Panama Hat - October 21, 2016

I have spent the better part of 2 days working on this hat only to find out it is too big.  So, I guess I will start the unraveling.  For reference, the pattern I used follows:  (This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download ).  After studying the pattern given, it is wrong.  I started round 8 with 16 (4 DC +ch+FPDC+ch) or 7 stitches X 16 repeats for a total of 112 stitches.  The child's hat was supposed to be 96 stitches, so I should have stopped at round 6 with 16 (3D
C+ch+FPDC+ch) or 6 stitches X 16 repeats for a total of 96 stitches!  Pattern is wrong! 

More Slow Cooker Soap - August 1, 2016

Soapmaking August 1, 2016:  I had 4 oz of Lye left from my previous soap making.  I decided to try this recipe.  Although found in the Handmade Soap Book by Melinda Cross, the recipe below was provided by (p 27) Lori Schenkelberg:

 

20 oz (567 g) vegetable fat (Crisco)

 6 oz (170 g) coconut oil

 6 oz (170 g) palm oil

12 oz (340 g) distilled water

4 ¼ oz (120g) lye

My Changes:  I had some flax oil on hand and used it in place of the palm oil.  I did not have Crisco and used Vegetable Shortening from Aldi.  For color I used 1 tsp tumeric mixed with some fragrance oils I had around the house.  I even added some patchouli essential oil and some clove oil.

Notes on this batch:  The soap began to trace at around 10 minutes.  I then put the lid on the cooker and continue to slow cook on low for a total of 60 minutes.  I did stir the mixture a couple times.  After 20 minutes it was already a thick glop.  After another 20 minutes there was some oil floating around the edges.  I stirred the mixture and finished cooking for a total of  60 minutes - mixture looked like vaseline.  After mixing in the color and essential oils,  I glopped the mixture into the molds. It took about  3 hours for the large bread pan mold to cool and harden enough to remove.  This soap is still soft so will probably need a week of drying time to harden.

So far, : The Prairie Homestead Slow Cooker Soap is the hardest and quickest soap.

Slow Cooker Soap

7/26/16 - More Slow Cooker Soap:

The recipe below is what I used for this soap.  I was well pleased with how easy it was to make.  I used my smaller 4 qt crock pot without any problems.  I did let the lye misture cool down to around 130, and also the cooled the melted oils to about 130.  When I added the lye solution it seemed like it immediately started to thicken and reached trace in around 5 minutes. this batch fit perfectly in the silicone loaf pan.  I did end up with a round bar because when it set up (that was very quick, too) I sliced off the crumbly top layer, added a little water, reheated in a saucepan then added it to a small mold.

Homemade Hot Process Soap Recipe in a Crock Pot

Author: The Prairie Homestead

Recipe type: DIY - Soap

Ingredients

·                            10 oz olive oil

·                            20 oz coconut oil

·                            9 oz distilled water

·                            4.78 oz 100% pure lye (135 g)

·                            Essential oils for scent (optional)

·                            Other Equipment:

·                            Digital scale

·                            Safety gear (safety glasses, long sleeves, gloves)

·                            Stick blender

·                            Crock pot

·                            Non-metal dishes and utensils

Instructions

1.                Measure out the olive and coconut oil.

2.                Place the coconut oil in the slow cooker, and turn it on so it begins to melt.

3.                Measure out the other ingredients, weighing each and every one on the digital scale first.

4.                Once the coconut oil has completely melted, add the olive oil to the crockpot and allow it to mingle and warm up.

5.                Add the lye to the water, stirring slowly. Do this in a place with ample ventilation, while wearing your safety equipment.

6.                Add the dissolved lye/water mixture to the melted oils in the crockpot. Stir gently.

7.                With the stick blender, continue to mix/stir for several minutes until you reach "trace."

8.                Place the lid on the crockpot, set the timer for 50 minutes, and allow the mixture to cook on LOW.

9.                If the soap tries to bubble out of the crockpot, give it a stir.

10.            Line the soap molds with parchment paper (if required)

11.            Once the 50 minutes has elapsed, perform the "zap test": I like to do this by grabbing a small amount of the soap mixture, allowing to cool for a second, and then touching it to my tongue. If it "zaps" me, I know there is still lye remaining in the mixture and it needs to cook longer. If it just tastes like soap, we're ready for the next step.

12.            Allow the mixture to cool slightly before adding any additives.

13.            Press/pour the soap mixture into the mold, making sure to press it into all the corners and smooth out the top as much as possible.

14.            Set it aside for 12-24 hours, or until it sets completely. (Usually, overnight is plenty of time).

15.            Remove the soap from the mold, cut it into bars.

16.            Allow it to dry for another day or so to allow it to harden up a bit.

Hot Process Soap

7/25/16 - My soap from Sunday 7/24 is finished and pictured here.   I am going to let it dry and hopefully  it will harden a little more.  Right now it is still a little soft for my liking.  I decided to get a bigger slow cooker because I didn't want to worry about runover while cooking and the lye was still caustic.  I think it was a good decision because at one point the foamy, cooking soap almost reached the top of my new 7 quart cooker.

