Bottle o'Suds.....

"All I ask is three beers apiece for each of my co-workers...I think a man workin' outdoors feels more like a man if he can have a bottle of suds. That's only my opinion." ~ quote from the movie Shawshank Redemption.

Beer anyone? 

I have been moved to jump on the beer soap bandwagon.  Why?  
Well, I'll tell you.....

My father makes a good home-brewed beer and occasionally a batch will develop a taste that isn't to his liking.  Early on, when he was still fairly new to brewing, he put a batch aside in the hope it would develop a nicer flavour with age.  Now he just pours it away.  

One day I mentioned to him that several of my soaper friends were using beer as their soaping liquid and I was thinking of trying it, especially as one of my favourite suppliers had just started stocking some of Bramble Berry's beer soaping fragrances.  He got a faraway look in his eyes and disappeared into his brewing den aka garage.  When he reappeared he was holding several bottles of pale ale with the date April 02 on the cap.  Gasp!  Vintage (tainted) beer....lol.  I grabbed them and of course had to taste test before using in my soap because they may have aged well, right?  Wrong ~ blechh!!!


Anyway it is perfect for beer soap and I have made several batches of cold process as well as a batch of beer shaving cream soap.  Using flat beer in soap seems to boost the fluffiness of the lather ... always a good thing in my opinion:~

Definitely aged well ;)

Honey Ale scented

Pumpkin Lager scented

Beer Shaving Cream Soap

I have also made a Lime Fusion beer cold process soap using Sandalwood fragrance oil blended with Lime essential oil as the scent.  Pics of this one will be coming soon!  These soaps will be ready for purchase after 18th June and you will find them on my Facebook page.

Have a wonderful day *smile*

Mothers Day Soaps (Australia)....

In Australia Mothers Day is the second Sunday in May and I have been creating lovely, feminine soaps - some old, some new - to celebrate.


Sweetpea Delight has a new colour palette and a re-worked recipe.  
I previously used rice bran oil in this, however that oil tends to accelerate trace in my soap and together with a floral fragrance oil I found myself portraying a 'crazy soaping lady' every time I made it....lol.  A soaping friend recommended soybean oil to me and once I tried it I fell in love!  I now use a blend of olive, coconut and soybean oils with shea butter for my floral soap range.  Rice bran oil is amazing in soap and body care so I use it in practically everything else I make still.  I use one of my very favourite fragrance oils from Bramble Berry, Sweet Pea, in this soap as it truly reminds me of all that a Mother is.  In Australia I source my Bramble Berry high quality fragrance oils from Jude and Dave at Aussie Soap Supplies.

Here is a new soap created for Mothers Day that will become part of my current range - Rice Flower & Shea.  I love the soft, powdery and buttery scent of this gorgeous fragrance oil and although it does slightly darken during cure (the creamy coloured top layer is perhaps one shade richer cream now) it looks wonderful with the lilac base layer and sparkly glitter on top.

'Opulence' is my buttermilk and shea recipe given a new look.  With that gorgeous gold glitter on top I couldn't call it anything else!  The scent I used in this soap has a rich almond scent with notes of cherry and buttermilk.  I plan on making this recipe in a few scent selections so I would love suggestions on what fragrance or essential oils you think would suit the rich look of this gorgeous soap *smile*

Publish Post

New Soapies for Easter!

Hello everyone ~ I have been busy imagining and creating some fun Easter soaps in the past few weeks.  My first limited edition soap is called Easter Fun ... because it was so much fun to make!

I used a chocolately dessert scent in the base and blended two of my favourite fragrance oils for the creamy layer ~ black raspberry & vanilla with froot loops (type).  This smells soooo yummy!  Just like a chocolate box.  This pic doesn't show too clearly that I also added a lovely sprinkling of irridescent cosmetic glitter to the top.  Gotta love bling *smile*

This one is called Easter Flowers and is scented with black raspberry & vanilla fragrance; simple and pretty

You can find these and more on my Facebook page.  I have some new soaps as well as favourite re-makes curing on my shelves right now.  I have to stop myself making any more soap at the moment because, well .... I have no more room!


Stay tuned for some special creations to celebrate Mothers Day ~ and have a wonderful day!

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner......

....On March 17.  Named after St. Patrick, the most recognised of the patron saints of Ireland.  It has gradually become more of a celebration of Ireland's culture .... and the colour GREEN ~

Cucumber Wasabi Cilantro Soap

Deliciously Mine Soap

Although St. Patrick's Day is an official feast day, DO NOT eat the soap! *wink*

Both these soaps are available now, in plenty of time to order as a special green gift, or just to spoil yourself.  You can find them both here ~ Green Soaps ~ in honour of St. Patricks' Day Album.

Have a wonderful day!

I just read a Meaningful Story .....

..... at this link http://www.cashandjoy.com/secrets/ and it is just so true!!!

I love this story.  I am truly passionate about making soap, making it from scratch.  Devising my own recipes and waiting (impatiently!) to test them and test them some more later on...and again later on.  Changing my recipes and testing them again....and telling everyone who will listen (and sometimes even those who won't) all about it, all the time.  Am I crazy?  Absolutely!  Crazy about making and sharing handmade soap.

I..just..love..doing..it.  

