Albert

Today was cage cleaning time for Albert.  I am sure that he was appreciative, but he pooped on my head anyway.  Albert is growing many new feathers.  He has finished molting, or loosing feathers and new ones are growing in.  When the new feathers grow in, they are covered with something that reminds me of wax paper.  Soon Albert will look much better.

Springs of Ireland

October 15 is National Hand Washing Day.  I read that only 48 percent of men and 58 percent of women wash his or her hands after using the bathroom.  If I provide the soap, would the percentages go up???  lol

Yes, that is cosmetic grade green glitter that you see on the top of each bar!

I finished making a new batch of soap called Springs of Ireland.  It should smell similar to Irish Spring soap.  Some of the soap I made as I normally do with swirls.  Some I added bits and pieces of the soap scraps from this year's soap making.  I still have lots and lots of scraps or leftovers.  I could re-batch the soap, but  I don't like the way re-batching looks.  For non-soap makers, it is shredding, melting, and re-pouring the soap.  Usually water or another liquid is used to aid in the melting.  The bars seem to take forever to dry and have a dip/dent in the center or shrivel.  This is a much better solution for me and I get a lot of added color and texture.  A new soap cutter was used and the bars are now one inch thick.  I am considering a size change in the width and making each bar about one half of an inch less wide.  I think it will fit in a woman's hands much better with this additional size change.

What do you think of the soap?  What is your preference in the size of a bar of soap?

Springs of Ireland Soap Ingredients:  coconut oil, tallow, water, lye, shea butter, sunflower oil, coconut flakes, titanium dioxide, palm stearic acid, coconut milk powder, fragrance oil, sweet almond oil, cosmetic grade glitter, bee balm, mica, chromium oxide

Make Mine Pink Friday Event

I will be selling items on Pink Friday! 

Spinning in Sedan

My spinning from today.

I took a beautiful ride through the Flint Hills to Sedan, Kansas for a Spinning Retreat.  The retreat was in a lovely old building.  I have posted pictures of the stained glass windows and the vendor displays.   Some of these items are guild donations which are for sale.  On the way home, we stopped at Wyldewood Cellers in Mulvane, Kansas. 

Winery grapes

Tess' Designer Yarns

Tess' Designer Yarns
Portland, ME 04101
(207) 460-9276
http://www.tessyarns.com

I happened upon a new yarn shop on line.  I was enamored with the yarn and the beauty of the photos on the website.  I ordered a cute heart scarf/belt kit.  I guess it is meant for kids, but I like it.  The Merino wool is so soft that it is a joy to knit with.  The color I desired was unavailable, so she sent me one lighter and one darker at no extra charge.  This tells me that she is someone that desires to have my business and keep me coming back as a customer!

"Tess’ Designer Yarns offers exceptional colors of hand dyed yarns in quality fibers at reasonable prices. From vivid variegated splashed yarns to sophisticated subtle neutrals, we have the yarns you need for your next knitting project. With over 25 years experience hand dyeing, you can count on Tess’ for the highest quality yarns.

All yarns are dyed by one person ~ each batch is unique ~ no formulas!! We still offer yarns that are really hand dyed ~ we do not try to produce massive quantities of yarn ~ just the best quality in the most gorgeous colors."

Dye Day at Marnette's House

Dye Posts Going

New Spinner

Onion skins make a pretty yellow/gold dye for wool.

The spinning guild had a natural dying day out in the country at Marnette's home.  It was a little windy, but it was a lovely day to get out of Dodge.  It is so peaceful in the country.   

New Undies!

New Sunday Undies:  The first one is buttoned onto a 100% cotton backing with cotton batting inside.  It is crocheted with 50% cotton and 50% polyester.  

The second Sunday Undie is made with homespun yarn.  The yarn is brown wool with tiny nips of yellow and green wool and it is plied with a pink bamboo thread.  The backing is made with cotton fabric and wool batting is inside of the backing.

New gift bucket/basket for bathing.  Contains a rose scrubby, scrubbing gloves, bar of home made soap with black cherry almond fragrance, and a knitted washcloth made with cotton yarn.  The washcloth has a heart knitted in the design.  (The yarn is breast cancer awareness yarn.)