LovelyLathers

Thanks for the info. I think I have finally got it! The video helped TexasBrat. I found out the gauge wire I was using was too small and the wire kept breaking when I was twisting it too much. Went with the 24 gauge and it worked fine. Now to see if I can do the smaller crystals with the lower gauge with out breaking it. The smaller ones look to heavy with the bigger wire.

I printed out a priority label this morning and it did go up also. I think it was .25.

Linda I never used pumpkin oil in soap what does it add? I love mango butter in my soap especially my facial soap.

Very nice! Yes if you use the chai tea you will have to use the FO. I can't remember where I got mine though. Not a great seller so I didn't continue making it.

I am trying my hand at wire wrapped crystals anyone do these? I am having trouble figuring out the wire gauge, also making them tight enough so I don't feel they are going to fall out of the wire. Thanks, Sue

LB shaving truffles has peaked my interest! I never heard of them. I ended up making Patchouli Chocolate, Patchouli Raspberry soap and I love them. I am not a patch fan at all. I did get made a Lavender sage and pine tar. Not as much as I wanted to but I am trying my hand at some jewelry making and I spent way to much time on it. Miss Mori you have your hands full with that many samples! I thought 20 or so were a lot to play with.

They look great especially for the 1st time.

I wouldn't add the leaves unless you ground them up. I use the contents of the tea bag with out any problems. I also make a strong chai tea to use as my lye water.

It is suppose to be a snowy weekend so I am hoping to get a lot made, at least 12 to 15 batches. I just finished rendering 25 lbs of tallow . What a job that was. I have to make restocks of shaving soap, Dead Sea Mud soap and quite a few others. The one I hate most is Pine Tar!. Play around with some new FO's, for a new line I am thinking of carrying. Hope everyone has a great soaping weekend!

Thanks Sherry and dnj. Since those pics I have added lavender tulle draping on the walls of the tent and love them, really dresses the whole thing up. I have no idea what I would do with out those risers. They are lightweight to carry and fold flat which makes it great for the market and shows. Covered with contact makes them easy to wipe clean. I know you will love them Sherry

They are beautiful! Love the first one.

I use the 4 step ones for my soaps. I had the same ones the past 5 years. I have never had a problem with them. When they started to look "shop worn" I covered them with white contact paper, it has worked out great. This is what they look like set up.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovelylathers2010/5325130202/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lovelylathers2010/5324524243/in/photostream/

Looks great. Congrats on your first batch.

I love the neons. I use them all the time. You can get the colors you want by adding more or less. I also mix them with black for a deeper color and can be mixed with TD to get a light pastel. Be careful though Strawberry morphs into orange otherwise they are great!

I would put an expiration date of a year from when I bought it not made it.. As long as you keep it in a cool, dry area it will be fine. After a year I feel the shea starts to break down and will not be as effective. Also if you add FO's to it make sure they are not old.

Thanks for the link ProudMarineMom. I will check them out.

I am sorry about your Nephew. I am not a candle maker and do not know who Tom is. Would you let me know who he is? I would love one of his candles to give as a gift. Thanks.

I agree with Scented, those 2 sites are great. If you have any questions after reading and researching just ask here many of us will be glad to help you out. You can also send me a pm and I will be more than happy to help. Welcome to the world of soap making! Relax and have fun with it.

Very Pretty! Great swirls!

I also add 1 TBLS PP and grind it very fine. The scrubbie will be less harsh the finer it is.

I have heard of people allergic to latex may also be allergic to shea. http://www.aromaceuticals.com/blog/shea-butter-latex-allergies

Here are some links to nut tree allergies and shea. http://allergicliving.com/index.php/2010/07/02/ask-the-allergists-pt-1/

and http://farrp.unl.edu/resources/gi-fas/opinion-and-summaries/shea-nut-butter

Hope they help.

I don't use FCO in my lip balms. I use bees wax, babassu, shea or cocoa ( I have customers who are allergic to one or the other), sunflower, safflower, a touch of castor.. If I want to play around a little some times I add rosehip or pumpkin oils, palm, Squalene (if I add it I only use a tiny bit that's all you need). I also make one with emu for a heavy duty skiers one.

I use babassu in lip balms, bath & body products and soaps. I have a few customers allergic to coconut oils who have no problem with the babassu. It certainly is more moisturizing than coconut and glides nicely.

Babassu is a good sub but a bit more expensive. I use it for some of my coconut a lot.

Glad you both had good shows. 3 shows in one weekend You must have really worked hard and you should be exhausted Candybee! I did not do one this weekend but my store was so busy! I think it was the busiest I have ever been, I know I made lots of $$! Tons of gift baskets sold as well as soaps and scrubs were a big seller also.