come home handmade soap

ming pao

2011-12-20T10:42:00.000+08:00

this was an interview by ming pao and a lipbalm making demo back in the beginning of the year, but only published on sunday, 11 december. i was so busy that weekend i totally forgot about it until i was in the shower near midnight that day. luckily one of my colleagues spotted me in the newspaper and saved me this copy...

i have done a few press interviews now but this was the first time focusing on mother's milk soaps. i am happy about this and hope more people know about the goodness of the soap.

i remember that day i had to rush to daydream nation during lunch time to meet up with the reporter and the photographer to demonstrate the lipbalm making. i wish i had more time to prepare and one day could demonstrate something more complicated than this.

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i am having lots of new ideas about the new soap collection, but not sure if i have the time to put in action. i will try my best, and thank you for your support.

Christmas Mini Shop Update

2011-12-12T11:21:00.001+08:00

it has taken me longer than it should have, due to the breakdown of our imac. i lost access to my precious photoshop and had to resort to flickr in order to edit the pictures. finally the shop has been updated.

Christmas Cupcake - i had wanted to make these for ages but never got around to put in action. i guess x'mas is a good excuse to lean slightly towards the cute and colorful side of things. of course i enjoyed myself so much while making these especially the part of applying the "cream". for the first time, cupcakes are here to stay for more than a couple days.

i thought lipbalms are nothing new to come home handmade soap, so i tried to think of some flavors which are more festive and food-related in order to match the cupcakes. the honey nut latte is a combination of my honey, milk and coffee fragrances and the fruit tea is green tea and apple. i tested these combinations with qtips waving in front of my nose. as always these are really very mild and the aim is to heal those dry lips while giving a hint of scent and fun. also a word about the new labels. these took me ages, i mean, as in days whenever i had time in the office (a-hem) but i am quite happy about how they turned out.

there is also a new orange rosewood fragrant lotion bar which i am enjoying on myself these days after bath.

hope you like the new items.

duckie soaps

2011-08-26T12:02:00.000+08:00

i could hardly find the time to make soaps these days, given that the children sleep late during the summer holidays. nevertheless i made this set of duckie soaps for goo ma's birthday. i used red palm oil to achieve the naturally yellow color. they were made of fresh milk and unscented. i hope goo ma likes them when she gets them in the mail.

helpful hands

2011-07-18T11:34:00.000+08:00

i was trying to make something new for the soap shop for the next seasons...

the children were very much intrigued by the whipped-cream like soapbits and offered to help me put them into glass jars for storing...

it is always good to have helpful little hands around the house. it especially gives me pleasure when the children are curious about what i make of course!

mini shop update

2011-06-20T09:53:00.000+08:00

finally received the tube containers in the mail and was able to update the soap shop over the weekend.

here are the insect repellent spray and the soothing balm suitable for relieving insect bites and minor skin allergies...

nothing magical, just herbal ingredients such as essential oils and plant oils. i use them without worry about applying harmful chemicals on the kids, and on myself who has always been a top target for the mosquitos. i often imagine families of mosquitos jumping with joy when they spot me, ready for a big feast!

i hope you like the new items and find them useful for your family.

homemade household cleaner

2011-06-15T10:43:00.003+08:00

here is another recipe to share - a multipurpose household cleaner which is gentle enough for the little helpers to practise doing household chores.

i have been using some of my lunch hours to check out ingredients of most "organic" or, if you would put it, the more costly household cleaners on the shelves of the supermarkets, and found that the main differences between these and the "regular" ones lie in in the active foaming agent or more otherwise known as "surfactant". for this cleaner, i used cocamide betaine (or cocamidopropyl betaine), a coconut oil derived surfactant which can be found in some soapmaking suppliers. it is mild to the skin and is said to reduce irritation that purely ionic surfactant may cause. it is also biodegradable which means it is environmentally friendly when it goes down the drain into the ocean.

to make about 500ml of this cleaner:

- distilled water 50ml
- baking soda 1tbsp

- distilled water 360ml
- cocamide betaine 90ml
- essential oils (peppermint, bergamot, lemon)
- vitamin E oil

warm up slightly the 50ml of distilled water in the microwave or on stovetop, enough to get the baking soda dissolved. the baking soda is meant to enhance cleaning properties as well as to deodorise. cool down the mixture and mix it with the rest of the distilled water and surfactant. put in a few drops each of the essential oils and the viatmin E oil and shake well. the essential oils have disinfection properties and the vitamin E benefits the skin.

when use, shake slightly and spray onto surfaces you wish to clean. scrub with sponge and rinse clean with water.

thank you, my boy, for helping me out with cleaning the sink!

homemade carpet cleaner

2011-05-31T11:22:00.004+08:00

this was something i did with the help of the kids - a homemade carpet cleaner!

to prepare the cleaner : weigh out about 200g of baking soda in a bowl or wide mouth glass jar, which is just good for the size of our carpet. put about 10 drops of essential oils on the soda powder and mix lightly with a small rod or spoon. the idea is to avoid clumps of powder from forming when you sprinkle in the oils. a good combination of essential oils for this purpose is teatree, eucalyptus and sweet orange, for disinfection and a mild fruity scent.

to use : sprinkle the baking soda sparingly over the carpet.

let the powder stay on the carpet for 15 minutes to as long as an hour.

vaccuum the carpet as usual.

fresh, clean and disinfected carpet ready for the little people to jump and dance on!!

give it a try and let me know if you like it as much as we do!!

for the lips

2011-05-16T10:18:00.000+08:00

i have made some strawberry candy liptints which are now available for sale at daydream nation. these give a tad bit of pink color and shine on the lips while keeping them soft and moisturised with my mango butter recipe.

i stopped wearing lipstick a long time ago. it just stands in the way when i kiss my babies, which i like to do, a lot. i think as with other makeup, you cannot stand it anymore once you stop putting it on for a while. i am glad to use this liptint this summer, which is perfect and inspired by my daughter's favorite strawberry candy.

also took the opportunity to make these green apple lipbalm for a custom order. they smell fresh and fruity.

newspaper

2011-04-12T09:41:00.002+08:00

come home handmade soap was on the hong kong economic times newspaper yesterday...

the interview took place a few weeks ago when i was exceptionally busy with work in the office. the theme of the article was the connection between handmade and home, which i thought was perfect for me and come home handmade soap.

i rushed home that day during lunch time for the interview and the photographer to take pictures. my son was such a good boy that day, posing for photos with so much patience, holding up a piece of my soap up in the air (see the little picture of him on the bottom left corner). i was also happy that my little work station was featured. it is truly a tiny little place which i can call my own and for me to enjoy only.

spring/summer shop update I

2011-04-06T11:44:00.006+08:00

i feel like winter has been exceptionally long this year...where has spring gone? maybe that is why i have been delaying the process of updating the soap shop. anyways, here is the official shop update...

new soaps for the spring/summer seasons include (i) these moisturising Olive Splendour made with olive oil and olive butter - i totally like the color it turns out; (2) my first face soap with cream added - Oriental Beauty Cream - enriched with Chinese medicine powders including pearl and ginseng...

