Cedar Leaf

Very beautiful! I tried to do a swirl like that before but it just didn't work out and I gave up. This just goes to show that it is more than possible. I'll have to get busy and work on this technique again. Thanks! Linda

Just wondering if anyone knows whether epson salt will work in cp salt soap bars? I know that sea salt and table salt are good choices -- I try to stay away from iodized salt. I also know that Dead Sea Salts do Not work. I have some Hawaiian salts that a friend wanted me to use for a salt bar but it also has epsom salt in it -- I keep dragging my heels -- Is there anyone who knows if epsom salts cause any problem... Thanks! Linda

Looking at several bars last night that were stamped earlier in the day, I have concluded that the citrus eo has just changed the color. The mica is still there but the color is not. All the other bars that I stamped are just fine. Some thing to be said about the learning curve! For those who stamp is there a better way than using a fine paint brush for appling the mica to the stamp? I had heard of using glycerine but that was a mistake! For those of you that feel successful using stamps would you share pointers, please? Thanks, Linda

Is there a trick to using micas with soap stamps? Do micas ever go bad? Or are there different grades of micas that may not entirely set on a bar of soap? I was sooo excited to get my butterfly and bee soap stamps this morning and cut some soap and stamped it. Someone had given me some micas and I used a twilight blue on an orange essential oil soap -- thought I might call it orange grove. When I finally put it on my cure rack the blue had sort of disappeared -- I noticed it while I was stamping earlier but thought that on the first bars I stamped just didn't use enough mica. I have another stamp and mica that stays just fine. Looking for answers, Linda

Jeana - I just took everything out of my hall closet and had room for the two shelves I use to cure my soap in -- I set them facing each other on either end of this small closet. The dehumidifyer sits between these two shelves. Oh and the hallway smells soooo fresh! Linda

I have a friend who uses a dehumidifier to shorten cure time. A few years ago when she used this process extensively she did it in her bathroom. Of course this dehydrates the soap. I'll have to ask but think she only need a few days to get her soap ready to package and ship. She talks now as she is expanding her soap room of a bank of closets with shelves for the soaps but enough room at the bottom for her humidifiers. I always thought her technique was rather clever! Has anyone else tried this? I am trying this week getting soap ready for a show on the 2nd of April. I'll let you know how it goes for me. Linda

...someone had mentioned an oil infusion, maybe heated and then strained? I guess I'll just have to try it and see. Exfoliation is not what I am primarily looking for. I bought the rosehip powder from a soap site and just marvel that information about color would be given and not how to achieve that result! Is there anyone who has actually used rosehip for color? Linda

I have always used 100% lanolin or vitamin e capsules. You would want something that did not overly melt and absorb into clothing. Welcome to you! Linda

I have read that rosehips can be used to make a rose to burgandy color in soap. I tried it in CP just adding it after emulsion but didn't get anything like that -- only brown. Do I need to make an oil infusion with the rosehips? TIA Linda

Sorry for the typo , it is herbalcom.com. BTW some of their line is organic. They have their country of origin listed, which I very much appreciate. As much trouble as there has been with things from China I would rather not buy from them for sure! Linda

Have any of you tried HerbaCom.com? They have many different herbs etc. for wonderful prices on the pound and free shipping. They sell powders and cut and sifted herbs etc. Linda

Is there anyone that is rebatching and likes the results? I do CP and realize how much more talent it takes to do HP and make it look good. I have tried rebatch a few times but never with any stellar results. Do any of you have tips for successful rebatching? Linda

I'd love to get Potasium Hydroxide at a decent price -- it just seems wrong to pay 5 dollars a pound for Sodium or for Potasium when I can get the Sodium Hydroxide locally for 1.04 a pound. I also don't have a problem with you double bagging the lye, in a plastic bag with a wire tie and then in a slide zip freezer bag. In theory it sound like it would work. Can it be shipped with the USPS flat rate? Linda

Welcome Dragonfly! Not being new to soaping is good, you will enjoy more on this board. The people are incredibly sharing and very talented as well! Great to have you! Linda

Carebear, I have a milk castile that I have made also but it is 100% olive oil and comes out crisp and hard. You must use other oils with the olive? Linda