Yep! You heard right. I have like 8 bars of soap left out of everything I have made since I began soaping over a year ago. Between Etsy and a farmers market (in pataciluar) one amazing customer (who purchased almost everything I had left from all my Spring soaps) it's all almost gone.
My success makes me very hopeful about "Berry Town Soaps" bright future, knowing I have found my "niche" and there is a demand. Now the rush is on to remake soaps that sold well. "Raspberry Lemonade" is a top that list with its fresh raspberry purée incorporated into the raw soap. Others include Pink Berry Mimosa & Valencia Cream. And hopefully a few new surprises.
I have a goal of making 4lbs of soap at one time. No more wimpy 2 lb batches. Have to up my inventory.
Also, I have found a friend who knows the "Craft Show Circut" and has offered to show me the roaps. We can go "in" together on booths. Her product will sell nicely next to my soaps.
Lots of news and excitement as you can see! Gotta keep busy making soaps.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
Update on New Summer Soaps!!~
Hi Everyone,
So very sorry its been a while since I last posted.
Ive made several soaps since my last video. Got a hold of a few fragrance oils that are incredible!! First is a raspberry Lemonade blend. Its fabulous!! Its blooming as the soap cures which is divine. The other soap is a Georgia Peach & Berry, white grapefruit scent. And again this is a blooming scent as well. Not a scent that is going to fade either.
I was so bummed with Rio Rumberry. It was delicious OOB. But it didn't bloom at all. Just fade. What a waste in CP soap yanno?
The Suave dry shampoo is really good. Its very affordable at 3.40 for a can. It really did give a nice shine and clean feel. Really recommend this product.
So very sorry its been a while since I last posted.
Ive made several soaps since my last video. Got a hold of a few fragrance oils that are incredible!! First is a raspberry Lemonade blend. Its fabulous!! Its blooming as the soap cures which is divine. The other soap is a Georgia Peach & Berry, white grapefruit scent. And again this is a blooming scent as well. Not a scent that is going to fade either.
I was so bummed with Rio Rumberry. It was delicious OOB. But it didn't bloom at all. Just fade. What a waste in CP soap yanno?
The Suave dry shampoo is really good. Its very affordable at 3.40 for a can. It really did give a nice shine and clean feel. Really recommend this product.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Honey-Lemon **Riced Edition
Hi everyone,
I soaped today a blend of (honey lemon) today at 30% LC.
The FO riced on me and I had chunks of soap. I prefer the smooth
silky raw soap which *lately has been eluding me (insert sad face) =(
From now on I will promise myself to test batch ALL new fragrances.
I will not waste 4lbs of oils and lye again on a FO I know nothing about.
This has to be routine for me from now on.
Here is a photo of the FOs and video of today's soaping adventure.
**Note: If you see my hands shaking its because I have "Parkinson's Disease". I was DX: 8-11-11 and one of my triggers is stress. And we all know how upsetting it is when soaping goes wrong. Its very expensive to ruin a batch of soap because of how costly FO and oils are.
I soaped today a blend of (honey lemon) today at 30% LC.
The FO riced on me and I had chunks of soap. I prefer the smooth
silky raw soap which *lately has been eluding me (insert sad face) =(
From now on I will promise myself to test batch ALL new fragrances.
I will not waste 4lbs of oils and lye again on a FO I know nothing about.
This has to be routine for me from now on.
Here is a photo of the FOs and video of today's soaping adventure.
**Note: If you see my hands shaking its because I have "Parkinson's Disease". I was DX: 8-11-11 and one of my triggers is stress. And we all know how upsetting it is when soaping goes wrong. Its very expensive to ruin a batch of soap because of how costly FO and oils are.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Southren "Seized"
Hi Everyone,
No, I am not talking about the North vs the South here. *grins I am talking about a particular scent from Rustic Essentials called "Southern Sunshine" which I absolutely fell in love with OOB.
I thought this scent could become a summer staple soap in my soap lineup.
Umm.. Think again...
I gave this scent two tries. The first I mistakenly soaped at 33% LC assuming it would behave.
