So Very Susan

Popping in with Some New Soaps

2015-09-20T19:49:00.001-05:00

Another 2 months have passed since my last blog post. I've really become a terrible blogger outside of tumblr. I haven't been idle though, I am studying for the TN July 2016 bar, I am working on my soap shop, and I am toying with the idea of stepping down to part time and giving the law thing, and the soap thing, a shot. More on that though as it progresses.

I have made a lot of new soap though, and I thought I would share some pics with you all.

Neroli & Shea Butter with Oat Extract and Tussah Silk

Plumeria with Green Tea Extract and Tussah Silk

English Rose with Silk

Classic Vanilla with Silk

Wildflower Honey with Almond Milk & Meal

I think the soap I really like the best is the Wildflower and Honey soap. I made it with homemade almond milk (using this recipe) and used the almond meal from making the milk in it as well for scrubbiness. It also has honey and silk in it. It smells great (Wildflower Honey from Bramble Berry, honestly a new favorite scent!), and is super creamy. I have a hard time parting with any of these bars. A close second is the Plumeria, a scent i did not like out of the bottle but LOVE in the finished soap.

Digital Artist Trading Card or Art Journaling Page - Clandestine

2015-07-07T19:38:00.000-05:00

Made for the Journal Prompt "Clandestine," from the 2012 Art Journal Caravan By Tangie Baxter. Kit used is My Midnight Dreams, which seems to no longer be available.

I have always been drawn to art journaling, even though every time I try it, I get frustrated because a) my pages never look as good as Julie Fe-Fen Balzer or similar artists, and b) as much as I like looking at those type of art journaling pages, deep down I don't want my pages to look like those. which begs the question, what do I want them to look like?

In an effort to figure that out, I am trying to explore what I actually want my pages to look like. When I am working with digital elements, I like the messy or fantasy look, like this one. When I am actually using paper products, I am still drawn to the bright colors/layering/white space I prefer when I am scrapping, which I have noticed is rare in the art journaling world. I did find a few blog posts by Michelle Wooderson on her blog Mish Mash. I really love her pages. It's a lot of layering, bright colors, etc, etc. Right now, I am rereading the posts and letting them just ferment in my brain while I wait for a chance to try the style out. I want to have a good couple hours to really get it going in my head.

I am also trying to keep a written journal (although I pretty up the pages a little with stamps and washi tape) in the cute little owl journal I got on the cheap. I feel like I never actually write anything anymore, and I am scared I am going to lose the ability to write well unless I practice it. Plus, it's nice to just get the junk out of your head once in a while. I am using journaling prompts I find on tumblr feed (crafty tumblr here) for my written journals, and prompts from the 2012 Art Journal Caravan class I took a few years ago, along with prompts from the new Art Journal Emporium Tangie has going on now. (It's a subscription based class that I really like, but I will only be joining every once in a while, like every 4 months since I don't journal enough to keep a monthly subscription.)

What about you, do you art journal? What style do you use? I would love it if you linked up in the comments so I could see. I love seeing all types of art journaling.

The Month Long (or Longer) Scrapbook Page

2015-05-28T18:30:00.000-05:00

I have had this page sitting on my table for weeks, possibly even a couple months. Every few nights I would move the papers around, take some away, add new ones, etc, but I never glued anything down. Night before last I finally sat down and told myself to start cutting and gluing. It came out completely differently than I envisioned it when I pulled everything out, layout wise, and I like it better than the original idea I had for it. I just love the top pic of my double eyebrow piercings, it captures everything I really like about myself right now, piercings & cat eye liner.

What really surprised me though was when I went to go put it in my album, I realized it is the first actual paper scrapbook page I have done since 2013, other than a couple of things I did in my Smashbooks, or my Fan Girl journal. I had no clue it had been that long since I have done a 12x12 layout. I know last year's depression had a lot to do with that, along with my obsession with soap making, but almost 2 years? I really have got to start using my supplies more, because I have a ton of really cute stuff that is just sitting there. I haven't even done Project Life since 2013 other than a half assed attempt to get 2014, the first half, documented. I have a ton of stuff I've collected over the past 2 years that needs to be documented somehow. I just need to figure out how I want to do it.

What are you guys up to?

Seasons Greetings!

2015-05-18T21:02:00.001-05:00

How many of you just said Oh, God, no?

It's only May and I am already planning my Xmas gift crafting. I swore last holiday season I would make a list of presents I wanted to make and I would start on them early. And, so far that plan is going well. I am keeping a list of definite and possible gifts to make for each person I giving handmade to. Last night I went through my handy dandy Sherlock planner and set post-its with timelines/goals of what presents to start and when.

I know that these will probably shift around as the year progresses (hence the mobility of post-its), some will take longer to make than others, work will intrude, or the bar exam studying will take more time some weeks than others. But, I really hope that doing this will save me from the mad rush I have every single year when I realize it's late September and I haven't even started yet. Last year was a mess with me making things literally until the week after Xmas. I made no cards, no gift tags, and I really felt like the whole thing was outside of my control.