(3) Sea Herbs - a more bubbly and "ocean-scented" soaps with exfoliation from seasalts from the dead sea; (4) Camellia Girl - a floral indulgence with camellia oil which is rich in protein and tea polyphenol...

from now until stock lasts, receive a free bar of mother's milk castile upon any purchase at the shop. the milk castile contains mugwort herbs which are said to treat skin allergies such as eczema.

soaps in production

2011-02-22T10:22:00.001+08:00

some of the soaps for the upcoming new seasons...

have decided to go for major updates of the soap shop twice a year only instead of every season (besides special occasions and festivals, that is), as otherwise it would be too much pressure and, as my husband puts it, would have defeated the whole purpose of the hobby. so it would be spring/summer coming in march, and fall/winter some time in september maybe. i think that sounds good. i have a lot of new ideas...hope to share with you later soon.

also had fun filling up custom orders. many thanks for all your support. this is chamomile & rose floral toner made for my colleague...

i adore this 150ml olive green pet bottle which i was originally going to use for my homemade shampoo.

valentine's workshop

2011-02-16T11:53:00.001+08:00

the class on sunday was great. it was by far the class with the most number of male students - there were 2 sweet couples and 2 other male students making the soap set and the chocolate lipbalm as valentine's gifts to girlfriends...

they were very creative and the assorted "chocolates" look all lovely and colorful!

as always, i had a good time sharing the experience and little knowledge. thank you very much for coming.

i am sure the girlfriends are very happy to receive the gifts no matter what!

valetine's sweet chocolate workshop

2011-02-08T10:14:00.000+08:00

i am conducting a class at daydream nation this sunday at 2 - 4 pm - to make these "delicious" chocolate soaps as well as chocolate lipbalm - especially for the valentine's day...

if you are interested to register, please go to here. hope to see you there.

small shop update

2011-01-20T11:18:00.000+08:00

2 new soaps for chinese new year and valentine's day respectively have been listed in the soap shop...

for the bergamot tangerine soaps, nutritiuos red palm oil is used to create a naturally golden yellow color. red palm oil is good for healing skin and scars. an uplifting and refreshing scent is achieved by bergamot and sweet orange essential oils. the texture of the soap is also enhanced by an organic lemon peel powder.

i was happy to get this wonderful bear soap mould and immediately thought it would be nice for valentine's day soaps. i made a sample and my daughter loved it so much she was holding it by the linen cord and smelling it (and asking me to make a "monkey" soap!!). these glycerin soaps are enhanced by addition of moisturising shea butter and scented with a rosy floral fragrance.

i enjoyed designing the packaging very much too, as always!

besides the soaps, i have listed a custom order chamomile baby moisture cream which i have been making for my children, as well as a few customers. it is handwhipped upon order using all natural ingredients, and helps to soothe baby's delicate skin.

it is a mini shop update really, as i was too busy during the past months to make a complete new soap collection. hope you like the new items and i hope they are able to deliver the concept of "a season of celebration & love".

marshmellow liptreat & x'mas charity

2011-01-07T10:26:00.002+08:00

yummy and emollient marshmellow liptreats now exclusively available at daydream nation...

the marseilles and handcream sets were committed for charity - so i donated part of the proceeds from sales of these items to world vision before the holidays (click image to view large size if you wish). though a very small sum indeed, i am glad i did this through come home handmade soap.

thank you for your support, as always.

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i am regretably skipping a season of new soaps and shop update. hopefully i have time to make something for cny and valentine's day.

come home handmade soap at daydream nation

2010-12-17T11:55:00.002+08:00

selected soaps are now available for purchase at daydream nation. i had a great time packaging the soaps and decorating the display...

often at a rush every time i visited the shop, as i could only go during my lunch break. but i already adore the fashion pieces there. also like the atmosphere and style of the shop.

daydream nation is situated near the hip star street in wanchai just next to pacific place III. i have also just had a handcream workshop in the attic above the shop, which is a really nice, cozy place for a small, diy class. hope to share some pictures soon.

floral tea hand cream workshop

2010-12-13T18:14:00.001+08:00

i am doing a floral tea hand cream workshop at daydream nation this wednesday. for more details, please see here.

hope to see you there!

thanksgiving special workshop

2010-11-25T11:05:00.001+08:00

the workshop on sunday was very enjoyable...

this was my first collaboration workshop with another teacher. as a by-stander watching the teaching by siuyuett (while washing up and getting ready for the second class), i can see how much happiness and satisfaction from which passions for handicrafts can derive.

here are the items made - soaps, cream and mini-booklets...perfect as thanksgiving presents.

but it was such a great experience sharing my limited knowledge and experiences on the subject and getting to meet new friends!

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the next workshops will be lipbalm workshop at wood*cotton workshop on 9 Dec (THU) 7 - 9:30pm; and handcream workshop at Daydream Nation on 15 Dec (WED) 7:30 - 9:30pm (more about the latter soon). please let me know if you are interested.

x'mas shop update

2010-11-19T17:50:00.000+08:00

the soap shop has been updated for early x'mas shopping.

this soap trio, consisting of 3 colorful marseille cubes of rose petals, crushed verbena and pure lavender, was specially designed and made for x'mas...

there are also my usual heart-shaped samples in giftboxes (sold out)...

a lovely lemon olive balm enriched with olive butter and extra virgin olive oil, and which i use on my daughter's chapped lips and fingers (she has the bad habit of peeling off skin near her nails)...

and i adore these little tubes of handcream (glad to have found these containers) - which come in rose, jasmine and lavender...

...tucked in a nice giftbox...

hope you like the festive creations and enjoy your early x'mas shopping! it has been loads of effort indeed but i enjoyed the process.

healing herb mother's milk castiles

2010-10-22T10:40:00.000+08:00

many thanks to wing of tammywing, who has generously shared with me some fresh mother's milk from her friend.

using the mother's milk, i made these castile soaps (with 80% olive oil) with my newly acquired mugwort powder.

castiles are perfect for dryer seasons as well as for dehydrated, sensitive skin, due to the high content of olive oil. palm kernel helps to give mild lather which is gentle on skin. cocoa butter is used for superfatting, which has natural emollient properties.

mugwort is a herb which contains natural essential oils. it has been used to calm nervousness and as a herbal remedy for various ailments like bruises and skin irritations such as eczema. palmarosa and sweet orange essential oils are added for a calming and refreshing touch.

i will probably put these in my upcoming christmas gift packs.

special thanksgiving workshop

2010-10-15T10:50:00.000+08:00

the kind siu yuett has invited me to do a collaboration workshop, especially designed for the occasion of thanksgiving in november...

(click image to see large)

she has this marvellous idea of combining handmade skincare and bookbinding - which make great thanksgiving gifts! especially designed for the autumn/winter seasons, this is a moisturising goatsmilk honey soap (hot process) which can be used on face or body, and a hydrating and nurturing face cream made of macadamia nut oil and other fabulous ingredients. the mini booklets are so cute and handy, which can be used to record the recipes of the skincare items as well as deliver your loving messages.

to enroll, please see details of the workshop in this entry of siu yuett's blog. i will also take the opportunity myself to make thanksgiving gifts for my family!

uuu...shooop!!!

2010-10-13T16:19:00.002+08:00

my first and biggest wholesale order - the baby powder scented handcream and solid perfume, a collaboration project with the U Shop - are now up for sale at its retail locations.

made of natural and botanical ingredients, i hope you like them if you have a chance of trying them!

homemade shampoo

2010-09-30T11:25:00.001+08:00

here it is, my first homemade shampoo which i am loving to use these days. this one is lemon ginger, with natural lemon extract and ginger essential oil. the lemon extract and citric acid help to keep hair shiny and manageable after wash.

i have used a coconut oil derived cleanser and absolute minimum quantity of a thickener and a detangling agent. hence the shampoo may feel more runny than commercial ones but a dollar-coin-size of it is enough to work out into a rich lather on the hair. the result is clean, soft hair with a light feeling. i do use my usual conditioner after shampoo, but i find i can use less conditioner and on the ends of the hair only.

there will be very limited quantity of these (do not have time to make more) for sale at the country fiesta. hope you will enjoy this as much as i do.

autumn country fiesta

2010-09-28T11:10:00.000+08:00

a very special event this coming saturday - the autumn country fiesta organised by yves kitchen...

(click image to see big version)

come home handmade soap will have a small stall there. there will be a sample sale as well as new fall items. it will also be the premiere of my homemade shampoo, if i have sufficient time to make a few bottles of them these few nights! see details of the event on the poster above.

fall soaps

2010-09-24T13:24:00.000+08:00

fall items are now available in the shop.

new soaps include:

Osmanthus Honey - scrubby & bubbly with osmanthus flowers and new zealand honey...

Sweet Lullaby - calming & moisturising with german chamomile...

