| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| JO AND AL |
Posted - Jun 30 2005 : 05:34:23 AM
 hello i am a wondering about home made soap i have been making it for three years now and wold like to chat about it thankyou jo!
love is all you need |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| MiaBella |
Posted - May 30 2012 : 11:16:34 AM
Krystle,
You can use the herb for exfoliation (crush it up really well) but if you want the scent to come out of the soap then you will need to use the essential oil. This should be the last thing you add to the soap, then pour it into your molds after a quick stir. I don't know the size of the soap batch you are making as I do not have Mary Jane's goat milk recipe. The goat milk soap recipe that I usually make produces 7 lbs. of soap so I use 5 oz of essential oil. If you are going to use the herb as well, add it just before the essential oil, maybe 1/4 to 1/2 cup so you don't overwhelm the bar.
Michelle
Farmgirl Sister #4097
MiaBella Farm
New Caney, TX
www.miabellafarm.com |
| countrymommy85 |
Posted - May 30 2012 : 07:45:14 AM
I finally found lye at Menards in the plumbing section. They sell it in 1 pound containers. I'm going to try out MaryJane's goat milk recipe but I was wondering if there was a way to incorporate Lemon verbena into it somehow? I absolutely LOVE the smell of lemon verbena. Do I have to use essential oil or can I use the herb itself? I'm a beginner soap maker so let me know what I should do! Thanks!
Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee. ~Author Unknown
http://countryrenaissance.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunflowersAndHoney |
| KayB |
Posted - Jun 24 2009 : 07:38:37 AM
I ran across a program on this on Angel network. It is done by a lady and her 3 daughters, they are called the West girls. You can go to franklinsprings.com and get all 3 of their DVDs - The Art of Bread Making, The Art of Candle Making, and The Art of Soap Making. All three of these are listed under Homestead Blessings Collection and you can get it for about $40. I plan on ordering them to have at hand as soon as I find a job and get some money together. They are really good and I enjoyed them.
KayB
Life's a dance you learn as you go |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Apr 29 2009 : 2:21:48 PM
Debra - I have a recipe for a shampoo bar that uses melt and pour base. If you'd like it let me know.
Handmade Soap & Lotion Bars http://www.therusticcottagebath.com
The Rustic Cottage Blog http://therusticcottage.blogspot.com
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| JO AND AL |
Posted - Apr 29 2009 : 11:00:32 AM
hi alee, yes i got a source for some lye i have to get it from my nephew. he is a true farmer lol! and they seem to be able to get it with no problem. he is into bio deisel and i have been experiencing making that soap from the pure glycerine that is left over from his bio product. it is beautifull soap. the bio uses koh, and, well, i have been trying to master the amount of koh that goes into the glycerine to make it hard enough for use. i finally got it down now too. the koh is a form of lye but much milder then the lye. i am used to working with the lye though, but i am finding the koh works just as well, it just take a lot more then lye. i have also been using the glycerin in my dish washer, and in laundry, it works well, and it is a big saving. it is a degreaser and cleans really good. will keep you posted on it as i progress with it. tlty. have a good week love from jo, <jo'ssoaps> 
i thought love was all you needed? courage is needed too! |
| sunflowercritters |
Posted - Apr 24 2009 : 5:38:05 PM
Hi I was wondering if anyone would share there shampoo soap bar receipt with me. I have been making soap for the first time this year. I love it. It is so...much fun and rewarding at the same time. and this would be a great gift at christmas time. havent made shampoo this sounds neat.
farmgirl sister
#462
Worry ends Where Faith in God begins. |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Apr 06 2009 : 12:45:01 AM
Hey Jo! Glad to see you back here and glad to hear your soap is working out!!
Handmade Soap & Lotion Bars http://www.therusticcottagebath.com
The Rustic Cottage Blog http://therusticcottage.blogspot.com
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| Alee |
Posted - Apr 05 2009 : 5:58:19 PM
That is great Jocelyn! Did you ever find a source for lye?