This year will be different! *shakes fist in the air*

How about you, when do you start holiday crafting? Do you plan ahead?

Off the Craft Table - Mother's Day Card & Thank You Card

2015-05-07T19:57:00.002-05:00

Well, that scrapbook page I posted a picture of last post is still sitting there. But honestly, I'm not really put out by it. For some reason having it there, seeing the papers together, moving embellishments around on it, and whatnot, is satisfying of and in it's self.

However, I did get a couple of paper crafting projects done. Of course, a Mother's Day card, and a Thank You card. A friend of mine, a fellow nerd, sent me the Benedict Cumberbatch coloring book, and a life-size cardboard cut out of Sherlock as a joke so she definitely deserved something more personal than a store bought card. I do so love when friends get my sense of humor.

I will admit though, that I am never pleased with my cards. When I first make them, I am over the moon with my creativity, aren't these great, I ask myself, convinced of my mad card making skillz. Then a few days pass, and I look at the pictures I took of them before they went winging off into the world. Then I'm always, Meh....

I am always comparing my stuff with those design team beauties I pin on Pintrest, and they never measure up. But, you can't compare yourself to others right? And, the only way to get better is to keep doing, just like with anything. So, maybe I should get roll on over to my craft table and actually glue some of those papers down instead of shuffling them all over the place.

What are you working on?

Comfy Toes! The Lizzie Slippers

2015-04-01T19:40:00.001-05:00

Need a quick little crochet project? Try these Lizzie Slippers by Lisa Gutierrez. Each one took me about on hour, but if you are a better crocheter than I am, it would probably take you a little less time. I kept pausing to watch whichever Supernatural episode I was currently on, so that added to my time just a bit. The trim didn't come out as neat as I would have wanted, but I think that will be solved by the next pair I make. I mean they are so cute, I need them in different colors right? I am such a sucker for round toed flats, so these slippers suit me right to the ground. I made them with some cheap Vanna's Choice yarn as they were my first attempt at the pattern (I always use cheap yarn for first attempts) and I wanted them to be machine washable. The next pair might be made out of some soft mohair that I have though, just for the luxury factor.

I can't believe a month has went by without me posting. It has been a literal whirlwind at work, and it won't stop for about another month. I am taking some days off this month for both the Night Vale Show in Nashville (this Monday, OH MY GOD), and my mom's visit in mid-April. Of course, both these times away from work coincide with large projects happening at the store, so that means the time I am at work this month will be packed full with training the new OPS manager I promoted, doing leadership training with my whole management team, and keeping all the operational tasks on track until the new OPS can take over for me. Things should slow down a bit for me in May, but of course, that means I am just going to take something else on right?

Right. As of right now, I am planning to start studying for the February 2016 TN Bar Exam starting sometime in May. It might seem a little early to start, but I also want to make sure I give myself time to have actual days off from both studying and work a couple times a month, and I know studying will be a challenge through the holiday season. Plus, I have to go through the entire application process again, which is a good couple weeks of document and information gathering. Thankfully I saved everything from my MS Bar application, so it won't take quite as long.

Better to be over prepared than under prepared yes?

Also, with everything going on, posting will continue to be sporadic, but you can always find me on my crafty tumblr blog as well. I'm a little more active over there :)

In other news, I also have a scrap page fermenting on the table.

What's up with you?

Springing Ahead with Sunny Herb Garden & Mandarin Soaps

2015-03-08T18:18:00.001-05:00

A couple new soaps went up in the shop today!

Sunny Harb Garden w/ Zeolite Clay and Green Tea Extract

Mandarin Oasis with Ground Loofah

Both soaps were made with the same basic recipe (at the end of the post). I love the Sunny Herb Garden. The clay gives it a very light exfoliation that feels amazing on my winter-dry skin. Just enough to scrub. And the scent, while light in the finished soap, really seems to blossom in the shower, adding a nice light scent to my skin. My husband even remarked how nice it smells. The soap itself, when used, is creamy and soft feeling. I honestly thought about taking it out of my shop so I could keep it all :) I think this will be a go-to recipe for me, it is the third time I have made soaps with it, and I love every single one.

Recipe

Avocado Oil - 10%
Castor Oil -5%
Mango Butter - 5%
Coconut Oil, 76 degrees - 20%
Palm Oil - 30%
Rice Bran Oil - 30%
Superfat - 10%

Additives

Also, I have started a craft tumblr with the same name as this blog. So if you are on Tumblr, check me out HERE. It will see more updates most likely than this will, as tumblr is my go to relaxation site. This is NOT my account that is covered in Sherlock, Night Vale, and other geekiness, so no worries about that.

Excuse the Short Absence

2015-02-28T21:00:00.002-06:00

Work is crazy busy between my OPS manager going on maternity leave, me taking on her workload in addition to my own, and the weather. I am working longer days and sometimes 6 days a week, so my crafting has taken a backseat momentarily.

