Mica swirl on top - question

[deirdreanne]

I made a batch of lavender mint soap last night, and thought I would mix things up a bit and do a mica swirl on top.

I used merlot mica dissolved in about a tsp of OO. I randomly sprinkled it over the batter once I had poured it in the mold and then swirled around with a chopstick once the batter was starting to set.

For anyone who has done this technique before, will the mica drag through when I cut? I'm thinking that I should cut from the bottom or maybe the side.

I've attached pics just after swirling last night and then this morning, after about 12 hours. Thanks for any feedback!

 

[Shannon_m]

Yes cut it from the side, that will work best.

 

[SueSoap]

Very good question. Very good answer. Thanks to you both.

 

[judymoody]

Looks great!

I wonder if the color will have more of a tendency to smear as it was just mixed in oil. Or did the lye migrate and saponify the colored portions?

 

[deirdreanne]

Yes I was wondering that as well. It seems like all of the OO has saponified, but I'm just not sure what it will be like until I cut into it. I love experimenting!

 

[chicklet]

Your swirls look so pretty! I made a beer soap today and swirled some copper mica on top - I did like you and mixed it with a little olive oil and used a pipette to disperse it. I don't know how this batch will turn out, but I've done the same technique a couple of times before and the mica/oil does mix in with the rest of the soap and saponifies with it. I took a spoon and made peaks today then added the mica but after seeing your beautiful swirls I wish I had done that instead!

 

[deirdreanne]

Speak of the devil - I was thinking of making peaks with a spoon, as that's what I usually do with my tops. I want to try that next time. I'd love to see a picture of yours because I'm very curious about what it looks like!

 

[RocknRoll]

this is really cool! It looks like a "Paisley" design

 

[marghewitt]

I like to make peaks by holding a whisk straight up and 'dipping' it into the top 1/4" or so of soap.

 

[Desert Karen]

I made a batch of lavender mint soap last night, and thought I would mix things up a bit and do a mica swirl on top.

I used merlot mica dissolved in about a tsp of OO. I randomly sprinkled it over the batter once I had poured it in the mold and then swirled around with a chopstick once the batter was starting to set.

For anyone who has done this technique before, will the mica drag through when I cut? I'm thinking that I should cut from the bottom or maybe the side.

I've attached pics just after swirling last night and then this morning, after about 12 hours. Thanks for any feedback!

Did you swirl deep with the chopstick? I have a mitre soap box that cuts in 5 oz increments. Thinking along those lines, I could slip a cut line or two, cut, remove the soap from the box then carefully cut "from the side". Hmmm?

 

[deirdreanne]

Well, I decided to cut from the bottom as it dragged even from the side. Placed the soap very gently on a piece of parchment upside down so that I didn't mess up the design, then cut. Worked quite well! Thanks for all the suggestions

 

[melstan775]

lovely! Looks great!

 

[Badger]

Looks wonderful! Makes me want peppermint candy :smile:

 

[deirdreanne]

Looks wonderful! Makes me want peppermint candy :smile:

Smells like it too! The peppermint really comes through much more than the lavender, despite using twice as much lavender as mint.