New Soap Molds, a Stamp & Some Spring Posies

It seems life has been moving in so many directions since I was last here, it's hard to know what to write about.  For starters, there are signs of spring popping up all over.

I'm so happy the pulmonaria seems happy this year.  It has struggled, for the most part.  I do love that color flower most of all.

These are new soap molds Joseph created for me, out of stainless pipe. Previously, my round bar molds were lengths of PVC pipe.  To keep the soap warm during those critical first few hours, I keep them next to the woodstove.  Over time, one of the molds warped from the heat.  So, J took it upon himself to make some new molds... some that would never warp.  They're seated in a large popcorn tin, with circles cut out of the lid to allow the molds to stand up, and are filled with a batch of Skin Bliss at present. 

They were created with a fitting that a bicycle pump attaches to.  I bought a foot-powered pump, as it's much easier to allow your body weight to assist, instead of all the effort coming from your upper body.  The soap should easily slide out with a few pumps, but be gentle enough that it doesn't fly across the room... yes, please. I'll be trying it out this weekend.  Hmmm, New Earth Fabricators and I just may need to collaborate on a line of soap molds.       Update:  the molds and pump worked beautifully! 

A couple of days ago, I made my first stamp in a class at Brightside Gallery.  It's been something I've wanted to learn for a while now.  We drew our designs on thin foam, cut them out with scissors and exacto knives, then hot-glued them to a wood base.  

We applied paint with a foam brush, then got to stamping.  For sure, it was a beginner's version of stamping, but fun and easy-peasy.  Thanks to the very talented Susan Reynolds of Blackbird Antiques for a fun evening.  Have a beautiful weekend, friends!