Coathanger Swirling

I saw this method at Heirloom Body Care and just had to try it out. This works well with a log mold and you can use it to work the swirls up and down. All you need is a wire coat hanger that you bend to fit the length of your log mold.

I did this with new silicone log mold I just purchased. I made a 2 lb batch of soap and decided to make my swirls pink and brown. The brown was because one of the fragrance oils I used contained vanilla, so I just went with the eventual brown.

I made my soap using my tried and true olive/coconut/palm recipe that I love! I decided to separate as soon as the soap was mixed and wouldn't separate, but before trace. I poured half into a second bowl and added rose kaolin clay and strawberry fragrance oil. I also added some strawberry seeds, just to be creative.

Strawberry soap

 Then I added dark chocolate fragrance oil to the second half with some cocoa powder (I really wanted it to be dark brown).

Dark Chocolate Soap

I layered my soap by putting the pink soap on the bottom and covering it with the brown soap. I couldn't take a picture, but to minimize mixing of the layers, I gently poured the brown over a spatula and let it run onto the pink layer. I think it worked well. Then, I used my bent hanger to swirl my layers up and down. I even did a few spiral patterns to see what would happen.

In the mold

See how my coathanger fits.

My soap is now insulated and finishing itself off. I can't wait to see what it looks like! Can you guess the scent?

All done!

I Wanna Be On The S.O.A.P. Panel!

Brambleberry is putting together another S.O.A.P. panel  to test some of their Spring fragrances. I LOVE Brambleberry fragrances! Actually, I love quite a few of their products.

I used two oils, Dark Rich Chocolate and Pumpkin Spice to create a special soap for a friend of mine. She loved it so much that I decided to make it again this year, but I played around with layers. It was great for Christmas presents! I also used the pumpkin spice in a lotion and scrub for a great fall fragrance. I'm still using it, it smells so good.

I'm not a photographer, but I loved the way it looked!

I recently purchased their Karma Synergistic EO for a friend of mine. She loves patchouli and her husband tends not to. I made her some soap and a lotion with it and even her husband likes the way it smells on her. It worked so wonderfully in CP soap, it did not cause any separation, seizing, or any of those other pesky fragrance problems. It smells deep and sensual, just perfect!

They have so many wonderful products and scents. I have found so many essential and fragrance oils that I love and so many more that I cannot wait to try. I also enjoy getting samples with each order. They are the perfect size for a trial batch or a gift of soap or lotion.

Valentine's Day Feelings

Are you one of those people that gets so sick of hearing about Valentine's Day? It is such a big deal! You have to get cards for the kids to take to school (I haven't yet, but its coming) and if you are a teacher...oh, I don't even want to go there. Should you give your sweetheart flowers or is that overdone? Plus, the poor single people, don't they just feel so left out?!? Well...

I'm actually not one of those people. I enjoy Valentine's Day and I always have. Even during my single days! I never looked at it as a time to celebrate the ONE person I loved (or didn't if I was single); instead, it is a time to celebrate love in general. I don't think we can ever have enough love; after all, it is the greatest gift. Enjoy those people in your life that you love. Take an extra moment to tell them that you love them. You can never say it too much!

We like to make a special dinner (I'm hoping for lasagna), turn off all the appliances, light some candles, and just spend the night relaxing and enjoying life. This year, we'll share that with our new little man and that makes me incredibly happy.


Do you have something that you like to do on Valentine's Day for those that you love?

Love Is In the Soap?

I'm already getting ready for Valentine's Day! This year I will offer two special edition scents:

Strawberries and Champagne: A sensuous blend of fragrances that will tickle your nose and get you in the mood for some sweet love. This scent is lightly fruity and bubbly. Available in a bar of soap and 8 oz lotion.

Chocolate covered Strawberries: Sweet, juicy strawberry scent; covered in decadent dark chocolate. Need we say more. Only available in a bar of soap.

If you are interested, get it here!

Corona is in the lead!

Corona del Mar is the sea turtle I picked out as part of my Christmas present (read about it here). She is part of the Tour de Turtles! She is currently in first place, having traveled 2,178 km so far.

Her cause is to fight poachers who harvest eggs for human consumption. Humans are one of the biggest threats to sea turtles (probably true of most endangered species) and sea turtle eggs are considered quite the delicacy in some parts of the world.

Learn more about Corona and the others that are part of the 2010 Tour de Turtles. Help raise awareness for their causes and save the turtles!