Felted Soap Bars

“Everyone has huge creative capacities. The challenge is to develop them. A culture of creativity has to involve everybody, not just a select few.”
Sir Ken Robinson

I love to get my creative juices flowing and I have been searching to create something that was a need more than a want for a person. Well everyone needs soap to clean up so that I got my thoughts going. I didn't think I was up to the level of making my own soap quite yet plus I want whatever I create to fit into my fiber centered shop. Which gave me the idea to create felted soaps! I went to Michaels craft store and bought wool roving packs in an assortment of colors and then stopped by Target to buy soap. I got a Pomegranate Mango scented soap and Ivory Soap. 

I am learning that creating felted soaps is a learning experience that will get better each time I attempt to make more bars. I searched different sites for instructions and tutorials so I can see how to properly make the felted soap. Well that was overwhelming because so many people do it so many different ways. So I tried my hardest and I think they came out pretty good! I even needle felted a heart on my first bar! Now my first set of bars are listed in my shop! I am so excited to share these with other people!!

Starting Gratitude Tuesday

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, 

but to live by them." John F. Kennedy

This year I started a gratitude list that everyday I write down things that I am grateful for in my life. Yes in the beginning it was easy to just the easy things I was grateful for like my children, family, friends, food and house. Now I am at the point that I am looking at the little things that I am grateful for like having patience with others and my artistic skills. This great feeling I am filled with everyday when I add to my gratitude list is one that I want to share with all other you. More than just making a list of things that you are grateful for, people need to tell and show those they care about how much they mean to them. You never know if a small gift or words of kindness will be just what a person needs that day. Everyone needs to know they are loved by others! 

So I challenge you to go out and tell the people you love that you love them and how you are grateful to be in their lives! Not only will you feel better about yourself but you will make someone else feel great!

Every Tuesday will be Gratitude Tuesday where I will be showcasing people or things we all should be grateful for in our lives. So check back next week for another gratitude post.

 You can share these delicious LOVE cookies by justcrumbs with someone you are grateful with and they will be grateful for your gift! You can purchase these cookies or other sweet treats in justcrumbs Etsy shop by clicking any blue link or the photograph. Enjoy!

Recycle Rather than Trash

Every day is Earth Day.  ~Author Unknown

One thing that I am trying to become more aware of is recycling. What can I do to encourage my family to separate the recycling? Well I will admit that my family does not recycle so trying to encourage and change is going to take a lot of effort and time. Everything from newspapers, magazine to soda bottles and cans have been thrown in trash for as long as I can remember which is basically my whole life. It is amazing how people really don't think about where these items go once we place them in the garbage. So many items that can be recycled but are thrown in the garbage are not biodegradable so they sit in landfills, contaminating the ground, water and wildlife for much longer than we are on this earth. This concept is enough for me to think about the future generations and attempt to make some changes. I challenge all of you that do not recycle to start today!

This set of pop up trash and recycling bins by Hobnob will encourage your family and guests to separate their trash from recycling. To purchase these bins or check out the other great items in Hobnob's Etsy shop please click any of the blue links or the photo. 

Have a positive day!

A Child's Imagination

"Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."

Pablo Picasso

This morning, as I was trying to figure out what I should write about today, my 4 year old became very impatient and bored. So what better subject to blog about than a child's imagination. Just to sit and observe my daughter's playtime is fascinating because she absorbs everything around her and it reflects in her interactions with her dolls. My daughter is artistic by nature just like the rest of my family. She loves to sing, dance and perform for people just as much as she loves to draw, paint or create some beautiful gift that she will give someone special in her life. At this age the creativity and energy is endless and I am at awe at the things that she comes up with somedays. Whether she is sings a song that I never knew she had listened to but at some point did or the abstract drawing of her family that most adults would call scribbles, her imagination is endless. My only wish is that she keeps this creativity and imagination for the rest of her life.  

This adorable crayon case was created by OurLittleMesses and is the perfect toy to kick up a child's creative side. The case will fit crayons, pencils or markers. With the handle, this case is easy to take on the go for the car ride too! To check out OurLittleMesses collection of crayon cases and other awesome creations please click any of the blue links or the photo.