Hello Everyone

[LindyLou]

Hi Folks,

New to this board.. Have freuented other boards and have found some to be nice to visit, some... not so much... Got tired of some of the 'snarkiness".. Anyhow, glad to find this board and I am pleased to meet everyone and to introduce myself.

I am a hobbyist CP soaper (A little HP here and there) and Ijust made two small batches in the past few weeks after not soaping since about last November .. I have a housemate that isn't too fond of my hobby so I just kinda quit for a while. I've been soaping since 2004 and have really enjoyed it.. Have made for family, friends and some gift baskets here and there. Don't plan on making it a business.

So, last two batches were a high olive recipe with castor, cocoa butter, and EV Coc. oil. Made with BM powder and oats and a bit of Tea Tree E.O.
Will use this as a facial bar. And, just today I made a batch with Shortening, Lard, Olive, Castor and Canola. Also added BM powder and cut up some small scrap pieces of bars that were hanging in my soap dish.
Was gonna leave unscented but decided to throw in about 1/2 of Daystars Mulled Spiced Cider (I think that's the name). Put in a quart milk carton and lightly insulated. Realizing milk is a heater, I went and checked it and glad I did cause it was SOOOOO gelled it was about to separate. WHEW, just in time. Threw it in FRIDGE and now it's fine. i knew better than that!! hehe.

i so hope this batch cures out ok cause I left the oils out for about 3 months... Meaning, I melted them all down and then let them come back to room temp.. I soap that way these days.. Just add the hot lye to the room temp oils/fats. I hope they didn't go rancid, but did seem to have an odor.

Sorry so long, but happy to meet everyone and I hope to interact a bit in the future... CHEERS!!

 

[Chay]

Hi LindyLou, we're happy to have you!

 

[carebear]

Nice to have you here - and don't worry about the oils, they'll be fine.

You can always rebatch.

 

[Hazel]

Welcome LindyLou,

By BM, do you mean buttermilk? If so, I've recently been wondering how buttermilk would turn out in soap.

 

[LindyLou]

THanks for the welcomes! Yes, by BM I mean buttermilk. I have never used fresh BM, just powdered. I mix into a slurry with a bit of water and add usually at trace. I think I added 2 TBS PPO.. It was a one pound batch. It comes out well, I like it.
To me, it "SEEMS" to add a bit more hardness, could just be me.. Perhaps because ot the sodium lactate in it?

I yes, and the high olive recipe I added about 2 tsp. of Agave Nectar at trace. The sugars in it kicks up the lather factor a bit.. Sorta like honey tends to do..

Thanks again for the welcomes and encouragement! BTW, I would love to participate in a swap, have you all ever done one? I have one time, a soap swap and I hosted it as well. I don't plan on hosting again cause I don't have a car and mailing things out would be too hard. But, I did enjoy it so much.. It was with a group of people from an old board connected to Tony's Fragrance Oils (Now Southern Garden Scents). THey sell an F.O. called Black Pepper and we did a swap with Black Pepper blends. Soo fun... Take care all!

 

[carebear]

We have swaps here from time to time. There's a section of the forum dedicated to them - just keep your eye on it.
http://soapmakingforum.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=22

 

[Hazel]

Thanks for the answer. I had intended to try goat milk powder in a batch but one of the dogs ate the powder. I was really ticked off because I hadn't used much out of the bag. :x I haven't gotten around to buy more because it's expensive.

Anyway, I thought about just buying a small container of buttermilk and experimenting with it.

 

[rubyslippers]

Welcome to the forum Lindylou! This is a fun and helpful forum.....glad to have you join us.

 

[agriffin]

Thanks for the answer. I had intended to try goat milk powder in a batch but one of the dogs ate the powder. I was really ticked off because I hadn't used much out of the bag. :x I haven't gotten around to buy more because it's expensive.

Anyway, I thought about just buying a small container of buttermilk and experimenting with it.

Oh no! My dogs would so do that if I let them. PM me your address and I'll send you some Goat's milk powder that you can play with...I have way too much! I don't use it often but every now and then. Amanda

 

[Hazel]

Amanda,

That's so sweet and generous of you to offer. I just pm'd you.

Thanks a lot.

I never gave a thought that it might smell good to a dog. It also taught me a lesson about carefully putting my supplies away right after I'm done with them. It's also taught me to view my supplies and finished products differently. I now view them as potential doggie treats and I make sure everything's tightly closed or put up high.

 

[Jezzy]

Welcome!