Hey! How’s it going? I’m really digging #MMMay18 on Instagram. I don’t think I’ve missed a day yet. Woohoo!
However, I did pledge to add Me-Made-Home challenges to my MMMay18 this year, so here we go.
Most of these things I’ve been doing for awhile now, so you can rest assured each of these have been thoroughly tested by me and my large, extended family. I’m starting to really dislike the I MADE A THING, I’M POSTING IT, IT’S AMAZING AND YOU WILL LOVE IT FOREVER TOO way of doing things…because a month or 2 down the road…it’s not necessarily still true. I like to put a few miles on things before I say it’s the greatest thing ever. Your yardage may vary. (get it, yardage…cuz I sew…HAHAHAHA)
SOAP
This post will concentrate on soap. I’ve been making soap for about 2.5 years now. Long enough to be comfortable with it, and know what I like, and what doesn’t work for me, but not long enough to be an expert at all. I’ve owned some soap making books over the years, but it was purchasing Pure Soapmaking by Anne Marie Faiola that my deep-dive into saponification really took off. I love the entire Bramble Berry store site and the sister-blog Soap Queen. All the information so freely given, and if you’re not sure, the chat box is actually functional and helpful (what?!?! can you believe it?!?!) There are plug-in calculation form on the site, there are free (SO MANY FREE) recipes, free business and license/labeling information – I mean. Damn. I wish every company was like Anne-Marie’s companies. She’s definitely up there in my Top 10 Most Inspiring People…if that existed outside of my head. OMG, and Mountain Rose Herbs here in Oregon. That place is FREAKIN incredible, and their recipes are amazing. Like – you can’t get better quality and information if you want to go full ‘nola or even partial ‘nola.
Enough awkward gushing. I’ve shared some of my various soap/lotion/lip balm making in Instagram, but not yet here, as this has been mostly sewing, but in the name of MMMay18, let’s do it.
I’ve preferred shaving with a nice, slick olive oil bar for about 20 years now, so it’s no surprise my #1 favorite soap to make is an olive oil soap. The Castile-Salt Brine Soap in the Pure Soapmaking book is my favorite. Not only is it simple, but it really doesn’t require as many speciality items as more involved recipes can require, so it’s a good place to start, and it makes a quality bar. The recipe does call for extra strength essential oils, and yes, they are spendy, but totally worth it. I can’t link to it here because it’s a book-only recipe, but the book really isn’t that much and is totes worth it.
Speaking of spendy, how much is this venture? Well, I’m glad you asked. December 2016, I made a spreadsheet to track PPO (price per ounce) for lotions and soaps cuz when I geek-out, I GEEK-OUT. Your pricing may vary, but this is a good estimated place to start.
I eventually added a laser thermometer, and a few molds, plus my mom picks up cute silicone molds for me too, like the owl.
Over the years, as makers do, I’ve ventured into quite a few related categories: Lip balms, lotions, bath truffles, bees wax molded into thread-conditioning-sized blocks, etc. If you can make cupcakes, you can make everything in this photo collage.
I’m not all 100% ‘nola, but it is nice to learn about what is in soaps and lotions. During my explorations, I’ve learned about those preservatives in product ingredient lists, why they’re necessary, and what I can/cannot omit. I’ve also learned many are pretty harmless, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, you CAN create some chemical reactions that result in carcinogenic mixtures.
I’ve learned that if I want to omit preservatives in lotions, I’m going to want to refrigerate it. Lotion is basically mayonnaise. I’ve also learned cleaning out silicone lotion bottles for re-use is a GIANT PAIN IN THE ASS, so I’m going to have to revisit that one. Mason jars with pumps? I don’t know.
I’ve learned too much baking soda in homemade deodorant is REALLY abrasive and causes rubbed-raw-pits and my husband lies and tells me I don’t stink. I freakin’ love that man.
I’ve learned too much micah or colorant in lip balm can also be abrasive.
I’ve learned charcoal and clays are not good for daily soap…if at all in soap, at least not for my family, and it makes my BFF aesthetician recoil as if a vampire in the sun if I even mention charcoal…that should tell you something about that trend.
I’ve learned shea butter in soap is really nice on babies. And so is just straight coconut or shea oil – don’t go through the fuss of lotion if you don’t want/have to.
OK, tomorrow I’ll explore how badly I suck at knitting, but why I have not given up on it quite yet in #MMMay18, Home Edition Part 2: Knitashtrophy. Knitaggeddon? Knitpocolypse? Knitnado?