For some of the olive oil in this batch I used the olive oil from my herbal salve making.  Blog entry here.

I already have my next recipe picked out.  It is available on the internet here.  I have posted the recipe on my blog 7/26/16.   I will use the remainder of my herbal olive oil for this batch.

NOTE:  I have been having all kinds of computer connection problems   I also couldn't get my blog entries to save, edit or update.  Some of the links have not been working because I couldn't get them to update.I am working on getting things fixed.  Hope this entry has been edited.

Crock Pot Soap Making - Hot Process

7/23/16 -  I have made soap a couple different times.  It has been some time ago and I am ready for more so I spent the day gathering up all the supplies I need to make a batch of hot process slow cooker soap.  I even purchased a Crock Pot to use from the Goodwill store for only $3.99.  The last time I made hot process soap I cooked it in the oven,  It is too hot here now to run the oven and I like the idea of using a crock pot.   I would have preferred a 5 qt cooker but I think this 4 qt (128 oz) cooker will work.  The ingredients I am using total 93 oz.  Total cost for this batch around $20.  Here are the ingredients:

32 oz lard ($3.58)
10 oz Canola ($1.99)
  4 oz Coconut Oil ($2.00)
10 oz Olive Oil (leftover from healing salve ???)
21 oz Distilled Water ($ . 89)
7.2 oz Lye (204 g on the scale) ($5.97)
Essential Oil ($???)

Using the .Lye Calculator at MMS Sage I came up wiith 21 ounces water and to stay in the 5% to 8% excess fat range for lye - 7.2 to 7.5 oz.  These figures are consistent with a recipe called Down Home & Broke Soap, pg 99 of Handcrafted Soap by Delores Boone.

Original Down Home & Broke Soap
32 ounces (909 g) lard or tallow
24 ounces (682 g) canola,  corn, sunflower, safflower or any combination of these four vegetable oils
21 ounces (596 g) distilled water
7.2 ounces (204 g) lye

Quote from the book: When using a slow cooker to make the recipes in this book, make sure it measures 5-6 quarts and has a low-heat setting.  Keep in mind that all slow cookers heat differently, and the length of time the soap cooks may differ. - I guess  I will be getting a different cooker tomorrow.  I don't want a batchful of lye active soap running over. :(

Honor your Belly Belt

I have made my own "Honor Your Belly Belt" based on a project featured in the book Crafts for the Spirit and created by Lisa Sarasohn.  The idea is to celebrate your belly as your body's sacred center—the site of your soul power, the abode of the Sacred Feminine as she dwells within you.  Decorate your belt with an ancient symbol, perhaps one that you've received in a dream or vision, that identifies your body's center with the universal center, the source of life.  I have used the eye of Horus.  To me it is a symbol of power as well as healing, renewal and a powerful protective amulet.   I will probably add a reiki symbol in the near future.

Sarasohn, a veteran Kripalu yoga teacher and writer on yoga and health, writes that the life force focused in the belly "activates your physical, emotional and spiritual vitality. It's the source of your passion and creativity, your courage and confidence, your capacity to love fully. It's the starting point of your intuition, insight, and sense of purpose." In this scenario, a bloated, uncomfortable belly is the sign of something out of balance in your life. Sarasohn sees the belly as the site of women's soul power and connection to "Source Energy."  The Honor Your Belly Belt is just one part of a program Lisa has created to reclaim this sacred center of the body.

Also, since ancient times, priests and holy men have been wearing sacred clothing to illustrate that important, soulful work is going on.  By wearing this special garment when "working", it is my hope that all the creative circuits in my soul will be operating and releasing into the ethers the best of my crativity.

This piece has an inside pocket for placing crystals, symbols, affirmations.   I sometimes have a "bloated, uncomfortable belly" since all of my radiation treatments.  A little extra loving, healing attention focused on this area can only help.

Here is a picture of the belt created by Lisa Sarasohn.  She is asking $250 for this piece.

Roses from Trader Joe's

2/21/16 - Check out these roses I received from Randy for Valentine's Day.  He got them at Trader Joe's.  Aren't they beautiful.  For the first few days I had them, I had to hide them in the back room at Randy's  because his cat, Jenny, would not leave them alone.  We were afraid they might make her sick since she just wanted to bite/eat them.  Luckily, here it is a week later and they are still beautiful. They opened so BIG!  As big as a peony!

Not much else is new here.  Approaching my last week of treatments.  I have one more brachytherapy session on Thursday.  That knocks me down for a couple days.  I guess it is the anesthesia.  Last week my regular doctor was off and the replacement guy looked like Richard Gere!   My regular doctor who is like a big, black, cuddly Teddy Bear (I really like him) will be back.  I suppose there will be scans and a few more hydrations before I hear how successful the whole course of treatment went.  Then it will be a period of rest and recuperation.  Then it will be Spring and time to get off my lazy patoot and get some work done around this place!!!