people who know me know that I have a soft spot for anything 80's. MTV was on in my house non-stop when I was a kid.

In 1985 I was 11, my sister was 16, my brother was 18, and my oldest brother was 21. My oldest brother loved rock, my other brother loved new wave, and my sister loved David Bowie. I was exposed to a lot of different music and loved most of it (not KISS so much, but Queen was great). To this day my favorite band is still The Smiths and I seem to have a bizarre memory of tons of bands and lyrics, even though I was on the young side to be that into it.

One of the Etsy artists featured today was ndeurshoes. I checked out his shop and found the most awesome hand painted shoes! Every pair is made to order and is on 80's shoe styles like those low pumps I know you all had, and if not those, then those killer Vans high tops. There are lots of styles actually, and they are all really cool.

They remind me of how in high school we used to draw all over our keds. I even had a white denim jacket that I drew a huge Keith Haring style graphic across the back, from sleeve to sleeve. Just to show how painfully anchored in 80's trends I am, it wasn't that long ago that I busted out the bleach and bleach-dyed a pair of jeans that were already worn through at the knees.

So, back to ndeur - this pair I think was made specifically for me. Those colors! Those popsicles!! Maybe I should use my government rebate for them? Alas, I can't. But I envy whoever becomes the proud new owner!