Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Rainbow Dying Rambouillet and Wisteria Blooms



This week I have been rainbow dying Rambouillet wool.  I purchased the wool from a farmer.  Then I scoured it, dyed it, and placed it on the porch to dry.  Many people wash the wool in the washing machine by soaking it in soapy water and then draining and spinning the water off.  The wool is not agitated in the washer or it would become a big felt ball.  Since Rambouillet is a next to your skin soft wool, it tends to be more fragile and I didn't want to take my chances.  Rainbow dying is when you place 3 or more colors in the dye pot.  These colors mingle and you get a surprise every time.  I have one on the range in a dye pot now.  I used pink, 3 colors of blue, a purple, and a yellow.  I never use this many colors and I am anxious to see what I may get once I take the wool out of the pot.  I have a couple of pictures of the drying wool and the one on the right looks like I used many colors in the dye pot.  I only used three colors and the wool turned out with many shades of red, purple, yellow, green, turquoise,and  blue.  Obviously you need to keep colors away from each other that play off each other and turn the wool a mucky color.  I try to avoid putting green and red together since it turns a brownish color.  I prefer to use natural colored sheep for my browns, so I do not intentionally dye my wool brown.  Notice I used the word intentionally.  LOL




The colors of the wool are very vivid and beautiful, but I have something else that is equally beautiful that I wish to share with you.  I planted 2 Wisteria plants at least 10 years ago.  They have not ever bloomed more than a couple of blooms.  Today, I have many blooms! 

Soap Making and Advanced Soap Making Class

All of my supplies are in for teaching a soap making/advanced soap making class.  I am looking at dates of:  April 7, April 14, or April 21, 2012.

Not everyone has to agree on the same date.  Small classes will allow us to create more freely.  I would like to do a soap exchange with everyone in the class who would like to do so.  I also would like to know if there is any fragrance that you do not like.

Cost:  I just want to recoup the cost of the materials, so the cost is $35.00 each.  For all participants, I have a new pair of goggles, a new pair of gloves, a new wooden spoon, a disposable plastic apron, a new silicone log mold,  fats, lye, coloring, and fragrance, and a notebook of information.  The mold should hold 4-5 pounds of soap and yes, you get to keep this.  If you have your own molds, you are not required to purchase mine.  The difference is $20.00 less for the class, or just $15.00. You are welcome to use my older molds, so long as they are returned.  I have a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles.  If anyone has an extra stick blenders which you can dedicate to soap making, I would welcome you to bring one for to use in the class.

If there is any particular method you want to learn, let me know.  Swirling is always fun.  I like to layer 2  or more colors also.  My goal is for you to learn the art of soap making in a fun environment and be able to take home a quality soap for your family and still have a couple bars left for gift giving.  It is not too early to think about Christmas gifts.  LOL

If you have questions, please give me a call (316) 680-1615, or email me at dawn@custercottage.com

The classes will be held in the clubhouse at my place of employment.  There is access to restroom facilities, telephones, etc. 

Please email me at the above email and let me know what date(s) are best for you, along with your name and contact information. 

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Busy Months






In the next couple of months we have Easter, My Birthday, My Son's Birthday, Mother's Day, and Memorial Day.  I am trying to get a few projects made for these holidays and the start of the week end craft sales.  This weekend I made 2 very small batches of soap.  Usually I make a 20-22 lb. batch, but I wanted to make some art soap and a smaller batch was necessary so I did not have 22 pounds of blue laundry soap.  LOL  What I made was Blue Roses and Martian Moon soap.  I will attempt to post pictures of them, but indoors at night with a flash is not the best for taking photos up close.  I normally do not do such dark soaps, but like I said, it is an art soap.  Blue Roses is more of a light blue teal color with some variation in color and added soap chips for texture.  The top is decorated with a few soap chips and some white mica sparkles.  It smells just like roses and it is not overpowering.  The second soap was more for the Science Fiction lovers in the family.  We all have them.  LOL  I am just teasing.  I am not one, but many friends of mine and my son fall in this category.  I made a tube of soap with the Blue Roses soap and when it set up I cut it in two.  These two pieces became the moon for the Martian Moon soap.  I did not want the background to come out the same color as the moon and I wanted it to look like night with a few stars in the sky.  I used a few chips of soap in the recipe so it would have texture and look like stars.  I also swirled the blue soap somewhat and that left interest in the sky look.  The top is decorated with a few pearl cake decorating beads, star glitter for soap making, white sparkle mica, and a few toy Martians.  The Martians are about the same color as the soap.  The fragrance is coconut, almond, and fruit smoothie.  It smells wonderful and is not girlie or manly.  If you have any comments you wish to share, give me note or a ring.  Thank you for viewing this email.  Dawn

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Since I posted this post, I have had 3 people that want to take the class for sure.  Also there is an interest in beginning lessons.  I would be glad to teach both beginning and advanced classes.  I have made soap since the 80's.  I made soap for my own personal use and I sell mine on the internet and in some local shops and craft fairs.  If you have friends or relatives that would be interested in learning the skills to make soap, and they are in the Wichita vicinity, then send them my way.  If you take the class and do not feel that soaping in your thing, at least you will have Christmas presents made ahead of time.   
I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER AN ADVANCED SOAP MAKING CLASS HERE IN WICHITA. I WOULD HAVE THE CLASS ON A WEEKEND AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MEET FOR A SESSION ON BOTH DAYS, EVERYONE WOULD BE ABLE TO CUT THE SOAPS AND SHOW THEM OFF TO THE OTHER CLASS MEMBERS. I THINK CUTTING IS ONE OF THE HARDEST PARTS TO SOAP MAKING, THAT IS WHY I USE A MODIFIED VERSION OF THE TANK. I CAN'T EVER CUT STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN. MY SOAPS COME OUT TOP HEAVY OR BOTTOM HEAVY. I WILL HAVE ALL ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR THE CLASS AND ONLY CHARGE FOR MATERIALS AND A SMALL FEE FOR ME. I HAVE NOT SET A DATE AS OF YET SINCE I WANT TO SEE THE INTEREST. THIS IS A COLD PROCESS SOAP MAKING CLASS. I SELDOM DO ANY WENT AND POUR SOAPS. I ONLY WANT ADULTS IN THE CLASS SINCE WE WILL BE WORKING WITH LYE. SEND ME A NOTE OR GIVE ME A RING IF YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED. THANK YOU! DAWN

Monday, March 5, 2012

A Little Dying and a Little Knitting



This weekend I dyed Rambouillet wool and finished the shawl above.  The photos are of my drying wool on the front porch.  I purchased the yarn for the shawl and it is mostly Merino.  It is not intended to stripe, but it did.  I hope you had a weekend full of blessings for you and yours.  Dawn