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 |
| JO AND AL |
Posted - Apr 05 2009 : 4:02:52 PM
 well girls, the bio soap is turning out really good. it is quite popular here. i state on my soap labels though that it may contain peanut oil. which i am fairly sure it hasn't, but it is better to be safe then sorry. it is a wonderfull soap, yes, it is always brown but can be made less expensive, therefor it can be bought at a good price. i made a shaving soap for men, in round shapes, for those who still prefer to use the shaveing (cups) and brush, my husband loves it. it can be scented, and holds scents quite well! i found with massage oils, natural one's, and are also cheaper then the essential oils in the small bottles i had been getting.
i made also a liquid pump soap that is also good, especially to get out grease. i am finding alot of good uses for this new found soap, i have had a lot of fun experimenting with it, i have hand milled it, and even got it into the float soap. i am very pleased with it. it can be sticky, and wilt away faster if left in a dish without a drainer under it, but what soap doesn't?. i just wanted to share my experience with you all and it is selling good localy. a few people had dryness on their elbows, and this has appeared to have cleared it up. i am still experimenting with it, and hope to be able to come up with some more great ideas with it. it is as pure of glycering anyone is ever going to get i believe, and very good for your skin. this house has nothing but homemade soap in it. i am so glad i learned how to do this wonderfull task, it has brought me such pleasure experimenting with different soaps, i still make the other homesteaders kind too. will always love that. can't beat that homemade soap eh? will keep you all posted if you would like to hear about it? hope everyone has a happy easter! xoxo, jo!
i thought love was all you needed? courage is needed too! |
| JO AND AL |
Posted - Oct 09 2008 : 5:00:32 PM
hi molly yeh it is definately brown te ehee! i put food colouring in it as it says you can, i looked it all up on line. it is dark but you could see the green in it. i did the recipe like it said. then i found i had to reheat it a bit and put bit more lye and water then what they said. it is in whole cakes, but very soft indeed. actually i had to put it in the freezer so i could get it out of the mold lol! oh my what fun i am having with it though! really, it looks like fudge. tee hee!. but i did make the liquid glycerin and it is a snap as long as you burn off the methanol. i make all my own soaps the other way too, and have really enjoyed them for years. i do like to be creative with them too, for sure. but this was a challange i guess for me. i do like the liquid glycerin, i hear though that the glycerin cake soap doesn't last long, not much wonder if it is that soft. i am sure with~ given the proper recipee or amount of ingredients, i can master it, and some practice along with it. lol! i hope to get it right. will keep everyone posted on how it goes, thanks for the advice later jo! p.s. it hasn't a very nice oder but you can scent it and it is lovely, but some people i know can't have the scented soaps. myself i like both.
i thought love was all you needed? courage is needed too! |
| Brew Crew |
Posted - Oct 08 2008 : 1:39:52 PM
Jocelyn, from what I understand, the biodiesel glycerin is hard to work with, as far as safety and quality control go. This is because without knowing what went into it, it is hard to come up with a safe and accurate SAP value for the ingredients. Inaccurate numbers can lead to lye-heavy soap which would be quite dangerous, obviously. Still, though, I am curious about it; what a great theory for using what some would consider waste to create something that can be so good for your skin. I wish you luck with your research! I hope you find some helpful information. My advice would be to proceed with caution, though. ;) Also, from what I understand, the biodiesel soap is always going to be brown. (Not a bad thing, necessarily, but makes it harder to be 'artistic' with it if you were at all interested!)
