New Things-A Handmade Childhood

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

New Things

Lined up in the attic on a brown sheet of recycled cardboard is 32 bars (and balls) of soap. Handmade soap. Made by my hands and others that I love. For some of you dear readers this may seem like no big deal. Something that happens in your own home on a regular basis. For me however, the soap making process has been sitting up high on a shelf in my brain labeled…”too hard”, “unfamiliar”, “how in the world do I even begin”…! Do you have shelves like that in your mind? But it is there no longer and that is all that matters! I still have oodles to learn and want to try so many different things. And someday might even be able to do it on my own without someone guiding me each step! But it was a start…a good start!

What’s on your untouchable shelf?!?! Whatever it is…it’s about time you brought it down!!!

Comments (10)

Logging you in...

Dashboard | Edit profile | Logout

Logged in as

0 Vote up Vote down

Anna E · 780 weeks ago

Knitted nappy (diaper) soakers! I want to make one to try on baby #1 before baby #2 arrives this summer. It's not the knitting or even the treating with lanolin...I just can't quite believe it's going to work and that I won't end up with a soggy, smelly baby! I did go on YouTube and practise some ways to fold old-fashioned terry squares yesterday though, and identified which yarn I might use and found a pattern on Ravelry...so I'm sort of skirting around it, getting a little closer.

Report

1 reply · active 779 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

HRobinson 52p · 779 weeks ago

I love skirting around! �It's a very much relied upon approach to many things around here! �I think I've been skirting around soap making for 10 years. �Yikes! �Ever since I used my first bar of homemade soap I knew I had�to make some. �

Report

0 Vote up Vote down

knittymama · 780 weeks ago

Actually, soap is on my untouchable shelf as well! :-) And I think my other untouchable shelf right now is just anything that is complex....complicated quilt blocks, a detailed lace shawl, Cookie A's sock patterns, sewing my own trousers. I keep reverting back to the things that are simple and know how to do. It can be tough to push myself to the next level!

Report

1 reply · active 779 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

HRobinson 52p · 779 weeks ago

I like to stick to simple-tried-and-true crafts also! �Right now I'm trying to improve my skills in certain "safe" zones..like being a better seamstress... �Partly out of a basic desire for growth as an artist, and partly out a method to avoid the untouchables shelf! �

Report

0 Vote up Vote down

lorena · 779 weeks ago

soap of course!!! i actually took the plunge and made some as easter favors (with embedded treats)....i loved the process and want to do more!

Report

0 Vote up Vote down

Sara · 779 weeks ago

Jeremy would be jealous. Grandma's Lye Soap is the only thing that doesn't make his eczema flare up, but it's kind of expensive. He even bought a bucket of lard the other day, thinking he could make up a bunch. That was before he tried finding lye and realized the complicated process it is...

Report

1 reply · active 779 weeks ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

HRobinson 52p · 779 weeks ago

Handmade soap is definitely the way to go for so many reasons! �I'll admit that it was pretty tricky but so is anything for the first time. �I'm so excited to try some more! �

Report

0 Vote up Vote down

Lacey · 779 weeks ago

i have the SAME shelf! & was literally just taking a shower & thinking...where would I start to make my own shampoo? Don't even get me started on face wash or laundry detergent!

Report