Today's soap pot is going to be Island Coconut. At first, I was just going to keep this a summer fragrance, but so many people like it that I will keep it going. I sold my last bar yesterday at the Farmers Market!
This past week, I made Lemon and Honey, and White Sage. The White Sage looks beautiful! They both need to be cut. Hopefully, I'll get to that later today.
Pics to follow later.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
How Much Do I Love My Soap Molds !!!
A LOT!!
I can pour at a thin trace, no leaking whatsoever! They are easy to put together. WAY easy to get the soap out!
Here's pics of me removing my latest batch of soap. This is a Lemon and Honey soap, using my Wheat Germ Oil Recipe.
In the two logs
First log ready to unmold
I unscrew the wingnuts and take out the threaded rods
Take away the two end pieces, and flop down the sides on the piano hinges
Lift my 20 inch log of soap unto the cutting board
Peel away the freezer paper and I'm good to go!!
And if anyone is interested in one of these molds, Ray made a couple of extra ones and I have one listed on Etsy
Ray's Soap Mold
I can pour at a thin trace, no leaking whatsoever! They are easy to put together. WAY easy to get the soap out!
Here's pics of me removing my latest batch of soap. This is a Lemon and Honey soap, using my Wheat Germ Oil Recipe.
In the two logs
First log ready to unmold
I unscrew the wingnuts and take out the threaded rods
Take away the two end pieces, and flop down the sides on the piano hinges
Lift my 20 inch log of soap unto the cutting board
Peel away the freezer paper and I'm good to go!!
And if anyone is interested in one of these molds, Ray made a couple of extra ones and I have one listed on Etsy
Ray's Soap Mold
What's New On The Curing Rack ?
Well, there's an Herbal Rosemary
And an Oatmeal and Honey
For both of these soaps, I left an 8 inch log uncut. I am going to try to sell 8inch logs at the farmers market, see if anyone is interested. If not, I can still always cut the logs into bars.
And an Oatmeal and Honey
For both of these soaps, I left an 8 inch log uncut. I am going to try to sell 8inch logs at the farmers market, see if anyone is interested. If not, I can still always cut the logs into bars.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Seaside Lavender
This is a soap that I made and put up for Sailfish Gulf Suites on Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island in Florida. Check out their website, it looks like a great place to spend a week with your toes in the sand !!
These soaps are quarter bars, lavender scented.
Seaside Lavender cigar wrap
Front -
Back -
Wrapped in deli paper -
With a quarter, so you can judge the size better (1 oz ea)
Whole bars
Quarter bars
These soaps are quarter bars, lavender scented.
Seaside Lavender cigar wrap
Front -
Back -
Wrapped in deli paper -
With a quarter, so you can judge the size better (1 oz ea)
Whole bars
Quarter bars
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Photos Around Tucson
Photos by Ray Goodwin
Horses at the Farmers Market
Monsoon rainfall heading towards Gates Pass
Bird in a saguaro
Blossoming cactus
White oleander
Horse and donkey in the Rincons
Our neighborhood at the base of Golden Gate Peak
Horses at the Farmers Market
Monsoon rainfall heading towards Gates Pass
Bird in a saguaro
Blossoming cactus
White oleander
Horse and donkey in the Rincons
Our neighborhood at the base of Golden Gate Peak
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Pumpkin Spice
Today's soap pot is Pumpkin Spice. I used my wheat germ oil recipe, swapping out the grapeseed oil for sweet almond oil. Used Pumpkin Spice fragrance oil from Snowdrift Farms. For the liquid portion, I used 15 oz canned Libby's pumpkin, the rest distilled water. I dissolved my lye in water only, saving out 6 oz to mix the pumpkin with just because the pumpkin is so darn thick. I mixed the pumpkin into the soap mix after adding the lye solution to the oils.
It started out fine, but within a couple of minutes of adding the fragrance, the soap said "Whoa, lady, better get me out of this pot!!". It came to a thick trace really fast, but still allowed me time to get it into the molds and ruffle the tops. Here's a pic or two
Ain't that purty ?? I wish it would stay that pumpkin color, but I think it will turn more brown than orange.
It felt like it was starting to gel even as I was pouring it into the molds. I could feel the heat from it. Once I got it in the molds and stopped playing with it, it wasn't long before it did gel. I'm afraid it's going to ash pretty badly.
Here's a pic of it gelling
It started out fine, but within a couple of minutes of adding the fragrance, the soap said "Whoa, lady, better get me out of this pot!!". It came to a thick trace really fast, but still allowed me time to get it into the molds and ruffle the tops. Here's a pic or two
Ain't that purty ?? I wish it would stay that pumpkin color, but I think it will turn more brown than orange.