ASSuming the key word here. It seized so hard on me that before I could get it all out of the bowl it hardened into the shape of the bowl as if it were the mold. :::Grumbles and Groans.
Round two today. I thought I could outsmart this scent and use 1.0 oz of it mixed with another scent at 1.0 oz. I soaped at 30% LC and didn't take a heavy water discount. I was hopeful.
It behaved better than before however (comma) ---> , it wasn't my perfectly normal consistency (velvety smooth pudding texture). My tops were thick and chunky. ::Sighs...
I guess this goes to show you not all FO are fit to CP. This one is just (sadly) out and put on my naughty list for bad behaving FO in CP soaps.
I bet its lovely in MP and lotions and stuff tho.
No, I am not talking about the North vs the South here. *grins I am talking about a particular scent from Rustic Essentials called "Southern Sunshine" which I absolutely fell in love with OOB.
I thought this scent could become a summer staple soap in my soap lineup.
Umm.. Think again...
I gave this scent two tries. The first I mistakenly soaped at 33% LC assuming it would behave.
ASSuming the key word here. It seized so hard on me that before I could get it all out of the bowl it hardened into the shape of the bowl as if it were the mold. :::Grumbles and Groans.
Round two today. I thought I could outsmart this scent and use 1.0 oz of it mixed with another scent at 1.0 oz. I soaped at 30% LC and didn't take a heavy water discount. I was hopeful.
It behaved better than before however (comma) ---> , it wasn't my perfectly normal consistency (velvety smooth pudding texture). My tops were thick and chunky. ::Sighs...
I guess this goes to show you not all FO are fit to CP. This one is just (sadly) out and put on my naughty list for bad behaving FO in CP soaps.
I bet its lovely in MP and lotions and stuff tho.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Valuable Soaping Lessons
Hi everyone,
Thought I'd share a recent soaping "mishap" lol
So, my new lye came in the very same bottle as my borax is in. No biggie right? Well, I added mostly lye and ran out before I hit 125 grams. So I open the new bottle of what I thought was more lye powder. Added it to my other lye powder (both powders) and thought I was doing well.
The soap didn't set up right and was sticky in the mold 2 days after I poured. It was ruined 2 lbs of oils down the dumper.
After I poured this first batch put it in the mold set it aside, I made another 2 lb loaf. Mixed the oils and went to add the lye into the water. Couldn't figure out why in the world the water and lye wouldn't mix. The powder just laid on the bottom and wouldn't dissolve or heat up. I thought "what the heck?" I dumped it out and proceeded to mix another using the same bottle and he same results.
Then I FINALLY got a clue :::insert face palms here AND read the front of the bottle. It was BORAX!! Same bottle and same powder as the lye I was using before! I was so caught up in the making of the soaps I forgot to pay attention to the details.
I've learned 2 valuable lessons as a "newbie" soaper. Always make sure your scale is set to grams or the actual weight needed in your recipe. And now, READ all bottles, containers carefully before use.
Just because you set it out doesn't mean it's right. I am sure this is only the beginning of many lessons to come. Needless to say I wrote a big green letter "B" on the top of the borax lid lol.
Thought I'd share a recent soaping "mishap" lol
So, my new lye came in the very same bottle as my borax is in. No biggie right? Well, I added mostly lye and ran out before I hit 125 grams. So I open the new bottle of what I thought was more lye powder. Added it to my other lye powder (both powders) and thought I was doing well.
The soap didn't set up right and was sticky in the mold 2 days after I poured. It was ruined 2 lbs of oils down the dumper.
After I poured this first batch put it in the mold set it aside, I made another 2 lb loaf. Mixed the oils and went to add the lye into the water. Couldn't figure out why in the world the water and lye wouldn't mix. The powder just laid on the bottom and wouldn't dissolve or heat up. I thought "what the heck?" I dumped it out and proceeded to mix another using the same bottle and he same results.
Then I FINALLY got a clue :::insert face palms here AND read the front of the bottle. It was BORAX!! Same bottle and same powder as the lye I was using before! I was so caught up in the making of the soaps I forgot to pay attention to the details.
