The Handmade Soap Blog

Choose your winnings! What would you choose?

I couldn't give away a vacation to a tropical paradise, but it is much more enjoyable to pretend one is going there!

What soap would you choose if you could only take one on your tropical vacation? Would you take a clean unscented soap? Maybe a patchouli bar or a mint chocolate chunk bar from the essential oil section? Or are you a lover of cranberry orange or lilac from my fragrance oil section?

Please take a second to vote on the poll in the upper right corner of this blog and post a comment here of which soap you would like if you win!

I will randomly choose one winner from all entries on Tuesday September 30th. And you will win a bar of your choice!

One entry per person per DAY. So, if one day you find you are in a different mood, leave another comment, but no more than one a day for the entire contest please.

Halloween is Fast Approaching!

It is really hard to believe Halloween will be here before I know it. Every store I walk into already has isles of halloween candy, bags of apples and big ole jugs of apple cider. I have already started to think when we will go apple picking and pumpkin picking. I am making soaps for fall and winter. The only thing lacking is the "smell" of this upcoming season.

Living in New Englad I have always just felt that fall has this crisp smell. Gorgeous autumn colored leaves falling all around. A slight nip to the air, warm, fire places going. It is just hard to describe, but when you smell it, fall is here.

While I am waiting for that smell, Etsy has shown me some great items for projects to do with the kids. Check out Etsy Finds: Halloween Crafting.

Look at these beautiful felted pumpkins! These come from a store Fairie Bling over on Etsy.

It is a kit you can purchase and make your own, it is called the Magic Pumpkins. Definitely on my want list, I think the kids would love this activity.

Acrylic Ghosts, set of four! Aren't these just fabulous? There are so many things you could do with these! Spooky ghosts comes from a great store called YMBD Scrapbooking.

We always make cool ghost pictures and ghosts to hang around the house so these would make a great addition for tracing or stamping.

Now all I have to do is start some shopping, make some crafts and that smell of autumn will be in the air in no time.

I want to go to Friendy's!

Yup, do you know that commercial "I want to go to Friendly'S?" The song just gets in your head. If you haven't seen it, it a jingle to attract the young ones:

It is a family place the kids love. My kids love it and that is where we took them to dinner. How great is it for kids to have a lot of choices for them to eat AND they get to finish it off with ice cream!

So after a great night out with the cute munckins, I wish someone would shoot me as I cannot get the darn jingle out of my head!!

Mint Chocolate Chunk Handmade Soap

Mint Chocolate Chunk Handmade Soap is one of my favorite creations. I love the look and the fact that it is created with essential oils. No fragrance oils at all in this batch.

It is basically a two day process to make this soap. I make one batch of my secret recipe, add the essential oils and real chocolate. It cures overnight and I slice it up the next day into random chunks.

If my schedule is going decent, I generally get the second part done the next day, but it is one that can hold for a few days. For the final part I make the same secret formula, add the essential oils and a specific amount of green oxide to get the color green I like best. I pour this green part into the mold, then I place the chocolate chunks from the first batch randomly in. I do it by hand rather than just dump it into the bowl prior to pouring it in the log mold. I just feel it looks better that way.

Once that is all done, I leave it in the mold for a day or so, take it out, slice it up and cure for a good 4 weeks. Voila - yummy handmade chocolate chunk soap and zero calories!

So, you can grab the mint chocolate chunk at my website, Pixiesoap.com or you can grab it at my Etsy store - pixiesoap.etsy.com.

To Bevel the Soap Edges or Not?

Beveling the edges of handmade soap is done by many. Some  do it because they like the feel and others do it because they just feel it looks better. Either way, it is a personal choice.

I myself like the look of rustic, just cut handmade soap. To bevel all the edges of my soap would require a lot more of my time, and with two young children, I would rather be out playing. Also there is all that extra soap that shouldn't be wasted.

I do know a lot of great soapers who take the extra shavings and build them up. Then they make confetti soap out of it. That is a fantastic way not to waste!!

The topic always comes up from time to time. The only thing that annoys me is some people who do bevel, will make comments that they care more for the presentation of their soaps and that is why they bevel.

I care how my soaps look, but most importantly is how it works. And one thing I do know is, I do make good soap. I do have to toot my own horn from time to time. :)

But no matter how you like to lather up, with beveled smooth edges or rustic square, your soap will always get smoother upon more use.

Warm and toasty Wool Felted Slippers

The other day we were having a funny hot 90 degree day in September. You know how it goes, kids go back to school and it gets warm again.

I went to grab the mail and what did I find? I found some wonderful Wool Felted Slipper Socks made by Pawfelts over on Etsy.

Don't they just look fabulous?? Purple is my favorite color, so these were a treat for myself. Even though it was as hot as it was, I immediately popped them on. They are just so warm and cozy and they make me wish for winter to hurry up. Almost. :)

They come in a huge selection of sizes, colors, and shapes. Some longer, some more anklet kind. Great for both men, woman, and children.

Pawfelts not only has something for everyone there, but the store owner, Becky, is also very nice and extremely helpful.

I am definitely keeping this a favorite store for not only more slippers for me, but for gifts for the upcoming holidays. You should to!

How do you like to rub soap all over? - Poll - The final stats!

Kind of a fun question. :)

Results from a recent poll:

What do you like to use while taking a bath or shower:

1. A Washcloth - Received 15.7%

2. Nylon Bath Poof - Received 39.8%

3. Your Hands Only - Received 33.7%

4. Other - Received 10.8%

So, that means the majority of people use a Nylon Bath Poof to lather up with.

Thank you everyone for participating! I had a feeling the nylon bath poof would be the winner.

I look forward to some more polls in the future!