| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alee |
Posted - Dec 11 2008 : 9:17:48 PM
I love it! It is so much fun! Seriously- if I could just make soap all day every day- I would! I love watching the oils change at the addition of the lye. I love how they change even further as you get closer to trace...and I especially love all the fun things you can do with it after trace. Colors, scents, marbling, different molds and ways to process the soap. Milling- rebatching learning more each time you make it!
Speaking of which- I have my Kitchen-Aid doing all the muscle work for me while I type this so I had better go check to see if trace has been reached yet!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| lara916 |
Posted - Dec 30 2008 : 10:42:10 AM
Today was my first day making soap. I see why you love it, it could become addicting!! 
*Lara* Farmgirl Sister #327 |
| farmmom22 |
Posted - Dec 22 2008 : 2:01:59 PM
Thanks Alee! You're the best! 
Best farm wishes |
| ThePixiesPlayhouse |
Posted - Dec 22 2008 : 1:54:32 PM
I love making soap. It's like my zen time to myself......LOL. I only soap when my daughter is gone, and it's quiet in the house.
I was scared to death my first time making it.........but once I got over the first batch, it's super easy.
Just remember to wear eye protection, gloves, long sleeves, and shoes......and you should be good. |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Dec 19 2008 : 12:49:30 AM
My scale is a digital postal scale. Much more accurate for me to read. My dream scale is an Escali - about $50. My daughter has one and I borrow hers - it is so accurate. If you're going to spend money anywhere I recommend spending it on a good scale. If your measurements aren't right then your soap will not turn out right.
The stick blender will be your best friend! I want a Cuisinart because they are more heavy duty but the one I have now works great. I think it's an Oster and I've had it for about 2 years. One word of caution - do not run your stick blender continuously when trying to get your soap to trace. You will burn out the motor. Blend for a minute then turn it off and stir with the blender. Keep repeating this process until the soap traces.
What Shirley said is so true - everything for your soap making should be kept just for that! I have a big plastic pitcher for my lye. It is labeled with a black marker saying LYE - DANGER. I keep the spoon and the thermometer in the pitcher when it is not in use. I have an 8 quart stainless steel stock pot, glass measuring cups, stainless steel spoons, and a silicone spatula. All of the items are stored in the stock pot when not in use. Another thing that is great are those little glass measuring jiggers. They work wonderful for essential oils and fragrances.
Handmade Soap and More! http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
The Rustic Cottage Blog http://therusticcottage.blogspot.com
PROUD FARMGIRL SISTER #100 |
| corporatefarmgirl |
Posted - Dec 18 2008 : 1:16:18 PM
Thanks SOOOOOO much to Alee and the others for starting to guide us homemade soap newbies. I am hoping to try a batch after Christmas! Right now I need to get the oils..........
Tamara
http://smallfarm.about.com
The earth is in our hands - please use a gentle touch
|
| Shirley |
Posted - Dec 18 2008 : 12:59:13 PM
But to all you new gals making soap. Never use the utensiles or containers that you have used for soap, for food. I have all my soap stuff in plastic bins. I do use a large container to melt the oils in, that I use for soup. but never use it for the lye stuff. I get these heavy plastic containers like restaurants use from Cash and Carry to mix and measure in.Been using them for years and they work very well.
Shirley |
| Alee |
Posted - Dec 18 2008 : 11:11:44 AM
This is like my lye scale
And a picture of a lye bottle:
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Dec 18 2008 : 11:08:35 AM
Tammy the MMS Calculator is online here:
http://www.thesage.com/calcs/lyecalc2.php
And here is a picture of a stick blender- I am pretty sure we are talking about the same thing though
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| farmmom22 |
Posted - Dec 18 2008 : 10:24:14 AM
Thanks Alee! When you say stick blender do you mean like an immersion blender? And can I get a MMS calculator somewhere like Ace or will I need to order it online?
Best farm wishes |
| Annika |
Posted - Dec 18 2008 : 09:01:59 AM
Oh Cool! I really want to make my own soap. Good for you Alee for being such a crafty smart woman.
What is you favorite scent so far?
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Mud Hen Queen
MJ's Heirloom Maven's Librarian
|
| Old Spirit |
Posted - Dec 18 2008 : 08:39:07 AM
Hello all!! I made soap once and really enjoyed it. The year I had it my hands were never dry in the winter!!! I need to get busy and start making it more often. I found my recipe for the first time in the Readers Digest Book and now of course my mind just went blank as to the title :-(
Nice to know I have somewhere to go with questions now!!!
Merry Christmas everyone :-)
Ra
I love living in the country!! |
| Alee |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 09:50:48 AM
Tammy- The great thing about soap is that you don't need a lot of special supplies. Try making a few batches first to see if you like it- and then you can start ordering some of the specialty things.
Here is what you need to make a basic batch all of which you can find in local grocery or department stores:
1 scale that measures ounces accurately- digital is best but I use a non digital. Make sure the ounce reading is easy to see- don't use one that is more geared towards pounds.
1 large pot that is glass, plastic or stainless steel. Aluminum around lye soap is a huge no-no!
Spatula and spoons, glass measuring cups.
Stick blender ($10 at Wal-Mart or Target)- This isn't essential but you will have to stir for quite some time (30 minutes possibly more) without it
Some sort of molds- glass or ceramic loaf pans work great- silicon bake ware as well.
Veg oils or lard. You can buy them usually at the store. The "holy trinity" of soap making are Coconut oil, olive oil, and Palm Oil.
