Tutorials on soapmaking, bath fizzies, lotions and more
This week was all about new products and techniques. For instance, French green clay, nettle leaf and comfrey leaf were recently added to the Bramble Berry line. Natural colorants look great in soap and other products. If you'd like to give them a try, the Natural Colorants Sampler Pack is the … Continue Reading
Of all the alternative liquids to make cold process soap with, beer may be one of the most popular. The natural sugars in beer add lather to the final bar, and are great from a marketing standpoint. If you're a beer fan, who wouldn't want to bathe with their favorite brew? For these Charcoal and … Continue Reading
Photo by Lara Ferroni To prepare sodium hydroxide lye for soapmaking, it needs to be dissolved in some type of liquid. The dissolved lye solution is then emulsified with oils to create soap. Distilled water is usually the liquid of choice for dissolving lye. But, some soapers prefer to use other … Continue Reading
If you've ordered from Bramble Berry recently, you may have noticed that something looks a little different. Can't put your finger on it? The Bramble Berry product labels have been redesigned! We had the previous labels for approximately 12 years, so it was definitely time for an update. The new … Continue Reading
It's still hard to believe that my new book, Pure Soapmaking, is finally here. The book has been such a labor of love for more than two years; to finally hold it in my hands is incredibly exciting. Even more exciting is seeing other soapers with the book! It's been an affirmation (and, a relief!) to … Continue Reading
There are lots of new things at Bramble Berry right now. The website received an update, along with the product labels (look for a post on those soon!) We also have plenty of new soapy products. Of course one of my new favorite products right now is my new book, Pure Soapmaking. There is still time … Continue Reading
Happy weekend everyone! Yesterday I had a Pure Soapmaking book signing at Village Books, and it was so fun to meet fellow soapers. Thanks to everybody who came. If you have your copy of the book, there is still time to enter to win one of ten $25 Bramble Berry gift certificates. Simply post a selfie … Continue Reading
There are so many ingredients from the cupboard that can be added to cold process soap. This week, there were several posts about those ingredients, including the How to Add Purees to Cold Process Soap post. Every fruit or vegetable adds certain properties to the soap. For instance, avocado puree … Continue Reading
A typical cold process salt bar involves adding salt crystals at trace. These are wonderful bars, but they tend to be crumbly and may not last as long, as the salt dissolves with use. Soleseife (or brine soap) is the German name for soap made with salt water. Brine soap is a fantastic alternative to … Continue Reading
It has been so exciting to see my new book, Pure Soapmaking, in the hands of the soaping community. I'm blown away with the response and enthusiasm (thank you thank you thank you!). The book is already in its second printing! It's amazing to think about how much the soaping community has grown since … Continue Reading
It's no secret that I have a sweet spot for dessert-inspired soap. From cupcake soap to doughnut soap, beautifully decorated desserts have inspired a lot of fun projects. These melt and pour soap truffles look incredibly realistic, and make perfect guest size soaps. They are scented with Butter … Continue Reading
Photo by Lara Ferroni. I ❤ all of her photos. Swoon. There are a wide variety of natural ingredients that can be used in cold process soap. From natural colorants and exfoliants to essential oils and extracts, new soapy ingredients are always popping up. Recently, adding fruit and vegetable … Continue Reading
While I'm not a huge football fan (unless the Seahawks are winning, at which point, I am a rabid fan), I love the excuse to get together with friends and family and watch the ads. If you're looking for a last-minute recipe for the big game today, these Baked Buffalo Cauliflower "Wings" are my … Continue Reading
Happy, happy Saturday! I hope February is treating you well so far. Last weekend the family and I spent some time on the coast. It was a great time to relax, unwind and enjoy the beach. Below, you can see that Lily clearly enjoyed building sandcastles. That little girl is such a hoot. =) Today … Continue Reading