Search results

I'm a kitchen towel snob. It has to look good, feel good, work good, and take abuse. I have 3 different types of towels on duty in my kitchen: Williams-Sonoma Classic Striped Towels...

I have cut cured bars that were several months old without issue. Again, depending on yours there may be risk of cracking and/or shatter. But, I will say that I have experienced warping after cutting if the way I cut makes the bar less thick — the freshly exposed side dries rapidly and the bar...

I recently started with some uncolored unscented batches, and was concerned about scent transfer as all my silicone molds smell like the batch that was in there last, even if it was a few weeks prior. But I've had zero transference of scent, happy to say. Now, the mica smudges from my sloppy...

I'm so glad you shared this experience! I had virtually the same here! Thanksgiving morning, I needed to get a few batches done, and then turn the kitchen over for holiday cooking by 10am. I didn't want to pop the kids in the oven and risk the FO's lingering around the turkey I would be putting...

You know, I haven't come across a single pro here who favors lecturing over educating. @TheGecko, like so many wonderfully patient and generous folks here, dedicates time to sharing their insight and guidance without asking for anything in return. It's a bit tricky to get the tone right in...

I'm not in the same league in terms of experience as the other posters, but I will offer this... perhaps try warming both your hard oils and liquid oils to the same temp and then combining. Adding room temp liquid oils to your hot hard oils might be cooling your hard oils too quickly. I...

I use this for my soaping mat: Amazon.com I love it, I can soap on it, cut loaves on it, pretty much anything, and it's indestructible. It wipes clean easily, but I've put it in the dishwasher too, with no ill effects. This post reminded me of my very first time soaping. I started with a BB...

I measure all of my hard and liquid oils directly into my soap bowl and then melt everything together. I start with an empty bowl on my scale and just Tare to 0 after every addition. I start with hard oils because it's easier to remove solid bits if I over-add. I mound them in the middle of...

Oh my! What a huge life upheaval. First, don't beat yourself up for losing motivation — anybody in your shoes would feel overwhelmed and out of control. I moved this year, and with family illness, moving out of state, running my own biz, and starting a soap biz. I got overwhelmed, and it...

@VikingChick Awwwwwwwww!!!! I needed a RR dose to get me through the morning!

The link posted by @Zuleika will give you a good picture of how the science works. As @KiwiMoose said, it comes down to the fatty acid profile — which is then additionally affected by additives (if any), and cure time... and I'm sure environmental humidity levels play a role too. Making sure...

Not just the bagels and toppings... EVERYTHING. The old-time chip bags, the signs, the cash register, the coffee cups and lids (as a former NYC'er, I do kinda covet one of those...). If I recall the article I read about her installation correctly, it was over six months of round-the-clock work...

I felt so liberated by her felt art that I entitled myself to a FO shopping spree... just a wee one. AND when I learned that a fully "made" felted bagel sandwich costs north of $200, and she's nearly sold out, I raised the price of my soap by $1. :p

That's exactly what I do. Cardboard breathes enough and my studio is relatively temp/humidity controlled.

Goooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrgggggggeeeeeeooooooooouuuuuuuuusssssss! Seriously having a case of swirl envy right now.

While I've never had a mouse issue with my soap, as a horsewoman of almost 30 years, I've had my share of the vermin. Metal screening will help. I would be unsure of using a cabinet that didn't allow for airflow, might do more harm than good. In my area, the mice are aggressive and get into...

@KiwiMoose OMG I missed the great red mica spill the first time around, THANK YOU FOR A HILARIOUS READ! I was scrolling through your pictures going... no, oh no.. ohhh, oh no no no.... I was really keeping it together and totally sympathetic .... then I got to your mica sprayed stocking feet and...

Everyone once in a while, I walk into the soap studio and actually have a look around... shelves and tables heaving with ingredients and FOs, candles and packaging, equipment etc., and the little voice in my head – you know, that one that is supposed to keep you even keeled and functioning like...

I haven't read all the posts thoroughly, so apologies if I'm missing something touched upon... I've tried a few ceramic pans and haven't found one that lasted. I also have extremely decerning taste when it comes to my cookware -- and so am likely biased. I use All-Clad almost exclusively...

Ahhhhhhh.... I smell a budding soap addiction. ;) You are absolutely in the right place for that. Lovely soaps! Far better than my first!