Recent content by Tahara

I mostly CPOP and when I first began I would to get ash all the time. Since I use log molds, I would just cut that thin layer off that side of the bar. Then I started covering the exposed portion of the soap with wax paper and I haven't had any ash since.

Happy New Year! May we all have a healthy and prosperous 2009 :D

Hi Pug Mom! A Salt Bar is a CP soap recipe that contains salt. Some people use all coconut oil, some cut the coconut with other oils. I personally use 75% Coconut, 18% Safflower, 3% Castor and 4% Shea. My salt volume is 80% my total volume of oils. The salt bar requires a faster cut...

Hi Ashley, I have been selling products for years and when I first started, I didn't have the time to formulate everything from scratch, so I bought a lotion base. I tweaked it by adding a few ingredients and then scented, colored, repackaged it and sold it under my label. Now I know how to...

I have been on this board only a few months and while I haven't posted much, I have always been grateful for the kindness and respect people have shown those of us who may not have "gotten it" the first time. Its one of the main reasons I keep coming back. This board is in large part...

Sheila, Were you making salt bars? If you were making salt bars, you would cut as soon as the soap was cool enough to handle, which is about an hour. If you are making regular cold process soap without salt, some wrap the soap logs in a blanket to help retain the heat in the mold so the...

After reading about Select Shades, I decided to take a chance and order them from Tradewinds. I placed my order on Tuesday and they shipped yesterday via UPS. I didn't try to call their phone number, but it looks like they are filling orders rather quickly.

I thought food grade lye was strange, but an acquaintance of mine told me that some people who make prezels add lye to the boil water to give the pretzels their chewy crust before the bake. They are warned to protect the counter tops after removing the prezels from the boil water, but that...

Hi Brenda, I use cigar bands to label my soap. Once you put your design together they are easy and inexpensive to replace when necessary. We do farmers' markets, so my labels sometimes get dirty from handling and I can easily exchange the dirty ones for new ones. If you have Microsoft...

Yes, as long as you respect the lye you will be fine. When I started making soap I followed all the precautions. I wore goggles, gloves, long sleeves, etc... but no one ever said anything about wearing socks! I love going barefoot but learned this lesson with one of my first batches.

There are restaurants in Kansas City that offer rattlesnake as an appetizer. DH and I went to a steakhouse and ordered it for fun. It was presented in a ball shape and tasted gamey and a bit fishy, which was surprising. Definately not something I would order again but had I not known what it...

You will also want to pay attention to the flashpoint of the FO you use. An FO with a low flash point will burn off in the oven more quickly than an FO with a 180-200 degree flash point.

Hi Bea, Have you tried Price Chopper on N. Oak and Vivion or Sunfresh in Westport? I don't use soybean oil myself, but those two stores have a wide array of oils to choose from (I get my Olive Pomace from Price Chopper). You can always call first if neither of those stores are close to you...