Top looks decent on Try #3, which is now on the heating pad inside the insulating bag. We shall see what tomorrow brings.
Many thanks to
@Mobjack Bay for recommending the small mold with dividers. The whole experience was so much better! I also used the long-snouted pouring pitchers instead of condiment bottles. The bottles did give more control over where the batter landed, but they created so much stress for me: first getting them loaded up, and then reloading mid-stream. The pouring pitchers created a few dribbles here and there, but overall were much more low-key. I need low-key when I soap. Can I get a witness??
One thing I did differently tonight: after dispersing my micas in a bit of oil in the bottom of the pouring pitchers, I added fragrance to each pouring pitcher. Then all I had to do was divide my batter and hand-stir each cup.
But my soaping adventure wouldn't be complete without some silliness on my part. When it was time to pull out the dividers, I was pulling and pulling on the end pieces, which wouldn't budge. My hands were getting greasy, my batter was getting pretty thick, and I was starting to panic. Can't swirl till the dividers come out! Stop, take a deep breath, think.
Oh yeah, I need to pull out each individual divider section, instead of trying to pull out two end pieces and three dividers as if they were one piece. DOH!
