Tag Archives: cold process

Spread Love

I had fun making these and spreading the love for Valentine’s Day. I met with Mazzi Peled of Latika Soap for happy hour early this week and was able to give her one.  I accidentally spilled some of my pink sugar perfume on it, and she was asking me “What is that smell coming out of your purse!” so I ended up giving her a scented valentine! What a happy accident since she loves the smell. We have similar philosophies about formulating & designing, so I love getting to chat with her.

valentine day cards 2014

Another way I choose to spread love is through teaching. Each fall I take on an adult intern at feto soap. They usually are on their way to starting their own bath & body business, but want some help learning techniques and production from an established business.

Last year, Kelly Darby of Lucy Kat Soaps was my fall intern. I taught her how to make soap & bath bombs, and she helped me package my products during the fall of 2013. We worked out an arrangement of both in-studio and take-home tasks (like entering emails into a spreadsheet & some packaging duties) because she lives in N. Round Rock and has two young children at home. She was super-organized about her babysitting schedule, so would let me know a week ahead when her studio or take-home task availability was. She also helped me at shows when she was available!

Unbeknownst to us, we had a couple of interests and people in common, like Taylor from Nothing But a Pigeon, a love for yoga and NPR. When she’s not busy chasing after her little ones, she’s working at a yoga studio part-time (like I did!) while she makes her fabulous party favors.

I had the pleasure of having both of them over for a pre-Valentine’s Day

bee favorsbubbly & chocolates

lunch complete with chocolates and champagne! Since I didn’t want us all getting tipsy, I made a variation of Profanity Salmon for us while we snacked on the goat cheese and noshes Kelly brought over. I was too busy eating them to get a picture!

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Soapmaking Class in Houston, TX on Sunday, Jan 18th

Soapmaking ClassMy next soapmaking class is coming up this Sunday,  January 18th.

Soapmaking–Better than Store Bought

Discover the benefits and fun of making and using handmade soap. Not only is it better for your skin but it also allows you to be creative since you select the ingredients, colors, fragrances and shapes. Learn to overcome your fear of working with lye (an essential ingredient in all soap) as well as important safety precautions as you learn to produce a batch of soap. NOTE: Each student will take home one bar of soap.

Class Number: S1018A Sun 2-5pm Jan 18

To register, go to Leisure Learning Unlimited‘s Website:
http://llu.com/sdc/group_classes_llu.html?classgroup=3611

REGISTRATION INFORMATION
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Bigger Soap Batches

Blackberry Sage in 18 bar KelseiI admit it. I make most of my soap in tiny two-pound batches. I do this so I can make many different scents and still have room to walk around my workspace. But this weekend I made some of my more popular soap in 5 – 6 lb batches.

One of the batches of soap I made was my Blackberry Sage Shea Butter Handmade Soap in my new 18-bar mold. This yummy smelling soap will available in a month! Cold Process Soap takes a few weeks to cure and is totally worth the wait.

Saponifier Magazine


Saponifier Magazine
is the educational and encouraging voice for handcrafters of soap, toiletries, cosmetics, and candles. Saponifier disseminates the news and information about the industry relevant to the interests of manufacturers and suppliers.

The July/August issue’s focus is Christmas in July.

Don’t wait until November to make plans for your holiday line up! Pick up this edition of Saponifier for tips on packaging your holiday gift sets, product ideas, recipes and more!

FEATURES
History of Bath & Body Recipes: A look back on the interesting history of bath and body recipes from the Dark Ages through today, by Tamara Dourney

FDA Globalization Act of 2008

Bonus Gift Guide Supplement: A Bonus Gift Guide of holiday recipes for all your gift giving needs- including printable gift tags!, by Tamara Dourney & Carol Schatz

COLUMNS

Toiletries
Are You Selling Drugs?, by Carol Schatz

In The Lab
Expanding Your product Line: Pets are people too, by Robert McDaniel

Showcase
A Time For Giving, by Elizabeth Carnahan

Working Smarter
Create & Implement an Effective Holiday Marketing Strategy, by Jenn Givler

Reviews
Creative Packaging – Make it your own, by Beth Byrne

Aromatic Materials
Cropwatch Takes Stock, by Tony Burfield

A Soapmakers Notebook
Herbal Monographs: Adderwort & Tansy

PLUS
Exclusive Subscriber Discounts, News, Letters, Events, and More!

(Current Issue available by Subscription Only)

(47 pages, 3.58MB)
Click Here to SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

My Recommended Reading List for Soapmakers

The Everything Soapmaking Book: Recipes and Techniques for Creating Colorful and Fragrant Soaps (Everything: Sports and Hobbies)The Everything Soapmaking Book by Alicia Grosso
The Soapmaker’s Companion by Susan Miller Cavitch
Making Scented Soap by Linda Hamblen
Soapmaking for Fun & Profit by Maria Nerius
Designer Soapmaking by Marie Browning
& more here.

What are your favorite soapmaking books? Leave a comment and let me know!