Spin swirls

[kchaystack]

I would prefer set rules myself. This is my first time around and I had fun with the soap. I am not doing next month - it looks like cupcake soaps and I am just not into those at all. I can't pipe to save myself.

I don't have much hope of winning, not against the people from here that are in, but it is nice to get my name out in the community and show I at least know what I am doing.

 

[Luv2Soap]

I would prefer set rules myself. This is my first time around and I had fun with the soap. I am not doing next month - it looks like cupcake soaps and I am just not into those at all. I can't pipe to save myself.

I don't have much hope of winning, not against the people from here that are in, but it is nice to get my name out in the community and show I at least know what I am doing.

I totally agree with you! I'm signed up for the next two challenges because I am a newbie and I want to learn as much as possible. But, that being said I cannot pipe to save my life!

 

[not_ally]

I don't like cupcake soaps, or soaps that smell too much like food (eg, bakery scents.) It is kind of interesting how much we all differ on these things. But a really luscious creamy looking soap makes me want to take a bite out of it, so go figure.

 

[soapswirl]

Yes it would be great to match up entries with people here! Mine is number 7 in the international section. First time I've entered and it's been a great learning experience. For me the horizontal cut is where the beauty of this technique is so I don't understand why people wouldn't do this!

 

[Dorymae]

Yes I really think she needs to have "Rules" and then "suggestions" that way people would know what they would have to do and also have some ideas as to what they could do.

Honestly the way it is written very little is actually required. I would only consider those things that are written as "you must" as being actual requirements. Everything else seems to fall under guideline.

 

[kchaystack]

I think I am the only guy in contest. So I am pretty easy to guess. I am #39 in the US link.

 

[Luv2Soap]

Yes it would be great to match up entries with people here! Mine is number 7 in the international section. First time I've entered and it's been a great learning experience. For me the horizontal cut is where the beauty of this technique is so I don't understand why people wouldn't do this!

I love your swirls! Especially the one in the lower left-hand corner… Looks like a heart… So adorable!!!

 

[Luv2Soap]

I think I am the only guy in contest. So I am pretty easy to guess. I am #39 in the US link.

Amazing colors! You really did a great job! I never would've guessed that a guy did this for looking at it.

 

[lionprincess00]

So I went and measured my soaps. They are a tenth of an inch to two tenths below 1.5" total height. My interpretation of this
3. Pour the soap double thick in the mold so you can cut it horizontally to reveal the pattern inside.

Was meant to say pour enough to make the horizontal cuts...in essence you needed to cut each bar through the center to reveal the middle.
If I pour my mold 3/4 full each go round, Then how do you double that kinda batch? So I interpreted what she meant, possibly different, than it was intended. Maybe she did mean a full to the brim mold, ie full bars 1" thick, but it honestly wasn't clarified enough for me to fully understand. I should've asked, now in hindsight. Maybe I'm disqualified for having less than 1.5" in my mold and smaller bars, and that's cool...lesson learned either way I am sure I need to ask ask ask and clarify rules in the future if I am finding myself "self interpreting" and not fully sure on what it is meaning.

The statement it MUST be in a slab mold is plain as day, but then it got grey for me with double thick. And calling them guidelines does leave it to personal interpretation and I think RULES in big bold would better clarify and aid in people not breaking them. Then making everyone c and p the rules to their post would better help, but that's pushing the limits of her enforcement of rules.
That aside, I LOVE everyone's soaps! And dorymae, yours posted fine! Embarrassed over the mess eh lol? I wish I had the luxury of being carefree and messy with soaping, but I have too many little kids running around. Makes for nervous fast soaping sessions!

 

[newbie]

I sent a long email to Amy about this issue with rule breaking and allowing entries that are clearly outside the rules as well as giving a prize for a technique to someone who didn't even do the technique, leaving beautiful perfectly done entries in the dust. I laid it on the line and was worried I came across as a quite witchy, but she asked if she could call me today to talk about it. I told her I was not the only person who felt like the rules should be upheld, so I will be happy to hear her side and talk about how it feels as an entrant to see things so slippery. I hope other people who are unhappy about some of this will email her as well. IT would be good for her to know that a number of people would like things run differently. It would have more impact.

She did say that she sent emails to people who did not cut horizontally, but if they are disqualified or what that means is still a mystery.

 

[Saponista]

I think everyone has done really well with the swirl. Lots of beautiful colour combinations. I love that we have such a nice group of people chatting and entering the competitions on SMF.

