Hi from Miami

[Reeny]

Hi
I am new to the forum. I have been wanting to make soap for awhile. I have many hobbies such as gardening, especially to help the pollinators, which led me to start keeping bees. I have been beekeeping for almost two years and tried making lip balm with my wax and would love to try and make soap, using my beeswax and honey. I love the by products of beekeeping. I have made mead. Which turned out pretty delicious. I particularly would love a recipe with goat milk, and somehow incorporate my honey and beeswax.

On a personal note I am a mother with 4 grown children, lots of animals and bees, love to garden, cook, and knit. I would love to learn how to make soap so I would appreciate any help, and getting to know many of you on this forum.

 

[Hazel]

Hello and welcome! :wave:

I think it's awesome you keep bees. I've always been impressed by people who have the courage for it. I'm severely allergic to bees so I run away when I see one. I ended up in the emergency room the last time I was stung and it's not an experience I would like to have happen again.


How far along are you with researching soapmaking? I can recommend some books and videos to get you started on the basics.

 

[Reeny]

Not very far. I just bought one book on kindle.
I am actually allergic too. Sound crazy but I am still beekeeping. I had an anaphylactic reaction last year and ended up in the ER. I am getting desensitized(shots) but it takes years. I am very careful and very covered up when I go into the hives.

 

[Hazel]

Wow! You really are brave. I hope you carry an EpiPen with you when you're among the bees.

This is just my opinion but I liked the books "The Everything Soapmaking Book" by Alicia Grosso and Anne Watson's "Smart Soapmaking". Anne Watson's book is the one that really motivated to try cold process because of how she simplified the process. I read it and thought "This sounds easy and I can do it". Both books are popular and you can probably find them at the library or get them through inter-library loan. You might find this discussion about books helpful. http://www.soapmakingforum.com/f11/book-18329/

Some sites (besides this forum) which I found informative:

http://millersoap.com/
http://millersoap.com/trouble.html - th[FONT=&quot]is page has been extremely helpful for me :wink: [/FONT]
http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/
http://www.soapqueen.com/
http://teachsoap.com/
http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/coldprocesssoapmaking/Cold_Process_Soap_Making.htm

For hot process, I was taught by another member honor435 and I used Ms. Brenda's tutorial http://www.msbrenda.com/soap-making to help clarify what she wrote. However, since then I found some other tutorials which I thought were well written.

http://gracefruit.blogspot.com/2006/01/crock-pot-hot-process-soap-tutorial.html
http://allcrafts.tripod.com/index.html (I was amused by her writing but I’d recommend a double boiler if you’re only doing a small batch.)

Videos which I recommend:

http://www.youtube.com/user/soapqueentv (scroll down a little and you'll see the CP series)
http://www.youtube.com/user/soaping101

I have to say I don't agree with everything I've seen in their videos (like using glassware with lye) but overall the information is excellent.

I'm sure there are more sites and videos I haven't thought of but these will get you started.

 

[Reeny]

Wow! You really are brave. I hope you carry an EpiPen with you when you're among the bees.

Yes I do carry my epi pen it iSight by my phone and someone is always home when I go into the hives.

This is just my opinion but I liked the books "The Everything Soapmaking Book" by Alicia Grosso and Anne Watson's "Smart Soapmaking". Anne Watson's book is the one that really motivated to try cold process because of how she simplified the process. I read it and thought "This sounds easy and I can do it". Both books are popular and you can probably find them at the library or get them through inter-library loan. You might find this discussion about books helpful. http://www.soapmakingforum.com/f11/book-18329/

Some sites (besides this forum) which I found informative:

http://millersoap.com/
http://millersoap.com/trouble.html - th[FONT=&quot]is page has been extremely helpful for me :wink: [/FONT]
http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/
http://www.soapqueen.com/
http://teachsoap.com/
http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/coldprocesssoapmaking/Cold_Process_Soap_Making.htm

For hot process, I was taught by another member honor435 and I used Ms. Brenda's tutorial http://www.msbrenda.com/soap-making to help clarify what she wrote. However, since then I found some other tutorials which I thought were well written.

http://gracefruit.blogspot.com/2006/01/crock-pot-hot-process-soap-tutorial.html
http://allcrafts.tripod.com/index.html (I was amused by her writing but I’d recommend a double boiler if you’re only doing a small batch.)

Videos which I recommend:

http://www.youtube.com/user/soapqueentv (scroll down a little and you'll see the CP series)
http://www.youtube.com/user/soaping101

I have to say I don't agree with everything I've seen in their videos (like using glassware with lye) but overall the information is excellent.

I'm sure there are more sites and videos I haven't thought of but these will get you started.

Thank you so much this is wonderful information.

 

[Hazel]

You're welcome! I hope you'll find it helpful and not overwhelming.

 

[three_little_fishes]

Welcome to the forum! How awesome that you keep bees. My best friend does and I think it's the coolest thing!