From My Soap Kitchen

For those of you who were wondering, the craft show two evenings ago went really well.  It was held at a local church as a Ladies Night Out.  Those in attendance ranged from the young to the old, mainly women.  My father who helped my carry my stuff felt quite out of place as looked relieved, newly purchased peanut butter cookies in hand,  when my mother said she was ready to go home.  There was a great energy to the room, as groups of friends had gathered for the shopping and chitchat, often accompanied by a nice glass of wine.  One of the highlights of my evening was when two older ladies ran up to my table saying, "We heard you have a really good lip balm."  Why yes, ladies, I do.  My suitcases were much lighter when I left the hall later that night, after having spread a little bit of handmade soap love.

Preparations now continue for a show I am doing later in June.  Here is what has come out of my kitchen lately:

Peppermint Patty

Peppermint Patty soap is made with peppermint tea, scented with peppermint essential oil and a touch of vanilla fragrance oil.  Some finely ground tea leaves provide a little exfoliation.

Summer Breeze

Summer breeze soap is scented with lavender, lemon and pink grapefruit essential oils.

Pink Grapefruit Poppyseed

Kitchen Soap

My Kitchen Soap is made with brewed coffee and coffee grounds, lightly scented with orange essential oil.  Coffee soap is pretty amazing for getting rid of odours such as onion and garlic from the hands.  The scrubbiness of the coffee grounds removes any stuck on food bits like dough or ground meat when making meatballs.  (Yuck. Does the ground meat stick to anyone else's fingers?  Double yuck.) 

Blue Clay Soap

The Blue Clay soap contains blue clay, shea butter and rice bran oil and it is meant to be used as a facial soap but can be used on the hands and body too.  I can't wait for this soap to be ready.  My Rhassoul soap is one of my favourite soaps and I use it every night to wash my face.  It is the first time in at least 20 years that I have been able to use soap to wash my face without getting that tight, skin-stretched feeling.  I even use it to wash my hair but that is another story.

So that is what has come out of my kitchen lately.  So far, I have been trying a new recipe each time I make a batch which is exciting.  However, after recent sales, I am at the point where I am having to replenish my stock and make some soaps for a second time.  And that is exciting in a whole different way.