New Bird Babies In Progress and more Soap

I think I told y’all that I’ve been working on alot of new birds in the evenings lately.  I am finding it extremely calming and I am having so much fun watching them all come to life.   I decided to snap a pic of a few of the birds as they are in progress. 

So far I am totally diggin the colors and the way they all look together.  I simply can’t wait until everyone has a beak and a face.  I’m also looking for new things to dress them with.  I am falling in love with things to make hats etc. for them.  They will be ready for new homes very soon.  In the meantime you can find some of their relatives who are already looking for homes at my website Peachbutter. 

Bird Babies in Progress

I’m also going to be listing some more soaps soon.  The last batch is a mango scented soap with olive oil, coconut oil and shea butter.  It leaves your skin feeling so clean and so soft.  I LOVE it!   I’m calling it Christmas Mango Twist because I colored it for the holidays.   I’ll be giving away one bar of this soap this weekend.  If you would like a chance to win a bar, simply leave me a comment here with your email addy.  If you win I’ll email you and get your details and you’ll have a new and groovy bar of soap!   

Christmas Mango Twist Handmade Luxury Soap

New soaps and sweet birdies

Hi Gang,

This has been a very interesting week.  I have gotten some new handmade soaps made.  I am in LOVE with all of the new scents.  I even created my own blend and it turned out better than I had hoped for. 

Sexy Lil Secrets Handmade Soap

I also made a batch of soap called Enchanted Love.  This soap is so wonderful and creamy.  The lather is delightful too.  I had fun with this batch.  I added a bit of gold mica to the tops.  They look fabulous.  The scent is a soft flower with citrus combination.  It is YUMMO!!   These are also for sale on the website, so feel free to scoot on over to Peachbutter   and order some.  These soaps are going to make wonderful christmas gifts.  They will each come to you in a lovely white box wrapped in ribbon.  Just perfect for gifting or stocking stuffers. 

Enchanted Love Luxury Handmade Soap

The last batch I made this week is a scent blend I created myself.  It’s a mens soap.  It’s called Charisma and it makes me swoon.  SRSLY!!   This scent has elements of oakmoss, cedarwood, citrus and musk.  I don’t think your man can use this soap without you wanting to jump him.  LOL!   These made really big chunky and hefty bars.  I think he will love them too. 

Charisma Handmade Luxury Soap for Him

I also have several more birds almost finished.  I ran out of daylight today so I’ll have to post those pics tomorrow.   I hope you have a fabulous and love filled day!  Peace.

How Delicious Is Peachbutter?

Recently I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the name I picked for my business.  I initially wanted something that was rather obscure but something that would still say “southern” to people.  Being an Atlanta girl, peaches abound.  So I settled on the name Peachbutter.  I liked it then and I still do.  I added magnolia’s into the logo and to me it’s just the perfect fit.  I would love to hear your opinions as well.   There actually is such a thing as Peachbutter.  It’s kind of like applebutter but with peaches.  I wonder how many people would be interested in trying some?

This past week I finally got my website up and running.  This is a project that I’ve been working on, off and on, since 2004.  The site went through three different looks before I finally found the one that I really like.  Run over and have a peek if you want too.  The addy is www.Peachbutter.com   This is where I am going to sell my art, my dolls and my handmade soaps.  Right now the site has a few things in each category.  I will be busy adding to those in the coming days and weeks. 

This past few weeks have been really eye opening for me.  I often wonder about the complexities of life and relationships.  I have been and continue to be, blessed with some of the most amazing people in my life.  I guess God knows exactly what I need because He never fails to provide the love and support in my life when I need it the most.  And yet, as a human, I still struggle with trusting Him totally.  This actually amuses me when I’m able to step back and look at things.  I mean I want to control things, but what makes me think I know better than God?  And yet, I am always available to give Him my insights into how things should be handled.  LOL  Thankfully, He has a sense of humor too! 

This week I’ve been working on making some new soaps.  I’m experimenting with a mechanics/gardeners soap with some pumace for exfoliation.  I am going to have about three extra bars of this soap when it’s done.  If you would like a free bar to try, email me and I will send you one.   The only thing I will ask of you is to email me or leave a comment here about how the soap worked for you.     The first three emailers will get a free bar.

I am also in the middle of designing two new dolls.  I bought some of the MOST delicious and wonderful yarn from Amylynn over at Etsy.  If you are a lover of lucious, beautiful and rich fibers visit her shop at www.bohemiafibers.etsy.com   She rocks!    I bought the angeline and the all day sucker yarns from her.  They are going to make the most delightful doll hair EVER!  She also has wool roving for those of you who spin.  I don’t spin but I secretly covet all of her roving as well.  *grins*  She has such a wonderful eye for color and I’m all about the color. 

