No doubt FAILURE! (now with pics)

[dOttY]

Poured my 4th batch today.

Wanted to do ITP swirl, but it came to trace too quickly, and I'm not overly familiar with usage in regards to Pop Micas. I was hoping for a white soap with a pink/raspberry swirl, in Rose FO. I ended up having to mix the coloured batter into the main pot and manually swirling it.

I've put it in a mould and it's now a game of wait and see. I honestly don't hold out much hope for a 'pretty' soap!

I knew my luck would eventually have to turn bad! Blah...

 

[dOttY]

I also anticipate globs of TD.... I hate that stuff! I swear it accelerates trace. I only used ½ tsp too (in the batter that I wanted white)

 

[Karri]

Soap Gremlins must be in full force this weekend!

I sorta had a soaping night like that too. Had big plans for a big beautiful swirl and well..... plans change I have to learn not to get my hopes up so high b/c soap has a way of taking charge!

What happened with the TD? I only tried it once and reeeeally didn't like it. But I think it also depends on how you use it as some can't be added directly to the soap batter with much success (clumps/crumbly soap/etc).

Karri

 

[dOttY]

Oh I knew it was inevitable that the gremlins would come... Hoping they don't stay too long, because they're surely not welcome!

I have used TD with success, but I panicked this time. Because I knew the batter was going off, I was hurrying, and when I poured into my mould, I saw some streaks of TD. Oh well. We live & learn.

And yes, soap can sure have a mind of it's own!

 

[Karri]

LOL! I had the opposite problem - for once my soap was staying at a nice light trace, like for a long time. I actually had TOO much time and couldn't get the nice peaks on top I usually do. I was so mad!

Plus I made too much of the "swirl color" and then didn't have enough "base color" so had to basically dump my darker swirl color all on top into the mold so I didn't end up with skinny bars of soap.

This might be a situation where my "top" becomes the "bottom" of the soap because it's all mushed up with the darker color I wanted for the swirl.

These kind of soaping days make ya want to stop your feet and cry and have a hissy, don't they?



Karri

 

[dOttY]

Ok, so I've umolded my botched batch.

I am beginning to realise where I went wrong. In an attempt to do a swirl, I didn't 'emulsify' the oils, I actually got it to trace. I am that paranoid of separation, that I went overboard!
Also, I didn't use enough Mica colouring for the swirl. And I didn't mix the TD for the main batter, well enough. (I'm awaiting on my frother from eBay!)

And... I rushed! It was too close to school time, and I was flustered. Big bad no no when soaping!

Lesson learnt. This will be a giveaway (maybe)! LoL

Since this log is only young (24hrs), I'm hoping that some miracle occurs, and it changes to a more white looking soap.

 

[nattynoo]

It looks pretty darn good to me Dotty.
Like good useable soap.
I bet it smells lovely. I love rose soap.
Don't be too hard on yourself you've only just started soaping and I think you're doing really good.
After just 4 batches.... thats an amazing soap!!

 

[Karri]

That soap looks amazing. Truly. As long as it's "good" soap then overall this is a success anyway! (i.e. it's not separated or lye heavy or anything like that, right?)

And if that's your 4th batch ever ... well, you're rockin' it from what I can see!

Karri

 

[dOttY]

Thanks Girls...

I wish I used more Mica... the raspberry swirl is barely noticeable

Oh well, another reason to make more soap!

 

[scrummysuds]

well I think that is a beautiful soap! I hope my next look as good as that x

 

[Relle]

Poured my 4th batch today. I ended up having to mix the coloured batter into the main pot and manually swirling it.

How else do you do an ITP swirl ? Thats how you do it unless there's another way I don't know :? . Did I read this wrong.

 

[dOttY]

I should have explained it better. It was that thick, I had to 'throw' it on top of the main batter, and then go all ninja on it, LoL

 

[KylieO]

LOL @ go all ninja

i've told you before, but i think you're just awesome, a natural

i'm with everyone else, batch 4 is a success, it looks fab! maybe not quite as you envisaged, but fab just the same.

i too have experienced the school run vs soap battle lol

 

[kharmon320]

Definitely not a failure. I think it's really nice looking. Be proud, embrace the change

 

[frieda]

I LOVE the outcome of this soap. The subtile differences between the pinks make it a very soft, feminin soap in my eyes. Don't think about throwing this away!

 

[SumikoKeel]

I love the look of this soap - you did a great job

 

[Bubbles Galore]

It's so pretty Dotty. :wink:

 

[Dragonkaz]

Love the colour of your soap ... I'm a fan of vanilla in soap, as the darker the soap the better I like it.

I do many multi coloured ITP swirls and the best advice I can offer is to add your colour while the batter is still at a light trace ... preferably before it gets to a medium trace. Do one round with a spatular ... then pour!

 

[Karri]

Ninja indeed! HAHAHAHA! That's a good one

I've had to go ninja more times than I care to remember with soap I was going to create beautiful, elegant swirls in ... then it traces too fast (or I stir too much b/c I'm paranoid about false trace) and well, my swirls become layers.

Makes me wanna drink.

Karri

 

[judymoody]

If that's a failure then I have yet to achieve a success. That is some gorgeous soap there.