Soap making with bases

Soap making with bases is really a good introduction to soap making.  It is really easy and fun.  It is hard to stop.  It also can be done safely with children.  They can put the colors, the essential oils and the frangrances.  We can put what we like.  I usually skip the frangrances.  Sometime, I skip also the colors but it is usually when I do soap without children in the way and with a white base (like the glycerine, the shea butter or the goat milk ones.)

I also like the shape I can give to the soap.  I have various pretty mold to do the trick.  Most of them are in clear plastic.  I do have a few ones in silicone.  I have started with the clear plastic ones.  Now, with experience, I find that silicone is easier to unmold the soaps, more easier than the other ones.  Maybe I don't have the trick even if I wait 24 hours with the clear plastic.

Here some examples of soap I made:

The second photo is some soaps that are seen more closely for the details.  I haven't taken everything in photos.  It is not all of my soaps that are as pretty.  There is a few soaps that I am not totally satisfied.  I am becoming better with time and practice.

Jewelry Projects I had done in classes

I have done various projects in various jewelry classes I took.  It been 7 years that I haven't taken jewelry classses to where I was taken them.  The place have close down and there only theater and music there.  It is a shame.  It is close to where I work.  There is another place I can go but it is a bit far away from where I live.  It is not even close to where I work.  In fact, it is a bit in a no where lost place.

Here the photos of some project I have done:

 

The one box shaped was a lot of work.  I have done it with the lost wax technique.  The ring was a bit a swearing project.  In class, not everyone liked doing it.  I think the worst was doing it for the first time.  It was a bit long.  The teacher was showing each step and we had to replicate it.  The soldering on the bracelet was delicate.  Here a closer  look at the bracelet:

On it, there is a peridot, a lapis lazulis and a garnet.  Each have its own form.  The peridot is a small round.  I wonder if it can be called a cabochon.  The lapis is a cabochon.  The garnet is a square.  I need to polish this bracelet.  It is a bit oxidized, I think.  I don't have a buffing wheel right now.  I don't know if it can be done with a rag.  Worth a try.

I also have done a project around two years ago on another place and it was with silver clay.

The class was done in a jewelry school.  I didn't took the second level.  One level was enough for me.  Maybe I will take it later on, when I would want to refresh myself or have enough questions to go for it.  It have to be worthy of the expanse.

I also have done a few projects that had been inspired by some classes I took at a local craft store since the place I was to was close:

The ring is a close up look from the preceding images.

Glass, paper, ink and bezel

It is great what we can do with some piece of glass, paper, ink and a bezel.  Glue hold the glass, paper and bezel all together.  I started by cutting a piece of nice paper in the rougthly in the right dimension.  As seen on the photos, I have written some words or names.  In this case, it was names taken from Greek mythology.  Stamps and ink can be used.  I had done one for a gift that way.  The paper is glued to the piece of glass.  Once cured and well dried, I have cut the excess paper.  I put some glue behind the paper and I put the bezel right centered.  Curing a second time and when it is all dried up, it is finished.  Quite a quick project.  The more boring part is when the glue is becoming cured and well dried.  It can take time.  Beside that, really fun to do.

Various paper can be used.  The same with the stamps and ink.  Various pieces of glass are also available.  I have seen rectangle and square pieces of glass.  For the square ones, I have seen smaller ones and bigger ones.  For the glue, I use the 3D Crystal Lacquer.  I don't know if other glues can be used.  It must be a clear liquid glue for that purpose, for sure.  For the bezel, it must be a small one.  Those I have used for those project have a heart shape for the part that being glued on the project.  I know there are other small ones available.  I know there ones that have a leaf like shape in place of the heart.

