Soap Makers Help!

[Morgaine]

That's great advice Mullers lane farm.

I got it from the health food store. It was $5 and is made from alfalfa.

 

[cheeptrick]

DITTO MLF....the crafting/farmers market scene has completely become ridiculous with all the rules/jurying etc. THEN table rental fees that cost more than what you'd even make at the affair. OBVIOUSLY if your product is not good...folks will not buy it. It is that simple...

Outdoors with soap does pose a challenge...a tent helps. But humidity still plays a significant role and if you use/have pure glycerine soaps, be prepared for sweating.

This is distinctly why I only wrap my soaps in muslin bags. Plus I try my best to stay GREEN. And I tested the market at my last show...I shrank wrapped half my stock and the other half was wrapped in muslin. When we packed up...I only had shrink wrap left. (-: Folks are more conscious now!! So if you wrap your soaps in muslin/paper you will not have to worry about the humidity.

Good tip is to leave an unwrapped bar in a soap dish in front of the wrapped soap so folks can pick it up and smell it etc. That way folks can see your pretty swirls and feel the bar in their hand....usually if they pick up a bar of soap and put it to their nose the next action is reaching for their pocketbook.

I ALMOST always offer lemonade for free...or a seasonal beverage like Apple Cider. It helps get them to the table...EVERYONE that walks by I offer the FREE lemonade....if they stop they almost always buy a bar.

3 dimensions on the table is very pleasing to the eye...I use wooden crates flat on the table and 2 big crates set on their ends with Apothecary Jars set inside them...my company sign sit top these end crates. I always have business cards too...PLUS I'm working on pretty fliers professionally printed for weddings, baby showers, family reunions. Someday I'd like to have my website set up for bulk orders where you can choose/custom order the soap style, exfoliants, super fat, lotion and packaging/labels.
AHH...someday!!
THEN the storefront.....

OH the business plan keeps getting larger! Still in Phase 1...

 

[chiknwhisperer]

Quote:
She said it is an assighned spot so that helps. It usually isn't to rainy here during those months it tends to be hot and sometimes hunid as heck.

Cheeptrick,,
Where do you get the muslin from? Right now I have been shrink wrapping. If it helps that much I am willing to give it a try.

 

[Backyard Buddies]

Thanks Morgaine! That is very similar to what I saw. I may just pick some up the next time I'm there. I just may get some color in my soaps! Woo hoo!

So, where's a good place to buy clays and such? I still need pink!

Here's what I was thinking. . . .
I have some Plumeria FO and I was thinking that it'd be fun to do a Hawaiian themed bar - adding macadamia nut oil and some kukui nut oil, maybe some cocoa butter. Then, I'd swirl it pink, yellow, and white. Sound good?

I think I can get the pink naturally from the pink clay, the yellow naturally from the calendula I now have growing at home, but I need to get my soap whiter to make it work. My soap usually comes out more beige than white. Is there a better way to do this?

Also, MLF. . . I see that sometimes stearic acid comes from palm. Does that make a difference? Do you aim for a certain source for your stearic acid?

 

[chiknwhisperer]

Here is the soap I made last night right after I poured it.

I used paprika to color it. It turn out the way I wanted it to but I think it will be alright. I used Sandalwood FO also.

 

[AK_Button_Mama]

ok ladies I need a recipe for some soap using lard coconut out and olive oils. those are what I have and what I want to use! so if you could direct me to a good recipe I would LOVE you forever for it!

I dotn want to color it and I want to use tea tree oil, and or pacholi oil for smell, (woudl those go together ok? or would it be better to do only one!) (I also found orange blossom, rosemary, and eycaluptus oils. so if you have a combo of those that I could do....) but I was thinking that I would just do one smell for starts.....

I tried to use a calculator to figure out how much lye to use for the oils I have available but I cant figure out what its saying (maybe today is a bad day to do soap since I cantthink about anythign but my chicks I ordered today!)

 

[Morgaine]

AK, here is a link to Kathy Miller's sight. She will have a recipe that you can use.

http://millersoap.com/soapanimal.html

Here is a link to rainbow meadows Essential oil blender.

http://www.rainbowmeadow.com/infocenter/calc_eoblend/blendselect.php

chiknwhisperer, those look great!

Backyard Buddies, I got my clays at the same health food store. A little goes a long way. They were in the bulk bins. I did a calendula infused olive oil soap and it wasn't nearly as yellow as I would have liked. Have you tried turmeric? That is supossed to give a good yellow. Olive oil, coconut and lard are oils that make very white bars.

cheeptrick I love the idea of the muslin bags. I'm going to go with kraft boxes with a leaf cut out.

 

[AK_Button_Mama]

I did it again! I just jumped in and the soap looks pretty nice so far.... I hope it looks as nice tommorrow!!!

I jsut wanted the white bars so I could get used to making it!!! I need to get some colors to play with but wanted to make sure I could really do it!!! I did rosemary and tea tree!! prolly gona smell like barf!!!

 

[chiknwhisperer]

Where would you find kraft boxes that you can use for soap?

 

[cheeptrick]

I really love this site for the muslin bags... http://www.sfherb.com/store/SearchStoreResults.asp

At 500 count and only 15 cents PER bag that is a great deal. I have a fellow soap maker whose soaps are gorgeous...and packaging is VERY professional...BUT her soap packaging costs MORE than the soap itself. Just not practical for me....the above muslin bags are handmade in the USA by CAROLYN (as stamped on the box). I usually order from them about 8 times a year with the shows, Christmas Sale Website...
Food GRADE packaging is pre made and usually cheaper than soap supply companies. FYI

I researched MANY options and SF HERB is the cheapest out there....really!! I want to pass those savings on to the customer. And in this economy I've been thanked many many times.