Olallieberry

Winter Woes

It was -39 celcius this morning, -47 with the windchill... which I'm  sure has been the coldest day we've had all winter. And it's March 1st!! Oh that sun has been shining all right, deceiving us into believing spring is around the corner. The Mr and I even attended a course on beekeeping last weekend to help us prepare for what is supposed to be a mid-March peek into the hive after the long winter. But so far that just doesn't look like it's going to happen. Arrrrghhh! 

To top it off my batch of rosemary soap has been doing funny things during the curing process. I must have poured it too soon as it separated a bit while setting, leaving a soft greasy layer on the top. I was able to take most of it off with the paring knife, and looking down at all the trimmings I realized almost a third of the batch was laying in a pile of gunky slices on the table. Being of the curious sort, I decided to wet a piece just to see if it would lather, and by golly it passed the soap test! So, rather than waste a perfectly good latherable (...is that even a word?) pile of sort of soapy chunks, I threw everything in a pot along with a couple tablespoons of water and slowly melted everything down again on low heat. I didn't have a small enough mold to shape everything appropriately, so I sliced up some juice boxes and dumped the works into them, and now we'll wait with fingers crossed. If I'm really lucky, I may end up with an extra fine creamy batch at the end of it all! (I'm also extremely optimistic. Hopefully it won't end up smelling like grape juice.)

Mylo is miserably bored due to the weather. One can only bat at that plastic ball so much before it becomes downright undignified.

xox

Making Morning Mossy Things

Early Morning Progress Report:

1) Rosemary Soapmaking - basic recipe found here, 2) Felted Stone Embroidery - inspiration found here, felting instructions found here, and general natural dyeing instructions found here (I used onion skins followed by a dip in an iron bath concocted from steel wool and vinegar to get that gorgeous green colour).

Also, ordered my heritage seeds this morning! We have plans for the garden this year that involve a conscious boycott on GMO and all things Monsanto.

PS - I must be yearning for summer; everything I touch is ending up some colossal shade of green! 

xox

Wee Birthday Candles and a Bag

I have found a new obsession.

While trimming and labelling my last batch of soap, I got to thinking about some candlemaking supplies passed on to me by my mum awhile back. I really felt the urge to give it a go, so I quickly finished up with my soap labels and carefully assembled my new work area (messy stuff this is).

I spent the next two hours hand dipping these little birthday candles. Of course the process was truly experimental at first, which became much more productive and efficient as I figured out exactly what I was doing. My ethusiasm grew.

I really knew I was onto something when I hung them to cure...

Afterwards while admiring the outcome and visualizing myself heroically adding birthday candles to every manner of dessert for every future celebration with onlookers ooohing and aaaahing and collapsing to the floor in utter amazement, I realized something was missing. 

I dashed over to the sewing machine and quickly whipped up this little linen drawstring bag to store them in: The celebratory cake-decorating experience must be complete.

"Ahem... isn't that an awfully small item for such a lot of handiwork?" the Mr asks in cautious confusion.

"Of course not, it's all about the experience," I reply, rolling my eyes at such a ridiculous question. 

He thinks I've lost my mind. I think I'll do the same thing all over again next week and love every minute of it. And He will most certainly come around at the very next celebratory dessertfest, of that I am absolutely convinced LOL!

xox

On Gardens and Soap and Knitting...

It's been a gorgeous week weather wise; not too hot and not too cold. The kids are really getting wound up as exams taper off and summer holidays fast approach. And am I looking forward to time off as well. We are planning a camping trip through the Rocky Mountains and into Southern British Columbia this summer which we have done nearly every year since the kids came along... except for last year, and did we ever miss it. I just can't wait.

On another note, the soapmaking tutorial is finished! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed putting this together, I really hope some of you are inspired to have some fun and give it a try. It is such a satisfying pursuit both in process and product; I can never seem to keep much on hand as everyone appreciates the unexpected gift of a little bar once in awhile. It's just so pretty!

In between everything else that's been going on, I've managed to find time to do a bit of knitting: Celes is on the needles. I find lace knitting to be much easier and relaxing than cable knitting. The key of course is taking the time to set up the stitch markers at the beginning of the project. The first time I attempted lace knitting many years ago, no one told me about stitch markers and so I thought the technique was completely beyond me! Once I caught on it really changed my whole approach to knitting.

A recent inspection of the garden confirms the swallow eggs have hatched, and the babies are demanding more and more loudly every day... Mama and Papa swallows have been tirelessly working to meet their voracious demands. While inspecting the birds and the garden, I managed to pull a few weeds and in doing so stumbled upon my pathetic onions, which I share with you in utter disgrace. For next year--compost, compost, compost!

After an appropriate time had passed for lamenting, I went back inside to clean up and self sooth by breaking out a still-curing bar of oatmeal soap...

Ahhhhh, all better now. Have a wonderful week dear friends! xox

The Beauty of Handmade Soap

Let me begin by thanking all of you for your very kind and generous comments on the Little Recipe Box. It was here that Anne noted one of the index tabs in the box listed Soap as a recipe section and inquired about it. Naturally, a new post was born.

Soapmaking is an activity I truly enjoy and have for years. For me, both the process and product of soapmaking allows me to express and experience a quiet, simple beauty that is missing in this age of digital technology and mass production.

Use of natural processes and simple basic ingredients helps fill my ever-growing need to move back toward simplicity and sustainability in our busy consumer lives today. It allows me to teach my children an appreciation for the skill involved in centuries-old techniques and the creation of well-crafted items. It allows me to express to family and friends how special they are to me in that they are deserving of such items of time and care.

Initially I started this post with the simple intention of sharing a basic soap recipe. However, there is so much on this subject to talk about, I've decided to commit to a little more than that. Stay tuned for my very first tutorial where I will show you step-by-step how to make your own basic handmade soap, beautifully and safely.

Have a wonderful week! xox

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Update: The soapmaking tutorial is finished! Visit here to try your hand at making your very own simple and wholesome Oatmeal soap!

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