SMF Soapmaking Challenge November: Drop and Skewer
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kchaystack
Supporting Member
so my first try is under its covers. Was far busier this weekend than I thought. Might have to try again tomorrow after work.
Second try now finished. I used EO's this time, so the batter didn't accelerate. I didn't even stick blend too much, which is a rarity for me! The batter was poured at light trace and it stayed that way which is really bizarre. It's so strange, I have no idea what to expect when it's cut as my batter usually thickens up on me!! As we say in good old Blighty (UK), 'fingers crossed'.
MrsSpaceship
Well-Known Member
Made my first attempt, I think it may be more of a "dribble, plop, chop-swirl". I could have sworn that I had skewers, but when I went to grab one (once I'd mixed everything of course) nary a one was to be found. So... will a thin chopstick count??
Here is a picture of my first three batchlets from a week ago -- these are my "good try, but not good enough" soaps.
Left is an ITP swirl with a pale ultramarine blue. One drop swirl color is a deeper ultramarine blue and the yellow is from a bit of annatto infused oil. I like how the ITP swirl helps to bring the drop swirl pattern into the lower part of the bar. The FO I used (Bamboo and White Grapefruit from Natures Garden) smells nice in the soap, but it caused some of the bars to develop a rind of pale pink. Not sure why that happened, but, hey, whatever.
Middle is plain batter with a drop swirl of Hershey's special dark cocoa for one color and pink clay for the second. As you can see on the front bar, the swirl didn't go deep enough because I didn't pour from enough height. I think this one would be prettier if I had used a little less cocoa, a little more pink clay, and got the pattern a little deeper into the middle of the bar. I like how the generous amount of plain soap on the bottom sets off the deep colors of the swirl. The scent is Fresh Cut Roses by NG. This FO accelerates a bit, but doesn't discolor.
Right is plain batter with a drop swirl of ultramarine blue, ultramarine green, and gold mica. The mica turned an interesting coral-gold color -- maybe a little overkill on the amount of mica. I wanted the blue and green to remain light and "minty" colored. The swirl pattern is more wispy than the other two. I like that and I like how the base of the plain soap sets off the colors. I wanted the swirl to go deeper, however. The scent is an EO blend of lavender, rosemary, and Japanese mint.
If anyone has any critiques or tips to offer, I would be grateful for the help!
Left is an ITP swirl with a pale ultramarine blue. One drop swirl color is a deeper ultramarine blue and the yellow is from a bit of annatto infused oil. I like how the ITP swirl helps to bring the drop swirl pattern into the lower part of the bar. The FO I used (Bamboo and White Grapefruit from Natures Garden) smells nice in the soap, but it caused some of the bars to develop a rind of pale pink. Not sure why that happened, but, hey, whatever.
Middle is plain batter with a drop swirl of Hershey's special dark cocoa for one color and pink clay for the second. As you can see on the front bar, the swirl didn't go deep enough because I didn't pour from enough height. I think this one would be prettier if I had used a little less cocoa, a little more pink clay, and got the pattern a little deeper into the middle of the bar. I like how the generous amount of plain soap on the bottom sets off the deep colors of the swirl. The scent is Fresh Cut Roses by NG. This FO accelerates a bit, but doesn't discolor.
Right is plain batter with a drop swirl of ultramarine blue, ultramarine green, and gold mica. The mica turned an interesting coral-gold color -- maybe a little overkill on the amount of mica. I wanted the blue and green to remain light and "minty" colored. The swirl pattern is more wispy than the other two. I like that and I like how the base of the plain soap sets off the colors. I wanted the swirl to go deeper, however. The scent is an EO blend of lavender, rosemary, and Japanese mint.
If anyone has any critiques or tips to offer, I would be grateful for the help!
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gigisiguenza
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I finally cut my first attempt and holy Molly I think I love this technique! I like the look and the way the colors are thick enough to create nice thick swirls just from the drop pour, and the skewer adds these lovely delicately thin swirls. I definitely should have mixed the kaolin white clay with some water first because it didn't fully disperse in the batter, creating little tiny white spots here and there, but otherwise the colors came out good.
Love this technique
pics to follow of course LOL
Love this technique
pics to follow of course LOL
coffeetime
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Ok the deadline for submissions is tomorrow right? Can it be before end of day? I've had a crazy week and a big show today, so I haven't made mine yet. But if I make it first thing, I should be able to cut it tonight (CPOP).