I'll be back soon :) Hope everyone is warm, safe, and has a fun project or book to read!!

Business Update: New Items in the Shop

2015-02-16T19:08:00.000-06:00

A few posts ago I mentioned I was planning on adding a few things besides soap to the line-up in my Zibbet shop. Yesterday I added my soy candles and soy melts, in 2 scents, Driftwood and Green Tea with Lemon Grass, and they are already selling. Outside of Zibbet, I am also doing candles and matching soaps for bridal party gifts for a co-worker, and making essential oil based soap for John's mom.

I'm not saying that business is booming, but I am slowly picking up more customers here and there, mostly custom orders.

Green Tea and Lemongrass Soy Candles

I am also test driving some bookmarks I made yesterday. I love the way they came out, especially the Alice in Wonderland one. My original idea for the store was to offer multiple, small, giftable items, normally running under $20. I am making small runs of various things, and seeing what grabs peoples interest and what just sits there. Part of me wants to make a zillion things because I just know they will sell, but I promised myself to take my time, see what I make, and then see what people like. Some things will sell well, other's won't. This is the time to see what works for me and the shop.

Alice in Wonderland Inspired

Put a Bird On It!

Cherry Blossoms

Tea Time

If you like the bookmarks, I plan on having them in the shop this weekend. As of right now, I have only made one of each, but will make more, similar ones, if these sell. I will be sending out a newsletter the day I post them for sale, and you can sign up, if you want, for the newsletter on my Facebook page for the store, or just like the page. I post all new items there as well.

Stay warm my friends!

Digi Scrapping! A Few Pages from Xmas Presents

2015-02-10T20:09:00.000-06:00

Every year I make my Mom a few digi pages with pictures from the past year. Digi pages are a lot easier to mail up to her, and I don't have to worry about all the embellishments falling off in transit. These are the pages I sent up to her this year.

The pictures, with the exception of the bottom one, are from Mom's visit (the week of the tornado) last April. The one of just me is one of her favorites of me, taken at the American Pickers store in Nashville, and the one of her (which she would hate knowing is on here) was her first time at the Nashville Flea Market. She was 100% in her element. I can't wait to see where we go this April when she comes back down.

The bottom one is a little tribute page to Piggy, our dog that we lost in September. It's still hard for me to look at pictures of him, and I cried making this page. God, I miss that little ball of fur and love.

Made with Beyond Measure by One Little Bird Designs

Made with Autumn Frost by Sahlin Studio

Made with One Moment by Rosey Posey

Made with Julep by Gennifer Bursett

Made with Heartbeat at My Feet by One Little Bird

What a Weekend!

2015-02-04T22:57:00.001-06:00

My best friend John came down this past weekend for a surprise visit. We haven't seen each other since I graduated law school in 2012. He and I are very close. We have been best friends since 1994 (I was 16, he 18), and known each other since 2nd grade. We each have a box of letters from the other one, every single note and card and whatnot we have written to the other since we became besties. He is the Grace to my Will, the Patsy to my Edwina, and the Michelle to my Romy. The best part of the entire visit was Sunday. We spent the day making soap, drinking hot tea, and watching Supernatural. Quiet, relaxed, and just enjoying the fact the other person was in the same room breathing. He calls me the love of his life, the feeling is mutual. Thankfully my husband completely understands, most likely because he had the joy of John living with us for the first half of our relationship. God, Hayden is such a lucky guy!

The other awesome part of the weekend is that it was the 5th annual Fiber Fest. I got some more fiber to spin up, although I have to admit I haven't really been spinning since last year pre-depression. In fact a few months ago I was sorting through all my craft supplies and found the fiber I bought last year. I had completely forgotten about buying anything there last time. But, now I have a lovely basket of gorgeous colored fibers just begging to be made into equally lovely yarn. The whole basket is a starbursts of whites, deep blues, earth tones, pinks. Just looking at the bags makes me smile.

I do apologize if this post is a bit rambley (is that even a word?). I am running on fumes right now. Work is very busy task wise. One of the managers under me, who is in charge of all the operational tasks is very pregnant, and the poor thing can barely get around the store. So, that means I am doing all of my administrative tasks, plus all the operational things like brand updates, floor sets, markdowns, and the like. That means I am coming home and almost falling asleep if I sit still too long. Still, I promised myself I would get creating and blogging again, so I hope to have another post up this weekend. Type at ya soon!

No Posts Till Next Week

2015-01-29T06:13:00.001-06:00

Hello! Just a note to say I'll be back next week. I have a super special out of town visitor coming to see Hayden and I this weekend, AND it's the annual Knitting and Fiber Festival.

I'll be back soon with something to blog about :) Have an awesome weekend!