Gems and Month

There is the association of gems and months.  (here an list: http://jewelry.about.com/od/birthstonesbymonth/ig/Birthstone-Jewelry/).  It is nice to see this list.  I haven't learned them by heart yet.  It bring memories.  I always been fascinated by rocks.  Gems are fancy rocks.  As a child, I like ordinary rocks.  It have its own beauty.  I also remember seeing the list of monthly gems at the jewelry shop when I did go with my mom.  I remember looking at the list in the display.  At the time, that list was a bit mysterious.  It didn't meant much.

Now, I know better.  I know that mine is a bit expensive (Diamond).  I wish to have been born a few hours later that I did just to have Emerald as my month's stone.  I do have a diamond.  I may buy an emerald eventually, just because I want to.  Looking at the list,  I wonder why they aren't close to the same price.  It gives me the impression they aren't equal.  An amethyst isn't as pricey as a diamond or emerald are.  They are all beautiful in their own ways.  I wonder the process and reasons why the creators of this list made their choices for each month.  I think they considered the colors of the gems.  But otherwise, I am a bit in the dark.

Anyway, it is a nice list.  It isn't showing all the gems that are in existence but it is a nice start.  I wish I had all the material to work with them on a more professional level.  I like working with gemstone.  I would like to have more experience soldering, making chaton and everything else of that caliber.

Emergency aid kit

I found an interesting article on a natural first aid kit. (http://greenliving.about.com/od/DIY/fl/Preparing-a-Natural-Emergency-Aid-Kit.htm).  I found the idea quite a must have.  As a crafter and creative person, it is always good to have first aid kit under hand.  Band-Aids are the crafter best friend, after all.  It can be easy to have a cut or a burn.  Knowing how to apply first aid to those simple little life emergency is a life saver.

That makes me think that knowing CPR and other techniques of first aid emergencies is really useful.  I know of a person who had to take class on that for his work.  It ended that he used what he learned into every day situation.  I took one a few years back.  I am really due to take another one, to keep current with new procedure.  A informed person is a well adviced person.  It is late if you find yourself in a emergency situation and don't know what to do.  It can become dangerous.  With the knowledge on how to act, it is easier to take the lead and get things done.

St-John Ambulance (http://www.sja.ca/English/Pages/default.aspx) and the Red Cross (http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class) gives CPR classes and about first aids.  I know that when I took mine, I got some documentation with the class.  So, I got really more than what I pay for.  The knowledge have stay with me.  We didn't loose with that kind of formation.  In addition, there can be social interaction.
So, no more swearing while creating.

Robin Williams

With the passing of Robin Williams, there was much talk about many subjects.  The world learns a few new things not known before along with things known before.  It is sad it takes tragedy like that to take conscience of problem that surround us.  I read an article on him also on depression and being funny/creative.  (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ROBIN_WILLIAMS_COMEDIAN_DEPRESSION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-08-16-09-44-26).  It shed lights on this particularity.

This whole story left me with questions.  With this big event, I wonder if he was well attended in his many problems.  Of course, he had been to rehab.  Did it address everything wrong with his life?  Probably not.  People are complex.  People are not just defined on only one side.  Robin Williams was seen as a funny man that had talent in acting.  He makes me think of the two masks that represent theater, the one that smile and the one that is sad, both representing comedy and tragedy.  (http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/greekliterature/a/GreekTheater.htm, there is a representation of this on the top right side of this article.)
In a sense, those masks represent both side of the same coin.  There isn't one without the other.  Both are the extreme part of a spectrum.   People navigate in that spectrum of feelings.  It create the ups and downs of life.  We also can feel many different emotions at the same time.

All this turmoil makes also think and reflect on Jung.   Here is something on Jung and his archetypes.  He is also known for the consciousness and unsconsciousness among other things.  He worked with symbols too.  http://psychology.about.com/od/personalitydevelopment/tp/archetypes.htm.  I think he still is pertinent today.
It makes me remember of a workshop I took at my local Jung Society.  The person talked on how people where showing themselves and what could be hidden.  She gave one example: A house.  That house could be extremely well ordered but there was one room that wasn't that well maintain.  I think there was also in this workshop that she talked  of the "Golden Child" and the "Swamp Child".  The "Golden Child" is on the highest place in the podium, is adored and acclaimed.  The "Swamp Child" is the opposite.  The fall for a "Golden Child" can be hard.  The "Swamp Child" have a bit more difficulties to take off, I think.  There are scars in the "Swamp Child" that can't heal and never forget what happen to himself.

