Thanks be to GOD!
This soapmaking tool will end my struggle to cut uniform bars of soap. YAY! I just got it today, and it’s too bad that I’m out of lye, or I’d make up some soap right now! It was only $30 (not including shipping), and it’s made very well. I can’t wait to use it for the first time.

NEA

Yum! At first glance, you may think these big hunks are Riced Krispie Treats, right? Well…they’re not. It’s my latest attempt, gone wrong. Hmmm…it was going really great, till I added the FO. Really.

These were gonna be “Butter Bars”, a recipe of Olive Pomace, Coconut Oil, Mango Butter, Castor Oil, and Buttermilk Powder. The batch was hand-stirred (at between 105 and 110 degrees F), and it was coming together beautifully.

The turning point? When I added the FO. I’ve used this FO before (I used it for my first batch), and everything was fine. However, I knew something was wrong, immediately after I added it to this last batch: The batter started to get grainy, and as I continued to stir, the batter turned into a pot of “rice/pea-like” clumps, with oily liquid all around. I was fascinated and bewildered. I poured it into the mold and watched oily liquid leak from all four corners of the mold. I sopped as much as I could, with paper towels (my hands were gloved).

I let it set overnite, cuz I wanted to see what it would turn into. Well, as you can see, it didn’t turn into anything resembling good soap. Oh well, it was still FUN (if you’d seen my face, you would have CRACKED UP!) and I do plan to try my recipe again. I think it’s a good one, but I don’t know why the FO caused such a ruckus. Maybe the temp was too high?

NEA

I could seriously make soap…all day long! No need to prolong the obvious — this is my latest batch, fresh out of the mold, made yesterday. I smell spiced orangey goodness! I love this soap. I feel like a proud parent.

Ingredients: Saponified Olive Pomace, Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Castor Oil, Coconut Milk Powder and Fragrance Oil.

NEA