The Mister had a day off today, so we went on a little adventure. I said “Turn left now!” and we went to Mount Bonnell for the first time. I hope your weekend is full of little or BIG adventures! Happy Friday y’all!
Category Archives: General
My friend David Brown suggested that I subscribe to Birchbox, a beauty product sampler box.  I love trying beauty products, so subscribing to a sample box is perfect!  This is what was in my first box:
I was surprised that there were no ingredients listed anywhere on the packaging or the printed insert, so I went to the FAQ and it said to look up each product to figure out what it has in it. I’d say this subscription is not for anyone who has allergies or who wants natural products, because you can’t just open it up and start trying things! I was actually at their FAQ to figure out how to report damage – the hair oil had leaked all over everything in the box during shipment. I emailed them and they are sending me a replacement.
These were the samples in my box. The prices listed are for the full-sized version of the products.
Beauty Protector Protect & Oil | Full-size, $21.95
WHAT Exclusive launch! This just-for-you hair oil defends against UV rays, heat, and breakage.
HOW Â Â Work 1-3 drops into damp hair, or to the ends of dry hair. Perfect for all hair types.
My review:Â It works similarly and has the same texture of the Frizz-Ease hair serum I already use. I used it in place of Frizz Ease today. It contains the same first two ingredients that is in the John Freida Frizz Ease I use (Cyclomethicone and Dimethicone), plus Argan oil. It smells like super sweet cotton candy, but I think I’ll keep using Frizz Ease. Cyclomethicone is liquidy- like water, while Dimethicone has a consistency of honey or a thick syrup.
Harvey Prince Hello | Full-size, $55
WHAT Best-selling spritz that mingles cheerful citrus with floral notes. Well, hello there!
HOW Â Â Apply to pulse points and let this upbeat scent do the talking.
My review:Â It reminds me of every perfume sample in a magazine. I could smell the citrus and floral notes, but maybe it’s not for me. I Â sprayed it on my wrists in the afternoon, and by evening I can barely smell it on my skin.
OPl Sheer Tints in Don’t Violet Me Down | Full-size, $9
WHAT This tinted top coat gives nails a wash of high-shine, translucent color.
HOW Â Â Wear alone for a subtle tint, or over your go-to polish for a chic shade-shifting effect.
My review:Â I haven’t tried it yet. It’s a tint, so I might try pairing it over silver to see what happens. Hopefully something good.
Skin&Co Roma TRUFFLE THERAPY™ SERUM Boosting Anti-Aging Serum | Full-size, $75
WHAT Antioxidant-rich truffle extract helps smooth wrinkles and restore dull, parched skin.
HOW Â Â Once a day, apply a dime-sized amount to clean, dry skin, massaging until fully absorbed.
My review: Smells nice – like fresh cut grass, but I probably need to use it for a few more days to give a better review. It has the same texture as MAC’s Oil Control Lotion that I didn’t use today under my base. I was noticeably oilier only using the serum, so I might just apply it to my neck or on my face at night.
LIFESTYLE EXTRA
Harney & Sons Fine Teas Paris Rich and White Grapefruit Wrapped Sachets | Full-size, $9.60
WHAT Rich and flavorful tea blends from the family-owned craft brand.
HOW Steep 3-5 minutes in near-boiling water.
My review:Â I haven’t tried these yet, but Harney & Sons makes one of my favorite teas: Cinnamon Spice, so I’m sure these will be great.
Do you subscribe to Birchbox? Do you want to? Here’s my referral link (I think I earn points or something when you sign up.) It’s $10 a month ($10 for 4 – 5 samples that includes shipping)
I signed up for the ipsy bag this weekend too (also $10 for 4 – 5 samples) to compare boxes and because you know, I *need* more makeup.
*These reviews are my own and I haven’t been compensated for them.
I attended a talk during SXSW Interactive last year where the illustrator reminded us how we need to practice drawing every day, because it enables us to communicate our ideas visually. In the same spirit, I think anyone can learn how to draw/make. Here’s a free book that will teach you how to draw, including some pictures and guides from the easy and cool things to draw collection I found online. She even goes over color theory!
