Michelle at WW

I just got some EO blends that I'm going to try out in bath bombs. Doing test single batches today, double batches tomorrow if they work out. Then coordinating soy votives. Michelle

HI, I guess I'll have to spend the money and get one (CAD$6.50 plus tax for one)! I found it in Toronto in the tiniest little store called Sapon. I did buy their body scrub. It was great... Off to try replicate it! Thanks, Michelle

Hi, I was in a store where they had bath bombs that had a rose bud peeking out of the top. The sales person said that they "bloomed" once the bomb dissolved. Have any of you heard of these or seen them? Does anyone know where you would get the rose bud? Thanks, Michelle

Have you contacted SJ at CanWax (www.canwax.com)? She's in Mississauga. OOPS! I just re-read your post and realized you didn't want to go there. Michelle

I'm going to try to make rosemary lavender bath bombs. If they turn out, a long bath is in order on Sunday! I also have some Red Currant & Sage to try out in something... Michelle

I started off slow. First, a 10lb slab of 4794, some votive molds, wicks, a few sample fragrances, dye chips... Then I started dipping critters, so a slab of pillar wax and some more fragrance... And then I bought my first case of wax... And then I tried some containers which led to my first case of jars... and one month I don't quite know what happened, but I suddenly had a new closet built in the basement with shelving for these multiplying fragrance oils and four types of wax... And then I found out that I had the knack for making bath bombs (or the right recipe with the right humidity, anyway)... And people loved them... And I needed to experiment with different butters and carrier oils and colours... And the collection grew. And if I was going to do bath bombs, well why not CP soap? So, the accumulation of products, and more shelving in the aforementioned closet to keep the kids away from my NaOH... DH made me a wooden soap mold. And then I thought I'd play with M&P (one of my suppliers was having a sale)... Bought a shelving unit for curing soap... Does it ever end? I'm going to need my own little workshop some day soon! Michelle

Hi, I made some more dipped critters (in Crushed Velvet and Vanilla Honey Butter) to come to a craft show with me. Show was today. Didn't make booth. It was raining out. I know I wanted to roll over and go back to sleep when the alarm went off, so can't blame the customers. For the rest of the weekend, I think I'm going to put every sign of soap, bath bombs, candles and dipped critters away and reclaim my kitchen to make dinner for 8 people. But I'll have a good long nap first. Michelle

Bath bombs first, CP soap second, M&P soap third. Michelle

Well, I was going to do votives and containers in Sweet Grass... Did that. And I have to dip some critters for a show this coming Friday. Needed some bunnies, so I went off to my suppliers to see what there was to see this morning... Spent too much money - that's the danger of being able to drive to two suppliers, both with Saturday hours! But now I have some pretty baskets for my bath bombs and 8 new fragrances to test, including one that my supplier renamed "Muskoka Boathouse" - in addition to restocking my bears and getting some cute bunnies and chicks. Decided at 10pm to make a few batches of aroma beads to get some sachets ready for my Mother's Day gift baskets. So they are soaking up the scent right now. Lastly, my accountant is coming over after my kids' swimming lessons tomorrow morning to help me finish setting up Quick Books! Critters will get made sometime over the next couple of days! Michelle

Hi, I got a call today from someone looking for unity candles east of Toronto. Does anyone make them? If so, send me a note and I'll hook you up. Michelle (jmhamelin@yahoo.com)

How about having them naked in a tissue lined wicker basket (one basket per scent) for viewing and selection, but have customers put them in a velum Chinese food take out box? I can get four of my bombs into one box (I use a 60mm ornament mold). Michelle

Today is strawberry day! I also have to restock Clean Cotton votives - a friend was over and bought out my stock! I'm also debating playing with some M&P I bought a little while ago. Michelle

I use "fishermen's gloves" - heavy duty rubber with fleece lining purchased at my local hardware store. I pour any leftover wax into a Chinese food take out container (brand new, purchased at Sam's Club), pop on the lid and mark the scent. Then I just have to re-melt it when I need more of that scent. Michelle

I'm glad you asked because I spent some time looking at the egg crates site last night and figured mine were too big for that solution! Michelle

Right now, I am testing Easter Lily. I'll be working with my accountant on setting things up in QuickBooks Pro on Saturday. Apparently I was making things too complicated! Sunday: trying a different soap recipe, unscented; make more Easter Lily and Spring Crocus candles if tests are good. Michelle

Hi, How do you package your bath bombs? Right now, I am putting them in polypro bags, but would like something a little more professional looking. Thanks, Michelle

Hi, The fragrance oil was Creamy Cinnamon Chai, probably from Royal Aromatics. It's to die for in candles and is skin safe. (I get it from my Canadian supplier and most of her FO are from Royal Aromatics.) She did a test on it in CP and it turned out OK. That is what encouraged me to try it out. Robin, you are right. The soap is a little soft - except the scraps I rolled into a ball and am playing with. The ball has firmed up somewhat. I can smell the fragrance when I get close to the curing area, but not when I actually pick up a bar. I can't identify what I do smell, but it seems like olive oil meets something rather than "Creamy Cinnamon Chai" (which smells like like a nice warm drink on a cold winter's day). Maybe the scent will return as you suggested. The recipe: 201g sodium hydroxide 538.7g distilled water 595.3g olive oil 454g coconut oil 396.9g palm oil 12g grapefruit seed extract 35ml FO I think I will try to find my patience and wait and see. At the end of the month, if it still doesn't smell like it should, I'll do my first rebatching. In the meantime, I think I read someone's post that said Castille was a better place to start out. That'll keep me busy! Thanks, Michelle

Hi, I made my first batch of CP soap two weeks ago. Of course, being the newbie I am at it, I was a little impatient... didn't wait for my oils to cool enough... and my batch seized a bit. However, being well-read in this (thanks to everyone's posts), I very quickly molded it and it turned out OK. But, I seem to have lost my fragrance. My question: can I rebatch this one? The recipe was the Essential Bar II from the Soapmaker's Companion. Thanks in advance, Michelle

I have had good success with peppermint and orange EO. Michelle

I'm also an oil girl. Sweet Almond, some melted cocoa butter... Michelle

I can't stand Clean Cotton. Smells like Tide gone wrong. Jasmine comes in as a very close 2nd.

Hi, I use those stackable medication sorters. It's a plastic "tube", about the width of a tealight, with a different section for each day of the week. Each "day" screws on and off and you can stack more on if you want. I just pour some of my leftovers from my latest batch and then label it. I'd attach a picture, but I lent it to my SIL for one of her friends to choose some fragrances! Michelle

Hi EMercier, I agree that you should bring as much as you have ready, particularly having at least one sample of each scent. One thing you can consider is getting deposits for your orders. That way you won't be out of money while you make your products. Michelle