Category Archives: Savon Previews

I knew going in, this was going to be tough.  I wish I could say that I tamed the beast – but I didn’t.

This is the final week of Amy Warden’s (Great Cakes Soapworks), soaping challenges and we are doing Leopard Spots.  What a cool technique – when done well.  As you can see below – mine isn’t so well done.  I got one good spot .

I’d like to master this technique but feel that practice is definitely needed.  Take a look …

Thank you Amy for all your hard work organizing the challenges.  You’ve done a great job and I hope we continue in 2014.

Until next time – bon savon!

Last weekend was one of the best soaping weekends I’ve ever experienced.   I posted the first four batches here if you missed it.  The 5th and final batch has been un-molded and cut.  Take a look….

1 – Glacial Falls

Once again, the light was lousy and the photo is too dark.  I think I need to stop soaping so much and practice taking pictures .

Until next time – bon savon!

What a great soaping weekend! I started on Friday night and by 11:00 p.m. Saturday night I had 5 batches in the mold. The best part – they all behaved EXACTLY as expected. I don’t think that has ever happened . I’ve got 4 of the 5 cut with photos below (the light isn’t great so the photos are a little dark – but I couldn’t wait).  Enjoy!

1.  Corn Mint + Anise (smells amazing!!)

2.  Grull (this will darken over time – and smells amazing)

3.  Blackberry Sage (I love this color combo)

4. Cucumber + Melons (playing with embeds)

I’ll post the final soap (Glacial Falls) as soon as it’s cut.

Until next time – bon savon!

This was another fun week of the soaping challenges (organized by Amy Warden of Great Cakes Soapworks).  The technique, mica swirled tops, has gained popularity and can be seen on several soap blogs.  I hadn’t tried it yet and was looking forward to this one.

Going into this week I was pretty confident of my swirling technique.  But I have to admit this takes a bit of practice (the oil can get away from you ).  Take a look….

This soap was made with a simple recipe of olive, palm, coconut and castor.  The fragrance is Juicy Couture Type by Nature’s Garden,  the colorant is electric bubblegum and the mica line is gold sparkle mica – both by Bramble Berry.

Thanks again to Amy for her hard work organizing the challenge.  I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s projects.

Until next time – bon savon!

Amy Warden’s soaping challenges continue this week with the elemental swirl.  I have to admit that in the beginning I wasn’t thrilled to be doing this technique, but as I worked through the process I came to appreciate it more.  Take a look…

The fragrance is tooth fairy taffy (it smells just like bubblegum) from Nature’s Garden.  I selected ruby rose (The Conservatorie)  for the top section, coral reef blue (TKB trading) for the bottom and the mica line is violet (The Conservatorie).  I elected to do a simple ITP since my batch was so small.  I’ll consider a 3 to 4 color ITP swirl if I make a bigger batch.  My only real concern is that the fragrance may cause the soap to darken.  I used a vanilla stabilizer but only time will tell.

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s entries.

Until next time-  bon savon!

I think I’m going to call this one Berrylicious.  The fragrance is actually black raspberry & vanilla but the ‘berry’ part comes through the most.  Plus – I was feeling purple last night and I don’t think the color is a good representation of black raspberry vanilla.

I’m very happy with how the swirl turned out.  The technique is a cross between a tiger swirl and a celine swirl.  I poured the colors like a tiger swirl, but then I used a spoon to mix everything together.  Take a look…

Until next time – bon savon!

Many of you saw my post yesterday about Amy Warden’s (Great Cakes Soapworks) soaping challenge and my contribution.  A funny thing happened…

I was pretty happy with the results of my pink/orange project and was showing off a little with my 12-year old niece.  At that time, she was sufficiently impressed.  Of course, she then wanted to see the other participants soaps.  After looking at Amy’s black, white and pink  soap, I was no longer the ‘cool one’ – Amy was.  I should have known – she has a zebra print (with pink accents) bedroom.

So not to be outdone – I went back to the soapy drawing board and whipped this up.

I am really pleased with how it turned out and – and more importantly my niece is excited to have a ‘zebra soap’ to match her room.  Thanks again Amy for your challenges and inspiration.

Until next time – bon savon!

A big thanks to Amy Warden of Great Cakes Soapworks for putting together this new round of soaping challenges.  I hadn’t tried the ‘tiger strip’ yet and it was fun to do something new.  Take a look…

I used a simple recipe of olive, babassu, palm and castor.  The colors are hot pink and orange heaven, both from The Conservatorie and the fragrance is You Sexy Thing.  The soap really moved fast on this one which was a surprise (and disappointment) and I wasn’t sure how it would turn out.  I’m very pleased with the ‘stripe’.  Definitely one to try again sometime.

Thanks again Amy!

Until next time – bon savon!

Cucumber Wasabi Cilantro is my new favorite ‘green’ fragrance.  It is so bright and green and wonderful!  I could sniff it all day .

This project started out as a gradient but I was having so much fun mixing color that I lost track of the gradient and switched to a swirl.   Oops!

Cucumber Wasabi Cilantro soap will be ready around August 23.  Until next time – bon savon!

I am loving how this soap turned out.

A number of times, I’ve prepped for this soap but changed my mind at the last-minute.  My color combinations or planned technique just didn’t feel right.  In fact, I prepped for this one and changed my mind again – but adjusted on the fly and followed through.

It’s hard to see in the photo, but the colors are deep purple and cream.  The fragrance is a combination of fresh figs, peaches, and passion fruit; followed by middle notes of coconut milk, vanilla orchid, jasmine, and freesia; balanced with base notes of vanilla beans, caramel, maple sugar, fig leaves, and musk.

Sweetly Fig! Soap

Sweetly Fig! Soap

Sweetly Fig! soap will be ready around August 22.  Until next time – bon savon!