It felt like it was starting to gel even as I was pouring it into the molds. I could feel the heat from it. Once I got it in the molds and stopped playing with it, it wasn't long before it did gel. I'm afraid it's going to ash pretty badly.
Here's a pic of it gelling
Let's Play Catch-Up
So to catch up on soapmaking ... Tuesday I made my fragrance free, wheat germ oil recipe. It came out beautifully, but I did not get pics. It's all cut, but waiting to be beveled.
Thursday's soap pot was apple spice. Omygawd, these soaps are gorgeous. I used my shea butter recipe, with a touch of jojoba. The fragrance is Apple Spice from Snowdrift Farms. I used green clay and rose clay for coloring. Here's a pic in the molds
I poured the red holding the bowl up rather high, I was hoping to get something slightly apple shaped by doing so. It looks more like big red drops, or maybe even by squinting my eyes it looks like an apple hanging on a green tree. What do you think ....
They are a little more green in real life then in the photo.
Thursday's soap pot was apple spice. Omygawd, these soaps are gorgeous. I used my shea butter recipe, with a touch of jojoba. The fragrance is Apple Spice from Snowdrift Farms. I used green clay and rose clay for coloring. Here's a pic in the molds
I poured the red holding the bowl up rather high, I was hoping to get something slightly apple shaped by doing so. It looks more like big red drops, or maybe even by squinting my eyes it looks like an apple hanging on a green tree. What do you think ....
They are a little more green in real life then in the photo.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Sunday's Soap Pot
Sunday was a soapmaking day. I made fragrance free rose clay soap. This is a restock, but I changed the recipe just a bit. Instead of my standard olive oil, I used organic extra virgin olive oil, and I swapped out the grapeseed oil for some sweet almond oil.
It behaved very nicely, and right now two beautiful logs are setting on the counter waiting to be cut.
Here's a couple of photos in the mold. It actually started to gell as I was taking pictures. The time lapse from first picture to last one is about 7 or 8 minutes.
Added later in the day ... photos of this soap cut up.
It behaved very nicely, and right now two beautiful logs are setting on the counter waiting to be cut.
Here's a couple of photos in the mold. It actually started to gell as I was taking pictures. The time lapse from first picture to last one is about 7 or 8 minutes.
Added later in the day ... photos of this soap cut up.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Farmers Market Report 8/2
Too darn hot!
We hit our summer average. No jewelry sales, just soap. The biggest seller was Wild Rose, mainly because one gal came in specifically looking for it. She usually gets a rash when using a scented soap, so she was very happy that this one did not give her a rash. She bought the Value Pak (6 bars of soap, plus 2 lip balms for $25.00), all Wild Rose, stocking up because she is moving to Phoenix. I made sure she had my card so she can order from my website once she gets moved.
This week I introduced quarter bars for $1.50, 4 for $5.00. I've had them on my website (4 quarters for $5.00) for a couple of weeks, this is the first week putting them out at the farmers market. People seemed to like them, it gives them a chance to try a few different soaps without spending a lot of $$.
One of the produce vendors had some organic peaches from Willcox. I almost missed them, until I saw someone walking through the barn chomping on one. Hey, I said, there are peaches??? Yum yum, I bought a few.
Ray and I were both exhausted by the time we got home, just from the heat. Plus there were no food vendors there this week, and we didn't bring any sandwiches with us. So we were also starving to death!
We hit our summer average. No jewelry sales, just soap. The biggest seller was Wild Rose, mainly because one gal came in specifically looking for it. She usually gets a rash when using a scented soap, so she was very happy that this one did not give her a rash. She bought the Value Pak (6 bars of soap, plus 2 lip balms for $25.00), all Wild Rose, stocking up because she is moving to Phoenix. I made sure she had my card so she can order from my website once she gets moved.
This week I introduced quarter bars for $1.50, 4 for $5.00. I've had them on my website (4 quarters for $5.00) for a couple of weeks, this is the first week putting them out at the farmers market. People seemed to like them, it gives them a chance to try a few different soaps without spending a lot of $$.
One of the produce vendors had some organic peaches from Willcox. I almost missed them, until I saw someone walking through the barn chomping on one. Hey, I said, there are peaches??? Yum yum, I bought a few.
Ray and I were both exhausted by the time we got home, just from the heat. Plus there were no food vendors there this week, and we didn't bring any sandwiches with us. So we were also starving to death!
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