Table of Contents
Preface: One Soap Carver's Journey x
Introduction: Why Carve Soap? 1
Gallery 4
Part 1 Getting Started
My Advice to Beginners 10
About Safety 11
How to Make Your Own Carving Tools 12
About Soap 20
How to Make Pattern Templates 23
Prep Your Workspace and Soap 25
How to Transfer Templates to Soap Bars 26
About Carving 27
How to Handle Carving Tools 29
Your First Cut: The Stop Cut 31
Your Next Cuts: Roughing Out 32
How to Use a Go-By 34
How to Fix Mistakes 35
How to Add Detail and Texture 36
About Finishing 38
Part 2 Carving the Novice Projects
Ivory All the Way 42
I Love U Soap Much 43
Eyes Wide Owl-pen 48
Teddy Bear 50
Whale of a Tale 55
Chugga-Chugga Name Train! 58
The "It Floats" Sailboat 64
Seashore Treasures 67
Workshop: Soap-on-a-Rope 71
Soap-on-a-Rope Pirate 73
Soap-on-a-Rope Mermaid 75
Workshop: Mortise and Tenon 77
Chillin' Penguin 78
Sudsy the Snowman 85
Part 3 Carving the Advanced Projects
Beyond Ivory: Melt-and-Pour 90
Time for a Tool Upgrade 91
Woodsy Bear 93
Kitchen Kritters 98
Pampered Pup 102
Cat with Attitude 105
Workshop: Melt-and-Pour Soap 111
Spring Butterflies 112
Rose Relief 114
Hummingbird Keepsake Box 117
Radiant Cross 120
Mother Seal with Pup 123
Snowflakes 126
Chip-Carved Medallions 129
Broader Horizons: Siam (Thai) Soap Flower Carving 131
Thai Soap Flower 134
Templates and Go-Bys 138
Index 147
