How long have you been soaping and..

[houseofwool]

Interesting. My daughter has something called "chronic idiopathic urticaria" which is Latin for "Hey,your kid breaks out in hives all the time and we don't know why. Pay at the front." No one ever suggested I could be soap. They just put her on daily antihistamine therapy." Any suggestions for a hypoallerginic recipe?...guessing it would need to be color and fragrance free.

Dude, you work at a hospital - so much of medicine is "we don't know what the heck is wrong with you, but lets try x, y, and z". When my 5 year old had swelling and bleeding in his brain they called it "acute disseminated encephalomyelitis". Or, "your kid just had a stroke and we are gonna blame it on the fever he had because we don't know what else to do".

(disclaimer - I also work in medicine, behind the scenes - and have had many a conversation with a friend's husband who is a pediatric neurologist who kinda agrees with the above assessment.)

So, back on point, DW - does you daughter use your soap?

 

[DWinMadison]

Dude, you work at a hospital - so much of medicine is "we don't know what the heck is wrong with you, but lets try x, y, and z". When my 5 year old had swelling and bleeding in his brain they called it "acute disseminated encephalomyelitis". Or, "your kid just had a stroke and we are gonna blame it on the fever he had because we don't know what else to do".

(disclaimer - I also work in medicine, behind the scenes - and have had many a conversation with a friend's husband who is a pediatric neurologist who kinda agrees with the above assessment.)

So, back on point, DW - does you daughter use your soap?

Use it? USE it? Nobody actually USES it! It's ART! Would you rub your bum with the Mona Lisa? (Don't answer that.) Well, I Never!!! Hrmf Actually, she's been back at school while I've been soaping, but I'm not sure she would even try it if she was home. Kids don't think anything handmade can be as good as stuff from the store.

 

[AngelMomma]

Use it? USE it? Nobody actually USES it! It's ART! Would you rub your bum with the Mona Lisa? ( Don't answer that.) Well, I Never!!! Hrmf Actually, she's been back at school while I've been soaping, but she's I'm not sue she would even try it if she was home. Kids don't think anything handmade can be as good as stuff from Te store. They are all morons.

Maybe we could start a petition roblem:

 

[hoegarden]

DIY stuff always got me hook. I started soaping last year May. It started because I am always looking for some natural shampoos that I want to use for my scalp. I have dandruff problems and it is like an on and off issue.

Then the year before, I came across a natural soap shop in the neigbhouring country while on a shopping trip and the shop offer CP soap lessons. And wanting to learn the shampoo soap got me started on the basic soaping and I really like soaping since then.

I am still looking for the correct formula for my scalp to resolve my dandruff issue. Just did some shampoo soaps that are likely to be ready end of the month. Hope to see effects.

 

[hlee]

Wow! Thanks for all the responses.
I also like the part art part science with making soap.
I find it relaxing while making it and then exciting unmolding and seeing what you made and I love cutting it (still using the meat cleaver.)
I also got hooked on handmade soap that someone else made. They had a little shop that I loved and they moved away and closed it.
I like other crafty stuff but don't excel at any of it.
I do excel at flower gardening and it is my true passion.
Making soap is a great winter substitute and I need to research now how to combine the two .
Thanks again, enjoyed reading how you all got here, buncha soapheads lol!

 

[2lilboots]

Wow! Thanks for all the responses.
I also like the part art part science with making soap.
I find it relaxing while making it and then exciting unmolding and seeing what you made and I love cutting it (still using the meat cleaver.)
I also got hooked on handmade soap that someone else made. They had a little shop that I loved and they moved away and closed it.
I like other crafty stuff but don't excel at any of it.
I do excel at flower gardening and it is my true passion.
Making soap is a great winter substitute and I need to research now how to combine the two .
Thanks again, enjoyed reading how you all got here, buncha soapheads lol!

It is easy to combine the two. Grow roses and dry the petals and buds, use to decorate your soaps. Grow lavender and dry and use to decorate your soaps. Grow calendula flowers dry the petals make infusions to use in your soap as well as drying them to decorate your soap. Grow an assortment of herbs and mints to dry and decorate and/or use as a colorant for your soaps. This has been my plan as well. So....there you go!

 

[gratia]

I have been making soap since 2006. I had a goat that had just kidded and my human kids were not drinking it so I went to the internet to see what I could do with it and saw something on soap. I started reading up on it. I know that it is something that I want...no have to do if I cannot stop thinking about it and research as much as I can. I started by buying a soap making kit and the rest is history.

