What soapy thing have you done today?

[Chris_S]

I'll have to try HP pretty soon. I like the unplanned, amalgamated-type look the cut bars seem to have with that process.

Is it necessary to have a separate crock pot for soaping? What is the consensus on this forum about that?

I did buy a tall SS pot at ARC store recently for HP (either planned or emergency HP fix of a CP disaster, should I have one occur), but many people seem to say HP is safer and perhaps more controllable in a crock pot/slow cooker.

You clearly havnt had a fo sieze on you yet using cp lmao that makes hp look tidy.

iv just mixed the lye and measure out the oils and butters for a 3 loaf batch going to try red and white stripes iv got a plan b if it doesnt work in which case its not a soap to represent my club colours it just happens to be red and white

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

Thanks, Meena

Update: I unmolded (after 4 hrs!), because it was looking very hard. Yes, it is soap; no, it is not purple at all. Maybe I'll call it my "military soap".

I'm just curious about (1) why the incredibly fast speed (both in the mixing process and also for unmolding); (2) the color. I have some hypotheses for (1) (too much honey? too much salt? -- eyeballed both -- aloe accelerates? silk accelerates?), but no clue about (2). It also looks a bit like oxidization: when I was cutting and beveling the soap, it was like slicing an oxidized avocado: the freshly beveled parts were almost orange, and then they turned green of course.
Anyway, I'm happier with it now, it is soap after all, it does smell lovely, and maybe green will just remind me that it is an olive soap...
View attachment 35234

very pretty--impressed that you beveled it and love the design. its kinda hard to judge the color--I think it looks grey but am assuming everybodies screen are a bit different

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

Wow, I hadn't seen all 3 stages previously. I wonder how often such extreme color changes occur?

I did a mix of colors and wound up with a deep maroon but woke up the next day to deep purple soap

 

[Meena]

You clearly havnt had a fo sieze on you yet using cp lmao that makes hp look tidy.

iv just mixed the lye and measure out the oils and butters for a 3 loaf batch going to try red and white stripes iv got a plan b if it doesnt work in which case its not a soap to represent my club colours it just happens to be red and white

Nope, have not had seize, ricing, volcano, nada. Also do not use any FO, and so far, my EO choices haven't created any problem. Mine are not from soap sellers, though, they come from 'health food' stores and mostly organic.

Best wishes for your red & white Wigan Warriors rugby team striped soaps!! Sending you stripe mojo energy!! and we want PICTURES, regardless of what happens!

 

[Meena]

very pretty--impressed that you beveled it and love the design. its kinda hard to judge the color--I think it looks grey but am assuming everybodies screen are a bit different

Looks lavender-grey (more grey) to me, also.

 

[MGM]

Made lotion bars today (1/3 each of beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter plus EO) for birthday gift tomorrow. Still can't believe I'm just now discovering these amazingly quick and easy things! Mainly I'm avoiding shoveling the 9" of snow we got....I may have to make a second batch.

Aren't they fantastic? My mother and all her friends like them as a solid lotion for after their aquafit classes. I'm trying to find some nice tins for them, but so far they're fine with the plastic baggies. I avoid coconut oil due to allergies, but find that avocado, olive, apricot kernal, etc are great. And so easy and cheap. Have some (with menthol) on the stove right now!

 

[MGM]

haha - a pro I am not. I have some students that want to learn soap-making, but I am an archaeologist and social scientist by trade. I teach sociology.

Interesting. I'm an instructional designer and *just yesterday* I was assigned SOC 101 to develop. We'll see how much of my decades-old Soc I remember...

 

[Chris_S]

Nope, have not had seize, ricing, volcano, nada. Also do not use any FO, and so far, my EO choices haven't created any problem. Mine are not from soap sellers, though, they come from 'health food' stores and mostly organic.

Best wishes for your red & white Wigan Warriors rugby team striped soaps!! Sending you stripe mojo energy!! and we want PICTURES, regardless of what happens!

Well finished now and didnt go as i was hoping i mixed the batter to medium because i wanted it to be thicker so it didnt flow into the layer below but ******* here forgot the fo i wanted to use slightly acc the trace so would of been better sb slightly less than i did. they went pretty well for a first try at stripes but afterwards it occured to me that it would of been much more uniform to use my ladel and then spatula methid to make the layers that way they would of been more even. Oh well they are done and tucked up in bed now. got more of the cavity bars than i expected got 2 loaf molds too not wrapped the bars because it was at thick trace by time i got to them so doubt they will take long to set anyways.

 

[steffamarie]

Ordered a bunch of FO samples from Nurture because I am out of CONTROL!!! This is ridiculous...14 new FOs on the way plus a 1lb square mold for me to try them out in. Help me! I need FO therapy XD

 

[Chris_S]

Ordered a bunch of FO samples from Nurture because I am out of CONTROL!!! This is ridiculous...14 new FOs on the way plus a 1lb square mold for me to try them out in. Help me! I need FO therapy XD

Lmao Theres a massive waiting list me thinks saying that im running down my stash have far too many already. Nearly finished one my faves so debating ordering more defo best scent that stays in the soaps alot have felt kinda disguised by the soap itself but this is very potent even after unmolding. Do you have bakewell tart in america? also known as cherry bakewell?