SmashBook Page - Fangirling

2015-01-27T09:18:00.000-06:00

My blog buddy Karla suggested I scrap my fangirl moment I had the other day, and I decided she was right. It's one of those things I want to look back on in 10 years and think God, remember when I was obsessed with BBC Sherlock? I haven't changed a bit. :)

I wanted to use my Smashbook because, while they are not nearly as popular now as they were a couple years ago, I just think they are the bee's knees. Especially the large ones, the one shown is the Pretty Pocket Folio. It's nice and large, and of all the books I have, it has my favorite paper. Anyhoo, as soon as I open it, what do I see on the first page, a cute little quip about having a cup of tea. Perfect. The page made itself. This is the first paper page I have made in almost a year. It was quick, but it felt good to go digging through the supplies I barely touched during my depression, and reminded me why I love gluing pretty paper to more pretty paper, and then smattering it with random buttons.

I even got all fancy and hand stitched the iconic Sherlock smiley face on the burlap that resembles the wallpaper in 221b.

My Vintage In Progress Dining Room

2015-01-22T18:49:00.001-06:00

My Pink collection with the little Fire King Tea Cups I collect (I adore those little things!), my Pink Gooseberry fridgie, and my non-vintage pink bird S&P shakers.

Thought I would share a little of my "in progress" dining room. I have shared my Hoosier cabinet before, but the Pyrex collection it houses has definitely grown over the year I have had it. I have also discovered a love of vintage kitchen linens, as evidenced by the cross stitched table cloth I have on my table (one of two I own) and the pile you can see some of my pyrex sitting on in the cabinet.

Th lighting is always terrible in my dining room, but you can see all my favorite Pyrex, Fire King, and Jadeite pieces. Even my Speedy's mug!

The next thing I want to do in here is make some wall hangings using some vintage fabric I have. I plan on putting it in embroidery hoops to replace those wall sconces that no longer match the room's vibe. I am still trying to decide if I am going to do some embroidering on the fabric or just leave it as is, thinking that if I want to use it later I can just take it out of the hoops. I have a terrible tendency to hoard things like fabric, thinking what if I think of something better later?? Every crafter knows this feeling. Of course, that just means it sits in the drawer, unseen and un-enjoyed. Decisions, right? What would you do?

Again, terrible lighting. This house is literally a black hole 90% of the day. The carafe was bought for the color and print, I am not sure how "vintage" it is, the bowl and butter dish are two of my favorite Pyrex prints, Friendship and Butterprint. The coasters I made using modge podge, scrapbook paper from the Paper Cottage line, and kitchen tiles from Lowes. And, of course, the table cloth was found in an antique shop.

3 Beauty Products I am Loving Right Now

2015-01-19T18:46:00.001-06:00

First things first. In the interest of full disclosure, I do run a Sephora. And some of these products I did get as gratis (the best perk of the job, imo!), but the opinions I am about to state are my own. These are products I actually use daily/weekly, and have bought refills/additional colors with my own money. I am receiving no compensation for the post, nor will I link to these products so no one can accuse me of trying to make myself, or others, money. We all have Google, and I am pretty sure we can all use it. When the day comes that I leave Sephora, I'll link :)

Anyhoo, on to the the good stuff, huh?

Bare Minerals BareSkin Foundation - I was completely prepared to hate this. I have worn the original mineral powder foundation since 2007, and I loathe liquid foundation. Plus, this has Jojoba Oil in it, which I figured, since I can get a little shiny as the day progresses, would not be good for my skin. But, in the interest of being able to discuss it with my clients, I tried it. I was instantly hooked. It goes on so smoothly, feels like liquid satin, and has really nice light to medium coverage. It's also a "serum foundation" so it has skincare benefits as well. I personally have noticed that my skin seems smoother and more radiant since I have started using it. I wear a light dusting of my mineral powder over it and it stays all day, looks great, and literally feels like I am wearing nothing. I am on my second bottle already. Lastly, I definitely recommend using the brush that is sold for the foundation. Technically you can use any densely bristled brush, like a contouring brush, but it definitely does not go one as smoothly as it does with the Bare Minerals brush.

Beauty Blender - I scoffed at this little tear drop shaped dynamo when it hit my store. How the mighty fall. This little bugger is so multi-purpose it hurts. I use this to smooth out my BareSkin foundation after applying it to really give it an airbrushed look, I use the fat bottom to apply cream cheek colors and liquid highlighters, and I use the point to make sure areas like the corner of my eyes and nose got makeup applied. the makeup you use it with just blends seamlessly into your skin, looking perfect all day. I like this little thing so much I went out and bought it's baby brothers, the Micro Beauty Blenders to apply concealers and eye creams. Such love, much cuteness.

