*bounces*

[raynedanser]

I have just made up the batch of lavender soap and may I just say....

Though toxic waste green/yellow again, as before, it is also the best batch I have done yet? I doubled it this time, for one thing, hoping for a bigger batch once I removed it from the mold. This is also the first batch I've done that I've had my new immersible mixer from my mom for. At the end, I also added the lavender essential oil just before pouring it.

Oh my! It traced beautifully. So excited. It was so thick and gloppy when I poured it into the mold and I can't wait to see how it turns out.

I also lined the mold this time, first time doing so, so it will be easier to remove & cut when the soap is still soft. I hope.




Cross posted to: soap, simply_soap & my personal journal.

Comments

[rainbow]

woo, congratulations! <3

[raynedanser]

Now hopefully it looks that awesome when I take it out! LOL :D

[rainbow]

i hope it will!

stick blenders are just faboo for soap making; i ♥ mine very much.

and like lauredhel, i'm looking forward to seeing the soap if you feel inclined to share pics!

[raynedanser]

This is actually my second stick blender. I had another, more lightweight one and it died not even 5 minutes into mixing. *sigh* So I whined to my mom about it and said something about getting a new one. I was very quickly told to wait for Christmas. \o/

[rainbow]

woooo, go your mom!!

i may have melted part of my first, lighter weight one, using it on hot soap (i hot process); but my kitchenaid is going strong after 7+ years.

[raynedanser]

My mom rules. I started soap (and body butter and shampoo and and...) because of odd allergies and because I was running out of options, so she does what she can to support that. :D

And oh dear!! I can't remember what brand the new one she got me is, but it's not Kitchenaide. On the other hand, if I need one again, that's probably what I'll go with (I'm sort of a Kitchenaide junkie. lol)

[rainbow]

that's why i started, too, back in, oh, 95 or so.

if you don't already know about it, make sure you investigate the online kitchenaid store that has a refurbished section. i've gotten hand mixer, blender, stick blender, and big and small food processors all for about half off and all were in beautiful looked and worked like like new condition.

i'd never had kitchenaid before, then we got a food processor since the lesser oens weren't up to making cat food (raw, 36 meals at a time) every day and ahalf. none had lasted more than a year. we're on the 2nd kitchenaid in 8 years now, just got the newer one about 2 years ago. i <3 the deep reds they have.

[raynedanser]

OOoh, I'd never have thought of looking for a refurbished section! Thanks for the head's up.

Turns out, my mother bought me my mixer years ago - and it's the deep red. She's also gotten me the pots and pans and I have a bunch of odds and ends utensils, too - all in deep reds. ;-)

[rainbow]

you're welcome! <3

[rainbow]

(i have peelers, scissors, an ice cream scoop, measuring spoo9ns and cups, and i don't even know what all in the red; p does the shopping and sometimes spots things and brings them home unexpectedly *G*)

[raynedanser]

hee!! This sounds very much like my kitchen! :D

We seem to know some of the same people and I think we'd get along... Do you mind at all if I add you?

[rainbow]

yay red kitchens full of kitchenaid stuff (and soap) *G*

and cool, i don't mind at all, i'll go add you, too :)

[raynedanser]

Excellent! :D

(hubby is laughing at all the soap all over the counter. LOL!)

(and right this moment? There is a Kitchenaid commercial on tv. It's meant to be! *g*)

[lauredhel]

Oh, lovely! Looking forward to pictures - I hope? Care to share your recipe?

And yep, essential oil in just before pouring, so long as you'll have enough time to fully incorporate it (otherwise you can have pockets of free EO in the final soap). The only exceptions I've heard to this is with very very finicky floral FOs: some people fully blend those with their oil before adding lyewater, but I haven't tried that technique yet.

[raynedanser]

Recipe is about as basic as you can get as it's an olive oil soap. The best kind. ;-)

16 oz. EVOO
2 oz lye
5 oz water

and then I used just under 1 tbsp of lavender EO at trace, stirred it some more, then poured. I tried to make sure it was mixed well so there'd be no pockets. Hopefully it worked. ;-)

It's setting SO beautifully. I can't wait to take it out.

I never even *thought* of pictures today, but will try to grab some tomorrow when the sun is up and I'll have better lighting. :D

[lauredhel]

No worries! You might find that one takes quite a while to become hard - with 8% superfat and a lot of water for a castile soap - so have patience with it :)

When it's ready, if you're having any trouble unmoulding it try it with half an hour in the freezer first.

[raynedanser]

Yeah, I've noticed I have to leave it in the mold for about a week ish before it's ready (this is about the third time I've used this recipe). The first time, I put it in the freezer before removing it, the second I was able to put it on my deck because it was colder than my freezer. ;-) I do love this recipe, mostly because it's so easy to remember. :D And it washes well.