I’m also working on some new wedding cake topper birds.  Stay tuned for more goodies. 

Well people I guess that’s it for today.  I will be posting pics very very soon.  I promise!  Thank you for visiting my blog and my site.  The wonder dog and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your purchases too!  We love the skin your dancin in!  Have a wonderful day full of love, happiness and blessings.  Peace.

They’re here! YAY!

Some of my new soap scents arrived today!  WOOT!   I am in scent heaven again.  I ordered some Lovespell and it is DEEEEEVINE!!!  Seriously I’m in love with it.  I hope it soaps well.  I’m going to try it tomorrow.   For the last couple of days I’ve really been thinking about some different soaps I want to make.  I’m going to make an orange grapefruit EO soap.  I’m also going to make a soap and mix some patchouli with some fresh grass.  I think it will be a nice mix.  I hope so anyway.  I wonder how it would smell if I also added some citrus to that blend?    I’m going to try it and I’ll keep you posted.

I’m also looking at a couple of different ideas for a contest that you guys can enter and win either some soaps or a bird.  I haven’t exactly worked out the details, but I want to incorporate paying it forward somehow.  I’ll post more as I figure it out.   If any of you have any ideas I would love to hear them! 

I’m working on a couple of new mandalas.  I’ve started a new art journal about my Papa and the wisdom He has shared with me over the last few years.  What has been amazing to me about this whole process is how easily the mandalas fit into the entire theme of this particular art journal.  I should have some pics in a day or two to share. 

In the meantime, here are a few pics of new bird babies in various stages of completion.  I am in love with the hot pink and orange one!   I’m also in love with the red bird made out of some vintage material.  I have no idea what it is, but it’s fabulous.  I think she is going to be quite regal when done. 

New Girls

I can't wait until they are finished

I’ve had an idea for these birds as well.  I will post some pics of them as soon as I get them finished.  I’m also pondering making some cake toppers with the birds.  I love the way their little personalities develop as I am creating them.  I’m also thinking about spray painting their legs.  Perhaps a trip to the hardware store will be in order tomorrow.  I’m thinking white, black and maybe red legs….and perhaps hot pink. 

Well that’s all for today gang.  I hope you all are happy, warm and safe tonight.  Don’t forget to play, forgive and love.  I love you all.  Peace.

The Power of Art in Healing

Today as I was working on an art journal, I had kind of a revelation.  It dawned on me that all of my life, I’ve made my art with the fear of what others thought of it in the back of my mind.  I have done pieces from time to time that were just for me, but that has been rare.  I guess when you are working on commissioned work, that is to be expected but I wonder today if I haven’t done myself an injustice because of that. 

While I worked today, I was able to really go inside myself and look at my feelings etc.  I realized that most of my adult life, I have been focused so much on making a living, that I’ve sometimes forgotten to make a life.  I know that sounds kind of cliche’ but it’s the absolute truth.

Since I have been studying LOA, I have come to see that I’ve made things much harder on myself than they need to be.  I believe that some of that goes back to that whole “I don’t deserve it” tape that was playing for years and years in my head.  Thank God I am aware of those now and am reprogramming my thinking! 

I’m still waiting on my new soap scents to arrive.  I’m so excited!  I love love love when they come!  I especially love the way the house smells when I’m making soap.  Except when I make pine soap.  *GAG*  I do it because I have friends that love it.  I detest the scent personally.    It’s so funny to me how everyones noses are so different.  My friends who order pine adore it.  Some of them hate the fruit scents I prefer.  That simply baffles me.  I love fresh clean, fruity scents.  I also love some of the perfumes on the market too.  I’m particularly fond of some of Victoria’s Secrets scents.  They are YUMMY to me! 

I’ve got a groovy new scent called “Fresh cut grass” that I am going to soap this week.  It smells just like fresh cut grass too!  I’m going to make one batch straight and then I think I’m going to experiment and make another batch mixed with something else.  I just haven’t decided what yet.  I’ve got several to choose from, so we shall see.  I’ll post pics when it’s ready. 

Tomorrow I will spend the day cleaning my apt. and then grocery shopping.  I’m finally getting back into the whole shopping mode.  I realized today that part of the reason I have grown to hate it so much is because of the mindset I have had towards cooking now that I’m alone again.  It dawned on me today that I have to start cooking for me like I used to cook when I was married.  I mean that I have to cook good and healthy foods and keep good healthy foods in the house.  Lately I’ve gotten into this pattern of keeping no food in the house.  Then it gets late, I get hungry and it’s either go out and buy fast food or don’t eat.  Mostly, I just don’t eat.  Neither choice is healthy.  Tomorrow I take steps to change that too. 

