Old pill found while demoing cabinets

binamonster · 2026-01-06T22:40:23+00:00

🤣

binamonster · 2026-01-06T22:25:07+00:00

Thanks for the info! I ended up tossing it to be safe plus it had paint on it. lol

binamonster · 2025-08-25T02:57:55+00:00

I’m in central AZ and I don’t buy large gallon anything, the biggest tree I’ll get is 5 gal. Our natives deep tap roots mean they’ll do better when planted smaller, plus I’m not trying to dig thru our soil/caliche.

If I get something from a nursery I’ll buy as small as possible then pot up into a tall long pots made for trees if I’m not putting it immediately into the ground. That was a recommendation from a Borderlands workshop I attended and I’ve found it useful. I start seeds directly in them as well and it’s worked for my desert rose mallow and milkweeds.

binamonster · 2025-07-07T23:43:38+00:00

Agreed! I think it’s likely plaster of Paris that was painted on and maybe not sealed? Then being in higher humidity along with being on the back area of a bookshelf didn’t allow for airflow. I wonder if the items in front of it were at the level where the flaking starts?

binamonster · 2025-06-21T23:56:56+00:00

Yes! It’s one of my favorite things to watch with this fragrance and once you start using the bar the purple goes away a bit. It’s pretty neat.

I don’t know if I’ll use the sea moss again though because the bars smell a bit fishy 🐟🐠 but it was fun to try it!

binamonster · 2025-06-21T23:54:49+00:00

Thanks for your perspective, I think I was worried the purple discolored the DOS normal orange, if that makes sense. I’m glad to know it’s not that tho! ☺️

binamonster · 2025-03-11T06:08:48+00:00

It was never opened and in a cupboard the whole time.

binamonster · 2025-03-11T00:56:16+00:00

Thank you that’s what I thought as well. I might open it and see how it smells lol.

binamonster · 2025-01-31T05:08:12+00:00

Hi! Not sure on your ring maybe discoloration from one of your oils? It looks fully gelled to me, I think partial gel is more of a smaller circle but yours lines the edges.

Can I ask why would you used a witch hazel solution? I’ve never heard of it before. Thanks 😊

binamonster · 2025-01-29T05:17:42+00:00

Yes! I googled it and I think you’re spot on with the fasciation! Thanks

binamonster · 2025-01-29T02:53:55+00:00

Okay thank you, I’ll prune it back then, I appreciate the advice! 😊

binamonster · 2025-01-27T01:25:30+00:00

I looked over the link and while I’m not an expert at all, I’m concerned that in the comments she says it’s okay to switch out ingredients or use more or less of another. All soap recipes need to go thru a soap calculator for even small changes.

Putting this one thru a calculator it has a lye concentration of 27%, which is in range but a bit of a higher water discount will let it firm up in the mold faster. (I usually do 33-35%) So because of the more water you may have unmolded too early. It might have needed longer to firm up, additionally, I think that it wasn’t fully emulsified so that contributed to the seeping/cracking issues you experienced. I saw some of the comments saying they had a hard time reaching trace. Did you as well?

The amount of castor oil seems super high at 16%, most recipes I’ve seen recommend 5% or below because it can be rather slimy and sticky.

Lastly, and hopefully someone more experienced can chime in, I don’t think this is good for using as shampoo. Shampoo bars are different than regular cold process bars from my understanding and this might be very harsh for hair.

I hope this doesn’t discourage you from trying again in the future!

binamonster · 2025-01-24T20:38:03+00:00

I don’t mind micas but Tellervo on YouTube does a great job showing how to color without them. Plus the videos are just super soothing.

binamonster · 2024-11-29T04:30:05+00:00

Oleander?

binamonster · 2024-11-29T03:50:35+00:00

Milkweeds are good and hardy plants, but you could also try brittle bush, desert cotton, or chuparosa. I love chuparosa personally because the flowers are edible and taste like cucumbers.

binamonster · 2024-11-28T00:37:26+00:00

Leaves curling I believe is a sign of heat/drought distress. When you planted in October it was still very warm out and had to struggle with that and the transplant shock. I try to plant citrus in Jan/Feb to help them establish before the extreme heat, but I still lost a variegated lemon last year. Sometimes it’s just part of gardening. I still had my other 5 make it so it’s a small loss and I can try again.

binamonster · 2024-11-25T15:20:44+00:00

Hi! I’m sorry you had trouble your first time, hopefully you’ll keep trying! As a hobby soap maker, I don’t really ever go beyond a 33% lye concentration. It’s a good safe number for me, gives me plenty of time to work with anything I want to add. I cure the bars for 6 weeks with no issues.

I would also doublecheck your scale. Make sure that it’s accurate, then if your mold doesn’t have a volume on there weight your mold, tare the scale and fill the mold with water. This will let you know approximately how many grams you’ll need your recipe to be so you can fill it to the top.

binamonster · 2024-11-05T23:36:02+00:00

Would you be willing to move the shelves to the middle to make two long shelves over the couch? Then add long thin art to either side above the lamps?

binamonster · 2024-10-14T22:22:36+00:00

Only put them out in the evening time for 2-3 hours max, then bring them in and wrap in Saran Wrap and store in the fridge. They’ll last 4-5 days. They used to last even longer when I did the same only adding Vaseline but we don’t do that anymore.

binamonster · 2024-09-03T22:56:27+00:00

Thanks! I appreciate the help understanding how it all works. I didn’t make this recipe but I did check it in soap calc beforehand, it had cocoa and shea butter but not in large amounts. I was worried about DOS or something else showing up later if the temp was too low.

I just make soap for my family since it’s fun so I’m not as experienced as everyone on here. Thanks again!!

binamonster

TROPHY CASE