Wednesday, February 22, 2012

A Better Beveler and a March Give-Away

I attended  a poultry industries convention today.
I would love to talk about it.
But vowed not to blog about my job.
So, I will just show you this neat key chain I got.
And tell you that we had pork for lunch
and that made no sense at all.

Now, on to the subject of beveling soap.
I made some new spring soaps a few days ago.



The top one is Rosemary with ground apricot seed.
This is my Gardeners Hand Soap.
The apricot seed is just abrasive enough to
really scrub up dirty hands.
The bottom one is Rise and Shine with chamomile buds.
This bar would also make a nice soap
for hard working hands.



First we cut the bars,




and then, to make the soap "hand friendly"
we bevel the bars.
When I first started making soap I beveled 
each bar by hand with a paring knife.
Then I graduated to this type of beveler. 

This is the bottom side, to show you the blade.

This is the top side.

We just run the edges of the soap across
like so.

One time, while cleaning the house for a showing,
I hid this beveler from myself and couldn't find it anywhere.

Being too cheap to replace it, knowing someday I would
find it again,
I bought a less expensive beveler to get me through.
I love this one.


It's easy to hold, less cumbersome,
and more importantly, gets the job done without
stripping away as much soap.

The pile on the left is from the box type beveler.
The pile on the right is from the hand held beveler.

None of the scraps will go to waste
as soon as I figure out how to make laundry soap
or something out of them.

But the new beveler leaves more soap on the bar.

So, there is your bit of soap beveling trivia for the day.

Now, for all of you who have stayed with me on this post,
it is time for another give-away.
I had so much fun with my steel stamping set that I posted about yesterday,
I thought I would share the joy
and offer a set to a lucky winner.

If you would like to enter the drawing, just be a follower of this blog
and leave a comment below.
The first name drawn on March 8 will win the stamping set.
The second name drawn will win a bar of our
White Tea and Ginger goat's milk soap.


Luck of the Irish to you  :  )



Linking up with Lisa and Nancy for Rural Thursday Blog Hop.











.

39 comments:

Deb said...

awesome giveaway...and I learned something too...I definately would love to enter..

Tayet Silverspoon said...

Love the idea of getting a stamp set! That would be really cool. Thanks for the giveaway.

Ronda said...

I found a great blog to follow when I discovered yours! You've inspired me to expand my herb garden and do more than just cook with herbs. Thanks!

Angela said...

Now that is a very cute key chain! It sure was neat to see how you cut the soap and get it ready! I wouldn't had thought about shaving it on the sides like that.

Please enter me in your fantastic giveaway!

Thanks!
Angela

Jill said...

I think you key chain is adorable! I wouldn't mind hearing about your work at all!

I love your soaps and really enjoyed this tutorial on beveling. Thank you!

I would love a chance to win this wonderful giveaway. I am so interested in the whole process.

Melodie said...

Great prizes! I would love to be a winner!

Charlotte said...

Cute key chain. I learned something and I like that. Please enter me in your drawing.

Marissa @Life On Our Side Of The Mountain said...

I wondered about your process of soap making. I am still enjoying my soap I got from you last year! It's lasted for the longest time (I have not let anyone else use it - selfish, right?) LOL
It has been wonderful and I love how soft my skin feels after using it. You and your daughters do a fantastic job!

TexWisGirl said...

ooh, i have no idea what i'd do with the stamping set, but i want it anyway! ha ha! actually, it needs to go to a really crafty person. :)

thanks for a giveaway. would love your soap!

small farm girl said...

Oh pick me! Pick me!!! Now imagine me waving my hand in the air like a little kid. Lol

The Dancing Donkey said...

Where did you get the hand beveler? I am still trimming my soap with a knife and am getting very sick of it, it kills my wrists. I think I need something like yours. I think I could have fun with a stamp set too:)

rkbsnana said...

Well, that was very interesting to me. But pork at a poultry convention?

Annette said...

Me! Me! Pick me!
...and I do give our goats horse treats. It was the only way I could change Bella's bandage when she hurt her leg. I give them plain old Mrs. Pastures.

Happier Than a Pig in Mud said...

Cute key chain and I'd love to hear about the convention:@) Thanks for the chance at such a fun give-away!

Lori Skoog said...

I love being introduced to your new soaps and how you make them.

Please enter me in your giveaway! Thanks.

Clint Baker said...

Enter me and I will give to my wonderful wife!

Clint said...

Makin' soap looks like such good, clean fun. It is also way cool. Please enter moi in your drawing!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I can imagine how divine your soaps smell.

Please count me in - I'd love to win a set!

Deb said...

I'd love to be entered in the drawing, Michaele!

retrorevival.biz said...

Michaele, I'd love to hear about your job! Suppose I must bore my followers from time-to-time when I blog about mine:)

~Cindy

DebH said...

well its official! Your the most helpful and smartest soaper I know!! Thank you, Thank you, your info was MUCH appreciated. You are an "Artisan" Soap maker I believe!

Jennifer said...

I love learnin all this neat stuff about goat soap from you, its really cool. The new soaps sound nice. Love your give a way gift... hope I win!

Dicky Bird said...

I love this post, the soap and the stamps! I would love to win! Please enter me! Blessings from Wisconsin. (key chain cute too)

Anonymous said...

The soap looks lovely. Consider me for the stamp set. Thanks.

sam

Ashling said...

What a cool process! Who knew?

Tanya said...

oh that was really interesting...i've always wanted to try and make soap and candles....maybe one day! and i want to be in on your drawing too! :)

Sall's Country Life said...

Sign me up please! Loved the plant labels from yesterday. And I'd love to try your soap. There's nothing better than homemade soap!

Jocelyn said...

Jealous of your soap molds. They are beautiful! I'm using a brownie pan. It works, but it ain't purty.

What if you remill the soap shreds? Would that work for you?

GardenofDaisies said...

I have first hand experience with some of these soaps and I can tell your friends that they smell absolutely WONDERFUL!!!!
I'd love to enter your drawing.

Nancy Claeys said...

Oh, I'm in. I'm definitely in! I've made alot of soap, but the beveling is new to me. Looks great!

camp and cottage living said...

Hi
I just popped over from Rural Thursday Blog Hop and became a follower.
I buy a lot of homemade soaps and I never realized how much work goes into them before! That's a neat set-up you have for cutting shaping and cutting yours.
I would love to be a part of your drawing. There are so many cool things you can do with the letter
dies.
Blessing-Kimberly

Candy C. said...

Dang, why haven't I been following your blog before now?!? Please, please, please enter me in your giveaway! :)

Randy said...

Great post! You can count me in too!

Reena Walkling said...

I'm not sure I would know what to do with the stamping set but that tea and ginger goat's milk soap would be swell to win!

Autumn said...

A soap stamp set! How exciting!

Niece said...

Michaele......here is the laundry soap recipe I'm going to try, maybe you could use it as a go by and use your soap shavings!

http://thefrugalgirls.com/2010/08/how-to-make-homemade-laundry-detergent.html

Sharon said...

Great post, Michaele! Please throw my name in the hat for your giveaway!

Anne Payne said...

Adorable! I collect chickens & roosters but haven't ever seen a keychain like this one. Homemade soap is the best! Please enter me for your giveaway.

I came over from Two Bears Farm, Rural Thursday blog hop.

homesteading[at]charter[dot]net

Navy Wife and Mom of 3 Boys said...

I would love to be included in your giveaway. The keychain is the cutest!