 

[ruby61]

I started 5 years ago and I too started because of my daughters acne problem. I saw a thread on byc back yard chickens and got intriqued enough to do it.

 

[Genny]

Interesting. My daughter has something called "chronic idiopathic urticaria" which is Latin for "Hey,your kid breaks out in hives all the time and we don't know why. Pay at the front." No one ever suggested I could be soap. They just put her on daily antihistamine therapy." Any suggestions for a hypoallerginic recipe?...guessing it would need to be color and fragrance free.

The word Hypoallergenic is a marketing gimmick since people can be allergic to anything.
But, if you're looking to make soap just for your daughter, I'd start with a plain jane castile.

I had hives constantly as a child. I'd get hives when it got above 90 degrees out, I'd get hives from aspirin (I can take it now though), I'd get hives from anything that has aloe in it (still do), I'd get hives when I got stressed out or embarassed, I'd get hives when someone just mentioned hives, etc.

 

[2lilboots]

The word Hypoallergenic is a marketing gimmick since people can be allergic to anything.
But, if you're looking to make soap just for your daughter, I'd start with a plain jane castile.

I had hives constantly as a child. I'd get hives when it got above 90 degrees out, I'd get hives from aspirin (I can take it now though), I'd get hives from anything that has aloe in it (still do), I'd get hives when I got stressed out or embarassed, I'd get hives when someone just mentioned hives, etc.

So I take it that you have hives right now? I used to be allergic to aloe, but I am not anymore. It would turn my skin red as a beet and would itch and burn like the dickens. They say you can outgrow an allergy or get new ones over time.

 

[Paintguru]

Started about 2 months ago. Wife brought home some homemade soap from an art fair. Thought it looked and smelled cool and thought to myself "Hey, I wonder how hard that is to make?". Soap making seems like 1/3 cooking + 1/3 science + 1/3 art. I like the first two and wish I was better at the third. Plus, being an engineer, the DIYing aspect of such things as molds and stuff makes it even more fun.

 

[DWinMadison]

Started about 2 months ago. Wife brought home some homemade soap from an art fair. Thought it looked and smelled cool and thought to myself "Hey, I wonder how hard that is to make?". Soap making seems like 1/3 cooking + 1/3 science + 1/3 art. I like the first two and wish I was better at the third. Plus, being an engineer, the DIYing aspect of such things as molds and stuff makes it even more fun.

Chris, I have a soap buddy! Let's have a beer and talk soap!

 

[DWinMadison]

The word Hypoallergenic is a marketing gimmick since people can be allergic to anything.
But, if you're looking to make soap just for your daughter, I'd start with a plain jane castile.

I had hives constantly as a child. I'd get hives when it got above 90 degrees out, I'd get hives from aspirin (I can take it now though), I'd get hives from anything that has aloe in it (still do), I'd get hives when I got stressed out or embarassed, I'd get hives when someone just mentioned hives, etc.

I'd be happy to learn Mel is allergic to anything specific. They can't seem to pt their finger on anything, and they refused to needle test her. I was thinking latex (because it's in everything), but now I'm wondering about soap.

 

[ZandarKoad]

I do think it's funny about the "counter culture" appeal of soap making. Not to make a political statement other than to say "I apparently do not 'fit the mold'" (see what I did there?) of the typical soaper. First, I'm a dude. Second I'm a conservative republican-- in fact they actually give me funny looks when I drive up to local natural food "co-op"/head shop/crystal emporium with my Romney/Ryan bumper sticker. Third...urban guy here..(haven't milked anything since visiting my grandparents farm 40 years ago). Lastly, I largely think all this environmental crap is propaganda used as an excuse for the federal government to steel more of our personal liberty. But hey, that's just me.

ANOTHER MAN SOAPER! :shock:

 

[ZandarKoad]

I started a few weeks ago, since my vanilla extract is going to take six months to reach the desired vintage. I've decided I want to start giving more gifts to everyone I know, along with thank you cards. Up to this point in my life I've been pretty much an introvert as far as that stuff goes. I got into soap because I thought it would be very useful for my family, and it is a product which you can create, market, sell, and gift in any quantities with no guilt. It's the perfect gift. It's a clean product in more ways than one. Unlike my day job, which is installing satellite TV systems... Pays great, but ... TV is so detrimental to so many areas of life. I feel bad for every customer I install. Have for nine years. I don't own a TV myself... Do yourself a favor and KILL YOUR TV!