The Biz www.tvalahandmade.com
The Blog: http://blog.tvalahandmade.com/
The Bits www.happydalehobby.blogspot.com/
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| JO AND AL |
Posted - Oct 08 2008 : 10:02:34 AM
anyone make bio deisel soap? i am looking for some ideas and maybe easy recipes? thankyou jo
i thought love was all you needed? courage is needed too! |
| JO AND AL |
Posted - Jan 14 2008 : 1:54:31 PM
yeh, a safe container~ i meant for to keep little kidies out of, grandkids and such! i saw on line how to make your own lye, but oh my! looks like alot of work, but very interesting. my only problem here is the grandkids. i would have to make really sure they didn't get around any of that stuff. i am starting a batch of soap tomorrow actually, just got enough lye here for my own use so far. still can't buy it in the stores though. i bang up a few bars at a time now, just like nothing, it seems as easy as anything once you get used to i guess. love that old lye soap, sure gets a person clean eh? how is all the soap making coming along anyways? i found norma coney's book excellent, i must say, i learned a great deal from her instructions. actuall that's where i read to put the lye in the water not visea versa~ lol! it makes sence, once you see that stuff in action eh? have a good day, jo~
i thought love was all you needed? courage is needed too! |
| windypines |
Posted - May 29 2007 : 5:49:03 PM
www.texasnaturalsupply.com
this is where I last ordered lye from. They were very quick. Michele |
| BotanicalBath |
Posted - May 29 2007 : 4:45:09 PM
Jo & Al
I am not quite sure what is your question, but a safe container is HDPE with a sealable lid. I use a 6.5 gal bucket and 50 lbs fits nicely into it.
Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) & Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) are totally different. I dont and wouldnt make my own because it would be a PITA and the stuff and effert to test the consentration out weighs just buying it.
HTH
E-
BotanicalBath@peoplepc.com
www.Botanical-Bath.com
"I do my housework in the nude. It gives me an incentive to clean the mirrors as quickly as possible." |
| JO AND AL |
Posted - May 29 2007 : 4:18:43 PM
i wonder though u would have to have a real safe container eh? to put it in. it would be dangerous around kids. i hear too that u have to pay a hazard shipping fee? i asked the co op store the other day, and they said it is no longer available. i bought everyone they had left on the shelf so i have 9 bottles. and of course wouldn't u know i got orders for a blueberry fest. in august? woe is me! later girls, thanks for the info i'll have to see about getting it on line somehow! i saw it on there once, 35 lbs! but probably expensive? i wonder? i can't help it, i like my home made soap, can't use anything else, also i saw on line where u can make your own lye but, what a pain~ may be worth a try, but looks like a lot of rigamarole~ to me. i burn wood but still lot of work but i would love to try it. guess years ago they had no choice but hey this isn't back then is it?~ lol~~ anyone ever make there own on here? later jo!
i thought love was all you needed? courage is needed too! |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - May 28 2007 : 4:33:32 PM
We can still buy it here too..thank goodness!!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| Alee |
Posted - May 28 2007 : 3:19:24 PM
Hi Jo-
I hope you have been doing well! Around here we can still buy it in some of the hardware/lumber stores, but you have to really search for it. You can order lye online from many different places and sometimes it is cheaper because you can buy in bulk.
Alee |
| JO AND AL |
Posted - May 28 2007 : 1:15:39 PM
 hi ya'll, haven't been on for a while here having some problems . u can't buy lye anymore in the stores. i guess u can order it on line? any feed back on this? thanks jo!
i thought love was all you needed? courage is needed too! |
| JO AND AL |
Posted - Apr 22 2007 : 6:32:16 PM
also i forgotthe book i use is norma cloney i fould it the most easy for directions for me anyways? it is nice and has lots of other recipes in it. ia m making my own perfume now and lip balms with bees wax plus homemade salve with herbs interesting concept. very enjoyable to do jo>> tulips are up how bout everyone elses? soooo happy spring is on the way.
i thought love was all you needed? courage is needed too! |
| JO AND AL |
Posted - Apr 22 2007 : 6:24:03 PM
hi tina, yeh the potatoe peelings take out the odour. also i have an old mountain back woods recipee they say u put corn hush in the soap and pull it out when i is dry supposed to give it a good scent i have yet to try that one. i hera they were going to stop making the lyedue to it being hard on the environment? anyone know anything about that what on earth will we do? is there anything else to use to make soap? i bought every can that was left here at the co op store so will be plenty for me, but not too sure everyone around here they are always after that soap. it does clean and is so easy on the skin. i'll simply die if i can't make my hair shampoo bar. i want to get into making some more here soon, starting to run shy of a few nice big bars. later jo! no soap like it i must say.
i thought love was all you needed? courage is needed too! |
| herbquilter |
Posted - Apr 11 2007 : 11:15:52 PM
I've been making soap for years. This thread has already mentioned my favorite book: Soap Naturally. Here's my favorite soap website: www.millersoap.com
Kathy Miller is awesome & her site is VERY helpful.