Formula X Nail Polish - This is Sephora's house brand of nail polish after they stopped carrying OPI. One of the biggest struggles for me and my nails is the amount of hand sanitizer I use on a daily basis at work. It literally eats your manicure off. Before I tried FX the only polish that would stay on my nails was the OPI Gel Shine. It looked great, all thick and shiny, but it had VERY limited colors and removing it did a number on my already weak-ish nails. However, I am super impressed with FX. I can get over a week out of one manicure (using FX Base Coat, 2 coats of color, and one Top Coat) if I am not working, just a little under a week if I am. It dries so quick I can do a complete manicure, if I am not getting fancy with multiple colors and statement nails, in less time than a Supernatural episode. Plus the color payoff in the polish is superb. You could actually get away with one coat, but I do two for maximum color awesomeness. This brand has completely reawakened the nail polish addict that I am. Seriously, I must have over 100 nail polishes right now. I know people have more, but for me that is a ton!

What are your go to beauty products (prestige or not) and why? I am always looking for someone to enable me to buy more cosmetics.

Or, if no answer to the above question, what are your thoughts on me continuing to do recommendation posts like this? I plan on doing more beauty centered ones, but I will also be sharing books, craft lines, etc. Whatever may be making me giddy that month. Thoughts?

Fan Girl Friday - Sherlock

2015-01-16T12:14:00.002-06:00

After cleaning the house, making soap, and getting her exercise on, how does this girl like to unwind?

Drinking the John Watson Blend from the Sherlock Fandom Sampler by Adagio Teas out of my Speedy's cup (complete with spoon nicked by my BFF from the actual Speedy's in London) and reading Sherlock Fanfic.

It's the little things right? Got to get myself caffeine up for a possible bit of scrapping tonight.

Business Update - Holidays and Upcoming Plans

2015-01-15T08:50:00.001-06:00

It was a slow season for Comfits this year, something that I did nothing to change, and everything to encourage. No marketing, social media, etc went out past October. However, some friends of mine made a couple large orders, which I was totally thankful for as it allowed my soap to go out to people who might never get to try it.

The response has been excellent so far. People who have received the soap as gifts have contacted me, I have people with custom orders waiting for me to slowly get to them, and I have some new ideas for the shop for the next few months.

When I originally planned out CGC a couple years ago while studying for the Bar Exam, it was going to be more than soap, it was going to be literally a "small gift" company. Hence the tag line "Small Gifts and Other Curiosities." In my haste to get the store online because SO many people were asking where to buy my soap, I dropped the small gifts part for a while. Over the next few months I think I am going to see how that idea works out. I had bought some charms to make some cute bookmarks with themes like Alice in Wonderland, seasons, etc, with plans to make soap to go with them them. I have also been toying with the idea of making fandom soap. Since falling down the fandom rabbit hole myself, I know things that that sell for a niche group (ask me about my Harry Potter and Sherlock Tea). I am also introducing a few soy candles and soy tarts into the shop, along with lotions and scrubs, just to see how everything sells. That is why my Zibbet Shop is called my "test kitchen."

A goal I have this year is to try and grow the business a little. I am not positive that that growth will entail just yet. Growth in number of products I offer? Growth in customer reach? Growth locally into shops? I am still working that one out. My main goal with this was to do everything at my own pace and not to rush in to something because I think thats what I should be doing or because I want to make money. That has always been my mistake in business, and I don't want to make it this time.

Losing Weight One Pound at a Time

2015-01-12T18:59:00.000-06:00

L: Me in 2009 at 290lbs, R: Me in November 2014 at 240lbs

I have posted before about my struggle with my weight. Well, it's really not my weight I struggle with, it's more a struggle with not eating all the chocolate in the house and, instead, making myself go take a walk, or do a sit up, or something.

I started losing weight in 2009, and for a couple years I had a really good workout routine going. It completely derailed during my last year in law school and during my first year at Sephora. During 2009-2012 I had lost 50 lbs, and by January of 2014 I had gained 30 of them back. My health was suffering, as was my self esteem.

Last January was also the month I really sunk down into my depression. On one hand I wasn't eating, so I was losing weight, but I knew it was not a healthy weight loss. I slowly started doing some walking again, and some light strength exercises. I couldn't make myself eat normally, but I could try and build up my muscles so as I lost the weight, I would have a strong core underneath it. To my surprise, the exercise had a benefit I didn't even see coming. I credit it with a large part of me pulling out of my depression. My routine went from a 1.5 mile walk with a few free weight reps three times a week, to now, a combination of a 2-3 mile walk with strength training, or kickboxing with weighted gloves and extra hand weights, six days a week. I can see the difference in my body every single day. I feel more confident in myself, I am better mentally and emotionally, and I look completely different at the weight I am now than three years ago when I was at the same weight, but did not focus on strength training as much.

It's not easy. There are days I don't want to track my food to make sure I am not over eating, there are DEFINITELY mornings or afternoons where I would gladly trade my yarn stash to have someone tell me it's ok not to work out that day. Those are the days were I force myself into my workout clothes and into the living room for kickboxing, or out the front door for a walk. I always remind myself how good I'll feel after I am done even though I'd rather be slamming my hand in a car door.

