John & Joan of Ark

I love to make my own soaps, especially goats milk. Currently don't have goats but will be making lots of soaps for Christmas, etc. I usually make tons every couple of years and that tides me over. Bought my scales at garage sales, also a marble cheese grater for cutting the bars. I use pvc pipe for molds or cute ones I got at the dollar store- seashell, turtle, fish, etc. I get the tallow from my hubby the butcher. I do need to find a source to buy a large quantity of lye- say 50 lbs instead of 1 lb jars- I thought there was a source in Logan, UT. I'd much rather pay 50 cents a lb instead of $4, of course the 50 cents lb was several years ago. Any other leads on inexpensive supplies would be appreciated.

You all will get a laugh out of this: on "Yahoo Answers" someone was asking if Hamburger Helper and Koolaid were "poor people food". They were both luxury, not frugal food in my book of course! Suggested rice and beans as true food of the poor, without the cheese, sour cream, etc.

Thanks, I'll bookmark it now !!!!

Where to start:

dry your own herb and make teas.

It's time to have a huge soap making party again this year and make enough soap for my family and gifts for the next 3 years! This way you buy a big wholesale bag of lye and it costs 50cents a lb instead of $4. Great for weddings, birthdays,and also just for fun gifts, Cost is about 10 cents a bar.

You can take a paperdoll pattern and turn it into felt dolls. I actually designed my own patterns and keep adding more( examples on http://www.arkessetials.com) but if you can't afford my patterns or kit you can definately make up something on your own. I just really got into it after a while so figured I'd sell some too.

Aprons from old denium jeans, or placemats or ???? I love adding cute napkins in the pockets.

I'm kind of getting addicted to making cute table cloths. Walmart has had some very cute and pretty cheap fabric but buy what you like when you see it as it goes out of stock quickly. I wish I'd bought a whole bolt of the cowboy print I got last February?

Also make a tablecloth for a dolls table and matching napkins. I had a tea set put a side and made a tablecloth from a remnant.

I have the cutest muslin doll pattern and it even has bunny slippers for the dolls. Maybe I"ll have time this Christmas or next.......

My goal for this Christmas is to finish writing my book Secrets of the butcher's Wife. I'll just run off the pages and put them in protectors and make a cute cover on the computer. I guess it can be a work in progress if I give them the notebook and some of the pages and can add new ones every month.

I did get a new french bread recipe so that will be my cheapest and easy enough for friends gift this year, since the chokecherries aren't cooperating for making lots of syrup this year. Guess I"ll have to call up and get the carmel syrup recipe too that my daughter was raving about last week.