Sometimes we learn from things that go well, but most often I learn when things went the opposite direction. Back in March, I did two batches of soap in one weekend and had disappointing results on both. I was also moody so decided to put soap making aside and pursued other endeavors. Such as finishing the peacock painting I had been working on for a while. Which was another “failed” painting initially. My vision was to create a colorful painting with beads glued on it, on a white (painted white, not unfinished) canvas. And after I had done it, I did not like it. Even my husband agreed it looked unfinished. So, I knew I wanted to paint the background a darker color. Usually when one paints, one paints the background first, doing it last made it more difficult, but it also allowed me to merge it better with the main subject. Overall, I was very pleased with the painting and hung it on our dining room wall. (I posted a short video here)
Now back to the soap, the advantage of taking videos of my soaping endeavors is that I can do an autopsy of sorts, by examining it and figuring out where I went wrong. Clearly I am fascinated by peacocks, so why not try to improve on something I am very likely to attempt again?
(I also like hummingbirds, and that was the other failed soap). Sigh. I have since learned not to make soap when I am not in the mood for it, it plainly does not go well for me when I do that.
Back in March when I did this soap, I was still learning a lot about soap dough, and I do not think I had done the recipe well yet. I did buy Bee’s book (Bee Lyata from Sorcery Soap) and tried some of her other recipes with better results. I was aiming for a pretty peacock feather look, but when I was doing the cane for the eye of the feather, the soap dough became distorted and it changed directions inside the roll. I did not use dividers for the “secret feather swirl” technique either, so the top is very messy. I ended up with feathers that look like I was under Salvador Dali’s influence, melted and distorted.
For now, I leave you with the video:
Soaps by Glenda 