Merry Christmas 2013

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for Paulette, Emily & Betsy

DISCLAIMER:  FOLLOW STANDARD COLD PROCESS SOAP PROCEDURE (NOT TO BE ATTEMPTED BY NON-SOAPMAKERS).  WHEN MAKING SOAP YOU ARE WORKING WITH SODIUM HYDROXIDE, OR LYE, WHICH IS A CAUSTIC, DANGEROUS CHEMICAL.  WEAR PROTECTIVE SKIN, EYE & RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT & WORK IN A WELL-VENTILATED AREA.  AUTHOR IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE OR INJURIES.

This is my original recipe.  If it ends up being close to someone else's, that is a happy coincidence.  For the longest time, this was my absolute favorite.  Enjoy!

COBBLESTONE SOAP RECIPE
Takes a while, but worth it:  a wonderfully mild base, with subtle hints of peppermint, tea tree and lavender.  First I make the elements:

> Rhassoul Clay, Myrrh & Peppermint Vegan Soap
> Rhassoul Clay Tea Tree Vegan Soap
> Lavender Vegan Soap

I don't generally wait for the elements to cure for 3 weeks - just a few days.  Then I cut them however I like (I've used small heart shape cookie cutters, or just a knife, or even sometimes used a grater).  I really like the way this soap looks, smells & feels. Once I've got the elements ready, I make the base.

Cobblestone Soap Base

25.7 oz filtered water

9.9 oz lye

1 lb 6.8 oz olive oil

1 lb 7.2 oz organic palm oil

1 lb 4.4 oz organic coconut oil

1 oz sweet almond oil

1 oz castor oil

1 oz raw organic cocoa butter

1 oz shea butter

4 grams grapefruit seed extract

6 grams Vitamin E oil

Note:  After the lye is dissolved into the filtered water, I add the Rhassoul Clay & Myrrh to the lye/water mix, stirring 'til dissolved.

Once I get the oils & butters measured & melted, I add the GSE and Vitamin E oil to that, stirring well.

I stir periodically while I wait for the lye/water mix and the oil/butter mix to get to 100 degrees F.

Mixed into base at trace, generous chunks of:

• Rhassoul Clay Tea Tree Soap
• Rhassoul Clay & Myrrh Peppermint Soap
• Lavender Vegan Soap

I let the soap goo insulate in molds for 2 to 3 days.  Then I  remove, cut & lay out to cure.  After 2 weeks I label.  Should be ready to use 3 weeks from original date of manufacture.  I label each bar, listing all ingredients & date of manufacture, weigh, wrap & then ship or hand deliver.

Paulette likes "logs" to slice off bars as needed for herself and her family.  When I deliver a big block of soap to someone, I still give them a label & wrap their soap.  I also offer to email extra labels for them to print (and edit) as needed.

Matthew 23:23  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Luke 11:42  But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Ephesians 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

James 4:8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

a personal favorite with Peppermint and Myrrh

Disclaimer:  Follow standard cold process soap procedure (not to be attempted by non-soapmakers).  When making soap you are working with sodium hydroxide, or lye, which is a caustic, dangerous chemical.  Wear protective skin, eye & respiratory equipment & work in a well-ventilated area.  Author is not responsible for any damage or injuries.

This is my original recipe.  If it ends up being close to someone else's, that is a happy coincidence.

Rhassoul Clay, Myrrh & Peppermint Vegan Soap

25.6 oz filtered water

9.9 oz lye

23 oz olive oil

18.5 oz organic palm oil

24.5 oz organic coconut oil

2.6 oz almond oil

1.6 oz castor oil

1 oz raw organic cocoa butter

.7 oz shea butter

13 grams grapefruit seed extract

29 grams Rhassoul Clay

29 grams Myrrh powder

1 oz Peppermint Essential Oil

Note:  After the lye is dissolved into the filtered water, I add the Rhassoul Clay & Myrrh to the lye/water mix, stirring 'til dissolved.

Once I get the oils & butters measured & melted, I add the GSE to that, stirring well.

I stir periodically while I wait for the lye/water mix and the oil/butter mix to get to 100 degrees F.

I add the Pure Peppermint Essential Oil at trace. 

I let the soap goo insulate in molds for 2 to 3 days.  Then I  remove, cut & lay out to cure.  After 2 weeks I label.  Should be ready to use 3 weeks from original date of manufacture.  I label each bar, listing all ingredients & date of manufacture, weigh, wrap & then ship or hand deliver.

Genesis 37:25  And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

Genesis 43:11  And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

Matthew 2:11  And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

the soap thing

I began making soap several years ago for a lot of reasons.  First because most of us in our family have sensitive skin - different sensitivities. 

Most days I wash my hands at least a dozen times - with the wrong soaps, that will wreak havoc on my skin.  Years ago someone told me that you can tell the age of a woman by her hands.  I'm not HUGE on vanity, but the appearance of my hands is a point of concern for me.  I don't want my hands announcing my age (although I'd tell anyone who asked w/very little hesitation).  I also don't want them announcing where they've been in the last 24 hours... so I wash them frequently, and moisturize often.

Natural hand made stuff just seems so RIGHT ♥  I don't feel the need to make EVERYTHING so, when I find someone else who makes something natural that works & I have peace about the ingredients, I'm all for keeping them in business!

I have recently added another dimension to the whole soap thing - teaching others.  Sharing the joy of soapmaking is even more fun than just making soap.  I taught my first local student in December 2010.  GREAT fun!  So cool to be creative with kindred spirits, and to know that others are out there helping to keep our community naturally clean ;)

My second student was my high school friend, Terri, in January 2011, during a recent trip to Virginia.  Terri is a Chemistry major, so she knew far more than I before we began.  And knows so much more than I ever will today.  More great fun!

• "Terri Student here... I had so much fun learning to make soap, and contrary to Tonia's thoughts, I didn't know much, but I read up! I had forgotten how soap works. Cool substance. BTW, I'm actually an Environmental Science major with experience in chemistry, but Env. Sci. majors LOVE to dig in the dirt, so we really need the soap."  (added from Terri's email received 2/5/11)

I highly recommend all of Terri's vegan soaps, but my favorites are her awesome liquid soaps ♥

Both students shared some of their first soap batches, for which I am very grateful.  Clean karma.

I still love to make soap, and will continue to do so as long as the Lord allows.  And I will continue to teach others I have peace about, as they come along.  Because there's so much dirt in this world, the more soapmakers the better!

Philippians 4:8 

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.