Really, what it comes down to is my wife started doing all this crafting, quilting, etc., for people she knows, and she's just out-giving everyone at our church and way out-giving her husband (me). So I've got to catch up, and soap just might let me do it!!! :razz:

 

[AngelMomma]

The word Hypoallergenic is a marketing gimmick since people can be allergic to anything.
But, if you're looking to make soap just for your daughter, I'd start with a plain jane castile.

I had hives constantly as a child. I'd get hives when it got above 90 degrees out, I'd get hives from aspirin (I can take it now though), I'd get hives from anything that has aloe in it (still do), I'd get hives when I got stressed out or embarassed, I'd get hives when someone just mentioned hives, etc.

I'm sorry, but while reading the part about the hives I keep seeing Sid, running crazy. Cracks me up.

And what do Doctors use to treat allergic reactions sometimes? Steroids. To which I have had allergic reactions to 3 different ones now. :shock: One was IV injected and I got hives up my arm. Not fun!

 

[DWinMadison]

I started a few weeks ago, since my vanilla extract is going to take six months to reach the desired vintage. I've decided I want to start giving more gifts to everyone I know, along with thank you cards. Up to this point in my life I've been pretty much an introvert as far as that stuff goes. I got into soap because I thought it would be very useful for my family, and it is a product which you can create, market, sell, and gift in any quantities with no guilt. It's the perfect gift. It's a clean product in more ways than one. Unlike my day job, which is installing satellite TV systems... Pays great, but ... TV is so detrimental to so many areas of life. I feel bad for every customer I install. Have for nine years. I don't own a TV myself... Do yourself a favor and KILL YOUR TV!

Really, what it comes down to is my wife started doing all this crafting, quilting, etc., for people she knows, and she's just out-giving everyone at our church and way out-giving her husband (me). So I've got to catch up, and soap just might let me do it!!! :razz:

My brother, in more ways than one . We have a lot in common. We should chat

 

[Soapsugoii]

Yeah, I've just bout "saved" myself into debtors' prison, and I'm hiding oils from my wife like its porn.

LOL! Best line of the thread.

I'm a dude soaper too! There need to be more of us. Albeit I'm the flaming liberal variety too.

I started soaping about two years ago. I've had a massage therapy license for 10 years, always loved EO's and the like, and never thought about making it until a friend suggested I make something with coconut oil (which I'm a huge fan of). One thing led to another and boom boom, here I am two years later still in love with it.

Soaping has really opened my eyes to the craft world in general, and I am really pumped about expanding in to other bath and body products (have a new business I'm growing). There's something about other people finding value in products you make with your hands that I just find so... fulfilling. This forum has been absolutely invaluable to me, and the people here are some of the most kind, helpful folks I've seen in an online community.

 

[DWinMadison]

LOL! Best line of the thread.

I'm a dude soaper too! There need to be more of us. Albeit I'm the flaming liberal variety too.

I started soaping about two years ago. I've had a massage therapy license for 10 years, always loved EO's and the like, and never thought about making it until a friend suggested I make something with coconut oil (which I'm a huge fan of). One thing led to another and boom boom, here I am two years later still in love with it.

Soaping has really opened my eyes to the craft world in general, and I am really pumped about expanding in to other bath and body products (have a new business I'm growing). There's something about other people finding value in products you make with your hands that I just find so... fulfilling. This forum has been absolutely invaluable to me, and the people here are some of the most kind, helpful folks I've seen in an online community.

Ok ladies, clearly the men are taking over. Where do you buy deer pee and testosterone FO? Brambleberry?

 

[Maythorn]

Well I took a crack at it several years ago and I was doing other arts and crafts at the time so I didn't make a big commitment. I saw before me a rather complex art that involved some waste and not being able to smell scents before buying so I just stuck to yarn, beads, drawing. Not that these 3 didn't involve buying the wrong stuff! I finally had to sell things on CL that I couldn't envision anything for. Yet I just had to have them at the time.

I wanted to design costumes but never have to sew. I tried poetry too but couldn't write anything that didn't rhyme in a singsong way. It's so embarrassing that I stood and read it to the family and they had to listen! Talk about a captive audience. Now they just have to wash and tell me what they really, truthfully think about a bar of soap.

Soap involved striving for perfection (could do all too easily). I'm hoping the journey actually loosens that up in me. I don't want Tone-like bars. I like the homemade looking ones I see here and on Etsy.