The last thing I find we woke up late is the state of mental care.  This include mental illnesses.  In many cases, like depression, I prefer using the term mental distress.  There is much to be done on this side and Robin Williams, even with all he could have in life and good will toward other people, didn't had the chance to have.  From what I could see from all this is that he needed to be better surrounded, better cared for and had help tailored for his problems.  There is much to be done on a judgemental, social and humaine level to work for in mental care.

Ice cream and do it yourself

Around 3 years ago, I bought an ice cream maker.  I saw some news about it in a tv show.  I found the idea interesting.  It was a bit before I started getting interested in doing thing myself.  I found one that was kid friendly. (http://www.amazon.ca/Industrial-Revolution-Ice-Cream-Ball/dp/B0018CJ16S/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1407613192&sr=8-8&keywords=ice+cream+maker).  I have forgotten it a bit.

The interest is getting reignited.  Recently, I discovered Ben & Gerry ice scream, the chocolate fudge brownie flavor.  It equal the heavenly hash flavor from a competitor.  Both are heavenly delicious.  I am not a big ice scream buyer.  So, I thought that maybe I could try in recreating those flavor or make some equivalent decadent flavors.  Personalizing something to create something marvelous is always a good thing in my book.

I know I will put some nuts in.  I am nut about nuts, so it is a good start.  Nuts are good with ice scream anyway.  Maybe adding some chocolate chips.  It would worth a try.  So, I would start with that and see if it is a good start.  Later on, I could see if improvement can be made.

handmade and bought beauty products

I fairly  recently discovered the pleasure of homemade beauty care.  It is a great sensation to do a homemade product.  I am a newcomer in that area and still don't know where to buy all the material.  I took a class a little while ago (like 2 years ago) on homemade beauty care product.  It was at a local craft shop.  It was a basic class.  They have a few products that can be used in hand made products.  Maybe I will take it again, to refresh myself.  I just wish I could do more on that side.  I have found many website to buy material to do that kind of material.  Would be great to find more local store that I could walk in to buy.  Books can be great but being with a teacher or a knowledgeable person  is better.  Questions can be asked.  Self-doubt are eradicated.  My knowledge and experience need to expand more on that side.

In the meantime, I am buying some store sold products to try.  I have bought a few from Yves Rocher (http://www.yvesrocher.ca/control/main?setLocale=fr_CA).  It is been a while since I had been there.  More recently, I bought two product from St-Ives and one from Bleu lavande.  I hope they will be fun to use.  I don't have any product that I use on a regular basis.  I haven't found any yet.  There are time where I don't care on taking care of my face.  Other time, I feel a need to do something and try something new.  I never know if I will find something that I like to use.  I must say I am not very knowledgeable in skin care beside the routine for the cream dealing with my eczema.

Now, I will start tonight with the product of Bleu Lavande.  It is their sea salt scrub.  I need a little bit of scrubbing.  It is something that I don't do often.  I had made a few exfoliating soap with some soap base in the past.  It was interesting but nothing extraordinary.  I'll see if this one is good.

Steampunk is all the rage.

I found this article from somebody on twitter (Museum Store Company  museumstorecompany.com) : 
http://www.homedit.com/tips-to-steampunk-your-home/
It offer some advice to decorate with the steampunk style.  All the advices makes senses.  It is targeting very well the style and ambiance of steampunk.  Steampunk is really popular in the last years.  I don't know the history of this trendy style.  I know there are a whole genre in books about it.  It is blending Victoriana with Industrial.  The technology is steam based (hence the name).  Cogs and gears are part of this style too, don't forget those funky framed eye pieces that I forget the name.

