Bits and pieces...crafty me

I had been eye-ing this green damask bucket at Target (AKA The Motherland, according to my friend!) for a while, but wasn't willing to spend $20 on it, especially when I had no specific purpose in mind for it. But when I found it sitting on a random shelf in the garden section, with a beautiful red clearance sticker on it for less than $5, I didn't hesitate - I snatched it up, still not having a plan for it, but knowing it needed to come home with me!! I had pondered on toys, shoes, magazines...but when I got it home, it immediately told me that it MUST be used for fabric!! And I must say - it's a smart little bucket, because this is SO much cuter than the ugly clear plastic bin the fabric was in before!

I haven't been doing much crafting lately, for a variety of reasons, but primarily because I'm just tired and don't have the energy. Which is sad...because crafting refreshes me and helps me stay sane. At any rate, I've always wanted to try making cold process soap, and for whatever reason, I got a bug under my skin a few weeks ago to order some supplies to give it a try. I used this tutorial, with the only change being that I added a tablespoon of french green clay and some rosemary and peppermint essential oils. YUM!

The process was quick and simple, the soap smells heavenly, and I absolutely LOVE how it turned out!! The only drawback is that you have to be patient afterwards - while you theoretically CAN use the soap the next day, it will dissolve quickly if you do - you are supposed to let it dry/cure for 3-4 weeks before using it. That's a LONG time to be patient! I will admit I have one of my scraps (from trimming) on the kitchen sink, and I've been using it, to get my fix.