Browsing soap pics

[Saponista]

Cool, I will have a go next challenge if I can think of an idea that works.

 

[Soap Techniques]

Oh!! Do you think the maker used M&P for the lines? It would harden quicker and let you make tilty angles with CP then... That's very clever.

http://cdn.soapmakingforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14572&stc=1&d=1434498498

I would say the embeds are also CP soap:
https://infusionsblog.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/olive-pomace-and-white-kaolin-in-soap/

 

[Seawolfe]

Oh! They are actually embeds - nifty.

 

[newbie]

Using TD to advantage.

 

[newbie]

Soap du jour, or savon du jour, to be completely French about it.

 

[Saponista]

What tool do you think she used to make those lovely tops?

 

[newbie]

Looks a little like the petals that were in that one challenge. I think something with a flat end and a curve to it, like a dowel/straw or even a firm piece of plastic that she is holding so it bends a bit. The edges near the sides are flat and neat, so that is the flat end of the object and then as it's pulled up, the curve makes the indent. That's my theory. Okay, I would bet she would tell us if we asked. Let's see if anyone can guess it correctly. I'm going to say plastic tube- a spoon handle of sorts but the end is flat.

 

[Saponista]

Ok I'm going for the head of a rubber spatula on its side. I will post on her fb wall tomorrow and ask her but I am off to bed now!

 

[Dorymae]

My guess is a spoon.

 

[jules92207]

What a gorgeous soap.

 

[snappyllama]

Her soaps are all so gorgeous. I would be ecstatic if I could make something half as beautiful. Maybe in ten years lol

 

[navigator9]

Remember when airlines served actual meals? When they gave you coffee, it came with tiny, metal spoons with the airline logo on them. I used to steal, I mean save them as souvenirs. I still have a few. I say airplane spoon. Looks like just about the right size. Auntie Clara's soaps are always gorgeous, aren't they?

 

[Saponista]

I have asked her to put us out of our misery on her Facebook page. Hopefully she will reply

She replied! Here is her response (there is also a response to someone else's question in there too if you are confused!)

Auntie Clara's Handcrafted Cosmetics Thank you all! I like the idea of the airline spoon - and the somewhat shady way something like that would have made its way into my soap kitchen wink emoticon This was made very simply with the back of a very ordinary stainless steel teaspoon. For the record I don't spray alcohol on any of my coldprocess soaps. Soda ash, aka sodium carbonate, needs three things to form: sodium, moisture and air with carbon dioxide. By cutting down on water in your formula you cut down on moisture and you increase the speed of saponification which shortens the period of having unsaponified, active sodium hydroxide in the soap. By having the soap make as little contact with air as possible you cut down on the carbon pick up. In other words, use a steep water discount, keep the soap insulated from moving air (eg in an oven or in a box) and let it cool down completely before taking it out.


I thought it was something bigger than a teaspoon. Definitely going to give this a try!

 

[navigator9]

Ah, so it's not the tool, it's the technique. I think my problem is that whenever I attempt anything other than a regular log of soap, I tend to overthink it, to rush it. My results never turn out with the kind of perfection of Auntie Clara's soaps. She has a deft hand, that auntie! I still like the idea of the airplane spoons though, small and easy to manage. I especially like the kind of squared off tip of the Eastern Airlines one. From left to right, KLM, Eastern, Iceland Air and a regular teaspoon. I'm going to add them to my soap tools basket. If only they could produce results like Auntie Clara gets! It was nice of her to answer.

 

[newbie]

How did she gets such a straight edge at the bottom using a spoon? I thought it would have a bit of the shape of the spoon tip. Ah, something every day to learn!

 

[navigator9]

How did she gets such a straight edge at the bottom using a spoon? I thought it would have a bit of the shape of the spoon tip. Ah, something every day to learn!

OK, I'm thinking that she inserts the spoon right up against the mold, but not deep enough to go through the top layer, leaving a nice straight edge. And she does it at the same depth every time. Over and over again, up one side and down the other. Deft hand, that one.

 

[newbie]

Ah, a scoop rather than a push, you mean? Never mind. I saw a flat edge when I looked at it but now I see that it is in fact a little scoop-shaped.

This is so smooth looking!

 

[newbie]

This was a FB photo of the week on BB's site. Great colors and swirls.

 

[newbie]

Love the delicacy of the lines.

 

[newbie]

Oh! I wish I could do this!