However, the recipe I made last night had: Soybean oil, canola oil, castor oil, olive oil and coconut oil. I think this is going to my best one yet!
The "MMS Lye Calculator" is the one I use to make new recipes. It tells you how much lye to use per batch.
www.millersoap.com has some great recipes that are tried and true.
And of course you need lye. You can find it at ACE Hardware and often the smaller hardware shops. Look in the drain cleaner aisle for a cylinder container that says somewhere on the label "100% Lye". Mine is white with red writing.
It's really easy! If you get into the more complicated soaps with shea butter and other things in it, the you can order those types of things online.
I hope that helps!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| farmmom22 |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 09:12:44 AM
Hey you soap making divas! I have always wanted to make my own soap, but I need some resources to get some supplies first. Anyone have any good catalog/internet suppliers they are willing to share? Thanks, Tammy
Best farm wishes |
| homemom |
Posted - Dec 17 2008 : 09:00:34 AM
I would love to make soap but am intimidated by it. I have looked at alot of books but don't really know where to start.
Alee~I am glad you are having so much fun.
Ruth
Living the farm life in my heart.
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Ruth
http://farmgirlinmyheart.blogspot.com/ |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Dec 16 2008 : 12:21:08 PM
Tamara - there are lots of great videos on YouTube. Just search for soapmaking.
Handmade Soap and More! http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
The Rustic Cottage Blog http://therusticcottage.blogspot.com
PROUD FARMGIRL SISTER #100 |
| Alee |
Posted - Dec 16 2008 : 11:34:34 AM
www.millersoap.com is a great place to start!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| corporatefarmgirl |
Posted - Dec 16 2008 : 10:31:19 AM
Alee- How wonderful making soap sounds. I am dying to try my hand at it but there is no one teaching classes around here. Is there any place that provides step by steps on line?
THANKS!!!!!!!
Tamara
http://smallfarm.about.com
The earth is in our hands - please use a gentle touch
|
| mima |
Posted - Dec 13 2008 : 11:38:16 AM
Thanks for the encouragement Kay!!!!!I'll send you some if it turns out!!!! Hugs!(A swap would be fun!)
|
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Dec 13 2008 : 10:51:13 AM
Mima - everybody has to have a batch that sucks! That's part of the initiation process into soap making!! Just kidding! I still get a sucky batch every once is a while - like my ugly lavender soap. The soap is great but the color is horrible. Lye is scary but once you make your first batch you'll be ok. Having a healthy fear of lye is a good thing because it is nasty stuff. I broke out in a cold sweat the first time I poured the lye into the water!!
We need to do a soap swap - maybe after the first of the year. That is always fun.
Handmade Soap and More! http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
The Rustic Cottage Blog http://therusticcottage.blogspot.com
PROUD FARMGIRL SISTER #100 |
| mima |
Posted - Dec 13 2008 : 06:19:32 AM
Hey alee cutie pie! I just made my first batch of soap-its curing right now! Do you share recipes-love to expand! Just did cold pressed with oatmeal and cinnamon. I'd love to use differant scents and do marbleing. A little nervous tho that my first batch will suck and I'll give it up.....scared of the lye too!!!LOL!~ Hugs Alee!
|
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Dec 13 2008 : 01:26:50 AM
Alee - I totally agree!! I could make soap every day and never get tired of it. Every batch that I do I can hardly wait to unmold it - it's like unwrapping a present at Christmas. I love other people's soap too and buy it quite often - I like using something besides my own once in a while.
Handmade Soap and More! http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
The Rustic Cottage Blog http://therusticcottage.blogspot.com
PROUD FARMGIRL SISTER #100 |
| whymsicalmysfit |
Posted - Dec 12 2008 : 8:23:15 PM
I have been makin soap for 4 yrs now , it is my escape so Alee its nice to hear someone love soap making as much as me my dear friend who taught me has been a soap maker for 25yrs! she did it with no electricity for 20 of those yrs in her cabin! I have used handmade soaps for 15yrs or more and i cant imagine my life without them oooh we should have a soap makers trade! I love to use other soapmakers lovely soaps...think about it, I will say right now its slim pickins but not for long!! Im always busy either making soap, spinning yarn, or felting something but i must say HANDMADE SOAP is my favorite creation!! Hey alee have you ever felted your soap? its really fun for kids and it scrubbs you as you use it.. its real cool try it sometime, at first people are afraid of "furry soap" but once you tell them what it is they cant resist and they just have to try it out!
"May all your weeds be wildflowers"
www.northnature.com |
| graciegreeneyes |
Posted - Dec 12 2008 : 7:41:28 PM
Hey Alee - I just learned how to make soap this year - I love it!! I'm looking forward to january so I have some time:)
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" |
| Alee |
Posted - Dec 12 2008 : 5:10:10 PM
Yay Cheryl! I am so glad! I hope he enjoys it as much as I enjoyed making it for him!
My Brother-in-law told me that next time I make shaving soap he will hook me up with some ultra premium ultra slippery Australian Clay! I am excited!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| K-Falls Farmgirl |
Posted - Dec 12 2008 : 4:42:54 PM
Alee, My son called from Denver. His family's gifts arrived today. He openned the outside box and said "Boy, Something really smells good inside".. I told him NOT to open until Christmas.. I know he is going to love the shaving soap!
http://www.k-fallsfarmgirl.blogspot.com/
Cheryl #309
Farm girl sister
Enjoy the little things in life....someday you'll look back and realize they were the big things. |