Floral Star - pleasant & skin-loving with sweet almond oil...

and lastly, a Rosehip Beauty Bar for facewash - precious rosehip oil with skin-restoring properties...

i hope you like the fall collection!

fall skincare

2010-09-22T11:14:00.001+08:00

for fall shop update scheduled on friday, after the mid-autumn holiday, i have prepared 2 skincare items in limited quantity.

first, an arnica recovery eye cream...

i must admit it has never been my habit to use an eye cream. i just could not be bothered. when i learned about the benefits of arnica to treat dark circles, i decided to give it a try. i tested and tried a few recipes and was very happy with the final result - a light-textured arnica eye cream which i am using every morning and night now. aloe, cucumber and seaweed extracts are blended in for cooling and rejuvenating the delicate skin around the eyes. vitamin B5 and elastin marine was added to minimise fine lines.

i also enjoy so much the blend of rose geranium and grapefruit essential oils. i would just open the little pot and give the cream a good sniff! i think i am addicted to this cream!

the other one is a jasmine hydrating face cream...

as always, i wanted something simple as far as skincaring is concerned. targeted at the transitional season of autumn and occassional, sudden change in humidity, i made this face cream with excellent hydrating properties brought along by vegelane - an emollient derived from olive oil, which is very easily absorbed into the skin, therefore without leaving a greasy feeling. i would apply the cream on my face and watch it magically absorbed within the next minute or so!

the combination of jasmine floral water and ylang essential oil delivers a pleasant floral scent, coupled with geranium which has a mild toning effect. i also added greentea herbal extract to help tighten skin and reduce puffiness, and vitamin E to heal scarred tissues. a little bit of my all time favorite - german chamomile hydrosol - to help soothe minor skin irritations.

i was happy to have found that little cute pot for the eye cream, at the same household shop i got the pillbox for containing the insect bite balms for last season. i also like this pump bottle for the face cream. the tip of the pump head would not clog and it looks quite elegant. to top off, i added decorations using some rub-on stickers, which may not be entirely waterproof.

i hope you will like the skincare items as much as i do.

last summer skincare workshop

2010-09-01T10:47:00.001+08:00

as summer is slowly coming to an end, we had our last summer skincare workshop last friday night.

this time we had a group of friends celebrating birthday...

friends who have met since high school, and university student from abroad...

i had a lovely evening!

will take a good rest this month and hopefully come back with fall/winter skincare afterwards!

diy skin restoring cream & ginger soap workshop

2010-08-23T10:22:00.001+08:00

it was such a fine, sunny day last saturday - a happy afternoon for our workshop!

i hope you enjoyed the workshop and the cream and ginger soaps we made! special thanks to my mommy-to-be friends emilie and wynne who took the trouble to come!!

the next one is summer skincare workshop at wood*cotton this friday night, and then probably our last soapmaking basics and lavender soap workshop on 11 sept (SAT). do let me know if you are interested in any of these classes.

busy hands

2010-08-12T10:41:00.001+08:00

it seems these hands (and mind) just could not stop venturing despite the busy days. so among planning summer school and events for the kids, running errands for the family, and working behind these color-coded files in the office, i did manage to explore and amuse myself by trying something new now and then...

blueberry scented glycerin soaps - MP (melt & pour) soaps had not been my cup of tea...i thought they were boring and simply non-crafty. but i did find some fun making these. quick to use and bubbly, my husband likes them as hand soaps.

chamomile and calendula cream - a recipe of chamomile hydrosol and calendula infused oil provided the big calm for me.

fresh mint aloe gel - i got some fresh mint leaves to make one of my husband's favorite drinks - mojito - and used the rest of the mint leaves to make an extract for this aloe gel. it is mildly minty with a cooling effect. good for relieving muscle pains and aftersun or shave.

besides these, i also tried recycling some of the household soaps to make a liquid detergent, fulfilled almost half of my biggest order ever, and succeeded in making a body butter (after almost 10 trials). hope to share about these later.

the skincare workshop

2010-08-05T11:45:00.002+08:00

it was a fine summer night last night for our first summer skincare workshop!

we were so busy making soaps and lotions...

a big thank you to all of you who came! special thanks to shan and carmen who have been very supportive. and it was nice to see you after all these years, cindy - remembering my blythe-doll days. i hope you had a great evening despite a busy day of work, celia!

our next summer skincare workshop will be on 27 aug (fri) 7 - 9 pm. please register with woodcotton.workshop@gmail.com or let me know if you are interested.

i was happy to have a most rare male student last night (who preferred not to show his face in the photos)!

the class over-ran for more than 1.5 hours and i was so tired (and hungry) afterwards. but i had a very nice sleep reminiscing our happy moments during the class...*smile*

summer skincare workshop

2010-07-27T14:40:00.001+08:00

will teach summer skincare workshops on 4 aug (wed) and 27 aug (fri) 7 - 9 pm at wood*cotton workshop...

organic clay face soaps, floral water toner and a light grapeseed face lotion - to thoroughly cleanse, soothe and moisturise skin in hot summer days. contact woodcotton.workshop@gmail.com if you are interested to enroll.

devising and preparing for a workshop is really much more difficult and time consuming than it seems. to me, they have to be interesting and practical. i need to make sure i have enough supply of tools and ingredients. then i need to test and try them out, take pictures, calculate costs and time required to make them. i would then come up with the detailed descriptions and do appropriate promotions. if the workshop is on weekdays, which some people prefer, i need to prepare everything ahead of time and bring to the location in advance, as i need to go to work during the day...

but every time after a workshop is finished, i always feel exceptionally happy and satisfied - that someone has learned something they find useful, or even just spent some relaxing time on a weekend or after a long day of work.

i am grateful for the chance of teaching and sharing my little knowledge on the subjects.

the workshop

2010-07-19T12:28:00.001+08:00

i am happy the workshop turned out quite well...

there was much room for improvement, as this was my first soapmaking class, but i am glad we all enjoyed it!

many thanks to bee for taking the wonderful pictures and recording the happy moments!

the next soapmaking basics workshop will be on 13 Aug (FRI) - 7:30 - 10 pm, if you are interested.

summer shop update

2010-07-06T15:15:00.003+08:00

summer soaps and items have just been listed in the shop...

(clockwise from cupcake)
- macadamia hazelnut cupcake
- greentea almond sponge cake
- lemon mousse cake
- frankincense lavender face

there are also "yummy" summer fruits lipglosses in watermelon and banana...

orange blossom cleansing milk...

and a 2-in-1 dual action insect bite balms...

wish you all "summer fun"!

soapmaking workshop

2010-07-05T13:54:00.000+08:00

finally, a soapmaking workshop in place after much planning and discussion...

The cold-process method is one of the most traditional ways of making soaps. Come learn the basics about soapmaking and share the joy of creating soaps for your whole family to use.

Basic calculations and formulae will be shared, as well as introduction on ingredients, tools and equipments, and tips on packaging.

Get confident and make your own batch of Lavender Soap, a great soap for relaxing and calming the senses after a busy day of work. You also get to play around with herb powders, organic clays and dried flower additives to make your own unique soap bars.

Participants will learn to make their own soap mould and about 400g of soap, which they can take home to cut afterwards.

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Date : 17 July (SAT) / Time : 2:30 - 5:30 pm

$340 (member of Yves Kitchen) / $360 (non-member of Yves Kitchen)

(including all materials + welcoming gift from Come Home Handmade Soap + free wooden handle spatula from Yves Kitchen)

Each participant will need to bring 2 empty milk cartons (500ml size)

***************************************

It will be a small class. Please reserve and enquire at info.yveskitchen@gmail.com

more details on FaceBook here

custom orders

2010-06-30T11:00:00.001+08:00

was busy filling out some custom orders last week - mother's milk soaps & ginger honey soaps...

packaging the soaps was always just as enjoyable for me...

thank you to those who placed the orders. you may do so here as well.

after working hard before and after my germany trip, summer soaps are scheduled to be listed next week. a new header has been put up here and in the shop. there will be giveaways for subscribers too - scroll down this page to sign up if you are interested and have not done so already.

