I was experimenting with a new soap recipe yesterday and the bars at the front are unscented and well basically just soap without the frills. If they turn out to be nice, firm bars, I will use them to practice handmilling! I'm experimenting with getting smooth bars via handmilling and one of the techniques involved using freshly made day old soap instead of waiting for the soap to cure. I have yet to tell if the experiment is a disaster although the soap certainly didn't melt smoothly. It looked like a gloppy messy pile of...glop.
The soap hiding shamefully in the back is my ham soap. They've darkened slightly although I still think they look like ham! Actually, from the picture, they sort of like pate now. Their only saving grace is the fact that they smell like a fudge brownie. I'm making more soap soon for Dan's father's birthday which is coming up. This time, I'm going to still my itchy hands and make something I know won't turn out to be a disaster. I also think it's time I get a soap beveller or cutter. I want uniform soaps! On another note, I snapped my glass thermometer in half by accident. I was not a happy chappy :(
Anyway, I came home from the tennis a couple of hours ago. Went to see Nadal vs. Tsonga in the semi-final of the Australian Open. Long story short, unseeded frenchman, Tsonga obliterared world No.2 Nadal. I actually expected Nadal to win but Tsonga played well! Until last week, I've never paid the slightest interest in tennis so I was surprised when I actually enjoyed myself!
Before I leave you, does anyone know if using milk powder or fresh milk in soap makes any difference? Goodnight!
Oh, by the way, the soaps are curing in the storage room! Note to self: invest in soap cupboard.
4 comments:
Too funny - my husband crushed one of my glass thermometers earlier this week, I had a batch that was supposed to be beautiful mango-orange and ended up kind of ill-brown. And I'm also having a bit of trouble with getting uniform bars! Ah, adventures in soap-making! So much fun. :) I've used powdered milk and fresh in soaps, and there doesn't really seem to be much difference. Happy soaping!
I think it's time for stainless steel thermometers! By the way, I stole a look over at your etsy. Beautiful soaps! I'm glad there isn't a difference because I don't think I could make a fresh milk soap and have it not turn out to be a mess! Thanks!
I've tried hand-milling once in my early soaping days, thanks (or rather, no thanks) to Norma Coney's The Complete Soapmaker. I did not like it at all. I couldn't even melt the original bars. I definitely think doing it all at once via cold process is the way to go, and I've read the same comment from other soapers.
Me too! I've heard many people complain about hand milling but I have these extra bars of unscented soap and I thought if nothing I'll just have fun with attempting to hand mill them for the first time :D
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