What soapy thing have you done today?

[Servant4Christ]

So when are you opening your own mica shop? Lol..
Your lucky you have so many sources to source from! By the way I like your shelfs! I have a large cabinet from ceiling to floor and I'm working on making a list to remember which shelf has what item. Yours looks more organized and assemble!

I'm assuming you didn't actually mean to quote me. I've not used mica yet, just natural colorants and oil infusions.

 

[Susan Cote]

@Susan Cote I need to have almost everything to be in sight because otherwise I end up tearing through cabinets and boxes looking for what I want. And then, just possibly, I don’t put everything back neatly…

@ackosel You can mix oxides and ultramarines on anything you have that has a smooth surface. A flat plate would work but you don’t want to use a plate that you use for food. A piece of hardish plastic should work, e.g. from a plastic milk carton or a flexible cutting board.

Yes, that is what happens exactly!

 

[Susan Cote]

I'm assuming you didn't actually mean to quote me. I've not used mica yet, just natural colorants and oil infusions.

You assumed correct my bad!

 

[dmcgee5034]

I’m in the midst of spring cleaning my soap room, which is a big job because I’m not a neat person by nature. The most successful effort so far involved simple 90 deg rotations of the bins that contain my colorants. Freeing up the counter and wall space was the hardest part. Can you tell that I’ve been trying to pare down the number of mica colors I keep in stock .

View attachment 81423

I love the color cubbies, @Mobjack Bay

 

[Tammyfarms]

I bought a sample pack of colorants a while back that I thought were micas, but they came labeled as oxides. I have a pallet knife, but no piece of glass to mix them on. Do you think I could use a corelleware dinner plate instead?
Also, can oxides be mixed the day before, or are they best mixed right before using?

I had the same problem, no glass. One mica I have likes to clump and I wanted you to use it so I used the bottom of a glass storage container. It worked great, yes, I think any glass dish that is fairly flat will work.

ETA: good point @Mobjack Bay about not using something that will be used for food.

 

[Ladka]

What soapy thing have I done today --- am I doing today? Happily stirring batter for a smallish batch. Want to test my latest acquisition, a silicon mould with six stone cavities.
My broken left hand is healing well so that I started with minor chores in the garden. It still aches and I can not yet drive the car

 

[ackosel]

What soapy thing have I done today --- am I doing today? Happily stirring batter for a smallish batch. Want to test my latest acquisition, a silicon mould with six stone cavities.
My broken left hand is healing well so that I started with minor chores in the garden. It still aches and I can not yet drive the car

I'm sorry your hand is still aching. It can be so hard to have to give up something you love, even if it is temporary. Glad that batch of soap is in progress for you! Today was my last chance to make a SMF challenge fruit soap before our baby is born next week, but my body said no way!

 

[AliOop]

What soapy thing have I done today --- am I doing today? Happily stirring batter for a smallish batch. Want to test my latest acquisition, a silicon mould with six stone cavities.
My broken left hand is healing well so that I started with minor chores in the garden. It still aches and I can not yet drive the car

I'm sorry to hear about your broken hand, but very glad that it is healing well enough for you to make some soap!

 

[Mobjack Bay]

My broken left hand is healing well so that I started with minor chores in the garden. It still aches and I can not yet drive the car

I had no idea that you broke your hand. I’m sure that has been painful and a major inconvenience in many ways. It’s great to hear that it’s healing, and just in time for gardening

Today was my last chance to make a SMF challenge fruit soap before our baby is born next week, but my body said no way!

Better to rest up for the big day!

 

[Sudds]

This project was an excrement show from the beginning! The fragrance (brambleberry lilac) made the batter suddenly seize, and turned the navy blue to more gray. It was soft for 3 days...I think I salvaged all but the end bits. What a pain
View attachment 81397

 

[Sudds]

It might have been a pain in the posterior but the end result looks pretty fine to me!

