Monday 1 October 2012

Drasted Bubbles and Floods


Look at those drasted bubbles.  I don’t mean suds. I mean the bubbles that get into your soap when you pour into the mould! 
I try so hard during the mixing and blending phase to keep the bubbles out and then WHAM! as I pour into the mould, sometimes these get into my soap.  Doesn’t affect the soap quality… just aesthetics.   I think I get over anxious and start pouring too fast.  When I pour low and slowly… I get a nice bubble-free slab.  Any tips… let’s brainstorm them here.
 
Update:  Made over 400 bars of soap in the last 2 weeks and have been LOVING IT. I was almost completely out of soap after a busy summer.  As I am now getting stock back up to normal, I have begun to experiment again…. I have a pot of liquid soap on this morning.  I hope it doesn’t take me as many batches to get a really great liquid soap as it did for my soap bars!!  But I am patient (sort of) and I am confident I will get there.
On a personal and very sad note, we had a big storm on Friday in the area when I live and a flash flood of overflowing rivers took out two local bridges and swept a river of cars down to the beach. 
(Some photos I took on Saturday)
 
Destroyed many houses and some lives. 

(part of the promenade that was my morning walk)
 

The area has been devastated. We got water back this morning after a weekend of gathering buckets from our neighbor’s pool for the urgent stuff. Our neighbourhood is gathing clothing and what we can to donate to those that have been left with nothing.
I lost a friend... whose smile will always be with me.
I am focussing on being so very thankful for all that I have in my life. And living the moment, as it can all change so quickly. 
xoxoxoxo Jen

23 comments:

Natalia said...

I am so sorry about your friend, Jen :((.
I wish you a lot of courage!

I totally agree ,we should be grateful for what we have and for our health :). Sad that we don't realize it so easily...

Bisous

Anonymous said...

I am sorry about your friend. Losing friends is always hard. Stay strong!

At times like this we do realize how blessed we are with all things we have.
Maya

Donna OShaughnessy said...

Oh Jen, those pictures are so sad. And once again reminded how very fragile life is. Your area, your neighbors are in my prayers

Jabones Aromas del Campo said...

Jennifer, siento mucho la perdida de tu amigo, a veces ocurren cosas inesperadas, pero hay que ser fuerte y continuar. Las fotos hablan por si solas, es una pena lo ocurrido! Te mando mucha energía en estos momentos tan delicados! Un beso muy grande!
Y del jabón no se que decirte, yo suelo dejar siempre que puedo la traza muy liquida y lo vierto poco a poco. Vamos a esperar que dicen los expertos!

Coco said...

I thought of you when I saw the flooding news. So glad you are all OK, though I am sorry about your friend. Hope the shop came through undamaged.

Tierra Verde Handmade Soap said...

First off, I would like to offer my sincere condolences to you Jen- I am so sorry to hear about your friend as well as the devastation the flooding has caused.

As far as the bubbles,I would recommend pouring at more of a very, light trace or even emulsification if you can. Pour gently and slowly no need to panic. Make sure you tap your sb on the bottom to get any trapped air out from under your sb-when you first put your sb into the soap and before blending. Also, I find that if I wait a bit to cut-a day or two or longer to allow some of the water to evaporate I get a smoother cut. Just some thoughts.

Two Blooms Design Studio said...

Oh Jen, I'm so sorry about what has happened in your area. The photos are horrific looking. You and your family will be in my prayers.

Glad you are okay. Is your store okay?

Michelle

Isabel said...

Hola Jen,me he acordado de tí todos estos días, la tormenta también ha pasado por mi pueblo pero no han sucedido desgracias,pero cuando vi las noticias en televisión de que Almería también estaba inundada me preocupé por tí y tu familia, me alegro de que esteis bien,pero lamento mucho la pérdida de tu amigo,eso si que es una desgracia,lo demás pasa todo a un segundo plano.
En cuanto al jabón a mí algunas veces me pasa cuando bato con la batidora y la saco fuera de la masa para ver la traza, se que así le entra mucho aire y luego quedan burbujas, lo mejor para mí es batir sin levantar nunca la batidora y verter en el molde muy poco a poco golpeándolo de vez en cuando.Muchos besos y ánimo.ISABEL.