Blessings,
Kristine ~ Mother of Many & Herbalist
www.herbalmomma.com
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| jendada |
Posted - Apr 11 2007 : 7:49:45 PM
quote:
This page has directions and pictures for making soaps as well as links to calculators, suppliers and forums:
http://www.mullerslanefarm.com/soapmaking.html
Cyndi
Joshua 24:15
Ol 'MacDonald has nothing on us!
http://www.mullerslanefarm.com
Hi Cyndi.....I've seen you on a couple of the soap making forums.
Cyndi's got lots of great info here girls. I have visited her site many times. I've made the Hog Wash recipe and the Pine Tar recipe and both are great!!
I've been making soap for about 5 years. Can not use a store bought detergent bar anymore....makes my skin all tight and itchy. A good homemade bar of real soap is like heaven!!!
Jen |
| Tina Kay |
Posted - Apr 11 2007 : 11:50:41 AM
Hi JO and Al,
I was wondering what soap book you have.  I would really like a single recipe. I have been wanting to make soap with my bacon drippings and just didn't know how to take the smell out....thanks! This may help: I also bake my bacon on a cookie rack in a baking sheet with sides on 400 degrees in the oven. It helps the drippings come out clean. And there is no splatter. It saves you from your grease cleaning duties afterward!
www.hometeadblooger.com/lilpatch
quote:
Originally posted by JO AND AL
hi jenny, i saw in my soap book it said to put potatoe peeling in when u render the bacon fat or melt lard , and it should take the stench out of it , i tell ya i have been doing the singel bar recipee! mix a bit of left over bacon fat, which we don't get that often anymore!!!! buuuuuut!! once in a blue moon tee hee! we splerge. anyways i mix it with suett, and it is really nice, i found the cocoanut oil to be a bit drying to make it sudsy, but it does work fer sure , as i find men don't like it because it doesn't seem to suds up enough, i always use those netted sponges! thingies? it looks like a net, u can buy almost anywhere! and it really suds's it up. i love my soap. i am sooo much a believer of it, as i haven't had a single skin prob. since i've been using it!it sure came in handy this yr. too for gift giving, i also reasd somewhere u can use corn husk's in it whelst it's drying to give it good scent, i can't see how! but i am going to try it this garden season coming up! i always hand mill it so i can always pull it out of the mouls after it sets long enough befor hand milling itor as i am milling it,? have to find that out at the time i guess lol!! i like the floating bars, in the tub don't have to search for it, ha ha!! later gals jo!
love is all you need
If you would be happy for a week ~ take a wife.
If you would be happy for a month ~ kill a pig.
But if you would be happy your whole life ~ plant a garden.
~mid 17th century~ |
| JO AND AL |
Posted - Oct 16 2006 : 09:20:39 AM
thanks judy i will try it the next time i do a fresh batch. newheart, it is easy once u get into it, really it is just like banging up a cake to me now lol! well a bit more dangerous! especially on the eyes. and u darsent breath in the lye fumes at all, u have to wear protective glasses and ruber gloves u'd love it as i believe all us soap makers do? or i spose we wouldn't be doing it. lol! they make wonderfull gifts, also good on the skin i just love my own soap, yeh i had that guy stumped it was sooo funny i couldn't stop laughing as it struck me soooo funny at the time. it was the way he looked~ soooo serious! jo~
i thought love was all you needed? courage is needed too! |
