First attempt at textured tops

[madartist]

I've always made CP in loaf molds. I started with 16 inch molds and now generally use 32 inch long molds. But I've seen such nice work done in sheets that I wanted to try one. I like the lightly textured ones (that could be neat massage bars). Not having a sheet mold, I just figured what size batch would only fill my loaf 1 1/4" deep, and made up a batch of parsley soap. The texturing was a lot easier to do than I imagined. Can't wait to slice it tomorrow! And I can see that my carpenter is going to be busy making up some new mold sizes!

 

[sbp]

Looks great!! Love the color.....

 

[apurwa]

they look absolutely lovely. how did u manage the texturing?
and the ones that are seen near the green loaf also look lovely...how did u get those made?
i might be asking silly questions but i will be thrilled to get something like these atleast myself!

Apurwa.

 

[madartist]

they look absolutely lovely. how did u manage the texturing?

After the pour, I just swirled a spatula through it (swirling vertically, pulling up from the bottom of the mold, lifting up small peaks. If your batter is at heavy trace when you pour it, it's pretty easy.

and the ones that are seen near the green loaf also look lovely...how did u get those made?

They are all coloured with flowers and spices, taking the natural colour of the oils into consideration. Pale gold is ground Calendulla petals in a soap base that is naturally slightly golden from the palm fruit oil. Salmon is cinnamon (in a white soap base made of RBD Olive and RBD Coconut oil) with paprika sprinkled between layers of pouring. Then a quick vertical swirl with a spatula. The tan bar has cinnamon added at light trace, but with an FO that is known to morph to a dark tan. There's Shea butter in it too, which adds to the tan colour. I layered the pour with paprika and gold & silver mica. Then a quick vertical swirl. Most of my molds are 32 inches long, so I make 5 or 6 vertical figure 8 swirls as I travel down the length of the mold. You have to stir enough to drag the powders through the batter without completely incorporating them. Otherwise, the contrast in colours just blends together. The kelly green one is coloured with ground parsley in a white base, In a golden base it would be more of a charteuse and in a tan base it would be a sage green. In the pic below, I divided my batch in half, coloured one with red iron oxide, layered the pour and swirled vertically, you can see the circular trails from my spatula.

The white part is supposed to be WHITE, but I was a tad short when I measured out the lye and these ended up being superfatted at 15% (yes Ian, they are out of the closet....unlike Tom Cruise) They were so "gushie" after I unmolded them, that I had to wait a week before I sliced them up, and even then, the knife slid through them like warm butter. They'll probably take 12-16 weeks to harden (well, "firm") up enough to use, but I bet they'll make my skin feel soft as a baby's bottom.

 

[apurwa]

Maddy

thanks for describing the method. these samples look awesome! when i make my next batch i will try some swirling! lets see how far i succeed. but one thing is sure the pics you have posted here will be an inspiration!

i will try texturing in my next batch!

Apurwa.

 

[lngrid]

Hi.
I'm a complete newbie at soap, having made *cough*ruined*cough* my second batch ever Monday night.

I love the green! Do you know if the soap preserves the color of the chlorophyll?

 

[madartist]

Not sure,. The first parsley bar I made was last novemebr. The ones I have left are still green though.

 

[Angela]

Your soaps all look amazing. I noticed the jar of carrot juice in the picture. Do you use that in your soap instead of water? I soap using all milk would I be able to use carrot juice say half and half and get a nice color as well? Your geen soap is cool looking too.

 

[madartist]

A week or so ago, on this forum, I read about using stage 1 pureed carrot baby food to give an orange colour. It sounded pretty kool so I tried it. It gave a sort of light orange, so I thought I'd try subbing carrot juice for water to see if I could get a deeper orange. I haven't tried it yet, hence it's still out on the counter. I would image you could get an orange tone by mixing the juice and milk, but you also might try the baby food and your usual amount of milk. Experimenting can be a lot of fun!

 

[ewenique]

Mango puree subbed for all or part of the water makes a nice shade of orange.

 

[smittenheart]

I cant wait for my soaping supplies get in so I can try some textured tops..

I havent soaped for 2 weeks now..grr!!

I love love love your soap photos

 

[cinta]

Your soaps look gorgeous! I love the colour of the parsley soap.

 

[madartist]

it's 1/2 cup of dried parsley, put through a processor (after grinding, it measured about 2 oz in volume) for 28 oz of batter.

 

[Lynnz]

Wow your soap with the parsley rocks!!!!!!

 

[madartist]

Thanks, I sliced it up and beveled it last night. The fragrance is half "Citrus H20" and half "naked in the woods", (which smells like ferns). which really compliments the lingering fresh scent of the parsley