Metropop - 3.6.10

2010-06-05T17:05:00.000+08:00

these are the pages from the metropop magazine...

they have taken a very nice picture of my lemon mousse cake, the ginger sponge and a little chocolate horse. i made these especially for the feature article - the reporter wanted to write about how food substances are used in handicrafts.

we had an interview one lunch time in the coffee shop near where i go to work. i was asked to make a photo record of how my soaps are made. i had a bit of a struggle then as i could hardly squeeze in time to make soaps during day time (my "soap factory" usually only operates when night falls and babies gone to bed) when i can take better pictures. at last, i woke up one morning earlier than usual so that i could make this batch of ginger honey soap and take pictures thereof, still left some time to play with my babyboy, and then set off to work!

i am happy the article turned out beautifully. thank you, jayce, for the design and write-up.

soap ideas for summer

2010-06-03T12:38:00.000+08:00

i have been trying to come up with and test out new ideas for summer soaps. i wanted something fun and colorful.

tried making these ones last weekend - they are naturally colored by french organic mineral clay, which are said to draw impurities with toning effect. i left them unscented and love the way they look, milky and dreamy like that. when used, the fine clay gradually broke off from the soaps, which the skin could almost feel and then got rinsed off clean. i like the feeling of that.

hope to try out other new ideas soon. let me know if you have any suggestions at all.

if you see it, do pick up a copy of the Metorpop at the subway tonight (they start giving out at 7pm), wherein there is a feature of come home handmade soap.

second lipbalm workshop

2010-05-24T11:54:00.002+08:00

the second workshop took place on saturday, and was as much fun as the first one.

it was great to have met new friends and brought happiness to others with the little knowledge i have on the topic.

thank you for coming!

spuma di casa

2010-05-11T11:33:00.001+08:00

these are the teatree household soaps i made. the name means something like "bubbles of the home" in italian.

i used to make a liquid soap for my hand-wash laundry. the liquid soap was used up and i was lazy to make another batch. so i played around with my recipes and made this household soap with a large coconut oil content. this makes the soap very hard in texture, and therefore long-lasting for use. coconut oil also makes the soap bubbly. so this will give a very rich lather when wash. i added a little bit of teatree and eucalyptus essential oils for disinfecting purposes. this is meant to be an all-purpose soap for use in the home - can also be used to wash dishes and even baby bottles and clothes, as it does not contain harmful substances. it is listed here if you are interested.

these are quite chunky pieces of soap, cut at around 95g each. this is the first time i used an acrylic soap stamp. i think it looks very nice. i also string the soaps with a linen cord so that it can be hung up to dry between uses.

the lipbalm workshop

2010-05-03T12:24:00.000+08:00

my 2 hours as a teacher yesterday at the lipbalm workshop was such a wonderful experience.

i was glad to meet 14 of eager learners and friends. there were even 3 lovely young girls who came with their aunties. they were all very attentive and sweet, making lipbalm for themselves and their mothers!

i am grateful to be able to bring happiness on a sunday early afternoon to others by sharing my little handicraft experience. and thank you very much for all your support and kindness!!

the spring fiesta

2010-04-26T10:57:00.000+08:00

it was a happy experience at the craft market over the weekend. here are some pictures to share...

flowers & butterflies

2010-04-22T11:00:00.000+08:00

this weekend - 24th &25th - come home handmade soap and candlelight jewelry will be taking part in this spring fiesta organised by yves kitchen.

(click poster to see large)

the past weekends have been spent on packaging and organising for the occasion. here are some new creations - perfumed beeswax candles & spring garden translucent powder:

i have also prepared some tea rose sachets to give away:

hope to see you there!

lipbalm class

2010-04-12T11:03:00.001+08:00

this is the flyer (please click to see large) for the lipbalm class i will be hosting on 2 may (sun). please contact me or wood cotton workshop (where it will be held) if you are interested to attend.

visit at wood cotton workshop

2010-04-08T11:49:00.000+08:00

on monday, i paid a visit to the newly opened wood cotton workshop.

i have brought over before the holidays some of the new spring collection items, and ah meow, the owner, has helped me put on display in her wine cartons hung up on the wall.

while we were there, billie was hosting a class on needle-felting.

sterling blaze, the co-owner of the workshop, has gorgeous handmade silver jewelry on display.

i will also be hosting a lipbalm making class in wood cotton workshop on 2 may. hope to give more details soon!

easter workshop and more

2010-04-01T10:54:00.002+08:00

this is the poster for the opening of wooden cotton workshop.

(click to enlarge)

if you have time this easter break, do go and take a look!

Spring Shop Update

2010-03-30T16:10:00.002+08:00

the soap shop has been updated with brand new Spring Collection items.

new soaps include (from left to right) calendula baby soap, blueberry yogurt soap, goatsmilk honey oat soap, savon de printemps and avocado delight face soap.

there are also a new cucumber melon lipbalm and a greentea mulberry handcream:

as well as a new clary sage cleansing milk. i hope you like them.

wooden cotton workshop

2010-03-26T10:59:00.000+08:00

come home handmade soap is invited to consign with a new handicraft workshop - wooden cotton workshop, at a convenient location in causeway bay.

wooden cotton workshop is co-owned by ah meow who runs the Cat Store. i knew ah meow back from the days around 5 - 6 years ago, when i started my first consignment of candlelight jewelry at her previous Cat Store on Paterson Street. she has always been very supportive of local handicrafts and artists. i remember there used to be independent singers / bands play at her cafe which was filled with cats.

for the purpose of the consignment, i have specially packaged 3 of my favorite spring soaps - avocado delight face soap, goatsmilk honey oat soap, calendula baby soap...

...and made this package with a cotton face towel included.

wooden cotton workshop is due to grand open next friday on 2 april. this spring soap trio set with face towel will be available for sale there, together with a new greentea handcream and cucumber melon lipbalm (pictures to follow next week). for more information, please call Cat Store at 852-2710-9953 to enquire.

if you are also interested in attending some hands-on workshops during the upcoming holidays, check out these ones organised by la belle epoque and wooden cotton workshop.

sweet dreams mother's milk marseilles

2010-03-23T10:32:00.002+08:00

this is another custom order of mother's milk soaps. as always, i use a marseilles formula which calls for 72% of olive oil content.

the lady who placed the order would like her babies to sleep better after bathing. so i used a combination of lavender and sweet marjoram essential oils. sweet marjoram is a bushy herb with dark-green leaves and clusters of white flowers. its essential oil is steam-distilled from the leaves and flowering tops. it has spicy, warm, woody undertones and blends well with lavender, bergamot and chamomile. marjoram is known to be the great comforter of essential oils. it is comforting and good for soothing and giving solace to the heart and emotions.

in order to make the texture of the marseille soaps harder in this relatively more humid weather, i used palm kernel instead of the usual palm oil. the result is a firmer, more long-lasting soap with more bubbles.

i hope the customer's babies would like these.

shea pleasures at PLAYGROUND

2010-03-15T11:40:00.002+08:00

i made a special soap, enriched with shea butter, for consignment at PLAYGROUND.

i made 2 kinds of this soap - "bloom" which has pink clay added to give a lovely pink color, with lavender and ylang ylang essential oils for a floral touch; and "strength" which i have left in its original white color, with rosewood and cinnamon essential oils for restoring and fortifying effect. i name them "shea pleasures" and packaged them like this...

i went to change my display at the shop the week before, making use of a wooden cabinet i got from local auction.

there is a large variety of goodies at PLAYGROUND - from clothes, stationery to all kinds of handmade treasures.

la belle epoque

2010-03-10T10:52:00.002+08:00

i made some more of the bergamot velvety handcream and packaged them nicely for consignment at la belle epoque.

in addition to the handcream, i also made a dozen honey lipbalm. this lovely wooden container from the $10 shop (only this one cost $20) was perfect for display of the items. i tied a piece of lace to the handle, decorated slightly with a bunch of faux leaves i got from the wet market, and included some testers at one side.

on a less busy day at work last week, i set out to billie's shop in tai hang at lunch time. billie was kind enough to give me a nice spot near the entrance of her shop. i think the display fitted perfectly there. thank you, billie.

as billie has put it, it was more than a year ago when i first visited her little shop, when i was still carrying my babyson in my tummy. i was amazed at all the treasures there - handmade goodies and supplies. billie has been very supportive and dedicated to the handmade community.

yves kitchen

2010-03-01T15:51:00.001+08:00

i finally had some time to put together and take pictures of what i had in mind for the display for consignment at yves kitchen.

this vintage japanese wooden display box is perfect for the job, with slots for testers, skincare, soaps, namecards and product menu. i decorated it slightly with a piece of lace.

i set off with my daughter to deliver our goods. she was thrilled to be there, picking her books and playing with whatever her little hands can reach for, while i organised the display tray.

yves kitchen is one of the rare places locally, which combines handicrafts and lifestyle. its owner bonnie is a super talented cook, food stylist, and author of several cookbooks. check out its facebook page if you are interested to find out more.

currently, there are a number of classes offered at yves kitchen. please enquire directly with bonnie for details.

new website

2010-02-23T17:41:00.004+08:00

after much struggle with the idea of switching the online shop from etsy to bigcartel, i have decided to go for it.

i have also purchased and set up a new domain - comehomesoap.com, and emerged it with the bigcartel shop.

it has taken me days to set it up and input the necessary information and formatting. i hope the new shop is more user friendly and comprehensive.

i have also modified this blog to match it up with the shop. hopefully you find everything pleasant and to your liking.