I know a lot of you are making resolutions to get in shape this year, and hopefully this will show you that it is attainable. I still have a lot more weight to lose, but just the change I have seen in myself makes me hope I'll get there. My advice? Start out small, don't make grandiose changes. If you have never worked out, don't think you have to start working out an hour a day, seven days a week. Start with three days a week, possibly with a mile around your neighborhood or local mall. Make small changes to your diet. The changes you see in your health will inspire you to make more, to push a little harder on the next workout, to keep going. You'll miss days sometimes, and you'll have that extra piece of cake. No worries, just get up the next day and try again. No one is keeping score, and everyone is super proud of you!

Posting to Resume Shortly

2015-01-11T18:53:00.000-06:00

Well, the last time you heard from me I had big plans to get on a blogging schedule and start posting on a normal basis. I have to say I had every intention of doing so. Right after I wrote that post, our dog, Piggy, got very sick, and two weeks later we ended up having to put him to sleep. It was very sudden and unexpected, and left Hayden and I reeling. That loss coupled with some health issues Hayden was having, and the Xmas season this year (busy at work, and I was SO behind on making Xmas presents!) meant that I had to put something to the side for a little while. Blogging had to be it.

The good news is that things are slowly getting back to normal, and that means I hope to start blogging regularly again. The blog probably will not just be devoted to my crafting. More than likely weight loss progress posts, vintage eye-candy, and random snippets about my current fandom obsessions will also be popping up. Hope there are some of you still out there reading this, and you will enjoy my upcoming content.

Happy New Year! May 2015 be better than 2014!

Setting Up Shop!

2014-09-04T20:49:00.003-05:00

Tea Tree and Rosemary Facial Soap

Holy cow, it has been almost a month since I have been on here. What have I been doing you might ask? A lot. I got sick for a week, that was dull, and unproductive. I've been to Nashville twice, first to pick up a motorcycle a friend gave (yes, gave) my husband, second just for fun. I've been super focused on my workout regimen, going seven days a week 95% percent of the past 3 months (getting sick, and a few work days meant missing a couple days here and there), and the results are showing.

But mostly, I have been soaping my tail off because I finally got my soap shop online. I mostly have it for friends and family. Everyone who has gotten a bar of soap from me has come back a week later asking where can they buy it. (I tell everyone I am like a drug dealer, the first hit is free.) So, finally sick of everyone hounding me, I sat down, got my ducks in a row and opened up on Zibbet. I chose Zibbet, because you can, if you choose, sell completely for free. Granted, you have some limits with the free account, such as how many items can be listed per listing, how many items you can sell a month, etc. (I bumped up to the second tier of selling, $5/month as I have already made 4 sales, and if it keeps going I will be going to the $8/month, unlimited account.) But the site is lovely, to look at, the listing is easy, and other than the monthly fee, if you actually use a paid account, there are no listing or final selling fees. Is it as much exposure as Etsy, definitely not, but since this shop is meant for a small group of people, and I am not ready to go whole hog quite yet, Zibbet is perfect.

I go on vacation, and by go, I mean I get to stay home for a week, starting next week for my birthday. While I am home I hope to get some more business work done, some actual non-soap related crafting done, like sewing and scrapping, and get some blog posts planned out so I can get on a regular blogging schedule again. I also need to start planning Christmas presents. Has anyone else even thought of this yet? Please say no.

You can find my shop and the Facebook page by clicking the links, just in case you were interested :)

FanGirl Art Journal Pages

2014-08-05T18:35:00.000-05:00

A few posts ago I mentioned I was taking Tangie Baxter's FanGirl Journal Workshop. (I am linking just to Tangie's page as she is in the process of moving her online sales platform). I love the idea of mixed media, getting all messy with paint, stencils, gel mediums, etc. But then I try it, and it never looks right to me. It seems to forced or something, I'm not sure. I can't get away from layering papers and other bits instead of paints and mediums I guess. But, I think I found a happy medium between the two forms. I love my spray mists and they allow me to get a colorful yet messy look on the background of the page. Then I can layer paper, tape, and ribbon over it. Ta-DA (it's a magic show), a little of both worlds.

A page with spray drying, before I starting sticking anything down.

Here are the covers and first few pages of my FanGirl Journal, Sherlock centered of course.

Some of the artwork on these pages are fan-made fan art I found on the internet. Much like the fans who made the artwork, I claim no ownership or credit over it's contents, nor am I making any money off of displaying it in this way. I just made fan art with fan art :)

The journal is an old ledger journal we found for a $1 at an estate sale. I cannot pass up old journals even though this is the third one I have bought (and the first one I have actually used). I covered the front cover with vintage sheet music (front), fabric scrapbook paper (back), and Tim Holtz washi tape. The key hole and the straps are Tim Holtz Grunge Board from the Elements set, painted down with metallic mists.

The first page has more of the fabric paper and a ribbon piece I have been hoarding with a skeleton. Of course, the next page simply starts the journal pages. The pages you see peeking out the back are pages I have cut from the binding. Every few pages I remove about 5 or 6 blank ones to allow for the bulk of the paper layering, ephemera, etc. I am saving them because I know I'll use them some how.