I knew about the books and the clothing look.  I should have thought that the décors must exist to complete the whole look.  I like the sepia part.  It gives an old finish and a sense of a lived place.  It gives soul to the place without much effort.

Steampunk is a nice style.  No wonder it is popular.  I think it could be listed under my influences list of inspiration.  As with every, I am tempted to spin it and give it my personal touch. I do like the industrial part.  Some chrome would be great with some sepia color (like a photograph in that tone).  For clothing, I would be a bit extravagant.  I wonder if the fabric of Kimonos would be good to make clothes in that style.  Maybe a bit too outrageous and too much colorful.  For sure, I would love to find clothing made of silk or velvet.  It is so nice under the touch!

A theory of everything

Einstein wanted to find a theory of everything, to united everything under a nice explanation.  In the shower, I found one for my universe.  I have written a few stories set on various planets.  They all have human living there.  I never really thought how it could become that way.  There only one story where there are a spaceship in orbit of the planet.  I don't really explain why it is there.  It is only to justify the beginning of the story and to send one person on the planet.  The person got amnesia once on the planet.

Now, while in the shower, I got the idea that each planet of each of my stories got colonized by human.  They are left to colonized and to develop by themselves.  No technologies that came with them on the planet.  They have to met first necessities to sustain themselves.  With time, they develop their own culture and after that, probably more advanced technologies to go into spaces.  My various stories are set in times that could be the equivalent of medieval time on our own Earth.  Bordering Renaissance.  I have not thought much of the recontact later on with human.  I may have an idea later on if I write more on each stories.  I am just not there yet.

I had to note it right away.  I am not too happy to have gotten another idea for my stories.  I would have like to have other ideas.  I can't command the ideas I get in the bathroom.  Well, I got at least that idea.  I just hope my mind will diversify a little bit.  It would be nice to have ideas for other project than writing, for a change...

Tarot, again

I have found a photo of my King of Swords without the hideous house on it.

I have also found the Two of Swords:

I will need some editing.  I will remove the railing.  I want to focus on the two trees.  Oh, just saw a photo without the railing, so I will take that one.  Less work for me!

I should do more work on my tarot.  I have a lot of photos but I don't know if I will have enough to do a whole deck.  Also, there is some ideas that I have that will need some photos. I haven't have everything in my personal photo bank.  I wonder if I will end with a satisfying deck someday...

I now see how much it takes to make a deck.  It is taking a lot of thought and time.  Having photos and making it with them will makes the process easier.  It is just that I am not totally involved in it right now.

Essential Oils

I recently purchased essential oils to replenish my reserve.  I use it in soap making.  I find it that essential oils are great in soap and hand creams.  They had something interesting.  The scent is light.  My older daughter love to put the color and the oils in soap.

I have purchased from Edens Gardens (edensgarden.com).  I had purchased from them before.  I like them for their little pamphlet on the "101 ways to use essential oils".  It is also unlike the store where I buy part of my creative supply of crafting.  The local store don't always have everything in store.  They wait to sold every essential oils before buying more.  I know it is more economical but not always practical.  It is a bit frustrating when the essential oil I need is not on the shelves.  I am starting to find places where I can get supplies I need and where I know there will be available.

I also have found a store where to buy my lavender essential oils.  I like the Bleu Lavande compagny. (www.bleulavande.ca/).  I like their line of product.  If there isn't any essential oil in the store, I can purchase online.

Working with essential oils is great.  I like to make my own blend.  I like to blend oils for a specific purpose.  The one I am the most proud is the one that combine Lavendar, Eucalyptus and a citrus (it vary.  It can be orange, grapefruit or citrus depending on the person I making this for).  When I do my own blend, I feel like a mad scientist, in a good way.  I tend to write about deranged mad scientists.  Being one is quite fulfulling too.