My blog has been a bit quiet for awhile now. Since I’ve started the Lovin’ Soap Project (be sure to check out how we’re empowering women through soapmaking), most of my time and efforts have been going into that. Now that we’ve got a plan of action and are moving forward, I’m hoping to get back to it with Lovin’ Soap, creating tutorials, writing blog posts…etc.
The Lovin’ Soap Project just launched a new publication, The Soap Collaborative, as a THANK YOU to our donors signed up for the recurrent donation program. If you don’t want to be a monthly donor…no problem! We have the back issues here for sale.
I’m excited about a busy conference season and will be speaking at the Guild Conference (during the member’s lunch about LSP), Central Soapers Workshop and the TN Soap and Candle Social.
Another super exciting thing…I’m working on final edits on my soapmaking book and have an exciting and interactive plan for getting it published (more on that later). Here are the sections and topics that will be included:
The Basics of Soapmaking
Equipment and Tools
Ingredients
Safety
General Overview
Using a Scale
A Basic Recipe
The Basic Process
Beyond the Basics
Molds for Soapmaking
Determining Batch Size
Scenting Soap
-Fragrance Oils
-Essential Oils
-Using Blends
Coloring Soap
-Pigments
-Dyes
-Micas
-Natural Colorants
Additives in Soap
Advanced Topics
Discounting Water
Superfatting and Lye Discounting
Gel Phase
Emulsion vs. Trace
Formulating Recipes
Soapmaking Base Oil Chart
Using Lye Calculators
Single Oil Soaps
How to Modify a Recipe
Resources
Terms to Know
Common Soapmaking Abbreviations
Soap Suppliers
Online Tutorials and Instruction
Soapmaking Publications
Soapmaking Trade Organizations
Soapmaking Conferences
Anything missing that you’d like to see? Just leave a comment or shoot me an email.
-Amanda
Hi Amanda, good luck with the lovin soap project, wishing you success 🙂 I’m just signing up for updates now, looks fantastic!
Hello Amanda,
I just found your blog and have a dilemma I was hoping to get some help with. I am a novice soapmaker and am trying to find a good smelling, nice lathering cold processed soap recipe for my daughter’s friend’s wedding. I was volunteered to make 36 bars of soap for the gift bags. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you
June
Amanda I love all your help, and I am very interested in trying a round soap. I saw that you no longer sell the liners for the mail tubes. Do you mind telling me where I might purchase them? My husband brought home a very nice heavy duty 3″ round paper core from his work. Would love to use it as a mold, just need a liner. Keep up all the great work.
Sandy,
I’m not Amanda but have made several round soaps using round wine holders, so I just wanted to share that I just use a disposable cutting mat like from the dollar store on the inside. I do however use a mailer bag at the bottom (on the inside) but others use a plastic bag. HTH. Angie
Hi Sandy! You can get the liners from Uline.com. I use the 5 x 15 1 mil poly bags to line PVC and mail tubes. -Amanda
Hello to you all from a soap maker from bonnie Scotland :-D. I love soapmaking and like to learn all I can about it
When you.think.to combine power to women along with soapmaking you must be one awesome girl
Sending you much love
Kerry
Congratulations Amanda , I am so happy for you and for all of us who follow you religiously !
How about mixing micas, dyes, or pigments to achieve a certain shade ? Can’t wait for your book ! Please let us know when is it going to be ready.
Keep up the wonderful job you are doing, I love every time I hear from you.
Hilda Bahner
Hi Amanda!
This is such exciting news. I’m really looking forward to your book. I’ll definitely be picking up a copy when it’s released. Also what you & your team are doing with the Lovin’ Soap Project is simply amazing, inspiring and empowering. I am so proud of you and please keep up your magnificent work. Cheers to your continued success and all the best now and always!!
Ashley P.
How exciting for you! I look forward to your book!
Sounds great! Can’t wait! Will you have many recipes in it? A little bit of everything for recipes?! When do you hope to have your book come out? Good luck! Count me in! Debbie
Hi Amanda
I would like to see more in HP, OPITM, how to work With milks, how about yogurt. The-ratio of hard oils and butters, and soft oils to get a good recipe to make a decent soap cpop Everybody tell you of the lye, the gloves, the molds etc but nobody give you a good formula with out the maybe, perhapess or try and let me know.
I hope you can answer to this request and question
Silvia
PS: read many books and the only suggestion to get you out of the way is 30, 30, 30, and 10. Olive, coconut, palm, and the other 10 you can play with them with different oils
Amanda, do you live in Austin? If so, that is so cool! I have a Sis-in-law that lives not too far from there. I don’t drive in Austin except for on the interstate.
I love your Blog. But then I love making soap and using the homemade soap. I’m not much on the melt and pour, but love the ones like Grandma or Great-Grandma used to make.