Fourth challenge from Amy Warden’s blog http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/handmade-soap-blog/index.php/soap-challenge-2013-leopard-spotted-soap-link-up/

I’ve been very busy and got a late start on my challenge project. I used pink and purple for the spots and a white background. My fragrance is Lilac Lavender, one of my favorites. I cooled my oils and lye mix to a little below 100 degrees. I separated a little out for my colors, colored them and (dang) forgot the fragrance. Quickly poured a little in each color and most of it in the white part. Dang again, the white part is making little lumps. Quickly start blending to reduce lumpage…

So, I hate being right.  The colored parts were too thin; my leopard spot is more flabby, deflated balloon.  Anyway, smells wonderful and love pink and purple, so happy with it.  I’ll give this another try.

Scroll on down for update on my soap.

I used my basic recipe with a couple changes for this challenge courtesy Amy Warden’s Challenge    http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/handmade-soap-blog/

I made a tea with lavender buds for my liquid, and shredded a bar of my Sweet Gypsy Rose soap into the batch at pouring. The tea was a pale purpley color and I was worried that it would turn out a washed out grey, so added a bit of purple pigment to strengthen the color (can never leave well enough alone! :<) The Sweet Gypsy Rose is a warm honey color with a light citrusy, slightly floral fragrance. I also added a little lavender and grapefruit EO to the soap batch. Wasn’t sure if the tea fragrance would last, though it was quite nice. I used violet and a gold mice from the Conservatorie; I think the swirl is going to be good! Here is a pic of the top shortly after pouring.

This morning, about 15 hours after pouring.  Quite beautiful!  Appeals to the sparkly, glitzy part of me!  (yes, it’s in there)

Will cut in a few hours…  Whoa!  Cut this puppy and holy S!#**!?!! (regain my composure…)

Taa Daa!   Introducing my Barbie on a Bender Soap (Bender Barbie for short).  You know those things where the parts are all outstanding, but the big finish isn’t quite what you expected?   Well, top quality ingredients here (my most excellent basic recipe), outstanding  real brewed lavender tea,  a shredded bar of one of my amazing beer soaps, and gorgeous mice swirls.  Well, this brings to my mind an aging , hung-over, overly made up Barbie.  The rest of you challenge folks should feel great about your efforts after seeing this.  Okay, back to experimenting.

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Week 2 of Amy Warden Soap Challenge is more intriguing than the first.  This is called an Elemental Swirl.  I’m quite happy with my results.  My idea was to pick up some of the look of an Alaskan sunset.  That needs a bit more work!  A good goal!

Here’s the link to Amy’s site.  http://www.greatcakessoapworks.com/handmade-soap-blog/index.php/category/making-soap/soap-challenge/

I used my basic favorite recipe, but resized to the 48 oz Amy recommended. Unfortunately, my mold was not large enough, so at the end I had extra soap and poured it into a couple molds I have.

I used pink, violet, green and blue micas, and cocoa powder for the line. I like the way it turned out, though I had wanted more vivid colors. Since I had not used the micas before, I stayed conservative; I would double the amount next time. I used a fragrance from Majestic Mountain Sage “Posh Petals” (love it) and the micas from The Conservatorie.  Happily, the fragrance did not accelerate the trace.
My oils and lye solution was 85 degrees, to make it all workable.  I enjoyed this challenge and will absolutely do it again.  

I just finished a quilt for a friend’s new baby.  I love the way this turned out!  When I was putting the squares together, I thought it was going to look a little “conservative.”   As usual, adding the border, the quilting and binding really transforms this piece.  I am improving my skills with every project; this is by far the best yet.  I used Minkee on the back because it is so incredibly soft; nice for a baby.  I’ve washed it, so no surprises for the new family.  On to the next project.

A tiger stripe soap… blue, green and white with a spring rain scent.  Lighter than I had planned but seems appropriate to the season.  Some of the bars seem to have sea creatures swimming through…