Just posted to my other blog, www.soap-bits.com, about an article from 1859 on tooth soap.

I just got back from the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild conference in Palm Springs, CA.  It was an awesome 3-day experience!  Being the current President of the Soap Guild, I had responsibilities while there and was involved in the preparations (although Leigh O’Donnell, the Conference Chairman, was truly the mastermind behind it all).  I loved having the opportunity to see old friends and meet new ones.  We soapmakers certainly are an interesting and passionate lot!

I’ve started a new blog - Soap Bits .. Bits of trivia and information, all about soap!  Check it out at  www.soap-bits.com.

I recently received an email from Melinda Coss, a soapmaker and author from France.  She’s involved with a program called Township Trades in South Africa, teaching teens business skills through soapmaking.  Take a look at the video - it’s awesome!

Marie Gale

When I make soap, I break it out into in several stages: Preparation, Melting, Mixing & Molding, Unmolding & Cutting, Trimming and Packaging. Generally there is a time gap between the different stages - sometimes hours, sometimes days and even sometimes months. This is how I do it.

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Making soap is both a science and an art. For me, it’s the combination of the two that makes the whole thing so fascinating. That, and the joy of having my own custom-made, custom-scented, just-perfect-for-me soap. Add to that the fact that I can share it with other people and make some income while doing so and it’s a really good fit for me.

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Yesterday was the day for cutting soap. I made 8 batches several days ago and they’ve been wrapped in their blankets, patiently waiting to be cut. Now in the drying rack (see picture) I have pumpkin spice, peach, swirled unscented, lovespell, sandalwood & amber and kumquat. Sort of an eclectic mix!

I do so like having soaps in the drying rack! It was created by building a small closet with sidebars to hold up trays of soap. Just to the right there is another closet like the one shown (you can see the handle in the picture). I have a marine dehumidifier in there which helps evaporate the water out of the soap more quickly, making them salable in 2-3 weeks instead of 6-8 weeks.

Learn more about the soap making process.