A review of the book resonated with me, because I love to empower my students to make their own products:
“She takes even the most non-artistic reader and empowers them to think brilliantly using visual language.” -Sunni Brown
She’s sharing her book with the world at no cost until March 5th: ” Discovery Doodles: The Complete Series” today at: http://doodleinstitute.com/#section3.
Last Sunday, I went to @nailsyall‘s Advanced Nail Art Class. I signed up for it by mistake! I meant to sign up for the Beginning Class, but as it turned out, I was the only beginner to sign up, so Meghann invited me to the Advanced class. She caught me up to speed by reviewing how to do an ombre, tiger stripes and leopard spots. I chose a tan and deep blue for my first ombre.
We had the option of practicing on our nails or on a nail wheel. Most of the people I know who do nail art use a plastic yogurt container top as their palette, but Meghann uses small pieces of foil. She had us tear off little pieces of a makeup sponge to use for our ombre. My favorite designs were the ikat (southwest diamond weave pattern that’s made it’s way back into current fashions) and the lady eye. The most difficult design for me was the tribal nail design (stripes, dots and triangles!) and the leopard (think in terms of three when you outline!). My wheel is the one that’s front and center: 
I painted over the leopard with my favorite citron green color. She also taught us how to make a shattered glass look and how to make turquoise with plastic wrap. She may have covered more, but the tribal nail took me FOREVER, so I may have been still working on that one! Meghan said that it sometimes takes up to three hours for her to finish a tribal nails pattern on a client! Wowzers! Since I didn’t get to attend the beginning class, she gave me a copy of the zine she illustrated for the first class (she’s also a talented cartoonist) along with other goodies + tips on how to use them. I promptly lost my black striper brush as soon as I got home, so I ordered a whole set of 25. You might be thinking “You ordered nail polish? But you make nail polish!” Yes! I ordered nail polish! Striper polishes are those nail polish bottles that have a super thin brush like an eyeliner brush. I did some research online and couldn’t find any at a reasonable price. It actually cost less for me to buy a set of 25 stripers ($20 shipped) than to buy 25 empty striper brush bottles! I may not have looked hard or long enough, and didn’t go to any local stores, so I might be able to find some there! And you know after I find some, I will totally be making my own striper nail polishes!
Another thing you might be thinking is “Why did you go to a nail art class?” so I’ll answer it just in case: I am a formulator, designer & teacher. I make & teach others how to make their own nail polish (any color I desire whether it be a creme, shimmer or glitter bomb) but that doesn’t make me an nail technician (like the talented Meghann) or expert on nail art. (not yet anyway! I have a lot of practicing to do!) Nail art is something that takes practice, like any other skill, amirite?
Meghan’s next nail art demonstration is at The Thinkery, March 6th, 7-9pm.
and I’ll be teaching my next walk-up nail polish making workshops at SXSW Create on Friday, Saturday & Sunday March 7-9, 11am- 6pm at the Austin Mini Maker Faire booth. It’s at the Long Center 701 W. Riverside
and at SXSW Renegade Craft Fair March 13, 14 + 15th Noon – 8pm at the Palmer Events Center. 
Both of these events are FREE and open to the public.Â
A SXSW Guest Pass is required to attend this and many other free SXSW events. Get yours on site at Renegade or in advance at multiple Austin locations. More information here.
I’ve really appreciated the time off I’ve taken after the holiday & Â have been doing lots of personal crafting after having a nice rest. This is a free printable from C.R.A.F.T. made by Vanessa at the Tried & True blog. I’ve “known” Vanessa for probably 10 years now from an online business forum (The Switchboards) and we reconnected on instagram recently.
I wanted to see if my Silhouette Cameo could mimic chalkboard art with the sketch pen feature because I have some ideas for how I want to decorate for Valentine’s, so I traced the printable with a copper metallic pen on black cardstock. I’m happy with how it turned out. I might sketch some smaller versions for my smash book(s). Marshall’s had them on sale for $5.99 yesterday (I’ve seen them for $12 at Target), so I picked up one for myself + one for my biz. I’m collecting bits of paper to put in them and might do a year in review starting from December 2013 and going backwards.
