Part 2: Process to Product

What I want to do is answer some basic questions about creating art.  A lot of you might be thinking, How do I create my art items? How long does it take?  What is needed? What does it cost?

For this post, I want to share the process for creating my newest product, herbal soaps.  I am so excited about making soaps that feature the herbs I've been learning about because their benefits are twofold: clean hands and any other benefits from using herbs.

Also, it's AMAZING the amount of work that goes in to making such a basic staple.

Lavender Soap

A. Growing Lavender:

I promised you that we would start at the very beginning, didn't I?  I've been growing lavender crops since the nineties because they were so easy and effortless to produce. I used the lavender in candles and various body products.  Since I moved in March to the city, where there is only a small landscaped area to work in, I've started working on growing lavender indoors from seeds. Despite working hard to grow lavender from a Burpee Seed starter, I ultimately did not grow any lavender from scratch.  By August, I finally had a plant produce a few blooms.

B. Drying blooms:

This involves cutting stems of lavender and hanging them upside down to dry. Then when dry, I crunch them up or blend them in the food processor for use in products later.

 C. Gathering materials:

My shopping list: shea butter soap, molds, colorant, scent.

-  Make sure to use colorant that is made for soaps. I add one drop at a time until I get the color
   I want.
-  You can use a chart to figure out how much scent to add (Fragrance Calculator.)

A lot of the materials needed are not available at local craft shops, so the best thing is to investigate online shops.  My favorites are Amazon and Nature's Garden, and I'm a fan of comparing prices and saving money where possible.

D. Grinding up lavender buds and oatmeal:

      Why put Lavender in soap?
   
           - It has a calming effect on the skin and nerves.
           - Lavender's antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-fungal
             properties can benefit mild cases of eczema
           - It smells great!!

     Why put oatmeal in soap?
 
          - Oatmeal is a great moisturizer for your skin.
          - Oatmeal is a mild exfoliating agent
          - The protein and polysaccharides in oatmeal can help
             improve your skin's natural barriers

(Treatment of rosacea with herbal ingredients.  Wu J.,  Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2006 Jan; 5 (I): 29-32.)

- Oatmeal has phenols, which provide it's anti-inflammatory properties.

Ground Oatmeal

- Oatmeal acts as a pH buffer and helps to correct the pH of your skin.
- Oatmeal has been used for centuries to soothe skin and help relieve itch.


E. Make It:

     a. Melt the soap. I used a glass measuring cup and microwaved 40 seconds and then for 10 
         second increments thereafter. Stir in between.

Soap

Melted Soap

Ground Lavender Buds

Add Lavender and oatmeal

Add Color

Add fragrance oil

b. Add about a Tablespoon of lavender buds and oatmeal. 

c. Add color, if desired and scent. 

d. Stir and pour into a mold. You may need to reheat for 10 seconds. 

\

3. Let cool and set. Then press carefully on back of mold until the soaps fall out. Ta Da!! Marvelous natural soap!

Check out my next post, coming soon!

Part 3: Hidden Costs

    

Part I: How I became an artist

Part 1: How I became an artist

In my childhood, I made doll clothes and furniture for my dolls. I illustrated a story I wrote for a Girl Scout contest. In second grade, I made a paper mache worm reading a book, with a  graduation cap on it's head that was loaned out to the local library and, as far as I know, they still have it.

I learned to knit and ended up making an ugly sweater for my brother.  After a semester of sewing in 8th grade, I devoted a lot of time to making my own clothes.  Again, I regret a lot of my sewing choices as it was the seventies and those styles were pretty garish.

I went on to make overalls,  cowboy shirts, and dresses for different members of my family as I was growing up. This habit extended into my adulthood, and I loved making Halloween costumes and Easter dresses for my little girls. Most recently, I've been making purses and bags.




The only clothing item I really regret attempting was the two piece bathing suit, which, when wet, came apart at the neck. Oops!

It wasn't until someone commissioned me to draw their portrait that I realized that I could expand my hobby into something more.

I've been selling commissioned portraits for almost 30 years, and most of what I've learned over the years comes from trial and error. I went on to sell my art and crafts in art fairs, shops, and eventually I opened my own Artisan Shop.

In my next few posts, I want to go into more detail with the processes for creating different styles of art. Keep an eye out for my next post: PROCESS to PRODUCT

A Trip to the Lavender Farm

While on a trip to Virginia, we happened to stop by the Oak Tree Lavender Farm. Wow! Not only is purple my favorite color, but Lavender is my favorite herb. 

The great thing about the Lavender Farm is you get to pick your own Lavender. Since it was early October, I didn't know if there would be any Lavender to pick, but fortunately, there were still plants in bloom.

                    

I highly recommend visiting this farm or any other Lavender farm you may find. So inspirational and sweet smelling!!

Recycling: Never throw away anything...

This post goes out to everyone that recycles regularly.  I can't tell you how helpful it has been in this start up business to recycle our daily goods.

I save everything, much to the chagrin of my husband, who is a minimalist. If there is a bottle or jar that can be reused, I keep it.  I used to save everything to reuse for crafts, but I have been trying really hard to cut back since we downsized after our kids flew the nest.

However, there are still a few things that I can find another use for...

PREGO JARS: Or any other jar. I use these for mixing, storing candle wax, storing dry shampoo mix,  making witch hazel infusion. There are a multitude of things one can do with jars!! The problem is finding space for all the jars.

TIN CANS:  Cover with fabric and use as pencil holder.

PLASTIC BAGS:  Are great "Picking Up Poop" bags. No need to buy rolls of plastic baggies at the pet store.  Just use your plastic grocery bags!

PAPER BAGS:  Are great for putting your recyclables in to take to the recycle bin!

BOXES: I never throw away boxes since I'll be bound to need one sooner than later. Amazon loves to send me items in as many boxes as possible, so I have a huge collection.

USED SHAMPOO BOTTLES:  Keepers for storing your homemade natural shampoo, conditioner, or lotion.

USED SOAP BOTTLES: Make more soap and fill up those old bottles!

OLD T-SHIRTS:  Don't toss them! Use them for rags or make T-shirt yarn from them!

Made from tee shirt yarn. Great dog toy and great use of old tee shirts!!