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According to the office scale I somehow managed GAIN 5 lbs at Pennsic, despite all the walking I did. I swear I did 1000 laps of Pennsic, between the food runs and getting the truck out of parking and trips between Northshield and the Battle Field. I don't think I really ate THAT much, but the scale is still insisting that I weigh 156. *sigh*
As usual, despite the fact that I was somewhat disappointed by this year's Pennsic, I was still inspired and energized by it's cathartic effect. The one class I managed to get to this year was a soap making class. I've been wanting to make my own soap for years, and at long last, I have the equipment, scents, and know-how to do so.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sirzig gave me a boggled look when I started in with the soap making before we even managed to get properly unpacked. He might have even called me a "crack head," but I have two batches of hot-process soap curing under the sink right now, so I feel too accomplished to mind. Plus, my kitchen smells of rose musk and baltic amber.
Amber Soap: (Curing now... Recording recipe, just in case the soap doesn't suck.)
23.8 oz lard
6 oz canola oil
4 oz lye
12 oz water
1/2 jar amber paste of dubious quality/age
Notes: I got trace in about 10 minutes in the crock pot, which was considerably faster than the previous batch, which had a larger ratio of oil/lard. This batch volcanoed the lid right off the crock pot, so if I use this recipe again, I'm going to need to keep an eye on the pot. This soap feels a bit sticky when you wash your hands with it, but once your hands dry they're fine. I'm thinking it's either the hardness of our water or the amber paste I used for scenting.
I made a batch of Rose Musk soap first that was nearly 50/50 soy oil to lard (6 oz soy oil, 8 oz lard) and it feels considerably less sticky, but it's also much mushier. I don't think that first batch got enough scent as I only used 1/2 a dram of oil and spilled some on my fingers so everything I picked up seemed to smell much stronger than it really was. I failed to grease the ice-cube tray that I was attempting to use as a mold, so I have a feeling that the soap may not ever come out of the molds cleanly... I'll probably end up milling that batch and adding more scent and using a better mold. I did, however use some of this soap in the post-Pennsic shower and it seems to work fairly well as a cleaning agent, even if it doesn't leave me smelling like anything.
The lye water has VERY nasty fumes and makes me cough a lot, even with the vent fan on and the window open. I think in the future I'll go ahead and mix the lye/water outside since the house seems to have ventilation issues.
I was a little nervous about making soap in the kitchen because Maggie evidently MISSED ME while I was gone. She has followed me around the house with her face pressed against my thigh for head-pettiness almost as though she is glued there. (It's tres adorable, but makes it kinda hard to get anything done efficiently.) I was concerned that I might spill the lye and she might try to investigate before I could get it cleaned up... BUT I managed to do everything in the sink and not spill until the soap was cooked down and mostly inert.
Tonight I need to cut out the pieces for Ian's household tabard so that I can get it done in time for him to join the household after the Rose Tourney.
As usual, despite the fact that I was somewhat disappointed by this year's Pennsic, I was still inspired and energized by it's cathartic effect. The one class I managed to get to this year was a soap making class. I've been wanting to make my own soap for years, and at long last, I have the equipment, scents, and know-how to do so.
sirzig gave me a boggled look when I started in with the soap making before we even managed to get properly unpacked. He might have even called me a "crack head," but I have two batches of hot-process soap curing under the sink right now, so I feel too accomplished to mind. Plus, my kitchen smells of rose musk and baltic amber. Amber Soap: (Curing now... Recording recipe, just in case the soap doesn't suck.)
23.8 oz lard
6 oz canola oil
4 oz lye
12 oz water
1/2 jar amber paste of dubious quality/age
Notes: I got trace in about 10 minutes in the crock pot, which was considerably faster than the previous batch, which had a larger ratio of oil/lard. This batch volcanoed the lid right off the crock pot, so if I use this recipe again, I'm going to need to keep an eye on the pot. This soap feels a bit sticky when you wash your hands with it, but once your hands dry they're fine. I'm thinking it's either the hardness of our water or the amber paste I used for scenting.
I made a batch of Rose Musk soap first that was nearly 50/50 soy oil to lard (6 oz soy oil, 8 oz lard) and it feels considerably less sticky, but it's also much mushier. I don't think that first batch got enough scent as I only used 1/2 a dram of oil and spilled some on my fingers so everything I picked up seemed to smell much stronger than it really was. I failed to grease the ice-cube tray that I was attempting to use as a mold, so I have a feeling that the soap may not ever come out of the molds cleanly... I'll probably end up milling that batch and adding more scent and using a better mold. I did, however use some of this soap in the post-Pennsic shower and it seems to work fairly well as a cleaning agent, even if it doesn't leave me smelling like anything.
The lye water has VERY nasty fumes and makes me cough a lot, even with the vent fan on and the window open. I think in the future I'll go ahead and mix the lye/water outside since the house seems to have ventilation issues.
I was a little nervous about making soap in the kitchen because Maggie evidently MISSED ME while I was gone. She has followed me around the house with her face pressed against my thigh for head-pettiness almost as though she is glued there. (It's tres adorable, but makes it kinda hard to get anything done efficiently.) I was concerned that I might spill the lye and she might try to investigate before I could get it cleaned up... BUT I managed to do everything in the sink and not spill until the soap was cooked down and mostly inert.
Tonight I need to cut out the pieces for Ian's household tabard so that I can get it done in time for him to join the household after the Rose Tourney.