tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440749662994772656.post1822404460726998325..comments2009-09-14T16:56:04.540-05:00Jenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05157041381940903012yarnsoftheheart@gmail.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440749662994772656.post-6272179922086101972009-09-14T16:56:04.540-05:002009-09-14T16:56:04.540-05:00My mom ran a soap-making business for a few years, until her retired lifestyle had her out traveling so often that the business began to &#39;cramp her style&#39; :-)<br />She still makes fabulous soap as gifts, and she will put little plastic dino figures inside any soap intended as gifts for our kids.<br />This sounds like a fun project!<br />KarenThe Stone Age Techiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09033206940045546960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440749662994772656.post-44202864867640004372009-09-11T19:40:31.698-05:002009-09-11T19:40:31.698-05:00Hi Jena! Check out this link of a blog friend who does amazing soapmaking!<br /><br />http://fimby.tougas.net/soap_body_care<br /><br />Jamiesteadymomhttp://www.steadymom.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440749662994772656.post-22849610476136077622009-09-11T18:09:38.958-05:002009-09-11T18:09:38.958-05:00Soap making, how fun! Can&#39;t wait to hear how it turns out.<br /><br />And good for Melissa! My youngest ds is learning how crazy all the drama can be in high school. And he also seeing that he is not behind his peers at all academically. He told me today that his handwriting and test taking skills are just as good as the other kids and he is feeling confident that is really OK after all! LOL I suspected this was part of the reason he wanted to go to school because he needed to be assured he was up to speed with the other kids his age. And surprise, surprise, he is! :)Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15107355327165282364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440749662994772656.post-40246201311595680242009-09-11T15:35:05.774-05:002009-09-11T15:35:05.774-05:00Check out Tnfarmgirl&#39;s site (just search for tnfarmgirl). She is brilliant and I believe is just now releasing or maybe alrady has, her ebook on making soap. We have her herbal remedy ebook and it is wonderful!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13735948672915158770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440749662994772656.post-3224904709257440222009-09-11T14:35:51.843-05:002009-09-11T14:35:51.843-05:00Hi Mr. Dad! Love that link and the ideas. Thank you!!<br /><br />Topsy--I love lilac, but Meg is more the fruit scent type. She wants to do raspberry.Jenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05157041381940903012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440749662994772656.post-81415058024906338542009-09-11T14:32:24.353-05:002009-09-11T14:32:24.353-05:00Does Meg have any special scent she is anxious to use? I LOVE lilac..it&#39;s my all-time fave soap scent!topsytechiehttp://topsytechie.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440749662994772656.post-28616933937311864132009-09-11T13:15:04.036-05:002009-09-11T13:15:04.036-05:00wow. that was wordy. sorry.<br /><br />guess i&#39;ll step off the soapbox...Mister Dad (Professor Daddo-dore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14581407559742515122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440749662994772656.post-2368952978078245502009-09-11T13:09:39.477-05:002009-09-11T13:09:39.477-05:00i wouldn&#39;t even try it w/o soapcalc... at least to check out if your measurements will make a good bubbly AND lathery AND cleaning batch.<br /><br />also, nothing beat making a batch in the garage or patio for ventilation. i&#39;ve got a portable electric burner that i like to use. costs about $10. <br /><br />AND, when they say &quot;add lye to the water, not the other way around... and make sure it&#39;s totally dissolved before moving to the next step,&quot; they mean it. but if you keep your kitchen gloves on, wear googles and pay attention, it&#39;s nothing to be afraid about.<br /><br />another option i&#39;ve had a lot of success with is blender batches. plus they don&#39;t waste a lot of ingredients if you don&#39;t like it, it&#39;s quick and usually produces 4 really nice, big bars. see http://www.colebrothers.com/soapcalc/free.html<br /><br />i usually stick to coconut, olive, palm for oils. and essential oils rather than fragrances.<br /><br />my favourite, though, is hot process, where you &quot;cook&quot; it. the bars shrink over time but last forever. it&#39;s what we use daily.<br /><br />i think it&#39;s a great project that could keep ya busy for months! plus, with a little consistency, would be easy to incorporate a nice litte small business project. nothing like self-sustaining school supplies!Mister Dad (Professor Daddo-dore)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14581407559742515122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440749662994772656.post-54640763414341168292009-09-11T10:44:02.553-05:002009-09-11T10:44:02.553-05:00Sarah, you&#39;ll have to let us know how you use goat&#39;s milk!<br /><br />Pauline, great advice about the vinegar--I didn&#39;t know that. And I have a stick blender, and soapcalc looks very cool. Thank you!!Jenahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05157041381940903012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440749662994772656.post-20328281090878797352009-09-11T08:18:58.645-05:002009-09-11T08:18:58.645-05:00I make soap. It&#39;s a really fun hobby. My children watch me though the only one I allow closer than 10 feet away is my oldest, who is 10. I have him wear goggles just in case. Make sure your area is well ventilated, keep vinegar close by to neutralize any lye that may touch you or your surfaces and use a stick blender to mix or it will take a long time(I&#39;m talking an hour or more to trace vs 5-10 minutes). It really isn&#39;t as scary as it sounds. Make sure you double check any recipe for lye amounts at www.soapcalc.net.<br /><br />Have fun!Pauline3283http://www.blogger.com/profile/11240046914435618369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-440749662994772656.post-85451111830344874012009-09-11T00:11:05.216-05:002009-09-11T00:11:05.216-05:00I&#39;ve never made soap, but it&#39;s on my to-do list for next year. Have to justify my goats somehow!Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01060662533625106100noreply@blogger.com