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4/22/2017

Going Rustic!

1 Comment

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Today I am finishing up some soap that was inspired by the Great Cakes Soap Challenge Club.  The theme this month was Rustic Soap, and I attempted three different batches with various techniques.

The first batch I made was re-batching scraps using my crock pot.  This was achieved by cutting up bits and pieces from previous soap batches that were not so successful, aesthetically speaking, and putting them into the crock pot along with some liquid.  I started out adding some water, but when I realized that I would need more liquid, I decided to continue with coconut milk. 

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Over the course of a couple of hours, it melted into a wonderful mess of soap that, although it was not fluid like the cold process soap that I am accustomed to, it was malleable enough to put into a mold.  After letting it sit a day or two, I unmolded and cut, and this is the result.  Rustic indeed! 
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Initially, I really did not care for how this soap came out.  It did satisfy the qualification of "rustic", but it was a bit crumbly, and I just didn't like the look of it.  I suppose in part because my typical soaps are not at all like this, they are very creamy and smooth - this was a bit out of my comfort zone.

However, I have since changed my mind.  After bringing a bar into the shower and using it, I can see how the use of all that coconut milk contributes - WOW! is it creamy and smooth!

The downfalls that I found were: 1) there really was no changing the color.  It is possible that I overcooked it, but I really didn't think so.  And the majority of the soap I used was a light green color.  I was hoping for green...  2) Even though I added some scent to it, it really did not change the final scent of "hodgepodge" that was noticeable throughout the cook.  I might have to play with this technique again to see if that holds true all the time.


The next technique I used was again utilizing several leftover ends and pieces from previous batches.  This time I made a batch of cold process soap and mixed them in, hoping for a stone effect.  The color I chose for the background was red clay.
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This bar turned out beautiful with a simple swirl on the top.  I found an image on the web of stone that looks very similar - yes the picture below is a stone called red clay breccia.  I'm pretty pleased with this one :)
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The final batch I made for this challenge used the same soap as above for the main body of the soap.  However, I attempted a fancier, more contemporary version of the rustic theme by making a mold looking like burlap and lace, with the idea of adding some piped flowers and butterflies on top.
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Although these are cute, I'm not entirely convinced that the design of the rock on the bottom goes well with the floral on top.  It is growing on me though :)

Overall, I am pleased that I took the time to learn some new techniques and get creative for a few days.  It's always entertaining to stretch my mind and add something fresh to the shelves for my customers!

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1 Comment
Amy Warden link
4/22/2017 06:02:34 pm

Thank you for sharing these with me! I love that you tried some new techniques and enjoyed the process. Whether you enter the challenge is really secondary to the experience and valuable lessons learned. :) I do love the look of the first one, and I don't doubt that it performs quite well! And I can't believe how much the second one really looks like the rock! Glad you had some much-needed play time and have some new tricks up your sleeve for next time!

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    Taralyn

    Colorado Artisan, making beautiful hand-crafted soaps with all natural ingredients.

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Our soaps and body care products are handcrafted the old-fashioned way, in Boulder County, Colorado by your local Soap Making Artist, Taralyn.  Small artisan batches allow for considerable attention to detail during all stages - soap making, hand cutting, six week cure time and hand wrapping - an extensive journey that nurtures the formation of the perfect bar of luxury soap.  And to make it even better, we will deliver to your door!  Shop by Signature or Artisan, by scent families, ingredients or by name.  So much to explore!  Check out our collections today!
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  • Home
  • Soap
    • Soap of the Month
    • New Year New You >
      • Winter 2025 Collection
    • Signature Series Soap Bars A-Z
    • Signature Series Literary Inspired
    • Artisan Series Soap Bars A-Z
    • Soaps by Recipe/Ingredients >
      • Specialty Recipe Soaps >
        • The Bee's Knees
        • Coffee Bar
        • Gardener's Companion
        • Gentle Face Bar Argan
        • Gentle Face Bar Almond
        • Shampoo
    • Soaps by Fragrance Family
    • Soaps by Fragrance Source
    • Limited Edition Bars A-Z
    • Limited Edition Soaps by Collection
    • Cleaning Time!
    • Bargain Basement
  • Man Cave
  • Bath & Spa Accessories
  • Nourish
  • Say It With Soap
    • Wedding Soap Favors
    • Baby Shower Soap Favors
    • Other Life Celebrations
    • Custom Promotional Soap Favors
  • Wholesale