New New & More New!!

Whew! It's been one of those weeks. Busy, busy, and more busy! First off the giveaway is still on and I have been given quite a few awesome names to choose from. Overwhelming? No, not at all ;)

Check out this pic of the "pumpkin spice" soap that will be renamed this week. I was going for a different kind of swirl, but it did not work out as planned. It still came out in a neat layer on the bottom with a swirl on top. The smell is absolutely amazing as well. The soap will be ready in time so that the person who wins the giveaway can request it as their "free" soap choice. 

Thanks to all those who have participated thus far. If anyone else wants to take a last minute stab at a name idea for my "pumpkin spice" soap you can click here and leave me the comment with your name idea. 

http://thenakedbar.blogspot.com/2011/10/give-me-name-get-you-bar-giveaway.html 

Oh, and all ideas need to be in by November 1st, and I will be picking the name on November 5th!

This week I was also able to snap a couple of snazzy pics of me making some Cold Process Soap. Sorry some of them are a little blurry, but you know how it is taking pics of yourself.....

In this photo I have all of my items laid out in preparation for making my latest men's soap "Cool Like That". (It's a Cool Water dupe). You remember the song from back in the day by Digable Planets? Am I dating myself? LOL!

The large red bowl contains all of my oils (melted down and cooled to room temp). The two small orange bowls contain my colorants. In the case I used titanium dioxide for white color and activated charcoal for grey color. I combine both colorants with a touch of olive oil so that I can easily incorporate them into the soap.

Now I pour my lye water (also cooled to room temp) into the melted oils. Do you see how the oils and the lye water are starting to combine on the bottom making it cloudy looking? Exciting!!! That is the chemical reaction taking place in the formulation of soap!!

Okay in this next pic you can see the action really getting started! The lye and oils are mixing together and I am accelerating the process by using a stick blender. (Can you imagine that years ago this was done with a spoon? Uh, no thanks!) I continue mixing until I reach the stage in soap making known as "a light trace". The mixture is the consistency of a gravy. 

Check me out with my soap maker costume! I've got my really super cute green eye goggles. You can't see them in this pic, but I also have some cute gloves too! 

After combining my lye water and oils I then divide the soap into the colorants in each bowl. Finally I swirl each of them into my mold. (Sorry I could not get pics, but I needed both hands for this). Not to toot my own horn, but this is probably the best looking swirl I have done ever! I absolutely love the way it came out. This soap is very "Cool Like Dat!!!"

I probably need a better camera, but I think my picture taking skills are getting a little bit better. There are so many soap blogs that I have seen with some truly amazing pics of their soaps! So I have got to step it up!

Oh and BTW, check this out!

This week I also came across a very cool soap blog called The Soap Seduction! As a fledgling soap blogger I get so inspired when I come across soap artists like Patrice! Her soaps are awesomely awesome and her soap names are hilarious (to say the least)!!! 
Here is her link....

Give Me A Name Get You A Bar Giveaway!!

Hello All! 


In my last post I went over some of the soaps scents that I will be making for my Christmas themed soaps. This weekend I thought about asking my readers to help me to name my bestselling Fall soap "The Pumpkin Spice Bar". This bar is sold out, so I will be making a new batch with a new design and a new name.


That being said I am pleased to announce my very first giveaway!!

"GIVE ME A NAME GET YOU A BAR GIVEAWAY"!!

If you have have never tried a Naked Bar soap, this is your chance to get a 5-6 oz bar of your choice for FREE! 

Here's what you do....

(No International entries please)

• Leave a comment on this post with your unique name idea for the new "Pumpkin Spice Bar" by November 1, 2011. Feel free to think "outside" of the box on this! 
• Multiple entries are encouraged. 
• Anonymous entries are allowed, but a valid email address is required for the winner notification. (Email address will not be published or sold) Giveaway winner will be notified via email. 
• On November 5, 2011 I will choose the winner and re-name my soap! 
• The winner will get a FREE 5-6oz (in stock) Naked Bar of their choice. 
• So C'mon Give Me a name and Get You a Bar!!

Tip: The pumpkin spice scent is a blend of molasses, cinnamon, ginger, allspice,  nutmeg, ground cloves, & of course Pumpkin!!!