Well, enough babbling for tonight.  I’m off to get some well deserved rest and start tomorrow with a smile on my face and hopefully some groovy song in my heart.  I’m hoping for some Nora Jones or Amos Lee, but I’ll settle for some Trace Atkins or Saliva too.  LOL  More tomorrow.  Peace People!

Short and sweet

It’s very late and I’m very sleepy, but I promised to post today so I am.     Today was pretty productive for me.  I loved my note from the universe today.  If you’ve never gone there, go visit www.tut.com   It’s a wonderful, magical place.  Sign up for the notes from the universe.  They will make you smile.   I love you all.  More tomorrow.

Weird Wednesday

Today was just weird.  I sent a text message to one of my bosses monday telling her which days I could work this week.  I’m coordinating part time jobs so this is how we do it.  So I never hear back from her.  I show up for work today and she’s surprised I’m there.  LOL  So I said, “But I texted you my hours.”  She replies, “I know but I never texted you back.”  So I laughed and said, “That’s why I showed up to work!” 

So I got to work today, but I’m off tomorrow and friday.  I suppose this is a good thing because I have so much I need to get done in my house.  I also have a ton of things I need and want to do artistically.  Including more soap!    I’m waiting on my latest scents to arrive for new soaps.  I love it when the new scents come.  It’s kind of like Christmas.  Especially if it’s a new scent I’ve never tried before. 

I’m very tired today.  I’m not sure why but I am.  I am also completely and totally disgusted with men today.  I can’t and won’t go into any specifics here but just suffice it to say today I’m totally fed up with them. 

I’ve been doing more study and more research into the sacred geometry of mandala’s.  The more I learn the less I see I know and the more I want to know.  Weird dichotomy eh?  That’s the way art has been for me from day one.  This feels different though.  This feels balanced, intuitive and is drawing me in.  It’s hard to explain.  I think I am going to have to take you on this journey with me through my paintings moreso than my words. 

Speaking of words, something has been on my mind lately.  You know the grammer rule that says….i before e except after c?  Why are there so many words that break this rule.  Weird is one of them.  LOL

Well, that’s all for tonight.  Tomorrow is another day, with new possibilities.  Sleep always improves my mood as well.  I’ll talk to you all tomorrow.  Peace.

There is simply no excuse!

Okay there is simply NO excuse for how long I’ve been away.  There are reasons but no excuses!  LOL   As most of you know, I was out of work for a very long time.  Almost a year!  Now I am working two part time jobs.  YAY!  You do what you have to do.  I feel blessed to have some work, even if it’s not quite fulltime.  It’s work. 

I’m still making soap and I’m going to be selling it soon on my Etsy as well as getting my own website up and running.  I finally realized that right now I’m a one woman show.  Hopefully this will change in my future, but for now it is what it is.  I’m tired of beating myself up because I’m not superwoman.  I have been putting one foot in front of the other and doing what I can.  That’s all I can do right now and that’s okay too.

On the art front, I’ve gotten into mandala’s lately.  I initially just fell in love with one I saw but then when I did some research I discovered the deep healing that can happen when creating them.  So, of course, I had to make some.  

Letting Go

I call this one “Letting Go”.   I found it to be very relaxing.  I just drew and and then colored in.  My mind was free to just meditate while I was creating.  It was nice. 

Freedom

I call this one “Freedom”.  While I had to put more thought into this piece, I still found it completely relaxing and freeing to be able to just make something for me! 

Speaking of making something just for me, I’ve just completed an art journal.  I became enthralled with these while surfing You Tube.  I ran across an artist named Suzi Blu.  She completely inspired me to start journaling!  Thank you Suzi!!! 

Let me just tell you other artists who are NOT journaling.  DO IT DO IT DO IT!!  LOL  Seriously, I have never felt the freedom that I feel when journaling.  I feel this freedom because it’s JUST for me.  It doesn’t matter if I make mistakes, or do something other people won’t like.  It doesn’t matter because it’s JUST for ME ME ME!   And what happens next?  That freedom begins to show up in your other artwork.  It’s an amazing perk!   I’ll post some pics of some of my journaling soon.  Maybe.  *snickers*

In the meantime, I will share more pics of Maddison the wonder dog with you.  It’s been awhile since the princess has been in the limelight so here goes. 