PLAYGROUND

2010-02-08T11:10:00.003+08:00

come home handmade soaps and skincare can now be found for sale at PLAYGROUND, a very nice shop in a new shopping mall in tsimshatsui, hong kong, called DNA Galleria (at the end of cameron road).

at the moment, i have mostly lipbalm and skincare for consignment there. i hope to be able to add more soaps and handcream after the chinese new year holiday.

if you ever hang out in tsimshatsui and want some new shopping experience, give DNA Galleria a try. apart from PLAYGROUND, there are many one-of-a-kind treasures including zakka from japan and korea in other shops there. the arrangement is more like an open fairground, with centralised cashiers at 4 corners of the mall.

i am truly grateful that handmade friends in hong kong now have another wonderful channel for exposing their creations!

mother's milk marseilles

2010-02-02T16:19:00.002+08:00

these might well be the most precious soaps of all.

(left : with honey and melissa essential oil ; right : with rosehip powder and sweet almond oil)

super thanks to some of my friends, who knew about my soapmaking ventures and have generously donated their spare mother's milk for the production of these moisturising mother's milk marseilles.

marseille soap or savon de marseille is a traditional soap made in Marseille, France about 600 years ago. marseilles contain at least 72% of olive oil, making the soap very moisturising and emollient on the skin. unlike 100% olive soaps, they are harder in texture and therefore more long-lasting and easier to handle.

from the 2 batches of mother's milk, i have created 2 kinds of milk marseilles:

melissa honey
melissa essential oil has a nice, lemony, honey-sweet scent, and is known to treat allergies, insect bites. it is also said to heal depression and inspires love and joy. honey was added in the soapmaking process for its obvious benefits to the skin.

rosehip almond
rosehip powder is added to the top layer of the soap. it is rich in vitamin C and is one of the richest plant sources. sweet almond oil is used in the superfatting process, which has fast penetrating and skin-softening properties.

i cannot tell you how great these soaps are. i have customers who told me they work wonders on their babies who are suffering from eczema. mother's milk is one of the most natural ingredients and is full of vitamins, enzymes and nutritions.

for one reason or another, i will not be puting these up in the shop. do let me know if you are interested to purchase. i also take custom orders from breast-feeding mothers.

valentine specials

2010-01-25T11:19:00.005+08:00

i will be conducting a lipbalm workshop for members of the Club-BelAir this coming sunday. please click to see large image of the poster.

i have also listed a lemon verbena love balm in the shop:

i adore this little metal tin with sliding cover, and i think this would be a handy lip and hand balm for men's use. refreshing lemon verbena and uplifting pink grapefruit essential oil lend a happy, loving scent to this penetrating and non-oily balm of grapeseed oil. i made one for my husband as well.

the special soap for valentine's day - my sweet valentine (milk chocolate heart) - were sold out already.

i was happy to have found these lovely giftboxes to go with them.

skincare pre-order

2010-01-19T13:00:00.004+08:00

at long last, come home handmade skincare is available in the shop.

floral soothing face mist

floral soothing day lotion

restoring nurture night cream

floral rebalance translucent finish powder

due to small scale production, they are offered by pre-order only. pre-order now until 12 february for items to be posted in the week of 22 february.

i hope you like the items!

shea butter healing balm

2010-01-14T09:58:00.003+08:00

i was glad to have some positive feedback recently that the handmade soaps are helpful to babies' skin conditions such as eczema.

i wanted to make a gentle salve or balm to target delicate skin allergies, which mommies can use on their babies' irritated skin. at times, my daughter develops some red spots around her mouth when she eats spinach, fish or other seafood. i wanted something to ease itchiness and heal wounded skin while moisturising at the same time.

in this shea butter balm, i used a mixture of precious healing infused oils such as calendula oil, aloe oil and st john's wort oil. calendula is anti-inflammatory and heals scarred tissues. aloe soothes skin irritations. st john's wort heals burns, wounds, bites and treats anxiety. refined shea butter is used so that the balm is free of the nutty scent of the nuts of karite tree, from which shea butter is derived.

a couple samples have been sent out. i hope the mommies find them useful.

happiness from handmade

2010-01-08T11:29:00.003+08:00

this is the first time come home handmade soap is featured in publications.

(click to enlarge)

the article in issue 214 of the U-magazine is about "happiness from handmade". i had a very good chat with elizer, the reporter. the picture of me with the soaps was taken outdoor in central under a cold, very windy condition. i was asked to supply a picture of my babies and i chose this one where my daughter was playing at the craft market. it reminded me of the happiness of pursuing my handmade passion while she was there keeping me company.

honestly, it is not 100% happiness all the time with my soapmaking venture. there are discouragements and sad emotions, but that's life, isn't it? nothing is easy. i will improve on time management, putting my family in the first place among my different roles. i can only be happy when the closest people around me are also happy.

handmade perfume

2010-01-06T10:51:00.004+08:00

this was christmas present for my dear friend and my babies' godmother...

my first handmade perfume, or rather eau de toilette, because it is quite light. there are quite a number of ways to make perfume. some calls for alcohol which i am not so fancy about. to make this light perfume, i used:

5 drops vanilla fragrance oil
4 drops rosewood essential oil
3 drops peppermint essential oil
12 drops essential oil solubilizer
20ml distilled water

mix the oils and solubilizer thoroughly in a glass beaker before diluting it with the distilled water. shake to combine. then i let it stand for a while. if a thin layer of bubbles appear on top of the perfume after it has well settled, discard the bubbles with a small spoon.

i named it "The Enchanted Woods". it has a sweet, woody and refreshing scent.

winter new soaps and items

2010-01-02T00:12:00.002+08:00

this is the new palette for the winter season, and they have just been listed in the shop.

apart from soaps, there is a yuzu lipshine which combines lipbalm and shine in one.

and a bergamot velvety handcream.

you may always contact me (see button in sidebar) to purchase instead of via etsy.

happy shopping!

scheduled shop update

2009-12-29T11:03:00.002+08:00

i have had a wonderful christmas holiday with family. looking forward to another festive weekend celebrating the new year.

the winter collection soaps, which have been pre-sold at previous craft markets, will be listed in the shop next week. i thought it would be nice to fill up the shop as a good start for the year 2010. besides the soaps, i have a new lipshine & balm in one as well as your favorite cleansing milk in soothing chamomile.

precious german chamomile hydrosol and essential oils are blended with organic yellow clay for a fine exfoliation. that should take care of dry, irritated skin very well.

i am also actively seeking container supplies for the skincare line. hope i would be able to locate some soon.

a more than happy experience

2009-12-23T11:32:00.001+08:00

the country fiesta was just FANTASTIC!

this was the 3rd time i do soap sales in craft markets. i hope i have learned from experience and improved in display and organisation.

it was also the launch of my skincare line, which includes a floral mist, a day lotion and a night cream.

i even had an opportunity to demonstrate a face scrub with natural ingredients, and am glad that the girls enjoyed it.

