Tag Archives: soap from scratch

Learn to Make Soap in Austin, TX

I have been teaching a lot this year! Just last week I taught a couple from Temple, TX how to color, scent & make designs in soap. We practiced swirling soap, making a “pencil line” in soap & made soap cakes with our leftover soap.

Soap Cakes

If there’s a soapmaking technique you want to try, but would like some instruction / hand holding, don’t hesitate to contact me for help. I’ve been making handmade soap for 10 years now & can help you troubleshoot the issues you might be facing as a new soapmaker.

Soapmaking lessons are taught at my studio located at 360/2222 in Austin, TX.

lisa@fetosoap.com ●  512.850.5472

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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Kitchen Coffee Soap Log Stands Tall

Kitchen Coffee Soap Vanilla Scented with Cocoa Butter
I love making and using this soap. I grind coffee beans, melt cocoa butter and stir in poppy seeds for exfoliation. I use a special secret mix of vanillas and it makes my whole workspace smell wonderful! This is one of the Bigger Batches of soap I made over the weekend. The log of soap is 17 and a half inches tall and currently weighs 5.8 pounds! It’s been sliced up into 17 and a half bars (the half bar will go into someone’s order as a sample).

I made this soap a few weeks ago but pulled the wrong mold, (the 5 & 6 lb mold look really similar) so I ended chopping about a 1/2 in from each bar from that log so they could fit into my boxes! Not this time! After they cure for 4 weeks they will fit perfectly into my brown kraft boxes.
handmade soap

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.

Another Reason to Join the Texas Soapmakers Association

Texas Soapmakers AssociationOne of our members is out of a certain fragrance oil that’s not being manufactured at the moment. She sent out an email to our member list asking if any of us had some to spare. I happened to have a pound of it that I’m not using, so I’m shipping it out to her tomorrow. Instead of cash I wanted  the glass topped tins in a case she happens to carry in her store, so we’re going to barter for them! They are perfect for transporting samples. Everyone wins! It’s a great group of supportive soapmakers!

To become a member of the Texas Soapmakers Association (TSA), you must:
• manufacture handcrafted soap in a business or hobby capacity and/or sell soapmaking supplies.
• live or have a principal place of business in the State of Texas.

Benefits of Membership

• info and advice from experienced soapmakers
• New 3 month mentorship program available – limited spots available
• friendship
• use of the TSA logo
• discounts from member suppliers
• access to the members-only section of our website, with recipes, co-op listings, etc.
• quarterly TSA newsletter
• reduced admission to our annual conventions
• participation in our mailing list discussions

Membership Dues TSA Membership dues are $25 per fiscal year.

If you have questions about TSA membership, please contact the TSA Membership Chair at membership@txsoapmakers.org.  http://txsoapmakers.org

Cold Process Soapmaking Class Sunday, May 18th

My next soapmaking class is coming up this Sunday, May 18th. Only four spots are left!

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: R1020C Sun 2-5pm May 18

To register, go to Leisure Learning Unlimited’s Website:
http://llu.com/sdc/regclass.html?class=42614

or call them at 713.529.4414 with the class number R1020C.