Thursday, February 18, 2010

Knobbly Felted Organic Soap

'HEART FELT SOAP' is a collaboration between Ginga Squid and FeelAtHome....in New Zealand.


My friend Leanne (of www.FeelAtHome.co.nz) makes the most gorgeous smelling organic soap using the cold processed method of soapmaking, which allows the soap to retain all of its natural glycerin. In fact I often want to eat it it smells so good (her geranium & black pepper is one of my favourites) and people have been known to eat a chunk of her body bars by mistake at the markets she attends - thinking it is white chocolate!


All of her soaps are made with Pure New Zealand spring water (or New Zealand goats' milk). She is passionate about creating unique blends of essential oils that you won't find anywhere else, along with some unbeatable classics.

Anyway, she dropped me off some of her Lemongrass & Green Tea soaps for me to felt last week - they smelt so good!

I wet felted the soap using New Zealand polwarth sheep wool which I dyed in tones of pink. Then I added some strings of laceweight green wool and then needle felted on some merino yellow knobbles!



When wet, the soap lathers up and the wool gently exfoliates your skin.

As you use the soap, the wool keeps shrinking around the soap and when the soap is gone, you are left with a tiny felted pouch that can be used as a scrubby, or cut open to store little treasures or placed in your linen drawer with a few drops of essential oil to make your linens smell gorgeous.

Ideal as a unique gift for travelers and college students as no washcloth is needed!

Keep in a dry dish between uses.

Making felted soap is easy - check out the process here at WikiHow.



13 comments:

Yvette said...

washing with these lovely bars is scrubbing your skin too!
I've made patchouli balls and as an old hippy loving that smell.
Good working together with your friend...very special bars!
Will fly away like coockies.

Shirley Cook - Jumping Jack Glass said...

Vicky, these are so freakin' cool! :-)

Queen of the Tea Cosies said...

"The perfect gift for The Girl who has everything."

You can use it if you like :-)

Kharisma Sommers said...

Vicky, i wanna be your neighbour :3 we could do projects together <3

Ginga Squid said...

Thank you!!!

Yvette - I love patchouli too. I think Leanne did a soap recently that was Patchouli & Sweet Orange? It was yummy. I like good old sandlewood too - is that hippy as well?!!!

Kay that would be so wicked! I must visit your part of the world sometime & bring my scuba gear.

Pam de Groot said...

You know you are taking this felted soap thing to a whole new level now. These are amazing!

ArtSparker said...

Wonderful little treasures

Ginga Squid said...

Thanks Pam & Susan!

Yvette said...

I want to be your neighbour too!

If you are in my place of the world please lets walk at the beach ( 10 minutes away from me)
kizkiz
yvette

Jasmine said...

Inspirational work here. I have been meaning to try making soap siunce I found a tutorial a few months ago. You have set high standards though :) xJ

Ginga Squid said...

Definately Yvette!

Thanks Jasmine - Leanne (who makes the soap itself) started making it as one of her sons was allergic to the stuff in commercial soap. Then she got hooked & soap has taken over her kitchen - so be careful!!!!

Anonymous said...

Delightful! I have been known to almost eat beautiful handmade soap. Your beautiful wraps should stop people like me.

Ginga Squid said...

Thanks Don! :)