it was a joyful 2-days meeting new friends and talking to people about handmade soaps. i must say this was the best craft market i have attended so far, thanks to the generous and kind bonnie of yves kitchen.

on sunday, i brought my daughter along, who was very excited at everything.

she was running around and bringing lots of joy and laughter to everyone. she was also amazed at the violin performace and was even dancing and turning in front of the crowd!

i feel so blessed and happy, though extremely tired after the event. thank you to all those who have stopped by and given support!

~~~~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~~~~

the soap shop has reopened. winter collection soaps will be listed early next month.

X'mas Country Fiesta

2009-12-17T16:27:00.003+08:00

see you tomorrow at the country fiesta! the organiser has decided that admission is now free.

i will be demonstrating a face scrub on saturday and a hair conditioning tile on sunday. there will be a pre-sale of the winter soap collection, which includes:

vanilla coco mint tiles

neroli castile baby

cinnamon cocoa

immortelle roses for face

...and household detergent which is also good for washing babies' clothes

last but not least, the first products of come home skincare will launch at the fiesta tomorrow! i am very excited about the event indeed.

the school fair

2009-12-15T10:41:00.002+08:00

here are some pictures from the school fair:

i had a great time with the babies who had quite an adventure meeting with the santa clause and listening to the bands playing in the fair ground of the school.

Ring the Bell x'mas country fiesta

2009-12-08T14:51:00.002+08:00

the school fair turned out to be a lot of fun for my babies, but quite disastrous for my soap sales! which is alright as i had a great time with the babies, their godmother and my sister who came to help me. i will post some pictures of the event soon.

this is the poster for another event i will be participating during the weekend of the 19th and 20th this month...

(click image to see large)

and here are pictures of my cross-over x'mas giftsets with yves kitchen...

"Queen of Rose Sweet Pack" - my rose cleansing milk and strawberry lipgloss + yves kitchen strawberry jam

"Lavender Sweet Dream Pack" - my lavender handcream and lavender soap + yves kitchen lavender jelly

to order or enquire, please send email to info@yveskitchen.com or call 3488-0957.

i hope you like them, and hope to see you at the event! i will write more next week about my items for the event and what i plan to demonstrate (yes, i will be demonstrating the making of some beauty treats...*nervous nervous*!)

Bradbury School X'mas Fair

2009-12-02T15:56:00.004+08:00

this is the event i will be participating as a vendor this saturday, on 5th december.

there is not much information on the school's website, but the organiser parent-teacher association sent me a flyer saying:

"...the aim of the christmas fair is to raise funds and to provide a fun filled day for the children, their families and friends. guests will be greeted with international food and drinks stalls, games, live entertainment and an opportunity to shop for christmas gifts at the exciting and vibrant martet place. this year, santa's grotto - a major attraction for younger children, will also be located at the back of the school hall..."

admission is open to public at an entrance fee of HK$20 per person (free for babies under 3 years old). it will run from 11 am to 4 pm. please let me know if you want to get any other information about the event.

there will be new soaps such as lavender dream...

cinnamon cocoa...

as well as chamomile cleansing milk...

among other special x'mas soaps like vanilla x'mas trees and gingerbread man, which i have yet to find time to take pictures of.

hope to see you there.

meanwhile, to ensure stock supply, the soap shop will be closed soon until probably the week of 21 december.

OEM mother's milk soap

2009-11-26T11:47:00.002+08:00

this was a custom order of mother's milk soap by a friend i made a while ago.

mix the lye and milk together and wait for the temperature to drop.

cut into small bars as requested and await completion of saponification.

shop update - x'mas special edition

2009-11-20T10:49:00.004+08:00

the shop has just been stocked with x'mas edition items and others...

1. lots of love soap sampler

2. jolly x'mas festive soap

3. oh x'mas trees - vanilla, teatree, poppyseed

4. Bee My Honey shea butter lipbalm

5. glossy strawberry lipgloss

i hope you like the items and find them suitable as your x'mas gifts to your loved ones...or yourself!

teaching for charity

2009-11-18T16:17:00.002+08:00

a while back, i helped a friend who was organising a charity event. she and her colleagues wanted to make lipbalm for sale to help children in need. i was happy to have the opportunity to teach them lipbalm making as well as providing the materials.

and here are the final products.

i heard the event was a success. i am happy to be a part of it!

ba-ba face lotion

2009-11-16T17:44:00.001+08:00

my husband finished his face lotion recently, so i decided to make him this "ba-ba face lotion".

he said he wanted something hydrating but not oily, and he wanted his face lotion to smell more "man-ly"! i worked around these requests, and decided on the ingredients to use:

OILS :
grapeseed oil, evening primrose oil

WATERS :
distilled water, cucumber extract, roman chamomile floral water

FRAGRANCE / ESSENTIAL OILS :
salt marine fragrance oil, teatree essential oil

grapeseed oil has a fine texture and is rich in vitamins, minerals and proteins. evening primrose oil is derived from the seeds of a type of plant and has high nutritional value of gammolinolenic acid. it is also an excellent moisturizer, indicated for dry or chapped skin.

cucumber is mildly astringent and soothing and helps even skin tone. the chamomile floral water could help sooth my husband's sensitive skin.

he likes it very much!

packaging

2009-11-11T11:35:00.002+08:00

i was having fun exploring packaging papers and styles. the japanese masking tapes are always helpful.

one of my simple packaging ideas featured here in soap making essentials. thank you, cathy.

macadamia jojoba face cream

2009-11-05T10:34:00.004+08:00

i was so excited the other day to be able to make my first face cream, after several times of unsuccessful trials, wasting much of my favorite floral waters.

i used macadamia nut oil as the base oil. macadamia nut oil is known to help regenerate skin cells and therefore is good for tired, mature skin and for minimising wrinkles. jojoba oil is also used in this recipe for locking moisture. frankincense essential oil has a sweet, woody scent and is good for dry complexions, healing scars and wrinkles. therefore this is a very good face cream to use during dry weather.

i must say i have never used a face cream so light in texture yet so nourishing. it is light like a whipped cream and so soft to touch. when applied on the face, it gets absorbed very quickly, leaving the skin soft and hydrated. i feel very happy every time i use it because for the first time, i know what ingredients there are in my face cream and that they are all natural and safe. no preservatives of any form is added, so i will need to use up the cream within the next 4 weeks or so.

i was so excited i kept talking about it to my husband all night!

astringent / toner

2009-11-02T11:50:00.006+08:00

astingents and toners are used after cleansing the face to keep the surface of the skin clean and free of dead skin cells so that moisture from face cream or lotion could be more easily absorbed.

during dryer weather, my face has ocassion break-out spots which would appear like insect bites and they feel very itchy. when they suddenly appear, it could be quite embarrassing and i had to quickly hide them with concealer. i made this astringent especially for the purpose of soothing dry and sensitive patches like these. i used roman chamomile floral water, which has become one of my favorites, and rose water. this is the simple recipe:

1 tbsp roman chamomile floral water
2 tbsps rose floral water
1 tbsp witch hazel

combine in a bottle and shake.

i use a spritzer bottle from muji so that i could spray on my face whenever break-out occurs. after cleansing, i would also spray the astringent on a cotton pad and wipe the face with it.

floral waters are fragrant waters made from distilling fresh flowers with water. rose water has moisturising properties and chamomile is skin soothing. witch hazel is a plant whose bark and leaves are made into a wonder skin freshener. it is not as drying as pure alcohol which is usually used in skin toner.

planning ahead

2009-10-30T10:06:00.002+08:00

i am exhausted lately due to the never-ending virus attacks on my babies. all soap designs and production were put to a halt.

some of the autumn soaps are still going through their saponification process. i think about half of the stock is sold now. i am planning to take part in another craft market soon, this time, a christmas fair, in december. i would only be able to sit down and better plan this out after my babies have fully recovered.

november 09 calender

2009-10-27T16:00:00.003+08:00

made this calender for sharing.

simply click image above to get large size and print with color printer.

insect bite ointment recipe

2009-10-19T15:45:00.003+08:00

i was going to make this ointment next year when summer arrives. but my daughter got a few mosquito bites last week despite that autumn has arrived. so i made the insect bite ointment and am sharing the recipe for anyone interested.

