This batch of soap was made with vegetable, coconut and palm oil and coloured naturally with paprika. A chilli and vanilla essence was added for the scent and then I used a pillar to do a marble effect. I hadn't done this before and I think it turned out ok. It smells lovely and has lovely big bubbles!

Thanks for looking

This is only my third ever batch of cold process soap and again I am really happy with how it has come out. I It smells gorgeous and lathers up into nice thick creamy bubbles. The basil. sage and mint was coloured with spirinula powder and was layered in a rectangular dish.



The lavender chunks were hand shaped from the remaining soap, coloured with a little purple mica powder and mixed with dried lavender.

I love making soap

This batch was made with only olive oil and lye water. I added poppy seeds to the mix and on the top for exfoliation and then sprinkled some blue cornflowers on the top too.

I love how soap looks just out of the mould lol!



This is only the 3rd lot of soap I've made, I'm really enjoying it and can see the difference between batches! This is a much softer bar than yesterday's so I'm noticing what the difference oils are doing. Can't wait to make more

These are made with palm oil, olive oil and coconut oil. The base is uncoloured and unscented, it has come out such a gorgeous creamy white colour. The top is the same but has cucumber fragrance and dried calendula flowers mixed in, this was messily piped on top. Smells good! Few more pictures...
Just out of the mould

One cut in


So far I am pleased and I'm hoping it will still look as good as it cures!

I had a few issues so thought maybe some one could help. The topping almost looked like it had curdled when mixing, I used it an it appears to be okay, but was mixing the flowers in a bad idea?

Also the base feels really smooth but does have crumbly areas.....

Is this normal? What might have caused it and could it be avoided?

I'm having so much fun with soaping I'm waiting for a 100% olive oil batch to set too.....exciting!

I had some fabric scraps and thought I would try making a few coasters;



I think they turned out ok, a bit like little mug rugs I suppose.






Do you think these would make nice gifts?

The chair started out as a plain wooden chair, but after learning about decopatch at a craft convention, I thought I would brighten it up to fit in with my craft room.

An in progress shot;


Finished;


It took about 5 hours, I like how it turned out. It really brightens the room up

When we first moved into this house, I used one of the spare rooms as my craft space, but wasn't sure how permanent it would be so it was a little disorganised and looked like this...



We then decided that the room could be used as a permanent craft space, so I decorated it and it looked like this....







I liked it like this but after a while felt it was a bit bright and as I changed what type of crafts I did, I wanted to rearrange it to be more suitable, so as of a few weeks ago it now looks like this....















I am really happy with how it looks now. It is a great space to work in and the white walls make it much more relaxing than the bright green before. Thought I would share it as its quite a change from the beginning photograph

Thanks

Nicola

I made two 1lb loafs. I tried to make the top look sort of frothy.



The bottom section is scented with a summer berry fragrance oil and smells gorgeous.



I chopped the two loaves into 16 slices.



Here is one up close, I think the soap did Gel a little but I'm pleased with the result for a first try.

i just have to leave them now to make sure all the lye evaporates out. It was made with vegetable, palm and coconut oil so should be pretty moisturising.  I think I'll call it 'Berry moisturising' lol.

What do you think? Any soapers out there got any advice or comments to help?

Thanks
Nicola

I am not sure if this belongs here. but since it was a for the wall I thought it might.

A number of my friends have recently had babies and I wanted to make something for their nurseries. I came across something similar to these on Pinterest and thought I'd give them a go.


This is both of them together, done to match the decor in their nurseries





Hopefully my friends will be pleased with them.

Nicola

I came across a tutorial on-line for these great little aprons and chef's hats. I made a few changes, added the personalisation and came up with these. They made great little gifts for Christmas!







These were really easy to make and looked so great on the little ones

Nicola