These are just some of the things I’ve been cutting out of with my machine – mostly paper and vinyl that I had on hand.
I’m so excited about this year’s spring pantone colors! I’m working on my spring nail polish line already!
I’ve created all the colors except for the coral & yellow, so watch out for them soon!
The Blue Genie Art Bazaar is open Saturday,  Sunday,  Monday, 10 am – 10pm & on Christmas Eve Dec. 24th 10 am-6pm 6226 Middle Fiskville Rd. near Highland Mall. It features over 140 artists such as Nothing But a Pigeon, Poppy & Fern and Curare Sweets!
I have a little something for everyone in my booth! Here’s a smattering of what’s there:
This is the last of my “wo-manned” holiday shows for the year!  The first 20 attendees of the flea will get a goodie bag that contains a gingerbread soap! There will be a raffle to raise funds for SafePlace.
austin flea
sunday, december 15th
at scholz beer garten
(1607 san jacinto) 11am – 5 pm
+ make your own nail polish station*!
*maybe, if I have room! I’ll be an indoor vendor (a 6×6′ spot) & they are still working on the layout!
I’ll update when I get more information!
We made lots of soap at the Formula 1 US Grand Prix in the Kiddie Zone Tent. They requested all the toys we had to be racing themed, so some of our soaps ended up looking like this:
On the last day of the races, Pitbull put on a concert right next to my tent!
Create your own nail polishes with over 50 micas & glitters to choose from to combine & make whatever colors you dream of! Make sheer, opaque or glitter-bomb polishes!
Upcoming events where you can make your own polishes:
June 20Â 7pm Etsy Craft Party at The Burlap Bag Facebook Event / Eventbrite event RSVP
Craft party + whatever you wanna make + free knitting lessons + free booze! + light snacks + awesome people! (that last one means YOU need to be there!)
Bring whatever project you’re working on, knitting or not, or come learn to knit! Or just hang out on some couches with friends (and drink! I mean, what…)
This is a perfect time to learn how to knit/become a grandma in your 20’s/30’s/however old you are!
We’ll supply some yarn and knitting needles, but bring your own if you’ve got ’em! Or another project. We just wanna hang out with you really….
Also, etsy is providing us with a box of crafting supplies!
ALSO – – an update on activities happening:
We will also have:
-a make your own nail polish table
-a free DIY laundry detergent station (bring a 4oz jar so you can take some home! or buy one from us for $1)
-a free headband making area
-a photo station – backdrop by the Confetti Committee!
 June 30th RSVP for the nail polish party here: http://polishparty.eventbrite.com
You can also call 512.850.5472 or email lisa@fetosoap.com to book a nail polish party for your event! Great for birthday parties and bridal showers!
The Round Rock Mini Maker Faire is a community event for Do-It-Yourself (DIY) makers of all ages, experience, and interests. You will see robotics, 3D printing, engineering, creative household projects, and more from makers in the Round Rock and Austin communities. Enjoy local food and refreshments in an energetic environment that will inspire artists, entrepreneurs, children, engineers, and students alike.
The Maker Movement is made of supportive, creative, and engaging people that are reshaping our idea of what we can accomplish together. The Maker Faire is an excellent way for makers of all types to meet and collaborate. Most of all, the Round Rock Maker Faire is going to be a ton of fun for all of us.
I’ll be there with my Make Your Own Soap booth, where you can create a custom bar of soap on demand right at the booth AND I’m bringing my nail polish supplies, so you can make your own nail polish, too!
Here’s it all put together on display for the show. Mary did such a great job! Thanks to everyone who came out. 
Today I taught another hands-on class, this one about making body butters: a solid one (also called massage bars or lotion bars), whipped body butter and emulsified sugar scrubs. Here’s a shot of my student pouring the massage bars into the molds:
During our first session we discussed our ideas for our final project. We are going to be making bath bomb cupcakes. In order to make them, Mary is going to have to learn how to make bath bombs for the cake part & bubble bath frosting.
