Casting the Gauntlet of Challenge!

[DWinMadison]

I am thinking "masks and feathers" for my theme. I haven't even thought of a fragrance for it yet. I keep thinking gumbo and I know that won't smell good in a soap....lol!

But is sure sounds good for lunch on a rainy day in Mississippi!

 

[DWinMadison]

For the uninitiated in things New Orleans (btw, Mardi Gras origninated in Mobile, AL, my wife's home town, so I need to add that disclaimer to keep peace in the family) here are some common themes:

1. Black and Gold and "Fleur de Lis" for the Saints....recommend beer scented soap if you go there.
2. Dark coffee with chickory and heavy cream at Cafe du Monde. Also golden brown beignets (basically square French doughnuts) and mocha colored pralines (pronounced like "praw-leen" not "Pray-leens" like they call them in Savannah.
3. Alligators
4. Cypress swamps...great fragrance idea!
5. The muddy Mississippi River...(if my swirl flops, I plan to claim this was my intention all along
6. Purple and Gold for LSU. Purple/gold tiger stripes for extra points
7. Purple/Gold/Green are traditional Mardi Gras colors
8. Hurricanes are basically rum punch made with passion fruit and OJ and range in color from deep pink to orangy red. (I recommend drinking these to get into the soap swirling mood AFTER your lye water is done)
9. good Gumbo is redish brown like shoe leather with green penny-cut okra floating in it.
10. In some sections of the French Quarter rainbows are very prominent
11. Believe it or not azaleas often bloom around Mardi Gras time in the spring and can traditionally range from white to all shades of pink and even some purples.
12. Finally voodoo culture and the occult from the creole cultures of Africa, the carribean islands and slave trade.

Hope that helps get y'all in me mood for soaping in the "Big Easy."

 

[thefarmerdaughter]

Finding a good passion fruit FO has proved challenging! I'm probably trashin the idea
Initially I wanted to do a Cajun dance/beg for chicken inspired soap. They parade thru the neighbor hood in bright costumes, drinking beer begging for ingredients and chasin chicken to put in their gumbo. So I thought a brightly colored beer soap.... but what FO? :think:

 

[DWinMadison]

Finding a good passion fruit FO has proved challenging! I'm probably trashin the idea
Initially I wanted to do a Cajun dance/beg for chicken inspired soap. They parade thru the neighbor hood in bright costumes, drinking beer begging for ingredients and chasin chicken to put in their gumbo. So I thought a brightly colored beer soap.... but what FO? :think:

Orange/citrus and pineapple are good stand-ins for passion fruit. In fact, most NOLA bars make the drinks cheap with OJ, pineapple, sweet & sour and grenadine. Let's face it, with hurricanes it's mostly about quantity, not so much quality.

 

[thefarmerdaughter]

Now I've got Cypress swamp and azaleas bouncing around in my brain! I'm thinkin some woodys floral kinda thing.

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

I wanna play, too! I already have a soap made...does that count?

 

[DWinMadison]

I wanna play, too! I already have a soap made...does that count?

Sure, just don't post the pictures until the 20th.

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

Sure, just don't post the pictures until the 20th.

It's a deal! :wink:
My theme is Voodoo...

 

[DWinMadison]

I wanna play, too! I already have a soap made...does that count?

Hey Alchemy, I was looking at your home town and thinking if this one goes well maybe our next challenge could be Florida-inspired...anything from "tacky tourist" and flamingos to South Beach art deco. (Can you tell I'm sick of winter?)

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

Hey Alchemy, I was looking at your home town and thinking if this one goes well maybe our next challenge could be Florida-inspired...anything from "tacky tourist" and flamingos to South Beach art deco. (Can you tell I'm sick of winter?)

Well, I won't DARE complain about the heat (Ugh! Did I say that out loud?), but it's in the 80's today...I was hoping I could get some more use out of my "winter clothes" (long sleeves & jeans)...but if it makes any of you "Yankees" feel better, its been really overcast lately...:shifty:

 

[DWinMadison]

Well, I won't DARE complain about the heat (Ugh! Did I say that out loud?), but it's in the 80's today...I was hoping I could get some more use out of my "winter clothes" (long sleeves & jeans)...but if it makes any of you "Yankees" feel better, its been really overcast lately...:shifty:

I was just griping to my wife that we tolerate 100 degree summers in exchange for mild winters, but we've had several really cold (for us) nights strung together and it's barely even January. Our winter options are generally clear and cold or overcast and sticky. Today it's the later.

 

[DWinMadison]

Future Themes

There are so many fun themes we could choose from for challenges beyond seasons and holidays....I was thinking about "The Eagles" (as in the band...think "Tequila Sunrise," 'Witchy Woman," "Hotel California") or even studies in technique...say all hanger swirls... or color..."all things blue." It just takes a little time and creative thinking (or a few glasses of wine).

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

Ooh, I call dibs on "Witchy Woman"! I'd like to do an entire line of Stevie Nicks song-themed soaps...but now I'm just being selfish :shifty:

 

[thefarmerdaughter]

An ode to a favorite song in soap! sounds pretty cool.

 

[SoapAddict415]

I'd do it! I'm becoming a swap junkie! This is fun!

 

[DWinMadison]

Sorry. Got sidetracked

Lets do Mardi Gras first.

 

[maiseycat]

Well, I won't DARE complain about the heat (Ugh! Did I say that out loud?), but it's in the 80's today...I was hoping I could get some more use out of my "winter clothes" (long sleeves & jeans)...but if it makes any of you "Yankees" feel better, its been really overcast lately...:shifty:

I just got home from work...in a blizzard, the vehicle was fishtailing all the way, and I couldn't see very far ahead for the snow.

I think I am gonna go cry now :cry:

 

[AlchemyandAshes]

I just got home from work...in a blizzard, the vehicle was fishtailing all the way, and I couldn't see very far ahead for the snow.

I think I am gonna go cry now :cry:

I keep telling my husband I wanna move somewhere that the temps range from 50-80 degrees F year round. Oh, and sunny. And low humidity (naturally curly FRIZZY hair here). And that has 4 actual seasons. And...

He always says "I'll get right on that!"...17 years later, I'm still in Florida. (I'm a native, he's from NY).

Sorry about your blizzard. Make a nice cup of tea and look at some soap porn and you'll feel better. :mrgreen:

 

[maiseycat]

Well, that will probably make me feel better I'm kinda hoping that the office calls a snow day tomorrow, although it's pretty rare for that to happen around here

 

[thefarmerdaughter]

Don't beat me with a stick blender, but I would love to see a foot of snow! It's gonna be 70 and raining today.