Home Again, Home Again, Jigety Jig!

[mightyjesse]

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. 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.

Comments

[devikat.livejournal.com]

Of COURSE she missed you! We had fun, but they would jump every now and again and noises outside, I'm sure thinking that it was you two. Plus they were uber-good! Not one single accident to pick up.

[without-within.livejournal.com]

Lady, you most likely lost fat but gained muscle. This is a good thing.

[giftofamber.livejournal.com]

I'd be willing to bet that the weight is the result of additional muscle. Wow, you're quick. :-) My cats haven't left me alone since I walked in the door, or I'd have played with my dye kit already.

[rustmon.livejournal.com]

ooooh! soap!

[eithni.livejournal.com]

HEY! What's this about soap without me!?! *pout*

[mightyjesse.livejournal.com]

I made *hot process* soap without you. Cold process soap looks like it makes nicer looking bars (because it's the consistency of pudding when you pour it into the mold and doesn't have to be mashed in like crunchy peanut butter.) but it takes longer to cure... I'm not so good at *patient*... So I was thinking we can find some nice molds (I saw this lady using rain gutters cut in 10 inch lengths to make really neat bars with frilly looking edges.) and make some cold process soap with the *good* smelly stuff that I bought at Pennsic... Then I can leave the soap molds at your house for a month while they cure. If I try to leave them in my basement, I'll keep poking at them until they're all ruined.

[eithni.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. *sniffle*

;P

[jinglymushroom.livejournal.com]

Dude! Thank you so very much for letting me tag along and stick around with you guys all Pennsic long! :D

And oh my gosh... It just hit me... Was Ian the one with whom you made that Stealth Adventure Cake?!?!

[mightyjesse.livejournal.com]

Indeed. It was *that* Ian who made the Stealth Adventure Cake. You met the ledgend!

[jinglymushroom.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow. ^_^ I can't believe I didn't realize it earlier!
After your comment of "You met the legend!" I was slightly tempted to feign a fan-girl squeal, but that's really not my thing. :P
I will say, though, that that fella is quite surprising in numerous good ways. :)

yay craft projects!

[abelove.livejournal.com]

soap is something i want to try soon too, looks like fun =)

this is the fitting book i was telling you about

http://www.amazon.com/Fit-Real-People-Clothes-Pattern/dp/0935278656/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218551671&sr=8-1

the hardest part about doing this on your own is evaluating the original pattern...it really helps to have a buddy. if you try it and have specific questions, i can do my best to answer them long distance =D