The 1st Video Tutorial from The Soap Lab!

You asked for it, you got it! I hope you enjoy this tutorial on how to make the Parson's Soap Blocks. Try it - you'll like it!

If the video is getting a little cut off on the right when you view it here, go to YouTube to view it in full size.

If you have any questions, please leave it here in the comments and I'll reply. You might be helping someone else with the same question! Thanks!

New Parsons Soap Blocks

This weekend while my husband was out of town, I was able to hit the kitchen once the kids went to bed and make some new soaps. This idea has been knocking around in my head for so long, but I wasn't sure how to execute it until just last week.

These soap blocks are inspired by Parsons tables. I read that this style is actually from the 1930's. A professor at Parsons challenged his students to come up with a piece of furniture that would look equally beautiful in wood, gold, mica, plain, or embellished.

Making these soaps took a bit of head scratching, since I couldn't build it like the tables are. Instead, I created the clear centers and cut away the "legs", then created a 3 layer soap (white, clear, white), and let the liquid white soap fill the cut out columns. Once I unmolded the soaps, I had to do a little plaining (planing?) to clean up the sides, but it was quick.

I'm thinking about making a little video about how I did this. Leave me a comment and let me know if you'd like to see that. Thanks!

Finding Inspiration

One thing I learned in college was not to look at other fashion designers for inspiration. This is a problem for a few reasons:

• You are not thinking creatively enough
• You are looking at what was designed a year ago
• You will inevitably copy what you're looking at, intentionally or not.

So when it comes to new soap designs, I definitely keep up on trends by looking at other soap makers, but I like finding new ideas in other places.

My all time favorite source of inspiration for The Soap Lab is looking at modern furniture and interior design, and since I'm a mom of 2 little kids I thank god for catalogs or else I would never know what's going on!

Interior design is a great source of ideas since it focuses on textures, color, shapes, and light. These are all elements that are perfect to interpret with glycerin. I have chosen some pictures that translate into some beautiful soaps (from www.westelm.com).

Tomorrow I will show you how I turned a classic Parsons Table into a new soap. See you then!

Typography Soap Bar

A few months ago I finally got enough guts to use my pourable silicone for this design. It was the last of my silicone so I was really hesitant just in case it didn't work out. But luckily I was really happy with the results.

The Typography Soap has raised letters that wrap around all sides (the beauty of silicone!), and is scented with Crushed Peppermint. I know I mentioned that I won't be selling new designs, but in this case an online shop will be carrying this one. I'll let you know which one as soon as it's available. I hope you'll head over and pick one up for yourself or a friend! :)

UPDATE! This soap is now available in my Soap Lab shop. Head on over and check out some other soapy goodies I added, too!

Modern Design in Glycerin

Tonight my husband is camping in the desert, learning about native herbal medicine, and I'm getting caught up on The Soap Lab. It's been a while since I've posted here or listed any new designs. I've just been up to my ears in Soapylove and Let's Get Soapy endeavors, which have been great. But I do miss my Lab!

Part of getting caught up is checking into my favorite modern design blogs. One of them is Oh Joy! Modern Design. This is a very popular blog that you may already be reading, but I love its sweet and short posts which always come with some gorgeous photos. One that really got my attention was about Jean Pelle's Soap Stones (above).

These beautiful soaps are individually cut and shaped, and are designed to be displayed, which is the opposite of what you usually hear from soap makers ("Please use my soaps - don't just look at them!"). They come boxed and ready to give to a special someone. These are the only soaps Jean Pelle offers. Make sure to check out her other creations here.

Indie Crafters: Reliving History

One hundred years ago, Europe and North America were suffering from growing pains. Companies grew too fast causing major labor problems, pollution, monopolies, and an even bigger difference between the haves and have nots. Mass production swept the world resulting in cheap and unexciting products. What emerged from this turmoil was a revolution that became history.

The Arts and Crafts Movement began primarily as a search for authentic and meaningful styles and as a reaction to the "soulless" machine-made production (source: Wikipedia). Sound familiar? It's so interesting that we are going through the same thing right now.

Exactly 100 years after the Arts and Crafts Movement began, Indie Craft has emerged as a reaction to the corporate, mass-produced world we live in. Thanks to the internet, people from all over the world are discovering their own creativity and have a place to display and sell their items. "Craft Mafias" are forming in many cities across the US and Europe, craft bizarres are getting easier to find, and online marketplaces like Etsy are becoming online communities for artists and crafters.

Fortunately, it's not just the crafters that find handmade items so appealing. Many of us are able to leave the corporate world and make a living with our new businesses. TV shows and even movies are embracing this new culture, too.

It's good to know that the human spirit's need for creativity cannot be muffled for long. Just like the pioneers of the Arts and Craft Movement, Indie Crafters are making a big impact on the world, and I know we'll all be in the history books for the artists of the next movement to read about, too!

Don't Miss Out! Only 1 Woodgrain Bar Left!

If you have been thinking about getting a woodgrain soap but haven't committed, you might want to jump on it because there is only 1 left! The soft taupe color, intriguing hand carved woodgrain design, and soothing almond scent make this an elegant gift for anyone on your list. This soap comes gift boxed with handmade printed insert and wrapped in mulberry paper with my signature letterpress tag. To see more pictures and read more about this design, go to the Soap Lab store.

I also only have 3 Kyoto Bars left and 4 Paisley Bars (at a great sample price), so go ahead and get yours in time for holiday parties. These make wonderful host/hostess gifts!

Thanks so much and have a delicious Thanksgiving!