What soapy thing have you done today?

[AliOop]

I shouldn’t be laughing but I am bc I have moved so much and exactly know the feeling! People talk about me being so organized blah blah - but it’s no big virtue or anything. My brain just cannot function any other way.

 

[Maple_Street_Bath]

I have taken a break from soap making, but I’ll get back involved this weekend.

Me too. I haven't made soap (or anything really) since 7 April.

 

[justsomeguy]

My almost entry into this months hanger swirl. So many fails

No swirling was done. My madder root infusion was terrible (more very light red blush). My paprika orange was tainted with Alkanet root. Great big globs of soap everywhere. And I forgot the scent

And yet I don't hate it. And I'm infusing another batch of madder root, twice as much powder this time. And it's looking Alkanet red

 

[Vicki C]

My almost entry into this months hanger swirl. So many fails
View attachment 77505
No swirling was done. My madder root infusion was terrible (more very light red blush). My paprika orange was tainted with Alkanet root. Great big globs of soap everywhere. And I forgot the scent

And yet I don't hate it. And I'm infusing another batch of madder root, twice as much powder this time. And it's looking Alkanet red

Madder root works well in the lye water in my experience - you don’t need a long soak just put it right into the hot lye. I don’t think it’s oil soluble. I strain it out with a paint filter.

 

[justsomeguy]

Madder root works well in the lye water in my experience - you don’t need a long soak just put it right into the hot lye. I don’t think it’s oil soluble. I strain it out with a paint filter.

So that's what I'm doing wrong!
Thanks!

 

[Vicki C]

So that's what I'm doing wrong!
Thanks!

Here’s a good thread about madder - looks like others have infused in oil, but @Mobjack Bay had the best results soaking in isopropyl alcohol and creating a gel
Post in thread 'What’s the madder with my madder?'
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/what’s-the-madder-with-my-madder.75340/post-773631

 

[justsomeguy]

Here’s a good thread about madder - looks like others have infused in oil, but @Mobjack Bay had the best results soaking in isopropyl alcohol and creating a gel
Post in thread 'What’s the madder with my madder?'
https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/what’s-the-madder-with-my-madder.75340/post-773631

I'm take a stab at a very strong "tea dye". I think I'm gonna switch to Himalayan rhubarb eventually though. The pink won't be red enough... Although with a grapefruit fragrance it could be interesting....

 

[Zing]

What's that? Oh, just soap on the ceiling. I was using a Pringles can for a mold and I was using the lid it came with for the bottom. I poured in a little soap at thick trace and no leaks! I thought wow why has no one thought of this? Then I filled it up and I tried banging the mold on the table to make sure there were no bubbles..... Well turns out it's not up to being banged. Good news is that only a bit got on the table. Bad news is I propelled it onto the ceiling. Ah well, at least I missed the light fixture.

View attachment 77500

Yikes-kers! Hope you had eye protection on!

 

[Shelley D]

I shouldn’t be laughing but I am bc I have moved so much and exactly know the feeling! People talk about me being so organized blah blah - but it’s no big virtue or anything. My brain just cannot function any other way.

Sometimes I envy those who are organized (my mom is one, but I did not get that gene). I am one of those "organized chaos" people ~ it may look like a mess to anyone else but I know exactly where everything is The minute I clean and organize everything, I can't work because I have to go find everything, I have to go dig it out and set it up how I like it so I can work again so I just make sure to throw away actual trash and wash out my paint brushes and make sure my containers are closed so nothing dries out and all my like things are together, soapy stuff is together, my painting stuff is together, my beading stuff is together and general craft & hobby stuff is together ~ organized chaos

My almost entry into this months hanger swirl. So many fails
View attachment 77505
No swirling was done. My madder root infusion was terrible (more very light red blush). My paprika orange was tainted with Alkanet root. Great big globs of soap everywhere. And I forgot the scent

And yet I don't hate it. And I'm infusing another batch of madder root, twice as much powder this time. And it's looking Alkanet red

It almost looks like marble

 

[justsomeguy]

