Checking in and Catching Up

I guess I should probably post a new blog updating the world on what I've been up to these days! I had planned on introducing the Sleepy Sheep Soap Sack on October 2nd at Circle Me in Lincoln NE. Well, I had a hard time getting the bugs worked out, mainly getting hand made soap to not melt. I'm just guessing here, but here's my theory. Hand made soap is usually so much more moisturizing and less processed that it is in a less dry state than your average over the counter soap. A wonderful soap making friend of mine informed me that normally commercially made soaps have undergone another process to remove moisture from the glycerin so they can make more money selling it (the moisture) to the lotion/facial cleanser companies. So long story short, I think that's why hand made soaps melt more easily into a cotton sack than dried up (and skin drying) soaps from the stores. Currently I plan to battle that by making soap sweaters, totally encasing the soap with a fine weight wool that will shrink and felt around the soap. I've tried it with a half used bar of soap and a bit bulkier wool (that's what I had on hand ;), and while it does melt the soap, it generally keeps the soap from melting all over the place. So I think this will help a lot and even 'save' your soap. Of course people want to know what they can do with the leftover sweater, once the soap is gone. . . anything you want is what I say. a fully cleaned one can be made into a cat toy by snipping it open, adding some catnip and stitching it closed. A clever girl (or boy) can even add some eyes and a tail using thread (your kitty could choke on a loose button). They can be used as an air freshener/ fragrance infuser/ whatever-you-want-to-call-it by adding some essential oils to it. Put it in your dryer to make clothes smell great without using the dryer sheets that coat your clothing (and ruin your diapers!). Use it as a scrubbie. . . or just toss it. Really, that's ok too ;)

So instead of my soap sacks I brought a ton of wash cloths and a pair of longies that I made up, as well as offered custom fit soakers/longies etc. While my crochet wash cloths didn't drum up a ton of business, my soakers brought on a lot of possible future business. So I'm pretty excited to get started on that, as soon as I can. That probably wont happen until close to the first of the year though.

So what's my plan from here on? Knit up some soap sweaters to sell, see how well they are recieved. maybe I"ll make a few up for gifts and get reviews before offering them up for sell. I've got to knit up at least two soakers/ longies for G, and maybe one for Dizzy, as well as a promised scarf for a beloved sister. Then? start advertising custom knits for kiddo's whether it be soakers (of any style) or whatever on Etsy and maybe even Craigslist since I"d like to get a local following.

BTW, sorry for the scattered writing. I"ve got a cold and I"m just a little underslept. . . I am a VERY SLEEPY SHEEP these days!