Julia said...

Jennifer, me acordé de ti estos días, cuando veía las imágenes de las inundaciones en Almería. Siento el fallecimiento de tu amigo, son noticias muy tristes.

REspecto al jabón, coincido con los compañeros, a mi me ha ocurrido cuando la traza está algo espesa o cuando la batidora ha cogido demasiado aire... no es nada grave, a mi me parecen unas barras estupendas.

Saludos y mucho ánimo.

Patti said...

Such devastation! How horrible! I'm so sorry for your loss and for the damage. That's so sad!

Unknown said...

I am so sorry about your friend. I wish you to have a lot of strength to overcome this difficult time, which will for sure not be easy…

Jennifer Young said...

Natalia, thanks for your sweet words. xoxox Jen

Infusionblog, thanks for your commen. You are sooo right. xo Jen

Donna, Thank you for your lovely comment. Things are getting back to reality here. Our towns may be cut off for quite a while until new bridges get built. Mourning. xoxoxo Jen

Yohanka, Muchas gracias por tu comentario. Se esta recuperando la zona... y para sacar algo bueno, ha unido mucho a la gente, todos intentando ayudar. Gracias por las ideas sobre las burbujas - Traza muy Liquido
Vertir Poco a Poco.
A ver que mas ideas hay!
xxoxo Jen

Jennifer Young said...

Coco, My family, car, home and shop are all okay thankfully. Thanks for thinking of me!!!! xo Jen

Jennifer Young said...

Michele (Tierra Verde), Thanks for your kind words about my friend and for your tips on bubble-free pouring.
So far we have:
Pour at a thin trace
Tap mixer before mixing to let bubbles escape
Pour into mould slowly
Wait a few days before cutting
xoxo
Jen

Jennifer Young said...

Michelle (Two Blooms), thank you so much for your nice words and support. xox Jen

Jennifer Young said...

Isabel, Muchas gracias por el apoyo y el comentario tan bonito. Se esta recuperando la zona poco a poco. Mucha gente ayudando. Añado a la lista de idea para jabón sin burbujas superficiales...
Batir sin levantar nunca la batidora
Verter en el molde poco a poco
Golpear el molde de vez en cuando mientras viertes.
Gracias, xoxo jen

Jennifer Young said...

Julia, Muchas gracias por tu comentario. Añado a la lista:
Traza no muy espesa
Asegurar que la batidora no coga aire.
Abrazo, Jen

Jennifer Young said...

Milla, Thank you for your support and comment. xo Jen

Moj Sapun, Thanks for your comment. I looked at your blog and it is beautiful!! xo Jen

Alegria Mediterranea said...

I wish you much courage and power to move forward and condolences for your friend.
I'm glad you and your family are okay.
The joy of life is immense, we can find it in thousands of big and small things!
Much Love.

Jennifer Young said...

Alegría Mediterránea, Muchas gracias por tu comentario tan bonito. xoxo Jen

Unknown said...

My condolences for your loss Jen, thoughts are with you and all who have experienced this loss. Wishing you much comfort and hugs.

As for the bubbles, since I started pouring my soap over the back of a spoon and also only cut 2 - 3 days later I have less bubbles. I use a large spoon which rests against the side of the mold, so that I don't have to hold that as well and pour slowly. xx

Jennifer Young said...

Cynthia-Rose, Thank you for your sweet words. She was a very special aromatherapy massage therapist and really supported me. I learned a lot from her.

I have never heard of this spoon method but I think I like the sounds of it!! I am trying to imagine it but would be most greatful if you could take a photo!!! Do you do this specifically to keep the bubbles out? Thank you for the advice. xo Jen

Ursula said...

Hi Jennifer!

For the bubbles, fill a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and immediately mist the top of your soap after the pour. :D