Sometimes I envy those who are organized (my mom is one, but I did not get that gene). I am one of those "organized chaos" people ~ it may look like a mess to anyone else but I know exactly where everything is The minute I clean and organize everything, I can't work because I have to go find everything, I have to go dig it out and set it up how I like it so I can work again so I just make sure to throw away actual trash and wash out my paint brushes and make sure my containers are closed so nothing dries out and all my like things are together, soapy stuff is together, my painting stuff is together, my beading stuff is together and general craft & hobby stuff is together ~ organized chaos

This is the way

 

[Zing]

Just came here to give soapers who use neem oil a bad time. This week I've been applying neem oil on my yard, you know, for it's intended use as an insecticide. Now I can barely walk through the yard without fainting from the stench. Hoo-boy that smell is strong and I'm outside in fresh air! Just don't know how you all do it.

 

[Cindy D.]

Just came here to give soapers who use neem oil a bad time. This week I've been applying neem oil on my yard, you know, for it's intended use as an insecticide. Now I can barely walk through the yard without fainting from the stench. Hoo-boy that smell is strong and I'm outside in fresh air! Just don't know how you all do it.

You shouldn't have any mice around! I like insecticidal soap much better!

 

[AliensrReal]

Just came here to give soapers who use neem oil a bad time. This week I've been applying neem oil on my yard, you know, for it's intended use as an insecticide. Now I can barely walk through the yard without fainting from the stench. Hoo-boy that smell is strong and I'm outside in fresh air! Just don't know how you all do it.

I wonder if this would be good to keep deer from my roses.

 

[maryloucb]

I actually MADE SOAP today! I’ve only made one batch since last summer. Life and living circumstances have made it hard. But fun to get back into it! No colorant, scented with bergamot, lime and lemongrass EOs.

 

[katili]

Just came here to give soapers who use neem oil a bad time. This week I've been applying neem oil on my yard, you know, for it's intended use as an insecticide. Now I can barely walk through the yard without fainting from the stench. Hoo-boy that smell is strong and I'm outside in fresh air! Just don't know how you all do it.

Oh no, I just ordered some for my houseplants, somehow they picked up mealybugs. Now I don't want to use it lol

 

[Shelley D]

I wonder if this would be good to keep deer from my roses.

Make sure it's safe to use around roses first ~ they can be finicky about changes. But I'm sure the deer won't like it!

 

[CLMP]

I made some honey, oatmeal, almond milk and almond oil soap and put them in the freezer for a few hours then took them out and put them on my washing machine to unthaw and my cat didn't see them and tried to jump up there and all my soap went flying on the floor. Now all my pretty soaps look dented and out of place oh well hope fully their bee design didn't get wacked around I will unmold them from my single cavity moulds tomorrow and find out.

 

[Firefly24]

How odd, I used to use Neem oil for stink bugs on Pecan Trees. It's an oily sealant to keep away bugs. We used to buy large gallons for our orchard. I could have sworn it smelled like citrus and oranges. I proceed to the neem oil I recently bought and it smells weird. I can't explain what it smells like to me. I know that people like Neem oil soap for many skin issues. Google it. I will be making neem soap and seeing if it's good.

 

[Firefly24]

I just unmolded this baby. Cleared up my allergies in no time. It's Eucalyptus & Mint FO from Nurture Soap. Going to wait to cut her later today. I like the color from Mad Mica's-Lettuce Entertain you. I also added in some TD. She is sprinkled with Eucalyptus leaves, mint leaves and a tad bit of glitter.

 

[AliOop]

How odd, I used to use Neem oil for stink bugs on Pecan Trees. It's an oily sealant to keep away bugs. We used to buy large gallons for our orchard. I could have sworn it smelled like citrus and oranges. I proceed to the neem oil I recently bought and it smells weird. I can't explain what it smells like to me. I know that people like Neem oil soap for many skin issues. Google it. I will be making neem soap and seeing if it's good.

A lot of what is sold for plants is a mix of neem and other ingredients to cover or at least lessen the smell of straight neem, which smells like a rancid garlic-onion mix to a lot of folks. I personally don't find it that bad, but I do put a strong FO in the neem soaps I make for DH. They are fantastic for not irritating his eczema and psoriasis like so many other soaps tend to do.