Goatmeal & Honey

Ok, Ok, I know....bring on the feta cheese :) But I couldn't resist!

For this recipe I used my perfect combo base recipe below with 4lbs of oils. I added 4 tablespoons of powdered goat's milk, 1/4 cup of baby oatmeal, and 2 tablespoons of honey at trace. When molding this recipe, do not cover it with towels, as the honey is quite warming (you don't want it to climb out of the mold). Just use the saran wrap to prevent soda ash, but no towels or blankets. These bars are healing and great for sensitive skin types. Enjoy!

The Milky Way

I have been reading about the benefits of using milk in soap, and I have decided to start a line of milk-based bars. Coconut milk gives a great lather, and goat's milk provides great nourishment for the skin. To use milk in soap, sprinkle the milk powder at trace, or substitute the milk for the water. In order to prevent curdled milk due to the heat in the lye, the milk should be half frozen into a slurry. I am tempted to move to the country and buy a goat and a cow, but that will have to wait a few years!

Scent Sense

My nose knows a good scent when it smells one but until recently I never knew what went into the formulary. Because I've been experimenting lately with scent blending, I've done a lot of reading and have learned about top notes, middle notes, and base notes. I came up with a new essential oil blend that has gotten rave reviews from family, friends, coworkers, and people at my church. Feel free to use any base recipe and add the scent at the end, but for all intents and purposes I'm providing the entire recipe I used:

Lavender Sunrise

14.4 oz coconut oil
14.4 oz olive oil
7.2 oz palm oil
7.2 oz palm kernel oil
4.8 oz avocado oil
18 oz water
7.48 oz lye

Follow basic soapmaking instructions, taking all proper safety precautions. At trace, add 2 tablespoons of castor oil and 2 tablespoons of sweet almond oil. Incorporate completely, then add 1.5 tablespoons lavender essential oil, 2 tablespoons orange essential oil, and .5 teaspoon patchouli essential oil. Pour into molds and let set 24-48 hours. Unmold and cut to desired size. Let dry and cure 4-6 weeks. Enjoy!

Soapmaking Safety

We all cut corners. Let's face it, for most of us, modern life is rather hectic! Well, I cut a corner recently in a no-no area and here both to tell on myself so that I won't do it again and also to reinforce the importance of safety when working with caustics. You just can't make real soap without lye - and I'm not talking about the melt and pour method because I don't consider that true soaping - sorry. I recently missed a very important step and got lye burns up and down my arms and a lye splash in my eye. Luckily for me, the splash in the eye was protected by a contact lens, but nonethless it was a nearly avoided catastrophe! Goggles, long sleeves, and gloves are a must! Yes, it can get very hot and the extra layers can be bothersome, and after about 10 batches you may feel you've reached the point where you don't need protection because you are now an expert....but please please please do carefully consider the possible consequences and remember to exercise extreme caution when working with lye. Thank you.

My Perfect Combo

After years of research, trial and error, and tweaking, I have finally found a recipe that meets my high standards. I learned a lot along the way about properties of oils and how they come together for that "perfect blend." I prefer a rich, abundant lather that is fluffier than it is creamy, and a bar that is both natural and nutritive. Here is my combo:

10% avocado oil - rich in vitamins, moisturizes and heals the skin
30% coconut oil - hard bar with abundant lather
15% palm kernel oil - hard bar, fluffy lather
15% palm oil - hard bar, stable lather, speeds trace
30% olive oil - moisturizing, conditioning

Superfat at trace with 1/2 tablespoon of castor oil and 1/2 tablespoon of almond oil per pound of oils.

Craft Fairs

Pros: Meeting other local crafters. Networking. Face time with customers. Getting business cards distributed. Creating your personal display table. Visiting the display tables of others.

Cons: Vendor fees. Spending your profits at said craft fair out of sheer helplessness. So many hands and noses all over your soap. Finding your business cards littering the parking lot. Discovering a typo on your business card. Realizing that your audience was not what you thought it would be.

We don't live in a perfect world. But I will keep going to craft fairs. Some might think I'm insane. They're probably right. You have to be a little nuts to do this anyway, right? What's life without a little folly?

School of Homesteading

Today I've been musing about what it would be like to go to a school where things like soapmaking were taught as basic essentials. I asked my Google friend and found out that there are indeed such places! Now I know where my next vacation will be :)