From the Soaping Kitchen

View from cottage porch Feb 2014

These two old crows are cold!

Just a few horrid pics for those of you begging for this winter to be over. It’s hard to believe we’re just twelve weeks from the last frost.

Pumpkin vine climbing the arborvitaes last summer

 Yesterday I thought to check the hibernating mini-pumpkins in basement. Alas, two of the three that are left are beginning to spoil. 

Pumpkin on the verge

 One I threw out, the second I warned Sweet husband needs to be thrown into soup pronto. The third will find its way into …you guessed it, SOAP!

Cooking down

Here's what was salvaged for soap

 Below is the making of hand milled Herbal Complex Soap. I made two batches and upped the color in the second. Ingredients: saponified lard, saponified canola and olive oils, organic cucumber, oats, rosemary, chamomile, wildcrafted plantain, calendula, rosemary essential oil, turmeric.

 

Herbal soap melting

Hand Milled Herbal Complex Soap

Below is the honeycomb soap.

Ingredients: Saponified lard, olive and coconut oils, honey and beeswax.

 

Honeycomb soap curing-it will turn much darker

Below is the the coffee soap. It’s so soft I imagine it will be summer before it’s cured. Olive oil soaps can take 6-12 months to cure.
Ingredients: saponified olive and coconut oils, chocolate coffee, organic cream, cornstarch.

Coffee Latte

Tomato Soap (for acne)

Ingredients: saponified canola and olive oils, saponified lard, yellow tomatoes, molasses, oats, corn starch, black basil, paprika and annatto oils, Italian Seasoning.

Soap planer fits securely on top of dual purpose 1 lb mold

That blade is sharp!

Sweet Husband has been busy in his wood shop. Above is the soap planer he made for me.

 

Castile soap curls

Aren’t the soap curls cute? They’ll go into a later soap project. I’m rollin’ now!

Planer, cutter and molds

These are the various soap molds he made, along with a cutter that needs some revision. He seems to think I can cut a straight line with a guide only on one side. I’m sure he can affix a guide on the other side if I ask him nicely.

Stay tuned for more soaping adventures...

Tulip Fever

Just a little reminder for us winter-weary inhabitants. Spring will come...eventually.

Early May 2013

PHOTO SHOOT My “Stars” pose for you!

 

Oats and Honey

    Ingredients: Saponified olive and coconut oil, oats, honey, cinnamon, citrus essential oils. 

 Smooth and Sweet

                  Ingredients: Saponified olive oil, honey, molasses, maple syrup, cinnamon.

Tequila Sunrise

                   Ingredients: Saponified olive and coconut oils, annatto and turmeric powders.

Hand Milled Creamed Carrots

                       Ingredients: Saponified lard, olive oil, organic cream and carrots.

Herbal Dream

 Ingredients: Saponified lard, olive oil, coconut oil, wildcrafted plantain infused in grape seed     oil, annatto powder, Nemesis-grown carrots and red basil.

Tequila Sunrise

Tequila Sunrise

The Latest Soaps

Hand Milled Creamed Carrots

It is said the practice makes perfect. Well, my soaps aren’t perfect yet, but I learn every day. Friends are sampling soaps and I’m waiting for feedback. After a few soaping failures, one of which was so bad I had to throw it out, I have developed a great deal of respect for those artisans who craft homemade soap. I’ve bundled some of my first tries to give to local homeless shelters, as I know I cannot sell something that ugly. However, these soaps are fine for the skin and far superior to anything purchased at the supermarket. I hope someone can enjoy them. Meanwhile….

Creamed Carrots Bars

 Below is my last batch of 100% olive oil soap. It takes too long to dry enough to unmold. Not to mention the extened cure time.

Unscented Complexion Bars

 The soap below gave me fits. It took a week before I could unmold it. It's 100% Virgin Olive Oil. The top is plain, the next layer is molasses, then maple syrup, with the bottom layer of honey. It may be summer before it;s cured!

Sugar Soap

Today I made my first batch of olive oil and coconut oil soap. All went well until I poured it into the wonderful mold my sweet husband made. Apparently I didn't have the nuts screwed down tight and it leaked several ounces. Just another of those soaping lessons learned.

Oops!

Just another Tequila Sunrise

Can't wait to unmold and cut this one tomorrow. I'll post a pic of the finished bars then.

Finally, a quick snapshot of this geranium by the kitchen patio door. The little guy is tenacious, setting a bloom in spite of the Ice Age happening on the other side of the glass.