Mmmm, Smells like Christmas

Hi everyone! I am working on my Christmas themed soap bars early this year. The holidays come and go so quick that I believe it's worth it to start preparing for them as early as possible. Really folks, I am about to break out my Christmas Tree and decorations. Just joking! :)

During Christmas time we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The story in the Bible tells of the three wise men who brought the baby Jesus gifts of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.

Frankincense & Myrrh

Why would the three wise men bring Jesus frankincense and myrrh? Frankincense and myrrh were extremely expensive resins which were used as both medicine, and as Holy anointing oils. Myrrh is mentioned more in the Bible than any other aromatic essential oil. The wise men brought gifts to the baby Jesus which were considered Gifts Fit For a King.

The Gifts Bar

A traditional Christmas scent Frankincense and Myrrh is delightful to the senses. This fragrance is a rich combination of olibanum, myrrh, patchouli, herbaceous woodsy pine, sheer musk, vanilla, and floral lilac notes.

I am offering these bars in a choice of 5-6 oz bars or larger 7-8 ounce bars.

These bars on cured and ready to go. Check them out on the Buy a Bar page!

http://thenakedbar.blogspot.com/p/naked-bar-selection-cold-process-soaps.html

Over the next few weeks I will be working on a lineup for the holiday season. Here are a few fragrance ideas that I have brewing in the Soap Shoppe in my head!

I like to give each of my soaps a unique & funky name. It makes them memorable. So, if anyone has any good soap name ideas please comment on this post! Okay, here's what's I've got so far....

Pomander Bar (Orange & Clove)

Santa's Cookies Bar

Figgy Pudding Bar (Brown Sugar & Figs)

Yum, It's Bay Rum Bar

     I try to give each soap a unique & funky name. This makes them more memorable. If anyone has any good ideas for soap names please comment on this post! Thanks in advance.

Not just your "Average Joe"!!

Soaping with a Purpose!!

The whole reason I began soapmaking is because my husband and my son both suffer from Eczema. Eczema is a chronic skin condition that causes scaly and itchy rashes. Previously we always used commercial soaps, many of which contained harsh sulfates, synthetic fragrances, and chemicals. These ingredients can exacerbate and irritate already sensitive and dry skin. 

Since we've been using my homemade soaps there have been no incidences of Eczema rashes or scaly skin on my son or on my better half!! 

So to honor my hubby and darling son my latest soap creation is called "Average Joe"!!

This soap is truly a "naked bar"! It is made using my traditional soap recipe of coconut oil, palm kernel oil, olive oil, shea butter, and castor oil.

I then add a few heaping tablespoons of baby oatmeal cereal. Oatmeal is a phenomenal ingredient for assisting with skin conditions of any kind. It helps to relieve dryness, restore the natural moisture balance of skin, it aids in reducing redness, itching, and minor skin irritations. 

The soothing colloidal action of oatmeal binds moisturizing 
emollients to your skin so that skin becomes softer and more elastic. Plus there is a "ridiculous" amount of vitamins in the stuff :)!!

Baby oatmeal cereal is so fine that it is not grainy in the soap. (Even though whole grains of oatmeal are also wonderful and can be used for super exfoliating action).

There are no added colors or fragrance oils,   and the smell is just kind of "nutty". Kind of like baby oatmeal cereal. 

These bars are going to be "curing" for about a week and then will be on the Buy a Bar CP page.

Soap Baskets!!

Coming Soon!! Soap Baskets!

This week I will be working on soap gift baskets for the holidays. I am also going to be making lotion bars to match the scent of the soaps. All in yummy fall scents!! 

As soon as I get some finished I will be posting them. 

Check back soon!!!

Soap Basket with Bath Pouf,  Scented Lotion Bar, & Breathe In & Out Soap Bar

New Fall Artisan Soap Lineup!

Check out our "fall inspired" handmade artisan soap lineup! 

My handcrafted soaps are made with all natural ingredients such as olive oil, coconut oil, & Shea butter. Just all natural "naked" soap!!

Seriously, some of these soaps smell good enough to eat! :)

*All soaps available for purchase:

http://thenakedbar.blogspot.com/p/naked-bar-selection-cold-process-soaps.html

Apple Jack & Peel Bar (Claire Burke Dupe)

Breathe In Breathe Out Bar (Tea Tree/Eucalyptus/Orange)

Pumpkin Spice Bar (Pumpkin & Cinnamon)

Pom & Berry Bar (Pomegranate & Bayberry)