SMF Soap Making Challenge October: Hidden Feather Swirl

[BlackDog]

Well in the interests of kicking up a little dust, I'll post the soap I *didn't* enter. It was my first try and pretty successful, but the colors didn't come out well (not white enough and it didn't gel) and the feather looked more like a coat of arms to me. Meh!

 

[Saponista]

I actually really like the colours blackdog, thanks for showing us. I love seeing soaps of any kind even if it wasn't the one you are entering. It's great to see the different attempts and learn why you decided to try again. I think it would have easily been entry worthy though!

 

[lionprincess00]

I made my third and final try. I didn't sign up officially, but if it turns out well I'll sign up tomorrow and submit tomorrow. I wasn't sure if I'd get around to it (i had to make an in law lotion, tried the gcsw challenge which I only got one attempt in and failed so didn't submit it, and have made two previous attempts at this challenge already). At 40% lye I should be able to unmold tomorrow.

Edit to say I also filmed the November challenge and made two soaps for it. So we we will see if I can get this feather in

 

[doriettefarm]

Well I just destroyed the kitchen working on my one-and-only attempt at the Oct challenge! Recipe and FO behaved nicely but my makeshift dividers were kinda flimsy so there's no telling what shape my feather will have. I used my 2lb tall skinny mold and was surprised I had enough color to pour at least 5 passes with each. Hopefully I poured enough base color before starting the layers of color or my feather might be resting on the floor! I can't wait to cut this puppy and see if I got better definition between the layers than my first attempt. Oh and I added a cool Halloween topper to mine . . . you'll just have to wait for the cut pics tomorrow muwahahaha!

 

[gigisiguenza]

I guess I'll post my first attempt too. I didn't post this one because I liked the colors of the one I submitted better

 

[afbrat]

I guess I'll post my first attempt too. I didn't post this one because I liked the colors of the one I submitted better
View attachment 17323

I really like those colors! Beautiful soap imho

 

[commoncenz]

Well ... that was ... interesting. I guess I'll be posting attempt #2 as my entry. I finished attempt #3 earlier, and let's say it was an adventure. First, I forgot that my son and I made his second batch of soap on Monday. He won't admit it, but two batches in a week says he's hooked ... Guess I'll be buying supplies for two now.

Anyway, I went to get my masterbatched lye/water and remembered I was out after soaping with my son. So, I had to make my lye/water to do a third attempt. Things got hairy when, working on automatic as if I were using all room temp materials, I started soaping about 1/2 an hour later and my lye/water was still a lil hot. Which, added to my tendency to over SB, meant a very fast trace ... Yes, my batter thickened before my eyes as I was pouring my layers. I struggled to remove my dividers and was left with a tower of colored batter that promptly fell to it's side since I also forgot to add the base to the sides to keep it upright ...

I added the base color and still went ahead with the pass with my hangar and am looking forward to seeing how this monstrosity turns out. But, I doubt there's a feather in there anywhere.

 

[newbie]

That's hilarious! Well, reading it is. I'm sure it wasn't so funny for you but I'm picturing your Sears Tower of colors slumping over, wondering where its buttresses were. Hopefully all the batter was thick enough to hold it's feather in there! You have to post some cut pics, no matter what.

 

[gigisiguenza]

I really like those colors! Beautiful soap imho

Tyvm

 

[jules92207]

Well I won't be entering a soap, my one and only attempt was a flop and I've had some health issues I have been dealing with this month I wasn't expecting so soaping took a bit of a back seat.

For fun though here's my flop - I love the colors but my dividers were too lose and my hanger way too big. Its ok though, it was a fun try...

 

[Misschief]

I really like your colours, Jules.. really cheerful.

 

[jules92207]

I really like your colours, Jules.. really cheerful.

Thanks! I really like them too. The gold color is actually a gold sparkle, it's really pretty and festive. It will be a good holiday soap.

 

[newbie]

Mintle, the 5 attempts were definitely worth it. Your soap is gorgeous.

 

[gigisiguenza]

I'm with newbie, mintle your soap is beautiful

 

[mintle]

Thank you so much!
I also like it . My two previous batches are on the photo - I went with clays as natural colourants but you can see it was not so good.
The other two batches - I am not even willing to share (one is already shredded for the confetti soap).

 

[Saponista]

All that effort paid off, well done mintle

 

[soapswirl]

I don't think i'm going to get another try in this month so sadly no entry for me as i've already posted my failed attempts! Was a good challenge to take part in though i enjoyed it

 

[lionprincess00]

1. Snappyllama (woohoo I'm first)

2. Saponista (really looking forward to this!)

3. Commoncenz (If at first you don't succeed ... you're probably soaping

4. TheDragonGirl (Trying should at least be entertaining)

5. BlackDog (First challenge! Woop!)

6. Rparrny (looking forward to my first!)

7. GalaxyMLP (Ive never done a feather swirl...)

8. osso (...it's been a long week)

9. TwystedPryncess (Oh, Lawd. Just, Oh, Lawd.)

10. dibbles (been on my want to try list for a long time-the time has come)

11. KristaMarie (First challenge and first feather swirl!)

12. doriettefarm (my 2nd feather swirl attempt has to turn out better than the 1st, right?)

13. Newbie (quaking in my shoes as everything's been a bust in the last week.)

14. Green soap (can't believe I am doing this.)

15. skayc1 (I've wanted to try this technique for some time now! Oh and Green Soap & I posted at the same time.)

16. SunWolf (woo hoo, I got an idea...time to build a "tall & skinny" mold)

17. Dillsandwitch (Insert witty line here)

18. traderbren (look out birdies- now my soap can have feathers, too!)

19. KristaY (Yipee! County fair is over so I can soap again! Now to shake off the "feather" nerves....)

20. Kumudini ( finally ordered some regular Palm oil, so can think of making white soap with swirls)

21. Gigi (gonna pour n pray lol)

22. MissChief (I guess I did it wrong the first time... oh well, I'm IN)

23. Mrs. Spaceship (Gonna spread my wings and hope to fly!)

24. mintle (no dividers, no hanger to bend, no very slow moving recipe - scared but I go for it!)

25 JuneP New micas and new Palm oil have arrived and will definitely make time to give this a go in the next day or two.

26. Judiraz ( never tried this, should be fun)

27. TeresaT (This challenge has to turn out better than my last two challenge disasters. Doesn't it? Please!)

28. Jules92207 (So gonna have to McGyver this cause I don't have anything I need to do this as elegantly as Sonya...this should be interesting)

29. Soapswirl (last time I attempted something like this - a hidden Christmas tree - was a disaster! Must try harder this time...)

30.Songwind (Sounds like fun. I wanted to learn this technique anyway, so... )

31. Rowan (terrified, but can't resist)

32. Luv2Soap (Hot damn...count me in!!!)

33. Afbrat (Hope it's not too late to enter)

34. Lionprincess00 (better late than never!)

 

[Saponomancer]

Next time I try this I'm putting my dividers significantly closer together, so I dont get a solid square in the middle

 

[doriettefarm]

I sliced the ends off my entry this morning and so far it looks way better than my first attempt. Soap was still soft so I'm waiting until I get home to slice the rest. I think my flimsy dividers let the feather wander a bit and I could have done a better job pouring equal amounts of batter below and above the feather. But overall I consider this a successful learning experience so I may do another attempt with a discoloring FO this weekend.

And mintle's 5 attempts was totally worth it . . . I love the dark background and color combo!