The Moriarty page was more mixed media then the rest, done almost entirely with acrylic paint and stencils. Not my favorite, but ok nonetheless.

This is actually my favorite spread. I love the scene it portrays, I love the photo of Sherlock, the colors, everything. This is when the sprays + layering clicked for me. #johnlock!

And lastly, the Mycroft page. I took the highly scientific Buzzfeed "Which Sherlock Character are You?" and I got Mycroft :)

I still have a lot of pages left in me. I plan on adding a lot of my Harry Potter memorabilia, some more Sherlock, my new obsession Welcome to Night Vale, and other fandoms. And, of course, I will share the geekery as it is made.

What, if any, Fandoms are you a part of?

Oatmeal, Milk, & Honey Hot Process Soap

2014-07-22T21:04:00.001-05:00

I really like the rustic, handmade look to hot process soap. Hot process (cooking the soap in a crock pot or similar) is not something I would use in all my recipes (although I do find clean up to be a breeze with it) as some scents just ask for a smooth and creamy bar. But homey scents like this, or pumpkin, or the like, just seem to go perfectly with the extremely textured soap you get from hot process. Plus, adding additives that could normally cause a bit of heat reaction with lye in a normal cold process recipe require quite a bit less prep time.

This soap is made with actual oatmeal, honey, and condensed milk. I read that milk soaps can be a somewhat smelly while they are being mixed. This was not an exception. It wasn't overpowering, but it wasn't a pleasant smell either. It faded after a couple days of sitting in the mold, but was back the minute I cut the soap, but faded again as the soap cured.

I am interested in trying the recipe in normal cold process conditions just to see how it comes together as opposed to these bars.

The soap lathers beautifully, with nice small, but soft bubbles, and leaves me skin feeling super soft. The scent is very light. I may add just a smidge more FO next time, not sure yet. I have made my way through almost two bars of this because I like it so much. Other then scenting it stronger, there is not one thing I would change about this recipe, including the method of making it!

Recipe
- 2lb soap loaf
- 5% Superfat
- Avocado Oil - 5%
- Castor Oil - 5%
- Palm Oil - 30%
- Coconut Oil, 76 Degrees - 25%
- Rice Bran Oil - 30%
- Shea Butter - 5%
- 2oz Honey added at trace
- 5oz Condensed Milk added at trace
- 1oz Oatmeal, Milk, and Honey FO
- 2 TBSP ground oatmeal added at trace
- 2tsp Kaolin Clay

I am off this weekend so I hope to be making a post about my absolute fail at making cucumber and yogurt soap. It's fixable, and I will share how I do that as well. Plus I hope to get some pics taken of my fangirl journal. Maybe even a smashbook or scrapbook page will get done. The mind boggles!

Black Vanilla Tea Soap

2014-07-07T21:08:00.001-05:00

I am my mother's daughter. We share a love of everything British, antiques, vintage magazines, Sherlock Holmes (although different incarnations), reading, and tea.

I adore tea. Iced tea in the summer, hot tea in the winter or if I am sick, but never ever sweet tea (ick). I love tea candles, tea towels, and tea soap. A day alone with a hot cup of tea with a a couple of cookies and an episode of Downton Abbey or Sherlock, or even a new magazine, is the last word in indulgence for me, bonus points if I have a lovely knitting or embroidery project on my lap.

Not really surprising that I found an excuse to use it in my soap. I had some loose leaf tea I got in Nashville at World Market a few years back. It unfortunately got lost behind all my other teas and was forgotten about. It smells heavenly, a black vanilla, long leaf tea. And while I think it may be a bit too old to drink, I thought it would be perfect in some soap, and I hoped it would retain some of it's scent.

It did. Yummy. Truly, that's the only word for this soap. Or maybe delectable. All I know it that the FO (Bramble Berry's Black Tea, link below) coupled with the scent of the tea itself is fabulous. As for the soap itself, it gives a lovely, soft lather with small bubbles. Just because I was curious on how the tea leaves would exfoliate as compared to coffee grounds, I ended up tossing the (appx) tablespoon of leaves I used to brew the tea in at light trace. I was initially worried, once I had already dumped them in the batter, that the leaves would be too long for the exfoliating feel I wanted. But, thankfully, the stick blender shopped them up perfectly. The leaves are not as rough as coffee grounds, which a lot of my friends love but I find to harsh at times, it's a much softer scrub, but still noticeable. I already having people asking for this soap and they haven't even tried it. I don't know if I will be able to let any of my first batch go though, they might have to wait a few more weeks for me to make some more.

