IndulgentCreations

Sounds lovely!

Lye should should have been 5.29 (sound about right?) and water at 14.44. Did you perhaps use more water than what was called for?

I like a 20% superfatted, 100% coconut oil soap.

That would be a super hard bar too.

Nope. I've used coconut milk (not really a milk), goats milk, buttermilk, whole milk, coffee, beer, etc. The sky is the limit

If you want a brick bar do a salt bar. You can get a great salt bar with 2 oils.

You'll have to post your exact recipe for me to be able to give any advice. The way you gelled it is definately not the issue, I'd say more recipe calculation.

I use 1oz. PPO in all of mine. It works out great because it gives me some really stong scents and some that are lighter. I've found in my 3 years of selling that customers shop that way, I've found my clients are broken into those 2 groups.

How warm did you soap? If everything else is the same it sounds like you soaped too hot.

I have always heard that streaky soap is caused from too much stearic. Did you melt your palm and stir it before weighing out what you needed or was it no stir palm? Just a thought.

TKB is good. If you'd rather work with a liquid Select Shades from Tradewinds is also another decent one. I started there and moved up to oxides & ultramarines on I got the hang of how things work.

CareBear can you update us once you get a chance to try them out??? I've been wanting to order a log mold as I only use slabs now. Been wanting to order from Upland but I'm the type when I order I don't want to wait forever to get it!

I use a great coconut from ICS called Cocomilk...it's awesome and stick very well. I layer it, color the bottom brown, top white and then sprinkle real coconut on the top. It's always sold fantastic for me. Here's what it looks like... http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=25854890

HTH

I'd keep emailing (I've been told it's more effective). Last I heard orders were at least 4 weeks out from the time you ordered.

I haven't heard that they're going out of business but can tell you that the CS issue has been ongoing for over a year, maybe closer to 2. They have the best molds out there but many have worked to find other companies because of the same issues you're having. From what I've heard, if you ordered a mold, you'll get it eventually....

Stevia is the way to go but as Carrie said sweetened lip balms really defeat the purpose as most ned up licking it off anyways.

Uline rocks! That's where I get all of mine and they're 1000 ft rolls.

So sorry to hear of your loss. As a parent of an only child this is something that I have always feared and I'm not sure how I could cope.

As for finding a good clear base...you might try Essentials by Catalina. She has a great clear base that has a blue tint in the box but melts down clear. HTH

My thoughts are with you.

April

I'd go ahead and try it in soap. Usually with shea you don't use a huge amount and it'll probably be fine.

You'll get some gray bubbles with anything black. Never had a complaint from anyone. If you'd like to see the black with clay click the link in my siggy line and look at my dragons blood soap.

You can also check out Texas Natural Supply for EO's. I just ordered tea tree and lemongrass from them and both are of great quality. They might not have been the cheapest I could have found but overall on both their price was ok.

You also have the option to use black clay from New Directions. I use both charcoal and clay, never have used oxide but get a nice true black with both as you can see in my avi which is one with charcoal.

Go to Uline.com and order a roll of shrink tubing. It's way cheaper and I sit while watching TV and cut them to fit my bars. I can get about 1000 per roll.

I just went to a Pampered Chef party and when I got my order all the stuff was made in China, I was really disgusted.

Yea a great American company, hey?

Which is the exact reason I won't buy anything from them anymore!

Are you doing HP? If so you'd be better to have someone weigh in that does HP, I'm a CPOP gal. I always assume people are talking about CP since it seems to be the main method.

Wow and you're using a lard and tallow bleand which is fab!!!