Soap: an exploration in color and texture

so It has been like forever since I’ve written any blog post at all…. I thought I’d re-start the effort by posting some of the soaps I’ve made from the last 3 years.  I make soap occasionally, usually gemstone soap, and usually for gifting.  I give to clients, friends, neighbors, family, and sometimes random strangers (especially if I’m losing my shit and making too much soap – it happens).  I’ve been known to teach melt and pour soap making and to assist a fellow soaper with her cold process workshops.

Anyway, I soap to play.  I soap to explore.  I soap just to see what will happen.  Here ya go:

they can look like anything from ocean waves to prosciutto.  Most of the time I’m aiming for gemstone, but I’ll try any technique or colorway that comes to mind.

If you ‘do’ melt and pour soap, may I high-five you for a hobby well chosen!  SO fulfilling.

Thanks for reading

J

single strap tote

I tried something today, a medium side-by-side tote with a single strap.  I don’t think this translates to a larger tote (??) but in a medium one, I think it works well!  Especially if it will be used to carry lighter weight items like sweater knitting….

I have another experiment going based on a modification to this bag, so keep watch….(and please forgive the charming background of the photos I take on my table – I seem to finish a lot of projects when there’s no sunlight in my preferred photo spot.

p.s. if you look at this bag and the one below, can you see the color shift between two print runs of the same fabric?

First commission done and then some.

I’m happy with this bag – especially the side seams on this side.  I am nuts about side seams when they come out well.

I also finished this “spoon” pattern fabric project bag – at the suggestion of M, but she knits sweaters, so I am working on something bigger for her….unless she wants this one.

Then there’s a little shoulder bag out of the “office” pattern fabric.  Please forgive the wretched photography of the bag on top of a bolt of interfacing.  One goes where the light is.

two custom bags

I’ve had a couple of requests for project bags from people who saw previous bags and I’ve been having such a good time making a bag for each of them (HI A and M!).

I was just moving along, working on each of them together and thinking about the linings I’ll cut next….and I looked down.  Ooh, pretty.

Now, each of these lovely women have an idea of what their bag might look like (M, if you want this one, it is yours – but I also have a larger pattern in mind for you), but neither is here standing next to me to see them emerge.  I felt I just had to post a progress pic.  Next up, lining fabric.

up, up, and away …

… in my faaaabric baaalooooon!

I made this poofy thing as an experiment with puffy interfacing and quilting weight fabric.  I really like the results, it is light, stands on its own, and seems big enough for a smallish project.

unisex bag – with the “office” pattern fabric

Yeah, “office” is a crap name for a fabric, I know.  Anyone have any suggestions?  I’m so glad to be getting some bags out of the way – they’ve all been waiting for me to finish them!

A total surprise, but this pattern has a little devil in it – see him?

I took these pictures without stuffing the bag (or doing a final pressing).  I just couldn’t wait.

finally – fall colors tote

I love this fabric.  I really, really do.  I have finally finished this tote as a sample, and I’m gonna keep it and make more!  More fabric is on order.

I really like how the side seams came out perfectly matchy-matchy, though I don’t think this fabric requires being matched up, or maybe it does?

Coordinated orange top-stitching thread on the outside and the thread on the inside matches the lining fabric (which is a curry-ish chartreuse).

The fabric is so photogenic, I just can’t stand it.

phew! a few items finished.

I had to wait a while for new labels to arrive which felt like a ridiculously long time, and then my computer developed a fondness for tech guys.   I haven’t sewn for what, a week?   I’ve been focused on anything but finishing the works in progress.   I may need to learn not to want to keepevery bag I make.

The side by side tote (lame working name) in Peach came from some color inspiration I had when I realized that this bold purple and orange section of this fabric had some subtle bits of peach and teracotta in it.  I decided to play with that and ignore the screams of the bolder colors that would otherwise demand attention.  I’ve always liked the underdog.

I tried to get these fabric panels to match, but they don’t quite exactly align.  Oh well, I embrace its wabi-sabi nature.

This pouch is made from the same fabric, but a different section.  I’m a big fan of blues and purples with moody browns – the colors here remind me of fall.

I am glad to get these off the work tables so I can test out the designs I was thinking about while I was making these bags and waiting for those danged labels.

zip zip zip!

A quick note to share my YKK zipper color card.  I am in love.  I plan to order all sorts of zippers, I am working on pockets and closures.  If you are a knitter, do not worry – I don’t want your yarn caught in a zip, either.

I was in ‘the zone’ with my color card the other night, and when I came up for air, I saw my table with fresh eyes and had to take a picture.  Sometimes I wonder if I am spending exponentially more time than anyone else, ever, in developing bag designs rather than just making stuff and ‘going for it’.  I am aware that choosing colors in the middle of the night is really dumb, but when the color card has just arrived….well.  Gotta do what I gotta do.

hee hee, what a mess.  The sun is up, I’m gonna review my choices.

design development!

I’ve been talking to friends and asking for input on the whole Bag Thing. I’m also getting feedback on the fabrics I’ve been designing which has been nothing short of fascinating. I don’t have new pics, I am currently waiting for orders of interfacing, fabric, and labels to arrive – then I expect I will be able to finish several bags at once and move a step closer to my many goals.

So far, I am designing bags I think I would like – I will talk about that more later, but I do want to hear from anyone who reads this…. please take the poll, it will totally thrill me.