My First Groupie Soaps
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Tienne
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Well, I usually save at least one of each of all the batches I have ever made for nostalgic reasons and to see how they hold up over time and also so I can go back and see how my skills improve over time. Soaps like these aren't really all that practical, but if I had several sets and not a hundred other soaps that need to be used up as well, then sure, I'd use them. Some other designs I have in mind are even less practical, but that's not why I want to make them. I like them for the artistry. For the challenge and for the skills and knowledge I can gain from attempting to do more and more. These particular soaps I will probably save and label them as "Groupie soaps #1", and see how and if I get better over time, but if I make these again, I will probably give them away and leave it up to the receiver if they wanted to use them or not. I wouldn't be offended if they used them. *They are "just soaps" after all.
*Please forgive my blasphemous statement, but that is pretty much the long and short of it.)
Ancel
Well-Known Member
Beautiful! Really pretty, and the patience you must have is impressive. Love the look of the edges. Looking forward to seeing what's next.
MzMolly65
Well-Known Member
I think your soaps are gorgeous. The more I look at his blog the more I suspect he doesn't cut out the holes so much as leaves them vacant during the pour. His system of rubber bands and sticks could easily support some type of rod or straw that would be pulled out later and this photo in particular
with the 1/2 circle at the bottom left reminds me of your 1/2 circle cut out.
For carving .. have you ever seen potter's carving tools? They might be ideal for carving soap.
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Great looking soap.
Tienne
Well-Known Member
@MzMolly65
He does cut out shapes too and often reuses the parts he removes as embeds. If you take a look at the star soaps, you can see that the shapes are indeed cutouts and he even shows and states how he does it. He says:
"To remove the forms use two templates. Placed one above and the other below, making them match as closely as possible. You go through the soap with a guitar string, going through the edge, in this case the star and cut well. It remains only to remove it carefully from bending. "
On these soaps here you can also see how the semi-circles are cutouts. He also often uses cardboard dams to help make curves and colour partitions and such in the soaps beforehand:
He's a man of many talents! LOL Unfortunately I don't have a wire cutter tool yet, so I had to make do with what I had at hand. (He has a pic somewhere showing what that tool looks like to cut the side cutouts. It's just a wire with a stick tied to either end. ) The "secret ingredient" is the wooden templates.
I do have some potter's carving tools and have actually thought that they might come in handy. Maybe I should dust them off and see how I can make use of them until I get a wire cutter tool. I also have some small chisels for leather working. I have some guitar string too, so... sooner than later, I'll get around to making myself one of those "magic" tools, but it was fun going my own way and getting my rip-off soap to at least resemble his with what I had at hand. I didn't really plan to make those soaps. It was just a spur of the moment thing. You know how that goes. Just like with regular soaping! Sometimes you just gotta do it! LOL
He does cut out shapes too and often reuses the parts he removes as embeds. If you take a look at the star soaps, you can see that the shapes are indeed cutouts and he even shows and states how he does it. He says:
"To remove the forms use two templates. Placed one above and the other below, making them match as closely as possible. You go through the soap with a guitar string, going through the edge, in this case the star and cut well. It remains only to remove it carefully from bending. "
On these soaps here you can also see how the semi-circles are cutouts. He also often uses cardboard dams to help make curves and colour partitions and such in the soaps beforehand:
He's a man of many talents! LOL Unfortunately I don't have a wire cutter tool yet, so I had to make do with what I had at hand. (He has a pic somewhere showing what that tool looks like to cut the side cutouts. It's just a wire with a stick tied to either end. ) The "secret ingredient" is the wooden templates.
I do have some potter's carving tools and have actually thought that they might come in handy. Maybe I should dust them off and see how I can make use of them until I get a wire cutter tool. I also have some small chisels for leather working. I have some guitar string too, so... sooner than later, I'll get around to making myself one of those "magic" tools, but it was fun going my own way and getting my rip-off soap to at least resemble his with what I had at hand. I didn't really plan to make those soaps. It was just a spur of the moment thing. You know how that goes. Just like with regular soaping! Sometimes you just gotta do it! LOL
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MzMolly65
Well-Known Member
Cardboard dams .. what a perfect description.
That's what he's using in the pic with all the rubber bands holding things in place. I just wasn't sure if he was filling the cardboard pieces up and then pulling them out (like a two colour vertical bar) while all the soap was wet or if he was leaving them empty to creates gaps in the main bar.
Either way he's a true artists who inspires.
Now he's got me wondering if a scrollsaw would work on soap, LOL!
Tienne
Well-Known Member
You would not believe the amount of stuff I look at through a soaper's eyes and wonder if it in ANY way, shape or form could be used for soaping. Or the number of fix-it's and workarounds I come up with. Soaping sure is a creative sport in more ways than one. It sure does give one's brain a heavy workout, that's for sure! 
Tienne
Well-Known Member
:shock: I almost spat coffee all over my keyboard when I read that. So funny. I highly doubt that, but that was an incredibly sweet compliment of you to give nonetheless, Renata. Wow. Thank you so much for your confidence in me! Yikes, there's no way I can live up to that, though. Pasito is a demigod and I am after all just a mere mortal! *sigh* LOL
I highly doubt that, but that was an incredibly sweet compliment of you to give nonetheless, Renata. Wow. Thank you so much for your confidence in me! Yikes, there's no way I can live up to that, though. Pasito is a demigod and I am after all just a mere mortal! *sigh* LOL
You don't give yourself enough credit. Even demigods had to start somewhere and practice to perfect their creations. Give yourself time and a lot of experimenting. I think you'll be able to challenge Pasito eventually.
Someday, a person may join the forum and say "I was inspired by the demigoddess, Tienne".
Tienne
Well-Known Member
The demigoddess Tienne?? Aw, com'on Hazel! Now you're just being silly. LOL!
But seriously... thanks, everyone. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much for your super nice and encouraging comments. It really means a lot to me... now quit it!!
... And now this up and coming demigoddess needs to go rebatch a stupid soap that riced on me. Yes, my latest soap was a big fat fail. That's how awesome I am!
Now go away. LOL
Aw, com'on Hazel! Now you're just being silly. LOL!But seriously... thanks, everyone. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much for your super nice and encouraging comments. It really means a lot to me... now quit it!!
... And now this up and coming demigoddess needs to go rebatch a stupid soap that riced on me. Yes, my latest soap was a big fat fail. That's how awesome I am!
Now go away. LOL
seven
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Yep you're right. He always uses molds made from thin woods as a layout. Two of those, one on each side.
What an awesome job you've done. Impressive. Kudos to you for having the patience to even take this on.
Can't wait to see what other awesome things you do next.
Can't wait to see what other awesome things you do next.
No. Not silly...sincere. Admittedly, it's hard to tell the difference with me.
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Now I will go away but not far.
