I can't begin to explain the soulful feelings wrapped around this big chunky rippled block of artisan soap. I'm going back to my soap making roots and it feels good. What's that saying? If it feels good, do it!
Many years ago, eighteen to be exact, my aunt Vivian sent me a bar of soap she crafted in her kitchen. She wrapped the silky goat milk savon in simple tissue paper and tied raffia around the bars. It's funny, I can still recall the touch, feel, smell of that soap. I was in awe and certainly intrigued that aunt Vivian, my favorite hip and cool aunt, the aunt that wore Chanel and spoke softly had created her very own soap! Those feelings turned toward inspiration as I began searching for any kind of literature or information about soap making. At that time, there were very few books about the craft, (only one), but the yearning to make soap had a strong grip on my soul and I was determined to learn the process. It's interesting because the Internet was just kicking but back then it took forever to search for information. Do you remember "dial up?" I prefer to call it something else, because even though it was a wonderful new resource it was s l o w in performance and could frustrate the heck out of you. There was one book about modern soap making at the time. I quickly ordered off the Internet and anxiously awaited its arrival Once the book arrived, I browsed the pages and took in the instruction. The list of supplies was minimal and I believed that making my own soap would be the greatest thing on earth.
Present day, and I still feel the same. Just think, had my aunt not made that soap I probably would not have continued the tradition. You see, I come from a long lineage of soap maker's. I am a fourth generation soap maker! I often ponder how had it not been for my aunt so generously and in her caring and sharing way sent me that silky, smell good soap wrapped in tissue, there might have easily only been three generations of soap maker's in my family.
I mentioned how I'm going back to my soap making roots. Those many years ago I'd pour the soap in shoe boxes, cover it with an old quilt and place it under my bed to cure. I remember trying to sleep and the excitement circling my mind knowing my soap, the one I made, was under my bed. No peeking, and I'd have to wait until morning to see it for the first time. It felt better than Christmas morning!
I dug out my shoe boxes,lined them and poured the thick creamy soap in the boxes just like I did those many years ago. I did not place it under the bed, I make a much larger batch then I used to. It was a joy to take the cardboard lid off the shoe box and cut the bars in fat chunky squares. I topped each bar with a B.
It's a glorious blessing to be passionate about something. It's an even grander blessing for someone to care and share. Thank you Aunt Vivian, I love you!
Enjoy caring and sharing days.
With all good wishes,
Jill 00
