It’s the time of year where there is change in the air and New Year’s resolutions weave into conversations as we make plans to conquer another year! For me, perhaps because of the December that I went through, I am thankful for family and friends. I’ve been trying to find ways to thank all of the special people that have carried me and help me grow through this journey. I also just enjoy making things and I’m enjoying being creative again for a change.
My neighbors have been so nice and left me gifts and cards. I decided to make some Honey Almond Chamomile soap that I found on Pinterest To give to them. I chose a goats milk based soap and discovered that this recipe is really just mixing and not really creating from scratch. I suppose all home based soap and candle creating is just mixing cause I don’t have any goats or bees. I’ll still take credit for the soap but say thanks a lot to the goats and people at Stephenson Farms that made my soap base!
For my adaptation of this recipe, I didn’t want to make as much as the original recipe called for.
2 lbs goats milk soap base
2 tbsps ground up oatmeal
2 tbsps honey
2 1/2 chamomile tea bags
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
First I microwaved my 2 lbs of soap base. I microwaved for a couple of minutes at a time and broke up the soap a little at a time. I also used a bowl that I was getting rid of due to a chip because I didn’t like the idea of soap with my food bowls.
While I was microwaving and melting the base, I measured my oatmeal and chamomile tea into my mortar and pestle. I mixed and ground up both items.
After the base melted, you need to work fairly quickly so you can incorporate ingredients without the base separating and drying with a skin on the top. It can be melted down again but I found the soap comes out creamier and better the less you reheat and handle it.
Mix in the ground oatmeal and chamomile. I put a little at a time so I could see the ratio of grains through the base. You might decide to not put in as much as I did?
After incorporating the dry ingredients, I added the honey, almond and vanilla extracts.
I mixed everything thoroughly until it looked like I wanted it to. I wanted a fairly even amount of grain to my base throughout.
Next, I spooned the mixed soap into a silicone mold. My mold had six 2″ rounds. I was much messier in spooning my soap in the mold than you have to be! It does clean up easily though if you are equally as messy or more.
After they cooled, I decided to create crochet scrubber covers. I didn’t follow a pattern for this so I’ll have to try to write out the steps involved later for any crocheters. You can also message me here if you want me to figure that out for you sooner than later!
Happy soap “mixing” and Happy New Year! Here’s to clean starts and a great 2016!