 

[Vicki C]

I’m in the midst of spring cleaning my soap room, which is a big job because I’m not a neat person by nature. The most successful effort so far involved simple 90 deg rotations of the bins that contain my colorants. Freeing up the counter and wall space was the hardest part. Can you tell that I’ve been trying to pare down the number of mica colors I keep in stock .

View attachment 81423

I also made a batch of 100% CO kitchen soap to put in the ramekins I bought about two years ago.

View attachment 81424

You are rich in micas!
Your dish soap looks just like mine. I make mine w 95% coconut, 5% castor. Scented w peppermint and litsea.

I bought a sample pack of colorants a while back that I thought were micas, but they came labeled as oxides. I have a pallet knife, but no piece of glass to mix them on. Do you think I could use a corelleware dinner plate instead?
Also, can oxides be mixed the day before, or are they best mixed right before using?

I think you can mix oxides ahead of time - if you put them into something and cover it. I recommend a cheap dollar store cutting board if you don’t have glass, as long as it’s smooth on one side. If you are using a pallet knife it is tricky to smush the oxides if you can’t get your hand low enough, I.e. if you’re trying to mix them in a container with edges. This probably doesn’t make sense, but once you try it you’ll see what I mean.

 

[VikingChick]

I’m flying home from Idaho Falls today and saw the cutest potato soap! I had to take a picture. It actually contains potato flakes! If the person who made this happens to be in this group, then I say, “Well done, sir!”
View attachment 81448
(For those outside of the US, Idaho is one of our states and they are very well known for growing potatoes )

 

[ackosel]

You are rich in micas!
Your dish soap looks just like mine. I make mine w 95% coconut, 5% castor. Scented w peppermint and litsea.

I think you can mix oxides ahead of time - if you put them into something and cover it. I recommend a cheap dollar store cutting board if you don’t have glass, as long as it’s smooth on one side. If you are using a pallet knife it is tricky to smush the oxides if you can’t get your hand low enough, I.e. if you’re trying to mix them in a container with edges. This probably doesn’t make sense, but once you try it you’ll see what I mean.

I understand what you mean. I'll eventually find something to use. Thank you for your help!

 

[Misschief]

I’m flying home from Idaho Falls today and saw the cutest potato soap! I had to take a picture. It actually contains potato flakes! If the person who made this happens to be in this group, then I say, “Well done, sir!”
View attachment 81448
(For those outside of the US, Idaho is one of our states and they are very well known for growing potatoes )

Attachment not found.

 

[Ladka]

I had no idea that you broke your hand. I’m sure that has been painful and a major inconvenience in many ways. It’s great to hear that it’s healing, and just in time for gardening ...

I broke it 1 February, I reported it on my gardening forum (in Slovenia) and also said I was doomed (hope this is the right word) for six to eight weeks. A member immediately calculated it would be just on time to start work in the garden

 

[Motocrossbabe]

I had the same problem, no glass. One mica I have likes to clump and I wanted you to use it so I used the bottom of a glass storage container. It worked great, yes, I think any glass dish that is fairly flat will work.

ETA: good point @Mobjack Bay about not using something that will be used for food.

Try using rubbing alcohol when mixing colors it evaporates and mixes colors so no clumping

 

[Mobjack Bay]

Try using rubbing alcohol when mixing colors it evaporates and mixes colors so no clumping

We don’t use alcohol when mixing colors for cold process soap.

 

[VikingChick]

Attachment not found.

Dangit. Let’s try again (I can’t seem to embed images anymore with my phone)

 

[bookworm42]

As a person from Idaho and has lost a tug of war over a pit of mashed potatoes (my hometown has a big spud day festival and that was an activity).
This would be interesting to try. Potato tends to leave a filmy slimy residue on the skin and I wonder how or if it would be changed in saponification.

Edit to add: he mentions a 2 week vacation in the description. That it a legit thing. We'd get 2 weeks off school to harvest potatoes. Most of my school were farmers so if they didn't give it off you'd have an empty school. My family weren't farmers so we'd use that time to go camping.