Jcandleattic

Because my orders are usually small enough it's most economical for me (and my customers) to use USPS flat rate. Either FR envelope or boxes. Sometimes the regional rates are cheaper depending on the weight...

Good luck! With as nice as your stuff looks I'm sure luck will not have much to do with it!

A little late considering the weekend is already upon us, but what are your plans? For me I have to make more of my freshly fallen snow in a bigger mold because I've had so many inquiries about it from all the different forums and FB I've posted too, and also my mom and sister saw it and they both want a couple bars each. So I'll be doing that, I also received a mold from a dear friend from this board (Thank you again 7 Pawz!!) it's a deep snowflake mold that I finally decided would be perfect for a salt bar. I am not sure on scent but I do know it will be a peppermint blend of some sort, be a light pink and I will be using both table and Himalayan pink salt in it. Then I will also need to make up another masterbatch of my soaping oils once my hub gets back with getting my Olive Oil. (My sister works at Sam's Club so I make her get my OO for me and my hub picks it up from her that way I get her discount on top of Sam's bulk prices. ) And on top of this I need to clean my house from top to bottom, washing walls and shampooing carpets because I am hosting an annual Memorial Party for my brother. It's been 11 years and we do this every year, so my house goes through this every year as well. LOL The reason for the party is sad, but it's always a great time, and my brother used to always tell us "I have the best friends in the world, nobody has better friends than I do" and he was absolutely right. I have never run across a group of people better than this core of his friends. He grew up with them which in turn means I grew up with them as well, and to this day they all still hang out together and are best of friends. It's a fun group, and this party has brought me closer to them as well. They are all like brothers and sisters to me. So that's about it for me. What about y'all? Anything fun or pressing this weekend? (Oh and I had shows but they got cancelled and it's just as well, I have so much other to do! - I'll start up again on the 25th)

I've never heard of making candles with tallow so I can't advise on that at all. A paraffin/beeswax blend will most likely not be a cheaper candle to make as beeswax is rather expensive IMO and because it is such a hard solid wax it is very hard to wick. All properly made candles regardless of wax will hold no greater health risk than the other while burning. All waxes come from natural resources, then go through a manufacturing process that adds chemicals and takes out impurities. All candles when burned emit carbon dioxide, soot and smoke - it is a by product of fire - it just is. Even though it seems cleaner with what people consider the more natural waxes because the soot is white or not as noticeable doesn't mean it's not there. As OG said though, if you don't want a paraffin or palm wax you can try a soy pillar blend. They are readily available by most reputable candle supply companies.

You can do it! You won't regret it. Don't be scared, just respectful of the process and the chemicals you are using. Once you get 2-3 batches under your belt you will have less anxiety and can enjoy it even that much more.

Thank you. I can't wait to make the next one and show you guys!! (if it turns out that is! )

I haven't used a commercial soap in almost 25 years. Before I started making soap, I would buy homemade soap from crafters at craft shows. My cousin - who owns goats and sheep - would make GM soap occasionally as well and I get some from her. Then I started making my own and I must say as much as I loved the crafters soaps and my cousins, I make such a better product than they did. I don't know if it's because there is more information readily available now than there was back then, or if it's all in my head or what, but that's how I feel. Several years ago I went on a trip and forgot to bring my soap, and I had to use the hotel soap. I thought I was going to go out of my mind itching and scratching - and this was after just one shower. After that, I tried washing my body with my shampoo. It was marginally better, but not by much. I will NEVER forget to pack a bar of my soap on my travels again, and if I do, I will search until I can find a market, a whole foods, something - that has handmade soaps... (or just do a water bath - seriously I will NEVER use a commercial soap again - never - even if I stop making I will seek out good handmade soap) I do still use lotion, but mostly I use my own handmade lotions that I've been making for about a year and a half now. I used to use and still get some from B&BW every now and then, (I call it market research) and try them just for their scents. LOL

I do this at all my shows. My large bars are $6 each or 4/$20 My small bars are $5 each or 3/$12 I sell a LOT of sets. Also, at shows you will get negotiators. I try not to bargain, especially if I'm doing good, but if the person looks like they need the lower price, or if it's at the end of the day I will decide if I want to bargain or not. Most of the time I do, just to reduce my inventory, and make some extra money to boot. (It's the accounting after the bargaining that is not so fun! LOL) I used to always offer gift baskets at my shows, and I rarely sold any. The ones I did were usually to men who needed last minute gifts because they "forgot" or "didn't know what else to get" They were definitely not a big money maker for me.

Thank you guys. I know I can improve it. I unmolded too soon. I assumed it gelled, which it did not and a LOT of it stuck in the mold. But I will know next time to leave it in the mold longer, and instead of doing straight layers I'll mix the embeds around a bit more to get less of a lined look and more of a random look. It was fun and I like the technique. so I will continue it.

And it floats!! Not as pretty as I would have liked, but it gives me ideas on how to make it better, and I do have another one in the planning stage!

It's one of my favorites! I love it. I'm not in the swap, (don't really make tarts) but if you want an ounce to try, PM me and I'll send you some.

