A Fitting Beginning

At the end of 2009 I posted a quick thank you to everyone out there who's been joining me on my Sandbar Soaps adventure. I'd like to do the same as we crack open 2011. 2010 was simply amazing. I learned a lot about myself, my business and of course, my soapies.

When I'm busy though, the first thing to go is the blog. It's not that I don't have anything to say... it's just that once I start this conversation with myself, I'd like to offer myself a seat. And some coffee. And probably a cookie. Pretty soon we're having a good old time and I'm behind in most of the rest of my endeavors. (Have I mentioned that I am never bored?)

So that is a long and round about way of saying "thank you." You're the best. And I'm sorry I haven't posted since the month of April.

So let's get this party started:

Chipotle Caramel Hot Process. Oh my.

Everyone like this one. It's got cocoa butter which compliments the deep sweetness. Cranberry seeds visually simulate the redness of chipotle peppers.

Oh. And look out. I now have a Dremel. Just you wait.

I want one for myself!

Here's today's project, and frankly, I'm amazed. I loved this soap so much, that I filled up my pot with water... let it soak up the soap left over in the pot... and I bottled the water to keep for myself. That's insane. But true.

Oils of palm, coconut, olive, shea, cocoa butter, sweet almond, jojoba, oatmeal, honey, calendula petals, chamomile extract and calendula extract. - H

And that's a wrap!

Phew! Got the wrapping all done! Thanks so much to all of my friends who gave me input. It really helped. If all of the pieces fall where they are supposed to... I'll get these delivered today!

Not sure if I'll have anything to post until Monday at the soonest... so enjoy your weekends! - H

Spa Bar Results

This was a very interesting soap experience for me. I did a bunch of new things all at once and learned a lot. But it was also a success, so I'm happy. First of all, I used the molds that I made out of tape, cardboard and hot glue. And then any leftovers went into little silicone bowls.

I lined the molds with freezer paper using a folding method that is supposed to prevent your soap from leaking onto your mold. Mostly a success... but there's a little leaking in the corners. But it doesn't mess up the end shape of the soap. So, who cares. Due to my glue gun fest on the edges the leaks didn't go through, and that would be a real mess.

So there you have it. Shampoo bar on the left, and salt bar on the right. Interesting to note... I tested the pH of these and they are a little more alkaline than a normal bar of soap of mine is. The good thing is that I know why. Normally, my molds are pretty well insulated, but since these were made out of cardboard the heat escapes a lot quicker. The chemical reaction takes longer in a colder bar of soap. These guys will be just right after they cure. I'm pretty jazzed to use them.

I'm running out of clever blog titles... Bubble Gum,

This is the latest bar of mine to come out. It's a new formula that's heavier on Palm & Coconut Oil. It also has almond oil, shea butter and avocado oil in it. It makes a harder bar. This one I'm calling Bubble Gum. I blended essential oils (vanilla, pomegranate, melon) and a fragrance oil from Brambleberry called Energy and the bar smells like... Bubble Gum. It has little chunks of Vanilla Pomegranate soap in it.

Now for some big news... my molds came today!!! Yay! There are three pictured... but I bought six. This is really going to help me produce at a level that I am happier with.

Later this week I am going to try to make some 4th of July themed bath bombs. I can't wait to show you how they turn out!

The Morning After...

I took the the freezer paper off of the lavender this morning. It looks great. Now I put the molds somewhere *where I won't touch them* because I poke & prod until I'm fully dissatisfied. So they're hiding in a safe place.

Thunday Thanks-uary.

Ith Thunday!

Boy am I thankful today! I just (yesterday) got my first shipment of soap supplies from Brambleberry!

Understand what I'm saying here. For months, I've been squirreling away bottles of oils into my grocery cart. Trying to look innocent as I tuck yet another 14 oz jar of coconut oil behind the 8 oz bottle of Avocado Oil. By ordering bulk items, I'm not just saving money... I'm entering into a committed relationship. I am saying, "Soap, we're in it for the long haul."

I heart you Brambleberry

That's beeswax in the measuring spoon.
You know what that means... honey soap! Buzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Cheers! - H

p.s. Since I'm just a baby blog... Brambleberry is my first shout out! Yay!

Fun with scraps!

Happy Saturday!

At the the moment I have two sizes of soap. The round one here is about 3 oz and the square ones you've seen are between 5-6 oz.

Lavender - Yes. I cut a hole in this and hung it from a tree. It is so pretty and scented with Lavender Essential Oil. Made with all vegetable oils including Almond, Apricot Kernel, Avocado, Coconut and Olive Oils. Soap is pretty cool in that soap scraps, like what's left from the hole of that lady lavender there, can be used for other purposes. Nutty people like me can find the humor in soap. Like maybe... special talents... like, being able to balance soap on your chin.

I tell ya, those Yoga people can do some pretty impressive things. No? Not funny? Hm.


Scraps like these can be used. I can give bigger ones away as samples. Of course, I use them myself too. So "scraps" translates into "mine! mine!" sometimes. Other scraps like the cool pink ribboney ones in the photo can be put in soap bars. Pictures to come of results of that in a future blog, I'm sure.Some us though, just like to stick our faces in a cup of soap scraps and just take a big whiff.

Time to mow. See ya! - H