And I love what other soapmakers do.  How can I not?  I also love sharing what other soapmakers are doing - and why not?  I don't make soap like Lyn of Lynnz Artisan Soap and Candles; I don't make soap like Tiggy of Future Primitive Soap; I don't make soap like Sharon of Platypus Dreams (although I sometimes dream about doing that, as her soaps are works of art);  I don't make soap like Madame Louise of The Soap Gallery.  I make soap like ME.  Of course, I am influenced by every one of them and by many, many others; all of whom make beautiful soap that is gentle to use and a pleasure to have.

Soap is my creative outlet and the only one I have ever had.  I discovered it only a few years ago and do you know how exciting it is to realise you can be creative?  I believed that I didn't have a creative bone in my body and that just wasn't true!  It is like my soul has awoken to the beauty around me and I am translating that beauty through the medium of soapmaking.  What a pleasure.  What a passion!

What are you passionate about?  In what way are you creative?  When did you realise it?  Have you always known?  Share your journey too.

And me?  I am off to make some more soap ~ Easter is coming! *smile*

The Soap Gallery and Madame Louise......

I love soap swaps!  It is just so much fun to send off a parcel to some exotic destination and receive one in return.  This time I was fortunate enough to get a bar of Chocolate Mint Bliss soap from the wonderful formulary of Madame Louise of The Soap Gallery, situated at Winnipeg, Manitoba in the heart of Canada.  Isn't it beautiful?!

I have just finished using the very last little piece of this and it lathered right down to the last sliver.  This one smelled of a yummy choc mint dessert and the scent really bloomed for me in the shower during use.  It had a creamy, velvety lather that lasted the whole shower long and left my skin feeling soft and smooth....lovely soap!  Thank you so much Louise *mwah!*

I'm In Love!

...with the most beautiful fragrance oil.  I have lots of favourites I must admit, however right now my absolute favourite is 'Be Delicious (DKNY type) fragrance oil from my supplier Big Trees.  The scent description says "Interpretation of the Donna Karan New York™ (Brand) fragrance. Fruity and vibrant, this fragrance is uplifting and mouthwatering - a compilation of green apple, grapefruit and white amber."  

I soaped this on Monday using one of my WSP silicone loaf moulds as a test.  I also made enough soap batter to fill my 3 new individual Bebe silicone soap moulds which I got as Christmas presents from my family.  I am so happy with how well the Bebe moulds worked with my recipe and how easy they were to unmould too.  

Here they are with the soap setting up in them~

And here are the soaps unmoulded ~

The soap loaf - not yet cut ~

I am calling this 'Deliciously Mine' and it is the first of my new range of mild soaps based on my Gentle Teddy oil blend, without the goats milk ~ a moisturising high olive oil soap with luxurious tussah silk for the silkiest lather.  I will be scenting these with a new range of sophisticated fragrances including 'Cucumber Wasabi Cilantro' as well as 'Passionflower & Acai Berry', 'Japanese Cherry Blossom' and 'Rice Flower & Shea'.


What is your favourite fragance?  I am definitely partial to sweet and fruity or light floral scents as well as almost all citrus *smile*


Have a wonderful weekend!

It's Summer Time......

.....in the Southern Hemisphere and I love getting ready for Christmas while cicadas are singing and my wonderful gardenia is blossoming

Can't you just smell these?


One day I plan on visiting the Northern Hemisphere to experience a white Christmas, however until then the white of my gardenia flowers will suffice *smile*


What are your plans for Christmas?  Will you stay home?  Travel?  Do you have any special traditions you follow?  Up until now my husband's parents have come to us and spent several days visiting.  My children loved to wake them up on Christmas morning so they could watch the present opening ~ fun!  Now that they have both passed we will be having a quiet Christmas morning at home and then will be hosting relatives for dinner.  This year I will be cooking turkey, slicing ham and putting together salads.  Oh, and making my microwave pudding.  I have almost perfected changing it over to gluten-free without it being too dry.  Maybe this year it will be just right!


Have a wonderful Festive Season, however you celebrate it.  Take care on the roads if you are travelling and stay safe, happy and healthy ~ Namaste

Shaving Soap!

Do you have a special man in your life (or men) who prefers to shave with a razor?  Well I do, so I have made my first Shaving Soap!  I am really excited about it and look forward to my testers feedback.  Of course, girls shave too don't we, so I encourage you to lather your legs with this luscious, mild and moisturising soap *smile*

This first tester is scented with crisp, fresh notes of citrus, cucumber, passionfruit, wasabi, cilantro and fern; teamed with moisturising glycerine and aloe vera juice; a generous amount of avocado oil and shea butter for a nourishing boost; and with tussah silk and kaolin clay included for excellent razor glide.  A mild shaving soap allowing you to build the perfect lather.  It will be available for purchase early in 2011 and will be individually scented with your preferred fragrance, by the pot or solid puck.

 

 

Have a wonderful day!

Finally Took A Pic......

.....of my latest batch of Light Body Nectar.  I wanted to develop a luscious, moisturising body and hand lotion that spreads well yet sinks in fast with a lovely, light after-feel.  My result was even better than I had hoped!

It is made with a generous amount of aloe vera juice teamed with my favourite skin-loving oils of rice bran, soybean, jojoba and with some yummy cocoa butter to help protect your skin.  If you would like to try some you can find it on my Facebook page.


Now it is time to sit here with my cuppa and browse some of my favourite websites, so 'bye for now and have a wonderful day! *smile*