ingredients :

sweet almond oil / extra virgin olive oil.................8g
natural beeswax........................................................3g
shea butter.................................................................8g
menthol crystals.................................a few
teatree essential oil...........................1 drop
lavender essential oil.........................2 drops
german chamomile essential oil.......1 drop

how to make :

weigh and stir with glass rod the oil, the beeswax and the butter in a small beaker in a heated water bath until they mix well. remove from water bath and put in menthol crystals. stir to dissolve. keep stirring for 1/2 a minute or so and add in the essential oils in this sequence. mix well with glass rod and pour into plastic jar. leave it until the ointment sets and cools down.

this recipe will make about 20ml of ointment and it fits nicely in my 25ml jar.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

i tried and modified the recipe twice until i get this texture of the ointment, which is easily spreadable. i also added menthol to help relief the itchiness which my daughter likes to complain about.

lavender has antiseptic and calming properties. german chamomile is anti-inflammatory and best for skin allergies. german chamomile is a deep blue color (and hence the pale blue color of the ointment)and has a relatively strong, fruity scent. it is quite concentrated and therefore 1 drop is enough for such a small recipe. teatree is refreshing and slightly spicy and is known for treating insect bites and skin rashes.

this ointment is quite mild and gentle, and i found that i have to apply a few times on my daughter whenever she complains about itchiness or starts scratching. but i think it is quite effective in soothing the biten area which becomes less red and swollen after applying a few times. plus i can rest assure that it is made of all natural ingredients.

fall soaps

2009-10-19T10:30:00.002+08:00

the fall soaps and cleansing milk are now in stock in the shop. i hope you like them as much as i do.

i spent an entire morning writing up the descriptions for each item, but i think all is worth it. i think it helps you understand more about each product. i also hope that you can see i have put much effort into designing the recipes and appearances of the soaps, as well as styling of the photographs. i am also packaging them differently than for the craft market last time. hope to share some of the pictures of the packaging soon.

i much enjoy the entire process too, though i had to work late at night after the babies went to bed.

chamomile castile

2009-10-16T11:56:00.004+08:00

among the soaps i made for the fall season, this one is definitely my favorite.

i first read about "castile soaps" in books. i did some research and found out that castile soap is named after the Castile region in Spain where it was developed. it is traditionally known to have at least 40% olive oil in its content, making the soap very mosturising to the skin. in another book, it said castiles have 80% olive oil. i thought this would make a very good, mosturising soap for the much dryer fall season.

cocoa butter is used in this recipe as a natural skin softener. i thought its mild chocolate scent would accentuate the sweet, fruity scent of the chamomile. chamomile floral water and fresh chrysanthemum tea are used in the making process, and dried chamomile flowers are used to further decorate the soap.

german chamomile essential oil is one of the new additions to my essential oil collection, and it is by far the most expensive one. it is precious because of its excellent analgesic and bactericide properties. at the same time, chamomile oil is a well known soothing remedy and is particularly well suited to children. i used it in making insect bite ointment for my babies. it is also known to relax and calm the nerves.

these soaps smell so good i cannot help but sniff at them once in a while during their saponification process.

they will be available in the shop next week.

fall palette

2009-10-14T13:01:00.004+08:00

this is the palette of soap for the fall season:

from left to right : sweet orange, chamomile castile, aloe wheatgrass, sweet almond baby, tomato rosemary

i plan to design and create 4 to 5 different types of soap per season, so as not to put too much pressure on myself and so that i could enjoy soapmaking more. specially designed for this fall, chamomile castile and sweet almond baby soaps are mosturising and calming. aloe wheatgrass for skin soothing and relaxation, and sweet orange and tomato rosemary for boosting energy.

i shall be updating the shop next week. and then i will start making soaps for x'mas. join my mailing list to enjoy special discount.

mother's milk soap - wash report

2009-10-12T10:52:00.000+08:00

the mother's milk soaps are ready for use. i was literally jumping with joy in the bath tub when i was bathing with it!

the soap has a creamy texture because of the rich mother's milk. bubbles are small because it is a marseille soap, meaning it has 72% olive oil, 14% palm oil and 14% coconut oil. marseille soaps are known for the high content of olive oil which makes the bars precious with moisturising effect.

the skin feels so clean and supple after shower. i did not put on any lotion, and it does not feel dry or tight at all.

incidentally, i read this article. i am washing my face also with the mother's milk soaps. i really enjoy using handmade soaps. i urge you to give it a try if you have not already done so. you will truly be amazed.

aloe wheatgrass cakes

2009-10-08T09:33:00.003+08:00

i made these aloe wheatgrass cake soaps just before the craft fair, so they did not make it to the sale.

i bought fresh aloe from the florist and made aloe juice with the blender. the aloe juice was a nice, transparent, green color. when it was used to dissolve the lye, it turned into a dirty, brownish color. i was a bit worried when i saw this. after it was mixed with the oils, it turned into this lighter, fleshy color. i wanted to remind people of the green color of the aloe, so i made a top layer with wheatgrass powder. i think the contrast is quite nice.

sunflower oil is used in this recipe. it has very high mosturising content and is said to add sheen to the skin and hair. castor oil and aloe oil are used for superfatting. castor oil is soothing and because of its dense texture, provides a protective barrier to the skin. aloe is known for its soothing properties against sunburn and other skin irritations.

the aloe wheatgrass cakes will be available in the shop soon.

the craft market

2009-10-04T22:52:00.004+08:00

the craft market yesterday was quite a success. here are some pictures of my jewelry and soaps.

my table was at a spot where there was no shade from the sun at all. i was afraid all the lipbalm would melt. luckily, everything held up and it was a fun filled day. i was grateful to get to talk to people who are also soapmakers or really enjoy using handmade soaps.

as autumn just arrives and winter is on the way, i will definitely make some mosturising soaps. i also plan to try my hands on making liquid soaps.

thank you all for your support at the fair!

learning

2009-09-29T12:51:00.004+08:00

despite preparing for the craft market, i have not been slacking off so far as soapmaking is concerned. last week i made a tomato soap. over the weekend i made an orange soap and last night an aloe vera batch. i tried a different design on the aloe soap. can't wait to see how it turns out when it comes out of mould tonight.

i have much to learn and improve. sadly for soapmaking, like many other crafts, one often learns from mistakes. quality, designs, shapes, recipes...and realistically, pricing, are all important considerations for better soapmaking.

lipbalms

2009-09-28T11:16:00.004+08:00

cooking lipbalms in a water bath. the ingredients include:

sweet almond oil
natural beeswax
shea butter
vitamin E
fragrance oil

i burned my little finger while doing this. will use a bigger pot next time so i can more easily handle the beaker.

instead of using lipbalm tubes like before, i use these little containers this time. i think they look quite neat. these are coffee lipbalms with a slight copper tint.

these are watermelon lipbalms with a pinkish tint. they smell and taste so yummy.

i only made 10 or so for each flavour, for the craft market. will make more of other flavours for the shop after the event.

cupcake sets

2009-09-23T14:40:00.002+08:00

i made a couple cupcake soap sets for the craft fair.

the face soap set includes menthol & charcoal, carrot and avocado face soaps.

the body soap set includes chocolate, teatree and jasmine cupcakes.

i am also preparing complimentary gifts to give away to members of my mailing list upon purchase at the fair. be sure to sign up if you wish to obtain the gift.

cyberport craft fair

2009-09-22T11:58:00.008+08:00

this is the poster for the craft fair (click to see large)

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the picture of my soaps is around the middle of the picture column.

i am very excited about this event, the very first participation of Come Home handmade soap in a craft fair.

there will also be my jewelry pieces from Candlelight Jewelry.

i have much to do to prepare for the event, to name a few:

packaging
display
booth decoration
money changes
name cards
price tags

name card & packaging

2009-09-21T16:23:00.003+08:00

