New Soap Blog (additional)

Where Water Comes Down

Check it out and be sure to mark it in your google reader to keep up!

Loves!

CP Soap Batch #2 - Vanilla Cinnamon Poppyseed Swirl

This is soap batch #2:

Vanilla - for the sent
Cinnamon - for the color
Poppyseed - for texture/exfoliation
Swirl - for making it really pretty!

This the first time I have tried coloring, and additive and swirling.
"They" say only try one new thing at a time.
I figured I could handle adding a little cinnamon AND making swirls.
I think I read that the color of the soap may change as it cures.
I hope it gets darker.

Ahhhh... and the lovely mess left behind. Just like baking!

My "M's" boss back from Paris

My boss "M" at "M's" came back from Paris today... well came back to work from being in Paris for the past week. She brought back the **sweetest** treat!

Macaroons from Laduree!
Evidently they are famous for their macaroons.
They decorate cakes with them and have a "champagne and macaroon bar" to boot!

The flavors were/are as follows:
Red: Raspberry *so amazing*
Brown1: Chocolate
Brown2: Chocolate
(I'm sure they were different chocolates but both equally amazing)
Yellow: Lemon
Cream: Vanilla
Turquoise: Lavender... yes I said Lavender. I did not finish this one. I can't eat lavender. lol

Who knew that Macaroons were so amazing?
Now I know!

Cold Process Soap Making

So I decided I wanted to learn to make soap.

I started with a few things from Michaels only to be bored with the "melt and pour" method they sell supplies for.

I graduated quickly to Cold Process Soap Making.
This is the process that uses Lye.
I spent about a week hunting down all the oils and the Lye.
Evidently it is quite commonly used to make meth.

Darn those illegal drugs for making it difficult for me to craft!

I ended up buying the lye from a chemical distributor locally.

(if you happen to live in the DFW area and need lye give me a holler and we can work something out... maybe a trade? I have 50lbs... that will last me a lifetime of soap making)

Last night I made my first batch.

Tonight I cut it.

Now it gets to sit and "cure" for 4 weeks! ha
Guess I better get busy making soap for selling since it takes weeks to cure!

I did not add any color to the first batch but it is a yummy Coconut Lime scent.

Etsy Progress Report

It has been about 1.5 months since I opened my Etsy Shop, Nikobee. Today I had my 5th sale... literally one month to the day that I had my first sale. I have some work to do on my shop (better photos) this weekend. I also have some yummy pink and green Merino to spin up, a custom order for my sister K.

I am also contributing to the Phat Fiber Sample Box for the first time in June. Be sure and check it out.
Our theme this month is "Oceanic".
I am contributing Superwash Merino that has been custom dyed in the "Whirling Tides" colorway. Some of my "Whirling Tides" samples might include some "Drift Wood" OR "Seaweed" :) I also have plans for one of my samples to have a hidden treasure inside it.

Have you ever gone to the beach and lost a "treasure"? Maybe it was a cherrished piece of jewelry...... a valuable trinket... or ???

maybe you found your LOST object among the "Whirling Tides", "Drift Wood", "Seaweed" OR while gazing at the "Coral Sunset" ...

One can only hope all is not LOST.

* A teaser of my Phat Fiber Contribution will be posted at www.nikobee.blogspot.com
Be on the look out!

www.nikobee.etsy.com GRAND OPENING!

Attention!
Attention!
Can I have the attention of my 5 friends and family members who read this blog!

I am proud to present:


www.nikobee.etsy.com


My shop is officially open for business!

I will be selling fiber goods: fiber for spinning your own yarn, hand spun yarn by yours truly and tools for fiber working.


Soon I will have listings on my sister etsy site for
vintage goods/supplies/hand made goodies and what nots.

www.nikobee2.etsy.com


I'm certain most of you that know me right now will not be shopping on the first site but please take a look at what I an offering and soon you will be able to shop the

Nikobee2

Etsy shop.

* Sorry links are not working right now and I can't fix them. Just type in the address and it will take you to my shop!

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade nikobee.etsy.com

Unfortunatley

I saw this on "The Lark" Blog and had to do it myself.

Google "Unfortunately, Nicki" only insert your own name and see what comes up.
You have to use the quote marks.
Here is my list:

Unfortunately, Nicki blew her engine and did not get to compete; however, she did get to give the command to “start your engines”.

Unfortunately, Nicki was the first to discover that Robert Henderson was not quite the charmer he appeared to be.

Unfortunately, Nicki has suffered a recent near-death experience and, upon her return to the mortal plane, discovers that she's acquired a somewhat ...

Unfortunately, Nicki could not attend. Instead, she sent me as the proxy slam master to represent her (which I will go on record as saying is a very tough ...

Unfortunately, Nicki did not like how close we were to them. They were a bit too loud for her and she wanted me to "turn off the fireworks". ...

Unfortunately, Nicki really got under Andy's skin and he still thinks about her, even three years later

Unfortunately Nicki is a sicky lady so she couldn't go surfing abooo. ...

Unfortunately Nicki can’t talk and let us know if she would welcome giving up her role as the sole queen of the house in order to gain the companionship of ...

Unfortunately, nicki has decided to un-toilet train himself.

Unfortunately, Nicki is real.


Ha! The last 3 are my favorites!