Monday, October 13, 2008

Whoozyermama's First Soap...

This was a quick photo taken at night of MY FIRST SOAP because--dammit---that's the only time I have right now.

Well folks, so far I have made three batches of soap and I haven't burned my face off!!!! Thank God. I really love having a face. It works for me. I am enjoying my newfound role as Whoozyersoapmistress---lurking down to the basement, donning goggles, gloves, sweatshirt and pants, calf-length Costco shearling boots and respect for the "VIP". Lori Nova, my teacher and soap sensei likens lye to a Very Important Person (I imagine a volatile pimp)at a dating party. You handle the VIP with kid-gloves, you make sure there is a surplus of interesting and attractive dates for him at the party (more oil than the lye can saponify). You combine the oil and lye and you stir with a stick blender until the mixture resembles a light custard. You then mix in any scent and color and oh-so-carefully-because-you-like-having-a-face pour the fragrant mixture into a lined mold. You wrap your raw soap in old blankets "putting the party to bed" to mingle and synergize and then harden. 24 hours later you loosen the block of soap from the mold and cut it into bars. In a couple of days you can trim it up and make it pretty. About 5 weeks later you have a lathering bar, a keepsake from the party in the basement. Which beats a battered lampshade any day.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

lemme know if you make any lavender... I heart me some lavender!

Anonymous said...

We like the lavender too -rtd

Nicole Shaputis said...

I'm waiting on a shipment of lavender essential oil from Canada---and some more VIP-- because apparently you can't really find the VIP in stores since you can use him to make CRANK! As soon as that happens I will make the lavender and let you guys know when it's available. I need to perfect the lavender because a local olive oil farm is interested in working together on some soap--and they grow lavender too. :)

Anonymous said...

Hooray for you- some great bars of soap! Now the packaging? What about cheesecloth (still can get the sent through the cloth and I am pretty sure not super pricey )and a some twine? Rustic and organic. Great job wym. See you on wed.

Lori at The Nova Studio said...

congrats nicole on your first batches of soap - they look fantastic! sounds like you did well by & for the VIP :-)

Anonymous said...

oooh, pretty. I like the marbled looking one, what flavor is it?

My favorite soap is peppermint...wakes you up in the morning and Christmas is coming...could be a good seller.

Hugs.

Anonymous said...

Awesome job wym! The soaps look so great..let me know if you ever need a tester gal!
I don't know how you do it all...let me know your secret one day, k?
Big Sudsy Hug!
G

Erica Kain said...

That stuff looks fantastic!!! Almost edible. (But you know me... I'm weird about food these days!)

We're down to a little tiny sliver of soap right now, in case you want to test anything on our sensitive epidermi.