I've learned 2 valuable lessons as a "newbie" soaper. Always make sure your scale is set to grams or the actual weight needed in your recipe. And now, READ all bottles, containers carefully before use.
Just because you set it out doesn't mean it's right. I am sure this is only the beginning of many lessons to come. Needless to say I wrote a big green letter "B" on the top of the borax lid lol.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Bacon, Oops I mean Pink Sugar Soap
Hi again everyone,
Soooo, my soaping journey continues with what I'm sure is ~normal soaping mishaps from a new soaper. I thought I could out smart how dark "Pink Vanilla" FO gets in cold process soap. I know it turns very dark brown.
I mixed the raw soap with lots of Titanium Dioxide" and did achieve a really "white white" as you can see with the smaller swirl. So, I thought if I lightened it white then added a strong florenscent pink it maybe wouldn't turn into "muddy pink". I should have listened to what I already knew the FO would do. Good news it's only 2lbs of soap.
HA! Out smarted by the FO yet again! I achieved the perfect bacon color soap that smells like sugar. I'm thinking about seeing if anyone would buy like as many ~oops bars as I can fit into a small flat rate envelope for like 10.00 or something. Something to consider.
So, plan B next time is to embrace "Pink Sugar" with all it's dark luscious color with cocoa powder in a single swirl with lots of other pinkish tones to "girl it up". Call it "Flamingo Truffle" or something.
Stay tuned...
Soooo, my soaping journey continues with what I'm sure is ~normal soaping mishaps from a new soaper. I thought I could out smart how dark "Pink Vanilla" FO gets in cold process soap. I know it turns very dark brown.
I mixed the raw soap with lots of Titanium Dioxide" and did achieve a really "white white" as you can see with the smaller swirl. So, I thought if I lightened it white then added a strong florenscent pink it maybe wouldn't turn into "muddy pink". I should have listened to what I already knew the FO would do. Good news it's only 2lbs of soap.
HA! Out smarted by the FO yet again! I achieved the perfect bacon color soap that smells like sugar. I'm thinking about seeing if anyone would buy like as many ~oops bars as I can fit into a small flat rate envelope for like 10.00 or something. Something to consider.
So, plan B next time is to embrace "Pink Sugar" with all it's dark luscious color with cocoa powder in a single swirl with lots of other pinkish tones to "girl it up". Call it "Flamingo Truffle" or something.
Stay tuned...
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Chocolate Berry Cake
Hi everyone!
Congrats to "Carrie" for winning the grand opening prize at Oil and Butter Soap Blog "Cee" was very generous with her giveaway. Congrats Cee on the big opening.
The new scale works great, and I'm off soaping again.
My newest creation is this "Chocolate Berry Cake" soap. This is a very strong FO.
The pink layer has one ounce of "strawberry jam" FO in it, but it's faded and all I smell is "chocolate layer cake" FO. I was really hoping for the hint of a berry under note. The chocolate scent is ~okay. Nothing to knock your socks off yanno? I did add a bit of cocoa powder to the dark layer and cappuccino mica to deepen the brown.
This soap is just "Meh" tho, cute but not a remake for me. A majority dark soap just isn't my thing, sure I like a dark swirl with a contrast light color. I use the heck out of my titanium dioxide lol.
The top has body safe glitter and candy sprinkles.
Congrats to "Carrie" for winning the grand opening prize at Oil and Butter Soap Blog "Cee" was very generous with her giveaway. Congrats Cee on the big opening.
The new scale works great, and I'm off soaping again.
My newest creation is this "Chocolate Berry Cake" soap. This is a very strong FO.
The pink layer has one ounce of "strawberry jam" FO in it, but it's faded and all I smell is "chocolate layer cake" FO. I was really hoping for the hint of a berry under note. The chocolate scent is ~okay. Nothing to knock your socks off yanno? I did add a bit of cocoa powder to the dark layer and cappuccino mica to deepen the brown.
This soap is just "Meh" tho, cute but not a remake for me. A majority dark soap just isn't my thing, sure I like a dark swirl with a contrast light color. I use the heck out of my titanium dioxide lol.
The top has body safe glitter and candy sprinkles.
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