Lisa's post above makes me think.. Any creative ideas for a host/hostess gift? I usually

Would love to learn more about this....I just remembered on Gails you wrote about it...

Would love some details, if you have some time please....
Completely out of my comfort zone, but willing to give it a shot....Sounds like a fun project.

Since we are talking soap, you can imagine my surprise/horror(!!) when I was cooking/cleaning last night and realized that DH was trying to help earlier in the day, by replacing our kitchen hand soap. Imagine my surprise, as I was trying to "taste" my chicken tetrazinni for seasoning, only to smell IRISH SPRING!!

Those soaps should not be allowed in a kitchen!!

Best,
Barb

 
Thanks so much for the ideas!! Much appreciated!! I think I was in a routine w/ the wine, but love

your ideas!!

 
some info for you...

this is one of those things that seems very daunting until you actually try it, then it's easy. LOL I remember fretting over my first batch and Jules (whatever happened to her?) held my cyber hand about 12 years ago and got me through it.

The link takes you to an online soaper's page that has all the information you need to start. Below is the recipe that I based my early efforts on. It's easy and nearly fool proof if you follow the instructions. I like sweetcakes.com for fragrance oils. I order my lye and oils in bulk, so I don't have any recommendations other than your local grocery and hardware store (for lye).


*Rachael's "Tried and True" Recipe (Thanks to Rachael Levitan)
48 ounces Crisco (a 3-pound can--NOTE that Crisco is no longer in 3-pound cans!)
21 ounces Soybean Oil (or Olive, Canola, or a blend of these)
18 ounces Coconut Oil
28 ounces of cold water
12 ounces lye crystals
Temperatures: 100 degrees

Trace by hand should be in about 20 minutes. If you use a stick blender, be careful as trace can occur in a minute or less.

Cure about 24-48 hours before cutting.

Trace: is when the mixture begins thickening. You need to stop stirring and pour into your mold when you have a heavy white sauce consistency. If you get to pudding consistency, you are in danger of having it set up and you won't be able to pour.

Molds: for years I used old plastic containers I got from the fish counter at my market. They were large flat size. But there are a lot of options, you need plastic or wood, do not use metal, no matter how cute the mold, because you will say goodbye to that mold when the lye starts on it.

After you pour, the mixture goes through a chemical process called saponification. Many people freat about the lye, but once this chemical process is complete, the fat and the lye have turned into a new chemical compound, which we call soap. So, the mixture when you're stirring and pouring is still caustic to your skin, don't think of it as soap. It has to "cure" and complete this process before it is then "soap."


Let me know if you have any questions.

http://millersoap.com/soapallveg.html

 
At the risk of being accused of...

shameless self promotion, how about a piece of hand made pottery? smileys/teeth.gif

 
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