Wine Soaps For the Fair

I mixed up 5 batches of wine soaps for the fair yesterday.  I am cutting them today.  Two batches each of Merlot soap and Riesling soap will be cut into large 6 ounce bars and one batch of Pinot Noir will be cut into small 1.4 ounce soaps for the gift boxes.  I only made a small batch of the Pinot Noir when I made the gift box soaps earlier.  I decided that I did indead nead the sixth variety to make the variety box and so I needed more Pinot Noir.  The soaps should be ready to unmold now. Let's see.

Here they are all wrapped up and cozy.

Time to wake up!

Here is the Pinot Noir.

The top shows the pattern of the poor.  I think it looks cool after it is sliced.  Some people cut this part off, but I don't like to waste soap just so that it is perfectly square.

I turned it on it's side because it is still a little soft for cutting.  They stay very warm in the towels.  I let them sit like this to get firmer before slicing if they are not firm enough after 24 hours in the mould.

Here is the second mold.  It is a Merlot.

The third is a Merlot, as well.

The fourth is a Riesling.

Number five is the second Riesling.  Here they all are sitting out on thier mould lids.

I will slice them later tonight.  The lick test shows that they did indead come to a complete gel and will be a wonderfully mild soap.  They need to cure and dry for a month so that they are hard enough to last in the shower. I barely have enough time before the fair.  I am cutting it close.  My Aunt is sharing a booth in the wine tasting building for her laser etching business with Dave the box guy, so we thought that wine soaps might do well.  We will also bring some etched gift boxes with assorted small wine soaps.  If nothing else we should get some oooohs and aahhhs and a few interested people to take our cards.  I am looking forward to it.

The Wine Soap Gift Box is Finally Ready

I finally posted the gift box of small wine soaps for sale on Etsy.  The boxes are made locally here in town by our box guy, Dave Johnson, and can be custom etched my my aunt on her laser etcher. How cool is that?

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76430632/custom-laser-etched-wine-soap-gift-box

We made a sample box of assorted flavors:

I think these would be perfect for any small bed and breakfast, or winery gift shop, or as a fun personalized gift for that person on your list who seems to have everything they want.  Everyone loves hand made soaps and they use them, so they always need more.  Nothing says you cared enough to think ahead like a personalized gift. 

I also finally actually posted the Mint Pattie Soap on Etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76426433/mint-pattie-layered-vegan-soap-single

and

http://www.etsy.com/listing/76426804/mint-pattie-layered-vegan-soap-3-bars

I haven't made any new soaps since I started working at the Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center.  I have plenty of inventory, though.  Never fear, I have the soap that you need in stock and can ship it out right away.  Contact me on Etsy with any custom orders you can think of.

Mint Patty Soap Is Almost Ready To Sell

Can you believe it? It has been almost a month since I made that mint patty soap.  I will post it on Etsy this weekend.  I still haven't taken pictures of it.  Maybe I will do that after work tomorrow. It is going to be a long day tomorrow at my day job, so we will see.  five of the last eight days have been spent out in the orchard all day for work.  The weather has been very nice.  Sunny, but not too hot.  The long hours are starting to cut into my soap making and thinking time.  I will have to work more on it during the weekend.

I Actually Mailed My Sister-in-Law's Birthday Present Today

I hope it gets there before her birthday.  I meant to mail it on Saturday, but with my husband's uncle's funeral and everything I just didn't have time.

I am going to take new pictures of my soaps for Etsy. I just don't care for the ones I took of the new soaps. The background is too plain and light.  Still no gift boxes made, but I have my idea now, for when my auntie and I both have time.

Soap Makes a Great Gift

I just packaged up my sister-in-law's birthday present, and guess what she is getting.  I hope she doesn't read this blog.  Oh well, now she knows what she is getting if she does.  I made a cute card with card stock and stamps and put it with two bars of soap in the cutest tuck top box.  It fit just perfectly.  Very cute.  I will definitely send them that way from now on, for those people who order two bars.  It is way cheaper to send orders of 3 or more bars in flat rate priority mail boxes, and they get there faster.  Orders of 1 or two bars are cheaper by first class mail, and these tuck top boxes are so cute:

Happy Birthday Marie!!!

