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Making Soap (with pictures!)
When I make soap, I break it out into in several stages: Preparation, Melting, Mixing & Molding, Unmolding & Cutting, Trimming, and Packaging. Generally there is a time gap between the different stages—sometimes hours, sometimes days, and even sometimes months. This is just how I do it.
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The Art & Science of Making Soap
Making soap is both a science and an art. For me, it’s the combination of the two that makes the whole thing so fascinating. That, and the joy of having my own custom-made, custom-scented, just-perfect-for-me soap. Add to that the fact that I can share it with other people and make some income while doing […]
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Off to HSMG Conference!
As I write this (May 2009) I am finishing up all the loose ends to get ready to leave. Very excited (now that most of the stress of the preparations is done)! The HSMG Annual Conference is a really big deal within the soapmaking community and for me as the President of the HSMG. Leigh […]
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John Adams, 2nd President of the United States
Last night I watched the 7th and final episode of the HBO Miniseries “John Adams.” While I’ve been intrigued and educated through the entire series, it was the last episode that gave me the most insight into the man himself. I attribute that to the fact that it covers the last years of his life, […]
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Tax Day – We Need a Change
I hate tax day. Like many (maybe most) Americans, I seriously resent the time and effort I have to spend to file taxes every year. Filling in the forms has gotten easier over the years with e-File and programs like TurboTax, but even with that I spent over 6 hours putting together my taxes last […]
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United Airlines – AGAIN
I posted before about my sad experience with United. I wasn’t sure I was going to use the $150 coupon they gave me, but I did. And everything seemed to be fine. For a while.
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Silent Birth – A New Perspective
The idea of a silent birth was a concept presented in Dianetics, The Modern Science of Mental Health, based on the premise that words spoken during pain or unconsciousness could have adverse effects on a person later in life. I’ve observed it to be true myself, both from my own personal recall and from applying […]
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www.Scientology.org
Last night (Saturday) was one of the major events within the Church of Scientology—the celebration of L. Ron Hubbard’s birthday. There is an international event in Clearwater, Florida which is video’ed and then shipped out to all the outlying Churches so the parishioners there can watch it. I went to see it in Portland. I’m […]
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Suggested SOPs
Good manufacturing practices cover anything and everything that could affect your product quality. It’s not just your master formula and how you make the products – it also includes all the OTHER things that make a difference. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) cover, your workspace, helpers, equipment, facilities, safety procedures, documentation, and quality control, which all […]
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History of the Bath
After a lot of very interesting research, I’ve written an article on The History of the Bath. It was published as the cover article in the Handcrafted Soapmaker, which is the journal of the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild. You can read the entire article here.
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Saponifier Review of Soap & Cosmetic Labeling
I have to say I am just tickled with the review that Beth Byrne wrote about my book in the on-line soapmakers magazine, The Saponifier. When they said they were going to review the book I was happy, but I never expected such a glowing (and long) discussion of the book! I’ve always been a […]
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United Airlines – Bad Customer Service
UNBELIEVABLY bad customer service! In the beginning of June (2007) I went to Burlington, Vermont. My trip back to Oregon, on June 8th was the absolute WORST travel experience I’ve ever had. It wasn’t because my flights were delayed by weather, or because I ended up having to spend the night in the Chicago airport, […]
Helping you undersand soap and cosmetic regulations — in plain English.
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