a big thank you to my first soap customers at the shop. you have no idea how much this meant for me. i think i am not going to relist the soaps until after the craft fair.

i have these tiny brown bags from ages ago, which are prefect for putting a bar of soap in, stamped with a "thank you" note and sealed with my prettiest japanese masking tapes.

and i love these mini-sized name cards, the back of which i listed the main ingredients of the soaps.

shop grand opening

2009-09-17T10:30:00.021+08:00

COME HOME handmade soap

has now been stocked.

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i think i have enough stock for the craft fair, and i don't want the shop to look all empty before i start giving out cards to people at the fair.

so i took the effort yesterday to list some of my more favorite soaps in the shop. i have also set up a mailing list which you may subscribe to for shop updates and promotions. please see the link on the side bar.

chocolate layer soap

2009-09-16T11:17:00.003+08:00

these look and smell so yummy.

cocoa butter and rich, dark chocolate powder are used in this recipe. hazelnut oil also lends a nutty aroma. high percentage of olive oil ensures that these are super moisturising bars.

this is the first time i try making layered soaps. it turns out really amazing. i ought to pour the top layer more slowly and not from too high above the mould if i am to achieve a more distinct line between the 2 layers. i can even try stacking up many layers. i am really enjoying the possibilities and fun.

meanwhile i printed out some labels on brown postal paper and am experimenting with packaging.

lavender soap

2009-09-09T09:50:00.003+08:00

lavender has antiseptic and sedative properties. its aroma promotes relaxation and lavender essential oil is mild enough for use on even toddlers and children.

organic lavender powder and lavender essential oil were used in this recipe. i don't want the soap to be too exfoliating, so i only blend in the slightly grounded lavender buds in the upper layer.

contrary to common thinking, natural lavender ingredients do not carry a purple color. so the beautiful purple color you see in commercial lavender soaps must come from synthetic coloring.

i do want a little bit of color for my lavender soaps. i soaked several branches of alkanet root in the olive oil for 3 days. this was how it looked in the jar:

it was a deep burgundy color. after reacting with the lye solution, the soap mixture turned into a greyish-blue (quite yucky i must say) color. i was quite disappointed then but poured into mould anyway. amazingly it slowly turned into this light, pale blue color which i think is quite pretty.

so you never know how the soaps would turn out until you take them out of the moulds, cut them and let them sit for at least a week. their true colors and textures would slowly come out. that is part of the reasons why soapmaking is so much fun.

mother's milk soap

2009-09-07T12:03:00.004+08:00

i made this batch of soap with the last 200ml of my milk, collected for this purpose just before i decided to stop breast-feeding my baby.

i have been wanting to try my hands on making mother's milk soap (decided to call it "mother's milk" rather than "breast milk". afterall it comes from the mother and not the breasts per se), after hearing much about it from some of the taiwanese soapmakers. nana has written quite a bit about it. it seems these are more popular and accepted (and maybe more highly regarded) in taiwan and elsewhere.

many of my friends who are new mothers are also breast-feeding, but i doubt if they have heard of or know about the goodness of mother's milk soaps. that is why i am dying to try these myself.

for this particular batch, i used 100% mother's milk instead of distilled water to dissolve the lye. i did not add any essential oil or other additives because i want it to be pure and suitable for baby's use as well. the result is a beautiful, lightly reddish colored soap with a mild scent. i am surprise at the lovely, fresh aroma and the dense texture of the soap. this will be my present for my little baby.

i will let you know how the soap turns out after its saponification in a month's time when it is ready for use.

honey and pink grapefruit shampoo bar

2009-09-04T10:59:00.007+08:00

my very first shampoo bar.

this one has honey added in. i can't wait to try them on myself.

i have used grapeseed oil and sunflower oil in this recipe. both have the properties of retaining moisture. i read from books that the molecules of grapeseed oil are smaller and therefore easily absorbed.

i also added a little bit of jojoba oil which is light textured and deeply penetrating. jojoba oil is a relatively expensive oil and i was taking care not to use too much in the recipe.

palm oil

2009-09-03T11:01:00.007+08:00

i was reading through the forum and now i understand why some soapers are stating that their soaps are free of palm oil.

it is because palm oil is derived from the fruit of the oil palm, which is grown on moist, tropical lowland areas mostly in malaysia and indonesia. these areas, once covered in tropical rainforest, the globe's richest wildlife habitat on land, are also home to some of the most threatened species on earth. hence the extraction of palm oil has caused deforestation, and we certainly do not want that.

so i have decided as soon as i finish up the palm oil i have on hand, i will switch to substitutes like vegetable shortening. i need to modify my recipes accordingly.

cleansing milk tutorial

2009-08-31T11:37:00.008+08:00

i put together a little tutorial on how i made my cleansing milk.

to make this rose & pink mineral clay cleansing milk, you will need:

1. 100 ml unscented facial cleansing milk
2. 10 ml rose hydrosol (or rose floral water)
3. 2 tsp organic pink mineral clay
4. few drops pink grapefruit essential oil or other essential oil of your choice

you will need a clean glass bowl, a small beaker and glass rod, a funnel, a clean bottle for storing the cleansing milk

add the pink clay in the rose hydrosol and stir with the glass rod. don't worry if the clay does not dissolve completely.

add the hydrosol + clay mixture in the cleansing milk and stir vigorously to combine. put a few drops of essential oil in the mixture. funnel into your storage bottle.

my rose & pink grapefruit cleansing milk was done, and off i went to wash my face with the left-over mixture stuck at the bottom of the mixing bowl!

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hydrosol or floral water is a by-product of essential oil. rose hydrosol is good for dry, mature or sensitive skin.

pink mineral clay is said to rejufenate and tighten tired skin.

the therapeutic properties of grapefruit essential oil include anti-depressant and antiseptic. i simply love its uplifting, happy scent.

saponification

2009-08-28T10:55:00.003+08:00

this is how the bars look like during their "curing" or saponification process.

i think so far, i have managed to make soaps of a variety of colors ~ the grey charcoal ones, the orangy carrot ones, the green avocado ones, the creamy vanilla ones and of course the brown chocolate ones. i plan to make a reddish/pink batch with some organic pink clay i have, and also a blue/purple lavender soap. that should make a nice palette.

my soap shop

2009-08-27T12:27:00.004+08:00

i have had a couple enquiries about whether or not my soaps are for sale. i am happy someone is interested in them.

in fact, i was planning to sell them. i even set up a shop here. and then i learned there might be an opportunity to participate in an upcoming craft fair in october. so now i am saving the soaps for the fair. as they need to "cure" for at least a month before they can be used, my little soap factory at home is up and running almost every night these days.

i am also busy working on the packaging and labelling. if i get to make more soaps this coming month, i will definitely start selling them on etsy.

thanks again for your interest!

milk & oatmeal soap

2009-08-24T10:37:00.001+08:00

these are the milk & oatmeal bars from my second batch of soaps. i am quite happy with the outcome, now that i have better control of the consistency of the oil + lye mixture before pouring into moulds. i have used milk powder from my health drink which i took as a supplement during my pregnancy. ground oatmeal has been added for exfoliating purpose and a few drops of milk fragrance oil enhances the aroma.

these are the charcoal & menthol bars from the same batch. i have cut these smaller in size. i think they would be more easily handled in this size as they are for face wash.

inspirations & packaging

2009-08-20T17:40:00.005+08:00

i found a big group of soap makers on flickr.

from these i found beautiful shops such as campo di fiore, natural handcrafted soap and nostalgia. my favorite one is birch bark.

i also get a lot of inspiration for soap packaging from here. sometimes i feel that it is quite a dilemma when it comes to packaging. on the one hand, good packaging enhances the appearance and helps in identifying the soaps and informing about the contents. on the other hand, it does not make sense to be eco-unfriendly for such a healthy, natural product. i think, as for all things, simple is the key. i have been exploring on labelling and packaging supplies, but i think i will go for diy afterall.

this soap blog

2009-08-20T13:05:00.003+08:00

i have set up this blog especially for my soap making, which i really enjoy.

i hope to practise more and be serious about this beautiful craft.

all of the soap projects here can also be found on my other blog on family and handmade.