Tag Archives: learning

Draw Something Every Day

 

discovery doodles

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.

Spread Love

I had fun making these and spreading the love for Valentine’s Day. I met with Mazzi Peled of Latika Soap for happy hour early this week and was able to give her one.  I accidentally spilled some of my pink sugar perfume on it, and she was asking me “What is that smell coming out of your purse!” so I ended up giving her a scented valentine! What a happy accident since she loves the smell. We have similar philosophies about formulating & designing, so I love getting to chat with her.

valentine day cards 2014

Another way I choose to spread love is through teaching. Each fall I take on an adult intern at feto soap. They usually are on their way to starting their own bath & body business, but want some help learning techniques and production from an established business.

Last year, Kelly Darby of Lucy Kat Soaps was my fall intern. I taught her how to make soap & bath bombs, and she helped me package my products during the fall of 2013. We worked out an arrangement of both in-studio and take-home tasks (like entering emails into a spreadsheet & some packaging duties) because she lives in N. Round Rock and has two young children at home. She was super-organized about her babysitting schedule, so would let me know a week ahead when her studio or take-home task availability was. She also helped me at shows when she was available!

Unbeknownst to us, we had a couple of interests and people in common, like Taylor from Nothing But a Pigeon, a love for yoga and NPR. When she’s not busy chasing after her little ones, she’s working at a yoga studio part-time (like I did!) while she makes her fabulous party favors.

I had the pleasure of having both of them over for a pre-Valentine’s Day

bee favorsbubbly & chocolates

lunch complete with chocolates and champagne! Since I didn’t want us all getting tipsy, I made a variation of Profanity Salmon for us while we snacked on the goat cheese and noshes Kelly brought over. I was too busy eating them to get a picture!

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Little Artist Big Artist – 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).

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Check back for Session Two: Learn to make bath bombs