I thought about trying some micas I was given at the soap conference. Do micas quicken trace? Should I mix them straight into the batter or pre-mix them with something? I've never used micas before, help! I might be able to search for the answers after I get my LO into bed. Bedtime!
I thought about trying some micas I was given at the soap conference. Do micas quicken trace? Should I mix them straight into the batter or pre-mix them with something? I've never used micas before, help! I might be able to search for the answers after I get my LO into bed. Bedtime!
gigisiguenza
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I didn't see an official entry thread, so I don't think the deadline is close yet
The rules (Post 1) say:
-Opening thread for your entry 11/16/15
-Close date 11/23/15
So you have till the 23rd to get your entry posted for the challenge.
-Opening thread for your entry 11/16/15
-Close date 11/23/15
So you have till the 23rd to get your entry posted for the challenge.
coffeetime
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Oh thanks DeeAnna, I forgot that was there.
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Coffee, you can premix micas in a bit of oil, a bit of glycerin, or some will mix into a bit of water. It's is easier to get them blended into the batter if they are pre-mixed in something. There are some that seem to hasten trace- ones with brown oxide or chromium green oxide in them tend to thicken. TD also tends to thicken batter. IT also depends on how much you use. If you can list what you have, people might be able to tell you which ones they've had any troubles with.
Gigi, I like how you got the effect of a half white, half black bar. It's really cool! DeeAnna, could you post a pic of your interior bars? The end bars don't have the same amount of drop as the middle ones. I really like the colors in your cocoa and rose clay ones but I can only see bits of the tops. I am unable to offer any tips as I struggle with this myself, but I do love to look at people's soaps.
Gigi, I like how you got the effect of a half white, half black bar. It's really cool! DeeAnna, could you post a pic of your interior bars? The end bars don't have the same amount of drop as the middle ones. I really like the colors in your cocoa and rose clay ones but I can only see bits of the tops. I am unable to offer any tips as I struggle with this myself, but I do love to look at people's soaps.
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gigisiguenza
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Newbie TY. I really like it too, and it was easy to make. You just pour your black and white on opposite sides of the log mold at the same time, in the same direction, at the same place. You'll get a fairly even split of black and white without having to use a divider.
Okay you guys, you asked. Flop drop and swear numbers 1 and 2; the first with an eye/EO dropper, the second with a standard skewer. I clutch my third in desperate secrecy for now, uncertain I'm brave enough for a fourth!
Oh, P.S. The blue-gray and black (2nd soap) was my Haida attempt. I knew I couldn't pull it off but it was something to try for
Oh, P.S. The blue-gray and black (2nd soap) was my Haida attempt. I knew I couldn't pull it off but it was something to try for
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What the heck happened in number 1? It's kind of angular; I can't quite figure out how you did it! It looks a little like a bird, kind of. Now I have to go look up Haida because I don't know what that is, that you were trying for.
gigisiguenza
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I'm curious too. I know Haida is a style of tribal art, but ive never heard it in relation to soap, and I'm curious what the original inspiration art was
Deedles
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Whew....scared me there! I just got my aloe juice today so plan another try on Tuesday.
I did the most AMAZING drop swirl. I'll never do another one so awesome. I used the infused OO colorants from my experiment. The turmeric made a beautiful vibrant orange. The alkanet root made a rich purple and the annato made an eggplant-ish color. (Might gave those two backward, though.) I also used plain batter as part of my pattern. Alas, I ended up with a muddy brown mess when I did the skewer swirl. I swirled too much and everything blended into a mass of coffee colored lemon verbena. I'll unmold tonight or tomorrow and cut a few days later. I'm going to try one more time using micas instead of natural colorants. However, I think I'm going to do a mulberry batch with the ankanet (or annato, whichever it is).
ETA: I just cut it and it looks much better than I thought it would. I'm not sure if I can get a good photo of it since I only have my phone and not a real camera. I'm excited, though; if I had used micas or oxides, it would look fantastic.
ETA: I just cut it and it looks much better than I thought it would. I'm not sure if I can get a good photo of it since I only have my phone and not a real camera. I'm excited, though; if I had used micas or oxides, it would look fantastic.
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The official thread for entries had opened and will close midnight CST the 23rd.
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Love your tops, cenz, and the pink and black combo is very pretty.
Songwind, you got such cool definition in the wispy parts of the swirls! Almost looks a bit like the high/low water outlining you get with different water content.
Songwind, you got such cool definition in the wispy parts of the swirls! Almost looks a bit like the high/low water outlining you get with different water content.
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