 

[MGM]

After two weeks cure they turned BLUE! Who knows what's going to happen eh?
Here's the photo evidence ( note soda ash @Marilyn Norgart):
View attachment 35236 View attachment 35237 View attachment 35238

These are GREAT! I have the same mold, and it is currently holding some bath bombs which were *supposed* to be two-tone winter rose and black amethyst. The black amethyst mica made it look just like wet cement....we'll see after unmolding how that looks with winter rose....or maybe mine will turn a lovely colour like yours did (I know, they're a completely different beast, but...same mold??)

 

[Meena]

Ordered "Scientific Soapmaking" - Kevin Dunn's book. Was about to purchase on Amazon, then called my favorite local (non-chain) bookstore and asked them to order it since they didn't stock it ... so yeah -- did the "shop local" thing.
I mentioned "giving you the money, instead of Amazon" and they thanked me profusely.

Have almost pulled the trigger 5 times since yesterday on making more soap, but struggling to get my motivation together for anything beyond the 4 Letter Game. Feeling kind of blah and a bit down ... Been out of the game for around 2 weeks. Don't remember the last time that I even left the house. I think it was the doctor visit on the 15th.

 

[Chris_S]

Ordered "Scientific Soapmaking" - Kevin Dunn's book. Was about to purchase on Amazon, then called my favorite local (non-chain) bookstore and asked them to order it since they didn't stock it ... so yeah -- did the "shop local" thing.
I mentioned "giving you the money, instead of Amazon" and they thanked me profusely.

Have almost pulled the trigger 5 times since yesterday on making more soap, but struggling to get my motivation together for anything beyond the 4 Letter Game. Feeling kind of blah and a bit down ... Been out of the game for around 2 weeks. Don't remember the last time that I even left the house. I think it was the doctor visit on the 15th.

@Meena feel free to message me if you need to rant or talk about anything chances are iv felt like that or similar pretty recently although very likely for a different reason. please bear in mind i am in england and its nearly 2am though not that am tired yet although iv yet to take my meds which do make me sleepy. please dont suffer in silence

 

[Zing]

procrastination at its best. i do however feel your pain iv been out today but yesterday i spent the day just feeling sorry for myself. i wasnt fit for the outside world with the mood i was in yesterday and i risked bumping into people iv made very clear i want nothing to do with and would happily put in hospital should i ever have to come face to face with them again so was for everyones good that i stayed a hermit yesterday

Yikeskers, you're scaring me, Dude! I think you need to go to your happy place....

 

[Meena]

@Meena feel free to message me if you need to rant or talk about anything chances are iv felt like that or similar pretty recently although very likely for a different reason. please bear in mind i am in england and its nearly 2am though not that am tired yet although iv yet to take my meds which do make me sleepy. please dont suffer in silence

That is SO sweet of you, Chris!! Thank you!!! I'm not here alone -- my partner is in the house with me. I'm just still having a bit of problem from the concussion. You have yourself a good sleep tonight, and no worries about me!

 

[Chris_S]

Yikeskers, you're scaring me, Dude! I think you need to go to your happy place....

Oh believe me if you knew what iv had to deal with and the bs thats been done and said to me you would understand why i feel like that. I feel better today and i'll be fine iv got a cat here purring for a fuss from me think hes appologising for making such a racket earlier when i finished soaping and let them back inside. Its more that i just know when its a bad idea to go outside at certain times when im in that kinda mood and theres a higher risk of bumping into someone i wish to avoid. Oh and believe it or not im really not a violent person or even particually angry either

 

[Chris_S]

That is SO sweet of you, Chris!! Thank you!!! I'm not here alone -- my partner is in the house with me. I'm just still having a bit of problem from the concussion. You have yourself a good sleep tonight, and no worries about me!

Oh good make sure you talk it out if you need to i learnt the hard way that bottling it up doesnt help. I am getting cat cuddles on my sofa from the fatty cat so might end up falling asleep with him on the sofa again tonight hes literally forcing cuddles from me lmao.

 

[KiwiMoose]

I'm hoping I can get to Step Two tomorrow.

I'm done! It's taken me the best part of the day, but my challenge entry is ready. Will take some pics later as the evening cools off a bit and the light is better. Then I have to wait to post them of course, once the challenge entries are open.
Exciting!

 

[Meena]

Oh good make sure you talk it out if you need to i learnt the hard way that bottling it up doesnt help. I am getting cat cuddles on my sofa from the fatty cat so might end up falling asleep with him on the sofa again tonight hes literally forcing cuddles from me lmao.

Beautiful animal, he is!!

 

[Chris_S]

Beautiful animal, he is!!

He is and we have gone through alot together and hes always been there for me a simple pick up cuddle and chin tickle gets him purring in my ear he is a bit of a fatty though sure he gets fed somewhere else his brother is like a stick in comparision but doesnt get fed anymore than Tyson does