Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Decorating With Vintage


I find a lot of really great vintage items for my Etsy shop, but some times it can be difficult to look at a piece and realize its potential!

Here is an example of a great piece that does double duty. 1) It looks great and adds a pop of color.  2) It hides all those pesky cords that seem to multiple every day!


This is a vintage candy tin.  It holds a whole collection of cords out of sight, but within easy reach.

This candy tin is for sale in my shop here - Roses Tin

The chunky candle holders are also for sale - Wooden Candle Holders


Saturday, April 20, 2013

Unscented Goat's Milk Soap


This is such a beautiful soap!  I had so much fun making it :)  

It has a really creamy, luscious lather.  And it is really, really moisturizing!  I had my hands all suds up for that photo at the top - yup that's my hands! - and my skin was so soft and felt great after the photo shoot.  And they were covered in suds for a long time.....it took a surprising amount of photos to get one that wasn't blurry!


Before cutting.


Video of the whole process!


Cut bars.

This soap is unscented and uncolored, but it has a sweet toasted almondy scent just from the yummy goat's milk and the heirloom honey I added.  I think I get to call it heirloom honey, because it's honey from my Grandpa who was a beekeeper.

I did get some partial gel even keeping it in the fridge for over 24 hours.  I think it looks beautiful!

For sale in my Etsy shop KiyiKiyi 





Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Fair Ivy Finalist!


Wow!  I'm still in shock!
My soap was selected as a finalist by the Soap Queen team for the Fair Ivy Contest.  Check it out here: Soap Queen 

As they say in show business, I'm just honored to be mentioned.... among such an amazing group of crafters.    Wow!
So surprised and happy!

I entered, because I like contests.  I'm a terrible procrastinator, but if I have a very firm goal in mind I will work obsessively until I think it's perfect :P   Contests are a good push for me to try new things and be creative.  I didn't think I would be a finalist!  

I almost missed the deadline for submissions, because I couldn't get my label template to cooperate.  In the end I just used an address stamper to add my name and address to the back of the label, because I couldn't re print the labels again at the last minute (my Dad prints my labels on his fancy (expensive) printer and I trade him labels for soap LOL!) and having name/address on your label was one of the requirements for entry.  It was right down to the wire and I paid extra at the post office just to make sure it would be delivered on time.

Now I wish I had taken a picture of my submission before I sent it off!  

I designed and sewed little clutch type bags that folded like an envelope to hold the soap.  They had ribbons sewn in to tie them closed.  I thought they were really cute :)
I even made my own pattern  - although it isn't that complicated a pattern LOL!  Just the shape of an envelope.  

I don't think that I will win the final contest - there are a lot of REALLY gorgeous entries and mine looks kind of plain by comparison, but there is always next time!  And it was an honor just to know someone liked my soap and my sewing :) 

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Goat's Milk and Honey Soap Tutorial With A Mica Swirl


I am participating in the Great Cakes Soap Challenge for the first time - even though it is week 3 of the challenge :P

I decided to make a goat's milk and honey soap with an oatmeal, honey and milk fragrance.  And I made a video tutorial!  Don't laugh too hard LOL!  I was nervous!


The challenge part was the mica swirl and we could do whatever we wanted inside the soap.  I love this goat's milk soap!  It turned out really nice and creamy!  I included some honey in this recipe.  The honey was from my Grandpa, who was a bee keeper, so it's a very special soap :)

Keep going to see pictures of the cut soap....





Ta da!  I thought it was great!

I used coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil and castor oil.  It should have great fluffy lather and be very moisturizing.  I can't wait to try a bar!  I plan on making another one tomorrow, but it will be unscented.   


They have some honey comb texture and swirly mica tops AND then I added a bee hive stamp with more mica on the front of each soap.  


So creamy.....


Yum!  The scent is amazing!  Sweet and a little bit almondy.  I can't stop sniffing it LOL!


These bars will be for sale in my Etsy shop in a few weeks :)  
Kiyi Kiyi Etsy Shop