My sister-in-law is so cute.  I hope she likes her soap.  I am still working on the design for the gift box of soap.  I just have to make an example one and let people customize them themselves.  It is hard coming up with a good example.

I Finally Posted the Last of the New Soaps Varieties on Etsy

The last flavor to be posted, orange peel cocoa, was posted today.  This was two days late, but with everything that went on this weekend, I am not surprised.  Here they are:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73785993/orange-peel-cocoa-soap-single-bar

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73786906/orange-peel-cocoa-soap-3-bars-with-free

As always the three bar set comes with a free soap saver.  The only large bar new flavor of soap that I have not posted yet is the peppermint patty soap I posted pictures of last week.  That one will not be ready for three weeks so there will be no new large bar soaps posted for a while.  I have six varieties of wine soap that are all cut into small gift bar size for the gift box sets.  Those are my next thing to get posted.  I have to finish making the customized wooden boxes ready.  My aunt and uncle have offered to customize the  boxes with their laser etcher, once I can decide what I want to put on there.  Decisions, decisions.

Cinnamon Oatmeal Soap on Artfire, Too

I listed this 3 bar listing on artfire.com as well, just to test it out.  They let you post a limited number of things for free with a basic account.  The pro accounts costs 9.95 per month, but has lots of extra features and unlimited listings.  I am testing this out to see how I like it compared to Etsy.  Check it out and tell me what you think:

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=3259167

I don't really like that the address has nothing in it about hte actual listing like etsy does, also I don't really know if the payment methods are working yet.  I know Paypal is working, but the google checkout I don't really know.

Cinnamon Oatmeal Soap Posted

The second to last soap out of the six day soap posting binge was posted today.  Cinnamon oatmeal.  Our favorite breakfast on cold mornings.  Add cinnamon ans sugar to your oatmeal and you have a high fiber, blood preasure lowering,  and delicious breakfast.  This soap smells just as good and feels great on your skin.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73605326/cinnamon-oatmeal-soap-single-bar

The single bar listing is just for those of you who want to try it, but are not ready to commit.  I can tell you now though, once you try it you will order more so you might as well order 3 bars and get the free soap saver.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73606290/cinnamon-oatmeal-soap-3-bars-with-free

Did I mention yet, that you get a free soap saver when you order 3 bars?

If anyone wants to make an order for more soap I will make a special listing and I also sell wholesale for large quantities.

One more new soap flavor to post tomorrow: Orange Peel Cocoa.

Peppermint Cocao Soap - Decadence has a new meaning!!!!

I love this soap and I think everyone else will, too.  How can you go wrong with peppermint and cocoa together.  The soap has a wonderful texture and a cool refreshing feel.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73541526/peppermint-cocoa-soap-single-bar

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73542415/peppermint-cocoa-soap-3-bars-with-free

As always the three bar listing will come with a free soap saver.  Yay, free stuff!

Riesling Soap

I posted the Riesling soap today.  This recipe turned out really nice it smells wonderful and the texture and lather is really nice.  I hope someone tries it because I know everyone would love it.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73483761/riesling-soap-3-bars-with-free-soap

  http://www.etsy.com/listing/73482824/riesling-soap-single-bar

As always the three bar set is listed with a free soap saver and will ship flat rate priority mail.  The single bar is shipped first class all by its lonesome.  Well, looking forward to tomorrow's post of Peppermint Cocoa soap.  Talk about rich luxury. Wow.

I Posted the Long Awaited Peppermint Soap Today on Etsy

A few people were waiting for me to post this one.  It is finally ready.


http://www.etsy.com/listing/73414059/peppermint-soap-single-bar

http://www.etsy.com/listing/73415336/peppermint-soap-3-bars-with-free-soap

Check it out. 

Cutting the Mint Patty Soap

I just finished cutting the soap I made yesterday.  I have to say it turned out pretty nice.  It gelled nicely and the stripes did not bleed into each other at all.

This is the Mold I use with the top on and the cutting guide my husband made me.  I cut all my bars by hand with a knife. The Mint Patty soap is in that box.