It depends. If I am going to color my whole batch a single color I add my colorant to my oils before adding in my lye (I do this with TD for every batch and then additional color if I want it to be a single colored soap) If I'm going to color for swirl I usually put my colorant in separate containers and add only enough oil to get it to mix (always an oil I have in the batch already, but not subtracted from the batch and not added in to the soapcalc - this way it just adds to the superfat but not by a significant amount) then pour emulsified soap batter into the colorant containers, mix well and then proceed with my soaping. I hope this makes sense. I'm not very good at explaining things, sorry... (Visual is usually always better for me)

Maybe this place? IDK - I've never shopped or even heard of this place but out of my google search these seem to be the "cheapest" http://www.100candles.com/led_tea_lights.htm

Black Raspberry Vanilla (Peaks is the best I've tried out of NG, WSP, BB) Winterberry (Aztec - smells more berry oob and in candles - in soap it's more of a Berries & Cream scent) Fresh Fruit Slices (has all sort of fruits and berries scent) Cranberry Citrus (Peaks - much better in wax than soap - it's a great citrusy cranberry scent!) Strawberry Preserves (NG - in candles this used to be one of my best sellers! In soap, like most strawberry scents it morphs into a plastic, fake yucky scent) Apple Berry (this is my own mix of Enchanted Apple from Peak with some BRV and FFS - it's amazing!) And I forgot to add another of my favorites! Wild Berry Musk (Peak) LOVE IT. Both in candles and soap...

Hope Chest Childhood Memories Antique Shop Wood Shop Lumber Yard Saw Horse (I've never smelled it so am winging it (and am terrible at naming things) - but these are things that make me thing cedar)

Shar, do you use any sort of mats? I know it will probably not eliminate the pain, but they certainly help. I won't do shows without my foam/padded locking mats. It's just way too hard on the feet and knees.

Isn't testing fun?!?!?

Thank you. Last year I almost did.

The show I did this weekend (my first of the season) I havent' done in years, and don't remember how it compares, I know I used to do okay, and I did okay on Saturday as well. Of course I would have liked to do better, but I didn't do bad. I did well enough to sign up to do it again next year. I have a show almost every other weekend now until Christmas, so will let you know as the season progresses. The show I'm doing on the 25th this year, last year I did better than I've done at any show ever, and it was one of the smallest shows I've ever done - there were only I think maybe 12 vendors total at this location, it's is in a fellowship hall of a tiny Lutheran church, off on a side road. I hope I do well at it again this year.

That did turn out nice.

No, not surprising. More disappointing than anything because you are right, people not doing proper research and just parroting what they've heard as gospel. *sigh*

See, TallTayl, everything you said is why I've never had any inclination to make a dog soap. For one, like Candybee, I'm hesitant because I know dogs skin and the pH balance is different for them than for us, and their skin can get dry and irritated so much faster than ours, (hence not sure CO is a good choice!) and scents can be over irritating to them, etc., etc., ... I've also read that avocado oil is a big no-no for dogs, but on the Facebook groups it's one of the most recommended oils for a doggie soap. Makes me nervous and confused... I think I may just scrap the idea and either use the Dawn, or continue with the commercial brand we have. It's a "premium" shampoo specifically for her breed, but not sure I can really trust that, you know?

Oh and I should mention that I have no desire to sell dog soaps either, so whatever I make would be for our own pup(s) but it still has to be good, kwim? She is way to spoiled to use an inferior product. Another reason I'm looking into making my own.

I was planning on making my own and keeping it scent free since she sneezes so much with the one commercial shampoo I have now. I don't have a scent free castille. I do have a lovespell 75% OO 25% CO but wasn't sure about the CO and am not to keen on using a scented bar at 5% FO on her. I looked at the Soaping 101 videos/recipes but it just doesn't seem right. Her recipe is 25% Olive Oil 25% PKO (but listed as Palm) 25% CO 13.7% RBO 8.3% Castor A combo of Peppermint/Lemongrass/Eucalyptus EO's... I would skip the EO's of course, but as sensitive as dogs' skin is, I'm not sure if that high of a percentage of Coconut oil would be good either. Also on the recipe itself it lists the PKO as Palm but in her video she says Palm Kernal flakes. So that's confusing also. I don't use Palm but do have PKO, but also, another oil that doesn't really seem like it should be used on dogs, but I really just do not know and have no idea where to go to research or start. As I said, a google search was more than useless. :-/

I never thought I would want to make a homemade dog soap, but the soap/shampoo I have for our pup is just not right - I don't like it, it's gritty, supposedly has a whitener in it but she is no whiter after her bath than before, and it just doesn't smell any good. I tried searching the files but am search stupid and can't find anything. Any suggestions on where I can research this and what oils I can/should use? When I try to google it, and basically it says to mix vinegar with Dawn dish detergent. That's really not what I'm looking for. I have a commercial shampoo we use, but it doesn't suds, it doesn't really get the pup clean, and I think the scent irritates her (she sneezes several times after getting out of the bath EVERY time no matter how well I rinse her - could be because she's cold/wet, or because of the scent. It's not overpowering, but I know dogs noses are more sensitive than ours are) TIA