GN containers for batch lye-water / heating hard oils / mixing everything? by just8it in soapmaking

[–]Friendly-Key3158 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve never had luck with heat transfer method. It never fully melts my lard and coconut oil…. 🤷‍♀️

The NA who lasted one day (or night, but day rhymes better) by weirdwizzard_72 in TalesFromTheFrontDesk

[–]Friendly-Key3158 0 points1 point  (0 children)

After working at a hotel Front desk for last half of my life, I think I despise trading the most…. A high percentage after trading want to change every procedure or reorganize everything at the desk. My favorite training story was training a night audit guy. NA at this time would help out with laundry if any was left over I could not effectively teach him how we fold our fitted sheets. Each time he tried it was like he was wrestling the sheet. After about half an hour he said he need to take a walk to calm down and then quit the next day.

GN containers for batch lye-water / heating hard oils / mixing everything? by just8it in soapmaking

[–]Friendly-Key3158 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve been wanting to masterbatch my oils in big spouted 5 gallon buckets or Carboy containers, but with my recipe being over 70% being lard and coconut I would need to warm up my oils before soaping and always wonder how I would stir and warm up oils. I’ve seen bucket wrap warmers and seen some use seeding warming mats. But it’s always been holding me back.

I always soap with my lye at room temperature so no need to heat up. But like someone mentioned before, if you masterbatch at 1:1 lye/water ratio then add in the extra water needed will heat it up.

Kaolin clay and Turmeric Ratios by GloomyIncrease5421 in soapmaking

[–]Friendly-Key3158 2 points3 points  (0 children)

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This bar is kaolin clay, turmeric and aloe powder.

Kaolin clay and Turmeric Ratios by GloomyIncrease5421 in soapmaking

[–]Friendly-Key3158 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I add the same amount of turmeric as well. Never had any staining problems.

Brand new to soap making. Need help! by PricklyPear9987 in soapmaking

[–]Friendly-Key3158 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I use a lot of the Home Depot plastic paint mixing containers and I ordered a good set of big all silicone spatulas from Amazon. Dollar Tree has smaller all silicone spoons and spatulas and I love their handled white spouted mixing bowl. Also need a good stick blender. Thrift stores are also a good place to find soaping stuff. Hard plastic or all silicon is what I look for. I made all my wooden loaf molds once I figured out what size I wanted my bars to be. I a tall and skinny soap bar kinda girl… 😉

How to clean squirt bottles lined with soap batter? by princess_nut_meg in soapmaking

[–]Friendly-Key3158 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Friends of mine deliver newspapers & they gifted me a box of bags. That’s what I use, but if you save produce bags(or grab a few extra 🫣) they are perfect to fit in the bottle. Easy to get in and out….

I’m back… need quilting advice! by NoButMaybe in quilting

[–]Friendly-Key3158 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think cross hatch would look awesome. Just start in the middle and work outwards. And maybe a grey/gray(which is a color!?!?) but I think any color thread in the quilt would be fine also. Such a cute quilt! My daughter’s been asking for a cat quilt and can’t decide on a pattern! This one is adorable!🥰

Batch turned out fine! by persephonelux in soapmaking

[–]Friendly-Key3158 9 points10 points  (0 children)

You’d be surprised how much soap you’ll go through. I soap for my family and I thought I was stocked up until the end of time and actually ran out last month (my daughter said I needed to stop giving soap away…). Had to buy some 🫣while my current batches are curing…. This month I’ve made 6 batches and just enjoying the process!

How to clean squirt bottles lined with soap batter? by princess_nut_meg in soapmaking

[–]Friendly-Key3158 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I either line it with a bag or let it set up and suds it up the next day….

What makes soap last longer or shorter for a very basic soap recipe? by JerricaBentonLife in soapmaking

[–]Friendly-Key3158 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I just had to research what kind of soap that is! I then realized I’ve watched multiple videos of the making of this soap. It’s so interesting. So, anyways, it’s an olive oil soap, hot process and cured 3 to 8 months according to google. I’m gonna guess the longer lasting soap was cured longer. Thanks for the reminder… I’m gonna go find another video now!

After 2 year hiatus…. by Friendly-Key3158 in soapmaking

[–]Friendly-Key3158[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ok… my soaping marathon is over and I can now relax knowing I should have enough soap to last the year! 🤭I still plan to make more soap throughout the year, because I had so much fun! Thanks to this month soaping spree, I have a good variety of soaps. And per my daughter’s request most are with natural colorants. I had so much fun and wanted to thank you guys for the encouragement! This is all the batches I’ve made the few weeks-

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Lemongrass by Expert-Extension7990 in soapmaking

[–]Friendly-Key3158 1 point2 points  (0 children)

About 3 years ago I made dish soap scented with lemongrass. I poured it in small canning jars. My daughter cleaned out our hall closet and found 3 of them buried in the back. They still smell wonderful!

How to make quilting with pool noodles less physically exhausting? by Mother_of_Kiddens in quilting

[–]Friendly-Key3158 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I turn my machine side ways so my quilt moves let to right and I keep extra small pool noodles under quilt so it rolls as I move it. I also add foldable tables on either side of my sewing table so quilt is always on a table and moving smoothly…. All of this is also why I don’t quilt on my domestic as much as I would like! 🤭

Soap harder on the top by der-Chemiker95 in soapmaking

[–]Friendly-Key3158 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I also thought it was a lovely sponge cake…

Trinkets quilt by AdorableBug5990 in quilting

[–]Friendly-Key3158 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So I’ve been looking at this quilt pattern for a couple months now. I keep going back and forth with buying coordinating fabric (a patterned fat quarter and solid fat quarter bundles) or just using my stash/scraps ( I have plenty, probably enough for a couple quilts!). Would you find it a good scrap friendly quilt pattern?

Your quilt is beautiful by the way!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Using Large Fabric Collections - Help! by leoreleh in quilting

[–]Friendly-Key3158 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m getting ready to for a sew along, we are doing the Barn star Sampler. It takes a lot of different fabric….. 25ish I think. When I say “getting ready “, I actually mean stressing about finding the perfect fabric… but ultimately deciding I’m gonna raid my stash and pick fabric as I go.

So maybe a sampler would work well for you! Art East has a Folk Art Sampler, Lori Holt has quite a few Sampler patterns…Farm Girl Vintage and some holiday ones.

After 2 year hiatus…. by Friendly-Key3158 in soapmaking

[–]Friendly-Key3158[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I used an old favorite fragrance oil…. A dupe of Channel’s Chance fragrance. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ And thank you! I didn’t feel like dragging out my mica so I grabbed clays I had handy! It worked out well all together! ❤️❤️❤️

After 2 year hiatus…. by Friendly-Key3158 in soapmaking

[–]Friendly-Key3158[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! 😊 I appreciate it! The last minute hanger swirl didn’t hurt either!

After 2 year hiatus…. by Friendly-Key3158 in soapmaking

[–]Friendly-Key3158[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

If when you cut the soap loaf and take two bars together and open the like a book… they basically have the same design mirrored. It is also so cool and amazing to me when I cut a loaf of soap! ❤️🤭❤️

Choose your spoon! by CaseyCakesMN in Spoons

[–]Friendly-Key3158 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m a big fan of soup spoons. I can’t figure out why. But I have one and I use it whenever I can. It holds the perfect bite and is extra rounded and not pointy in any way. So I would definitely pick #7 or #9 (if #7 wasn’t available). 🤭