If you want to try making this yourself, here is what I used: (as usual, please run your recipe through a lye calculator like SoapCalc to get the correct lye and water amounts)

1lb Batch (13oz total oil weight)
Superfat - 10%

- Castor Oil - 10%
- Cocoa Butter - 10%
- Coconut Oil, 76 Degrees - 20%
- Palm Oil - 20%
- Olive Oil - 40%
- Brewed Black Vanilla Loose Leaf tea, allowed to steep for 4 hours in fridge. Replaced half the total water called for with the tea.
- .5oz Black Tea Fragrance Oil
- Appx 1tbsp of tea leaves at trace, stick blended in
- 1 tbsp honey at trace, whisked in
- I put it in the freezer for an hour to prevent gel phase, but as you can see in the picture it still gelled in the middle. The next batch, because this soap will be a staple honey, will be in the freezer for longer.

Have you tried tea, or any other interesting liquids in your soap? Link it up in the comments.

I am thinking yogurt, avocado, or cucumbers might be my next additive.

The Craft Table is All a Clutter Once More!!

2014-06-29T22:04:00.004-05:00

I can't even describe how happy this poorly lit, hot mess of a photo makes me. This is the first time a long time that that table has held anything but dust.

A few months ago I posted that I was taking a blogging break. I was deep in a depression. Every day was a fight just to keep some semblance of normality going whether it be at work or at home. Even the smallest tasks were sometimes to hard for me to handle. My brain felt like it was wrapped in cotton candy and I just could not think. This from the woman who worked a full time job, studied for the Bar, and passed. I could barely write a to-do list. I wasn't eating, I was sleeping way too much, and I just wanted to escape into my new found obsession with the Sherlock Fandom, because it was the one thing that shut my mind off for a little while. I was exhausted all the time, I wanted to sleep, to cry, and a few scary times, even die. All my creativity was gone, and honestly, at the time, I couldn't even care. I just kept trying to put one foot in front of the other because I was hoping it would pass eventually. When I realized I was not getting better on my own, I took the step I swore I would never take. I went to therapy. Now, I am not the type to discuss my problems with anyone. The thought of even admitting on a blog that I am dealing with depression would have been inconceivable to me 6 months ago, much less the fact that I would admit to being in therapy. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and I know some of the bloggers I read who are open about their bouts of depression has helped me tremendously. So, there ya go.

Well, I am happy to say, something is working. I don't know if it's the therapy (my work schedule doesn't really allow me to go more than once a month), or the combination of daily vitamins/exercise, or just the natural progression of things, but I am feeling so much better than I was a few months ago. I am not 100% yet. I still have bad days were I get bitter about the divide between my job and my education, but I tell myself that I am choosing, in a way, to have that divide because I do not want to practice the type of law that is practiced in my small town. Plus, my job lets me have the freedom to develop my own business (my dream). I still have days where my mind is cloudy and I just want to sleep, or read, and nothing else. I still have bad, sad, and angry days for no reason other than the fact I am still dealing with depression.

And that's ok.

Why? Because I am having days, more than I have negative ones, where my mind is clear, Pintrest is inspiring the crap out of me, I have ink all over my hands, soap batter on the counter, and fabric cuttings on the floor. I am thisclose to opening my small online soap shop for friends and family because I have not only wanted to work on my business and it's development, but I have mentally been able to do so.

In the words of Sherlock, Oh, it's Christmas!

Right now I am taking the FanGirl Workshop with Tangie Baxter, I just made some tea soap that literally makes my eyes roll back into my head when I smell it, I made some super cute retro inspired curtains with a crocheted edge, and my brain is happily buzzing with all the other stuff I want to make again.

It's been like this for a few weeks, but I waited to do a blog post so I could make sure it was going to last. I wanted to enjoy the feeling of wanting to create even if I wasn't creating anything. For the first week I pinned things, wrote myself frantic notes about ideas I had for projects, and then just sat happily staring at said notes because they were actually there. I had lost that creative mania for so long. I really felt that that something I loved so much was never going to some back to me.

So, I may not be posting with the frequency I was post-descent (thats what I call my depression, the descent, because thats what it felt like), which was about 2-3 times per week, or I may, I am playing it by ear. Right now I want to nurture my muse, rediscover my craft supplies, and work on getting my shop open. But I will be back fairly regularly to share with you my FanGirl journal, my curtains, my soap, some new vintage kitchen finds, and whatever else falls off my craft table. Oh, and most likely some pics from the tornado we had. My poor neighborhood will never be the same.

Thank you for sticking with my blog while I was gone, and while I continue to get my head together. I am just so grateful to be feeling like something so close to my old self, for the blog readers that stayed, and just honestly, for normal days.

Tupelo Tornado - We Are OK

2014-04-29T19:07:00.002-05:00

Just a quick note to let you know that we survived what is being reported as an F3 tornado that hit Tupelo, MS yesterday. Our neighborhood took a beating, but our house stands and we are so grateful. We are without power and a lot of roads are still covered in power lines and trees. Just wanted to post in case anyone remembered that's where we live and were wondering about us.

What a way to end my moms vacation, huh? Huddled in a tub listening to trees banging into our walls.