i'm forever blowing bubbles.....

since blowing bubbles on whimsical wednesday, i have been thinking about bubbles and the origins of bubble blowing.  an internet search led me to two interesting sites, www.bubbles.org and www.bubbleblowers.com.

it seems that bubble blowing may have been done by children as long as ago as ancient times.  during the 18th and 19th centuries, mothers gave their children leftover washing soap for bubble blowing.  bubble blowers were formed from anything that was available such as rope, string, wire.  it was during the 20th century that bubbles began to be sold by street vendors.  in the 1940s, the chemtoy company, which made various cleaning supplies, was the first company to systematically bottle bubble solution.  later this company was purchased by tootsietoy company and bubbles were on their way.  bubbles (solution and blowers) are now sold by several companies worldwide and it is claimed that bubbles are the best selling toy in the world! 

curious, i read the label on the bottle of bubbles (miracle bubbles by the imperial company) i played with on whimsical wednesday for a list of ingredients and none were listed. the ingredients for bubbles is either universal or some huge secret!  however, it took no effort to find recipes for homemade bubbles.    
         
here's a recipe i found on grandparents.com:


1/4 cup liquid dish washing detergent (regular dawn or joy works best)
1/2 cup water (tap water is fine as long as it isn't hard with iron and other minerals)
1 tablespoon glycerine or clear corn syrup


here's a recipe developed by professor bubbles, worldwide bubble entertainer, and published on his website bubbles.org.  he writes that he uses this super bubble recipe during his performances:

2 parts regular dawn or joy dish washing liquid
4 parts distilled water
1 part clear karo corn syrup

in addition to bubble solution, homemade wands can be made with just about anything that can be shaped into a circle or already is circular such as a straw or funnel.

if you are so inclined, mix a batch of bubble solution and craft a wand.  then post the results of your personally made bubble fun.