Soap Makers Help!

[WomanInTheWoods]

I'm a SAH/homeschooling mom, so no time to soap during the day (4 kids at tables & 1 in college!). Hubby's got a week and a half vacation time coming up starting this Wednesday. I'm pretty sure there's only so much football on during that time... I'm hoping and praying for bonus soaping time!!!

Perfect timing as I just got fo's from Moonworks today and I'm expecting pkgs from BB's and CG's tomorrow.

Now if I could just get DH to take over some class time....

ETA: CJ, I got the 1982 blue from BB, too. My sister is in the middle of building her new house, and blue & cream are her colors. I'm hoping to do up something nice for her and that blue seemed so... her.

Looking forward to seeing what you do with it! Those swirls are just too pretty!

 

[ChicksterJo]

How long did it take for BB to give you shipping confirmation? I am waiting on mine..
Good thing (or is it bad?) that my SO supports me (not monetarily though lol ) doing this. It is just so much fun.
I hope you make a batch soon WomanintheWoods!!

 

[WomanInTheWoods]

Quote:
I ordered on the 17th and got shipping confirmation on the 18th, tracking says it will be here tomorrow!!! (Camden Grey too!)

I'm hoping to do some soaping tonight. I was planning on a plain Oatmeal Milk & Honey (no fragrance oil), but then the Moonworks fo's came and wow! I can't wait to play with them! I got 3 from her: Gypsy Rose (smells just like a rose from my back yard), Floral Muse, and Sugar Cookie Royale. My kids are excited for the sugar cookie one, of course. Although the teen was really happy with Gypsy Rose.

 

[ChicksterJo]

I have been looking for a rose one. I would like to do bars with my rose clay that is coming from BB and I wanted a rosy smell. I will make a note for when I'm ready to do this one..thanks!

 

[WomanInTheWoods]

I've got the rose clay coming from BB, too. I'm hoping it will be a winner combo. This rose is nice, not too sweet, kind of potpourri-ish. I'm telling you, I've got a rose in my back yard that smells just like this! It's a big fat red one~ one of my favorites! I might mix in a bit of something heavier with it... not sure what though. I'm not to good at that yet.

Dipsy, I'm loving those blue bars... I love Ylang Ylang. I bet your house smells so good right now!

 

[ChicksterJo]

On that note, Dipsy, how did you mix up the colorant before you swirled it in? Would that be like mixing the mica with a little bit of the oil?

Will you be putting oatmeal in your Oatmeal Milk & honey? I put ground up raspberry herbal tea into my Chocolate swirl but the cocoa smell is the one coming through.

 

[WomanInTheWoods]

Mmmm.... wouldn't it have been lovely to have the raspberry & chocolate together! That sounds too good. Maybe a raspberry fo in your next order? Scent half with raspberry, half with cocoa... Makes me nervous to make that one... not sure I'd get my kids OUT of the shower!

Yep, I'm planning on putting some oats in the coffee grinder and incorporating them in (I think with the oils?). I definitely need to review the omh method before I get started. The kids are in front of a Halloween movie at the moment, I should look this up. I'm also quite hesitant with the honey and how to best get that mixed in properly, as there seems to be some issue with that. Funny, after reading Cyndi Miller I am not really worrying about the milk part of it!

 

[ChicksterJo]

I did read earlier in this thread to not use too much honey because it will create more heat. Maybe a couple teaspoons? I would love to add honey at some point but the thought of a superheated batch scares me!
I am already thinking about a raspberry FO for next time hehe. I just took a look at my lard log. It is a little softer than my other two. I think it will have to sit for longer. I might have to look for another mold around the house tomorrow if I want to make another batch.

 

[WomanInTheWoods]

My dad built 3 molds for me! They are crafted after the Chestnut Farms molds someone posted earlier in this thread. I LOVE them! However, before they were finished I was using cardboard boxes. I did several of my test batches in those little 5x5x5 sized ones. I used big rubber bands to hold the flaps down and they still did fine in the oven overnight! I also used a plastic butter tub and a rectangular drink mix tube in the oven and they did fine, too.

Here are the molds my dad made for me, he is awesome and way too good to me!

(He made these in the evenings after having worked on building my sister's house all day. I know he had to have been exhausted, but he still made time for me. I will treasure them always!)

The little pegs holding them together are cut off / filed down golf tees.

 

[ChicksterJo]

Wow, those look so beautiful!! I would have never thought of using golf tees. My dad wouldn't make me something like that. I wish my grandpa (who was a woodworker) were still around, maybe he would have wanted to help me. Those look so beautiful I will try to recreate them sometime!