Being a little devil!

This is the wonder dog sassing her mother after being busted destroying my studio!  Not only was she NOT sorry but she actually gave me backtalk as I scolded her!  LMAO  This is her mid bark.  The brat! 

Yes she is all mine!

And this is the same said brat turning her back on me because she is sick of listening to me gripe!  LOL  She did all of this damage in the time it took me to brush my teeth.  I am thinking of hiring her out as a one dog demolition team! 

Okay so that’s it for today.  I PROMISE I will be more diligent about posting here.  I’m also going to be posting some pics of birds, art and more soap soon too.  Stay posted and keep emailing!  I love you guys.

Back with more soap.

Hi Yall,

Wow!  I did NOT realize it has been this long since I last posted.  Life has been crazy over here.  I’ve been busy looking for a job, making soap, sewing birds, painting and trying to be a better human being.  I tell ya, I could easily get into a lil depression or funk over the job situation, but I refuse!  I have decided I am going to be cheerful and have faith no matter what! 

So how does a girl who is out of a job fill the night hours?  Well she makes soap of course!  She paints and she sews birds.  I’ve made a LOT of soap since my last posting.  Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas?  LOL  I have joined a forum called The Dish.  There are so many wonderful people on this forum.  So many dedicated and educated soap makers.  There are heated discussions, as on any forum, but overall these people are exceptionally helpful and kind.  It’s so nice to have found such a supportive group.  As I become more familiar with them I am going to ask permission to post some of their soaps.  You will simply not believe the beautiful things these artists create! 

So my last post I promised more pics of my soaps so here you go.  I’m going to be posting regularly again as I am finally getting into a rhythm with everything I need to get done during the day.  I want to thank those of you who have emailed me to make sure I am okay.  *BIG HUGS*  Yes I am and you bless me with your concern and caring!     Now on to the pics!

This was a batch of soap I made with an “Ocean” scent.  I was all proud of the waves on top.  Well it turns out this batch had lye pockets so I had to rebatch it so it was mellow and creamy.   Rebatching means you have to shred the soap up and cook it on the stove, in the crock pot or in the microwave in order to complete the saponification process and get rid of any lye.

And this is the rebatch.  Looks like spam!  LMAO!   The good news is that when I trimmed it, it was actually pretty and VERY creamy and smooth.  Everyone I gave a bar to LOVED it.  Live and learn. 

Next I made some peppermint soap.  I simply fell in LOVE with the way this turned out!  And it smells YUMMMMMMMMO! 

 Then I had to make some chocolate soap.  This has darkened up quite a bit since I took this pic.  It smells really good but I think next time I’ll add more fragrance oil.  This one kinda faded a bit in the process.  I also used some gold mica but it completely disappeared.  I’m still working on that.

The next thing I wanted to try was some embeds.  I had some trimmings left over from an orange cranberry soap I made so I decided to incorporate them into a white log as an experiment.  I still had some of the orange cranberry scent left over so I went for it.

I got kind of excited when I unmolded it.  I could tell it was going to be fun and interesting when I cut it.

I was right!  It was so much fun cutting this soap!  I had a couple of people tell me it reminded them of the Korean flag.  I had so much fun with this particular project.  I am looking forward to trying it again. 

For the last couple of days I have been making hot process soaps in the crockpot.  I am really enjoying this as well.  The soaps are turning out beautifully and the feel wonderful on my skin!  I’m completely hooked on them.  Tomorrow I will take some pics of the soaps I’ve made the last couple of days and post them here.  I hope you enjoyed these and thanks for looking!    Keep checking back because I’m going to be giving some of this soap away.  I am also going to be giving away a bird soon.  I am thinking of having a couple of contests just for fun.  Email me with any thoughts or ideas.  I LOVE hearing from yall!    Peace and love and more blogging tomorrow.

P.E.P. Auctions for the Cure begin tonight!

Hi Yall,

I’ve been doing all sorts of things this week.  I’ll post pics tomorrow and an update.  Tonight though, I just want to remind everyone about the P.E.P. auctions for the Cure.  Please click HERE  to visit the auctions.   They begin tonight at 7:30 pacific time.  Please open your hearts and your wallets, purses, pocketbooks and piggybanks to support breast cancer research.  All of the items that are being auctioned here are donated by the artists who created them.  100% of the proceeds go to Komen for the Cure research.  Some of the items even include free shipping!  Won’t you help?  You’ll have an awesome piece of artwork AND be contributing to a great cause!  Thank you and God Bless You always!