First attempt: Framed soap

Yesterday I was busy trying my hand at framed soap, and today I got to cut it. Above are the photos I took. I did do a cutting video but didn't like it because I had my arm in the way most of the time - silly billy. I named this soap Autumn Grace. The photos of it in the mold are just after pouring, so the colours are a little more vibrant. I tried to do a copper and green autumnal feel but my copper was more orangey than I'd have liked it to be. I'm still proud of my top swirl and it's scented with a Chanel no. 5 type which is heavenly. I'm pretty pleased with the frame, even though it's uneven I still think it's good for a first try ^_^

This soap is completely cold process, vegan and palm free. This palm-free recipe is what I'm keeping now, I am ridiculously pleased with it hehe. I smile every time I think about my lather. I did do a lather test video today which I'll try to edit and post tonight if I'm not too tired.

Take care all :) xx

Finished Tropicana Liquid Soap

Here is the finished liquid soap. I used a green colourant and added Tropicana fragrance oil, it smells really fresh and fruity hehe. It smells a lot like lemon, which is why I chose green. Very summery but sadly summer's almost over. Not too sad though because I love autumn ^_^

I'm so proud and happy with the clarity, I poured some into this lotion bottle to use in the shower because I just can't wait to try it. It's in a lotion bottle because it's too thick for the foamer bottle hehe. Getting it that thick without a thickener took a lot of patience but it was worth it. The rest is sequestering and should hopefully get even clearer.

I've already tried some on my hands and they feel so soft now, I'm quite surprised it seems a lot milder than my bar soaps. Which makes me ponder on the thought that it really matters which oils you use and not so much how much you superfat. I will be remembering that when I formulate a new bar soap recipe. More shea and olive maybe? I really wish sunflower oil soaps weren't so prone to rancidity because I'm starting to really love that little oil.

On another note I spent some time today making some vegan chickpea curry, I used this recipe from the Vegetarian Society. There are lots of other recipes around though with a few variations , I decided to leave out the almonds because I'm not a fan of nuts. Had some for dinner today and it was beautiful! If you like spice but not too hot and fresh flavours I suggest you try this. I made the whole 12 portions and am freezing the other 11. I think I will make this a regular because it was just so tasty ^_^

More coming next week, hope you had a good weekend! Take care all :) xxx

New Pear Palm Free

Yesterday I tried a new base recipe using no palm oil and here is the result. I might try to do a lather test clip with this one once it's cured a bit. I have of course already tried it hehe but my camerawoman isn't here today :P For this recipe I used coconut, olive, castor and peach kernel oils with some cocoa butter ^_^ I'm hoping this is going to be a nice conditioning bar and I hope I don't lose too many bubbles. It's scented with pear and it smells so fresh, very summery.

I tried to do some textured 'Lyn Tops', her blog and here's her tutorial vid. It was very kind of her to share this on the soapmaking forums. I have learned so much from everybody there so thank you to all of them ^_^ It's a great place to learn and share anything to do with soap making and bath/body products :D

I'm having a real hard time getting good pictures, by good pictures I mean that they actually look like what I'm photographing, at the moment due to having two quite bad cameras. I think I'll be investing in a better camera soon so please bare with me and the rubbish photos hehe. I put some tissue paper underneath and around the soap so I could get as true a colour of the soap as possible.

Today I'm kind of halfway through making some more cupcake soaps, and I will be posting pics of them tomorrow, hopefully they come out nice ^_^