This is the equipment we used to practice making bath bombs:
Mary, making the bath bombs:
The bath bombs! Didn’t she do an awesome job?
Check back next week for Session Three: Soap Frosting
Session One: Soap Jello
We decided to make bath bomb cupcakes with a bath bomb on the bottom and soap frosting on the top. The soap frosting can be used as a bubble bath or a creamy body wash!
We’re practicing our piping skills today:
Don’t forget to come back next week when we put it all together!
Related posts you might be interested in:
Session One: Soap Jello
Every Tuesday afternoon, I meet with my little Artist Mary for two hours after school at Blackshear Elementary. I pack up a little corner of my studio and bring all the supplies or equipment that we need for the day.
Session one: Soap Jello – Learn how to use fragrance and color in bath & body products + learn how to follow a bath & body formula (recipe).
Check back for Session Two: Learn to make bath bombs
At the Houston Maker Faire, I had the pleasure of meeting Jared from Fine Clonier who owns a dental vacuum former! He would carve or cast the object he wanted to make a mold out of, in this case JarJar Binks in carbonite and then vacuum form a mold over the object.
He used a porus material to carve his form from so it could release from the plastic, heated up the plastic with the vacuum-former and the vacuum sucked the plastic over the form. When he knocked out the form, he was left with a mold!
Here’s a link to his vacuum forming video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYvISnb5rws&feature=youtube_gdata_player
I happened to have a booth across from his, so he sent someone over to see if the mold could be used for soap. The answer was YES! We poured soap into the mold he had just made and viola! Here is the result:
Then Jared came over and made one in green!
…and after he learned that you can cast soap in these molds, he started making molds and his wife poured soap into them! Check out his flickr stream to see what they came up with!
You can find a dental Vacuum-former on ebay for around $400. I think you need an air-compressor to use it as well.
If your city has a TechShop, I think most of them have Vacuum-formers. They are fairly easy to use (you set a sheet of plastic down, the heater heats the plastic and you press a button to start the vacuum, and press another button to release your form.) I’m a member of the TechShop Austin-Round Rock location and we have one! They give tours every day and are open from 9am – Midnight if you want to check them out. They also have lasers, a Maker Bot 3D printer (the Replicator 2), a vinyl cutter & many other fun toys.
Are you making your own soap molds? Do you have tips to add? Happy Making y’all!
Look at all the great soaps we made together at the Houston Mini Maker Faire!
Each person chose what color and scent their soap would have, and embedded a toy in the middle!
P.J., Eva & I had so much fun helping you design these colorful and fun soaps! Thank you for coming out and creating with us! Â -Lisa
Plan a memorable birthday party with us! For Kait’s 12th birthday, she invited 13 of her closest friends and they made bath salts, lip balm & nail polishes all in custom scents and their favorite colors at their home in Round Rock, TX! 
Email me to book a memorable party for your child! lisa@fetosoap.com or call me at 512.850.5472
I’ve doing some R&D in the Feto Soap kitchen! I love marshmallows and bubble baths, so when I was experimenting with different formulas of solid bubble bars it just made sense to shape them into marshmallow shapes.
Here are some vanilla I made a few months ago:
They started out white but discolored to brown because of the vanillin content. They were a bit squishy for selling, but still made a nice handmade birthday gift! (and great uhm, research baths!) I forgot to take a picture of them packaged up, but I put them in a clear gusseted treat bag with a ribbon and label.
Here’s a new formula I made in tangerine last week. They hardened up nicely and I gifted them to my friend Kera for her birthday.
Did I show you the bubble cake balls I made? I had some leftover “frosting” from the bath bomb swap earlier this year and no bath bombs to frost, so I rolled all the leftover frosting into balls and topped them with glitter! In some of them I even inserted sticks, but since it was ALL frosting they didn’t stay in that well. I’ll have to play with that concept some more when I have time.
I’m working to find a formula I like, and once it’s perfected I’ll make an announcement! I’m thinking about making them in loaves with a swirl in the center like rye bread. We’ll see! Stay tuned!