Soap Challenge Club -- Soap Swap !

I participated in the Spoon/Chopstick Swirl Soap Challenge organised by Amy Warden last December. Members of this Challenge Club were also given the option to participate in a soap swap. My last soap swap was way back in 2011. Naturally I said "Yes!" and I opted to be paired with an international member (i.e. the member may be located ANYWHERE that is possibly accessible on our planet!)

My partner was Karen Harvey from Talkeetna, Alaska!! We were required to send one of our Spoon/Chopstick Swirl soaps to our swap partner, so I sent Karen one of my Wishing Star Soaps :)

Wishing Star Soap

I was SUPER thrilled when I received a wonderful smelling package in the letterbox yesterday evening. MeiMei and I carefully opened the package, wanting to savour the moment. We loved it! Thank you Karen!

Northern Lights Soap, handmade by Karen Harvey

Northern Lights Soap, handmade by Karen Harvey

Northern Lights Soap, handmade by Karen Harvey

Northern Lights Soap, handmade by Karen Harvey

Check out Karen's blog post about her Northern Lights Soap that she made for the soap challenge!

Soap like Food -- #3 Macarons !

I have had a love affair with Macarons for several years now. Ok, I am biased. I only crave for the ones from ET Artisan Sweets. They are THE BEST! The first time I tasted one of their G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S macarons during my dear friend's wedding back in September 2011, I was so inspired and soaped out some awesome soapy macarons! You can read all about it in this blog post - Merry Macarons ! These Macaron Soaps became one of my best sellers over the last few years.

I went to 'Macaron Heaven' when I attended a lil princess's 1st month celebration last month and I received this!!

Yummy goodies from ET Artisan Sweets! 

Oh-Macaron-Goodiness! This is what I soaped up for this week's Soap like Food!

Handpainted Mandarin Orange Macaron Soaps

Handpainted Mandarin Orange Macaron Soaps

Handpainted Valentine Heart Macaron Soaps

Handpainted Valentine Heart Macaron Soaps

Handpainted Rose Macaron Soaps

Handpainted Rose Macaron Soaps

Fancy some Macarons without the calories? These limited edition Macaron Soaps will be available soon at www.holyrosehandmade.com ! 

Soap like Food -- #1 Pineapple Tart !

Singaporeans are most passionate about our food. I must admit that I get a lot of my inspiration from food. One of my resolutions for 2015 is to SOAP MORE. As Singapore is celebrating her 50th birthday this year (Golden Jubilee!), I decided to embark on my own soapy celebration project -- Soap like Food!

Soap like Food! will feature 52 soapalicious 'food-like' soaps, one for each week of the year. These soaps will resemble food that I love and are the result of my many hours of day-dreaming about soap. Ha!

One of my favourite bite-sized pastry is the Nonya Pineapple Tart, also known as Kueh Tair. These tarts are a must-have in most households during Chinese New Year in Singapore. Buttery and fragrant melt-in-the-mouth tarts with generous portions of slightly tangy pineapple jam...MMMMmmmmm

Baking pineapple tarts is a very laborious affair that requires lots of time and patience. Thankfully, soapy ones are easier to make ;)

Handmade Pineapple Tart Soaps

Handmade Pineapple Tart Soaps

Handmade Pineapple Tart Soap

Time to visit my favourite bakery for some authentic pineapple tarts! See ya next Thursday :)

2014 Soap Challenge ! -- Spoon/Chopstick Swirl

It has been more than a year since I participated in an official soap challenge. When Amy Warden of Great Cakes Soapworks announced the Spoon/Chopstick Swirl for her December Challenge Club, I knew that this technique would be perfect for my holiday themed soap! 

I started off by making some soap toppers. Using a leaf piping tip, I piped soapy holly leaves. Initially I was a little disappointed when the olive green colour morphed to a pale green; but they looked quite pretty with the small soap balls that I had rolled and tossed in red mica. 

Handpiped Soapy Holly Leaves

I decided to do the spoon swirl with a drop swirl in 3 different colours -- Red, Green and White. My choice of fragrance for this soap was Cranberry Fig from Bramble Berry. I apologise for not having "in-the-process" photographs to share with you as I was so focused on working fast and have forgotten to pick up the camera (AGAIN). I really should consider making a video the next time.

The soap frosting was piped on using a separate batch of soap. I used a disposable piping bag and  simply snipped off the end instead of using a piping tip. Sprinkled some fairy dust and popped on the soapy Christmas decorations!

and YES! There is a little surprise in the soap!

I love how my "Wishing Star" soap turned out. Thank you Amy for this wonderful tutorial! 

Soapy Alphabet Challenge!

 Sometime last month, I was asked to create a very special gift for a wonderful lady. 

This lady had visited the 2012 Singapore Garden Festival and she left her contact number with a fellow vendor after seeing my soapy creations. I gave her a courtesy call several days later and the rest was history. 

As an artist, it is an awesome feeling when someone truely appreciates your craft and passion. As Lady Captain of Seletar Country Club, she gave me numerous opportunities to share my passion with her peers. For this, I am always grateful.

So, when I received the call from C, I felt honoured that these lovely ladies had thought of me when sourcing a gift for their dear Lady Captain. C told me that they wanted to present their Lady Captain with my soaps, sculpted in the alphabets of her name. I could not say no to this soapy challenge!

This was my sketch of the soaps that I had sent for approval ...

TADAH!! These made me really happy ... they turned out exactly the way I had visualised!

Handcrafted Soap Alphabets

Holyrose by Nature's Little Treasures

12 years. I have come full circle.

2012 was an eventful year. I was involved in several projects - Singapore Garden Festival, Seletar Mercedes-Benz Charity Golf, Christmas Bazaar at Takashimaya and a rebranding exercise. I am indeed blessed to have met so many kind and generous individuals who saw the potential in my products and believed in me. I am most grateful for all the opportunities.  Thank you ... thank you ... thank you!

I faced many challenges in the past years. Times when I was most lonely ... I have also learnt the true meaning of Friendship. Thank you my dear friends - B, K, E, M&M, J ah jie ... thank you for your love and support! A BIG thank you to beautiful Miin for your amazing designs!

I am Holyrose. This is my passion. Thank you everyone ... YOU made this possible!