10th ave. soapworks

...I have a new hobby! A friend of mine recently cleaned off the candlemaking shelf in the shop she owns and very generously gave the supplies to me. She was so cute, saying she knew I liked crafts and wanted "to see it all go to a good home." Now I know absolutely nothing about candles! And honestly, I had never been curious about them until now, although there is a lot of crossover between the crafts of making candles and soaps. Maybe it has to do with the scents, since they are interchangeable? I've begun poking around at the topic, mostly checking books out of the library. I have to say that it's all a bit intimidating--so many different wicks, waxes, and unfamiliar terms. Last week I got a book on chandling for the absolute beginner from the library....now that's my speed! I'm excited to begin experimenting, probably after Christmas. I like the idea of enjoying some of my favorite scents any time, not just when I use some lotion or soap. And I couldn...

Ages ago, I ran across an idea that intrigued me--making soap specifically designed for removing clothing stains. After doing some research on what would make the best recipe, I tried them out for myself awhile ago. For my oils, I used tallow, a traditional ingredient, as well as coconut oil, which is a good cleansing oil. I also added borax for an extra boost and then something you might not expect—kerosene. I did a little research and discovered that some long-used name brand laundry bars contain a similar ingredient. And just a few days ago I happened to be looking through an old cookbook and read a tip that suggested rubbing a stain with straight kerosene. So it's not such a crazy idea after all. I used a couple of ice cube trays to make the sticks and had just enough left over for a small bar. Here is how they looked after I unmolded them. They are so white--I love how they look! There is a definite odor about them, however, but it does fade somewhat, I just realized. I used ...