 

[Saponista]

I posted before I read your post newbie. I am shattered today, but when I feel better tomorrow I will try and formulate an email which is as non-witchy as possible explaining the way I also felt about the competition and perhaps suggesting ways I think the fairness could be improved. I know the 'rules' are only stated to be guidelines, but if people choose not to follow them and end up with a better soap because of that then I think it is unfair that they are allowed to win a prize compared to people who have rigidly followed the guidelines.

 

[Sonya-m]

I was really worried about coming across witchy too but I went down the track that she specifically told someone they must post pics of the horizontal cuts and it's not fair for them

If you do speak to her make sure she knows I just want it to be fair

 

[newbie]

Please do contact her, Saponista. SHe needs to know how people are feeling about this and she needs to know how many people are upset or frustrated and about what specifically.

I talked with her and first, you should know that she disqualified the international person who did not cut on the horizontal. If they can re-cut the soap and re-post, she would allow that. THe person with the rocks did cut on the horizontal, then chunked up the soap and rinsed it to get the rounded edges. That's allowed to stay. She said a double pour was a rule and I said I thought a couple of the entrants did not pour doubles but she is not going to pursue that at all. Spinning a double pour is different than spinning a single pour and the soap also lays differently in the mold when there is more of it. I would have a tried a couple other things if we could have done a single. I pointed out a single is then against the rules but she made no further comment on it. I feel certain she will not DQ anyone who poured a single.

I told her people want the rules set and for people to follow the rules so it's fair. SHe contacted the people in the landscape challenge who put man-made items in there and she said the general response was "Oh duh. I forgot you couldn't." or they didn't read the rules thoroughly. My point was, that is too bad but if you forget or didn't read the rules, that means you broke them and your soap should be shifted to a "look only" category. I'm not certain why she contacted them but then let them go ahead. I also pointed out that a tangible prize went to someone who made a swirl that has a name already and that name is not DNA swirl. She said NAture's Garden picked it for the sponsor's choice and it was already in the line-up. I'm not entirely certain she heard me say that the soaps that break the rules should not be IN the line-up or she could have spoken to NG about it.

Anyhow, she said she would be making the rules clearer. She did DQ someone this time, albeit reluctantly. I said a number of times that people just want the rules followed so it's fair and if someone doesn't follow them, their soap should be put in another category. I don't know what will happen.

I really hope people who have an opinion will contact her. If she hears opinions from a number of participants, she is far more likely to change how she does things.

 

[Luv2Soap]

I am really impressed with you guys because I cannot tell which ones were cut which away. How do you guys know? Is there a certain pattern that you're not seeing which told you it was cut the wrong way?

 

[not_ally]

I'm a long way from entering any kind of competitition, but it seems like it might be a good thing for her to see this thread? I think sometimes soapy collectives/challenges start out on a pretty ad hoc basis and then go along from there. She might not realize what an issue this is for people who are investing time and energy. Just guessing though. Heck, if you guys want me to, I will forward the thread, I am not worried about winning any challenges

 

[newbie]

It would be far better for people to contact her to explain their positions than for her to read a thread with people just complaining to each other. Emails to her are more direct and inviting and will be taken more seriously that reading a thread that will feel like it's going on kind of behind her back .Direct approach is always best.

Some people who have commented here may not necessarily want what they said here to be presented to her in that way.

 

[Saponista]

I think I would rather send her a well worded polite email than for her to see my rant! I think I might be on the verge of being in the single pour camp with my soap batter as I only just had just about two inches of batter in my mould. Then I had to plane my soaps a bit to get them square as I stupidly cut them not square with a knife first, so I apologise if anyone feels like my entry should be in the disqualification camp!

 

[newbie]

Let's just hope future challenges are clearer about the rules. She left me a voice mail saying that the double pour wasn't really necessary; she just wanted people to be able to cut horizontally to show the insides. She prior sent me an email saying the horizontal cut was merely a suggestion. If I had known I didn't have to pour a double, I would have done a few things differently. This month the rules feel like a moving target. It is a rule, then she didn't really mean it, it's a suggestion, then it's that you have to do it. Whatever.

I think if I participate again, it will not be without absolute concrete clarification on what we are supposed to do and not. What is a rule, what is a suggestion. Right now, it's the pirate code.

 

[Luv2Soap]

I think that double pour is relative to what your typical bar size is. I'm a real newbie and from what I've seen, many bars I've seen are around 1" thick. So, my double pour was 2" - 2 1/2" in my 6x6 mold. Just my 2 cents