Here it is with the lid off.  This is the top layer you didn't get to see yesterday.  It is much darker in color after gelling over night.  It has been 24 hours.

It just slides right out of the mold thanks to the handy dandy liner of freezer paper.

Peeling off the freezer paper is a bit touchy because the soap is still a bit soft.

Here is the whole block or log of soap.  The stripe is a bit wavy but it looks cool that way.

I sliced off the end first, giving me a small slice for sampling later after it cures.

Then I slice off one bar at a time using the lines on the cutting guide to measure one inch bars.

It takes a little time to cut all the bars but don't they look nice.  Now they are ready to put on the shelf to cure for at least a month so they are nice and mild and hard before they go for sale.  I think I will make vertical labels for these instead to the normal horizontal so you can see the stripes on the edges.

A month seems like forever when I can't wait to try a new creation.  Well I do have many other flavors curing so these can wait.  I need to make more wine soap now.  See ya!



New Soap Posted Today on Etsy

I just finished posting my new Merlot soap on Etsy.

 This is the three bar listing picture that comes with a soap saver.

This is the single bar listing.  I made these labels on Corel Draw and the little bar of soap guy is had drawn and scanned in.  I haven't mastered actually drawing shapes or freehand in Corel draw yet.

I try to make the descriptions cute and fun, but I may have gone overboard on these ones, lol.

Made Mint Patty Soap Today

This soap is new.  I made a layer of mint cocoa followed by plain peppermint then another mint cocoa, like an Andes mint.  It turned out very nice I cant wait to cut it tomorrow.  Here are some pictures of the process:

Melting the Coconut oil over hot water

Mixing the lye with water and waiting for it to cool.

Mixing the oil and water/lye solution.  In the background the pre-weighed cocoa and peppermint essential oil for all the layers. This batch had cocoa powder and peppermint oil added at trace. Then it was poured into the mold. This soap is made in three separate one third sized batches which are poured in as they are done blending allowing the ones below to set up before you pour the next.

 First Layer

Second Layer

I forgot to take a picture of the third layer and now it is all wrapped up, but I will take a picture when I go to cut it tomorrow.

This batch of soap will not be ready to use for a month, but I can't wait.  It smells great and looks cool.  The chocolate color will get darker after it gels in the mold from the trapped heat.  That will also help the soap layers to really come together.  My hubby made me these soap molds.  I love them they make nice large bars of soap and the size is perfect for cutting to the gift box size as well.

Some New Soaps That Will Be Ready May 2nd thru May 9th

I will be listing these eight new soaps on Etsy at www.etsy.com/shop/LittleBarofSoap starting next Monday:

 Peppermint, Peppermint Cocao, Orange Peel Cocoa, Orange Peel Cinnamon, Oatmeal Cinnamon,  Grapefruit Peel Oatmeal, and new and exciting Riesling Soap and Merlot Soap.

I will list one new variety of soap per day, with both 1 bar and 3 bar listings.  The 3 bar listings will come with a free crocheted cotten soap saver:

All these soaps are cold-processed soaps made from olive oil, coconut oil, water, lye and other ingredients specific to the variety, for example: ground dried grapefruit peel and oatmeal for the Grapefruit Oatmeal soap.

The  wine soaps are made using Washington grown wines: Columbia Crest Two Vines Merlot and Riesling.  I have more wine varieties curing, but they are all cut to smaller bars for the gift box sets that I will begin selling the week after these above new soaps are listed.  The boxes are made locally by our friend Dave Johnson the box guy http://www.johnsonbox.com/index.html.  We can customize your gift boxes with laser etching (my wonderful aunt and uncle have a laser etching business, Etched in Time, LLC)  and custom soap labels.  You can visit my aunts Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/Sneezer222

More info about the gift boxes later.

Wow, look at me, blogging!

I just decided to start a blog.  I don't really have extra time to maintain a blog, but I see how much fun my friends and family have doing it and I think I am missing out.  Here goes I will try to keep it up.  I will post some pictures of the soaps I make as I make them and hopefully some fun pics of me making my soaps.  That means I will need to put my face on, just kidding.  For those who know me that is funny.  Anyway her goes.......