#tasmaniansoap

[veronicafoaleessentials]

Behind the scenes on this this inordinately filthy day. I have had zero customers and I don't blame a single person - I would not willingly be outside today either. It is cold and raining, and while the garden and the magpies are loving it, I am not either of those things. Of course this means it was a wonderful day to make Wild Honeysuckle soap - wild honeysuckle is a beautiful scent and not bad to work with, but it gels hard and fast (gelling is part of the process of turning oils into soap - the chemical reaction of saponification is exothermic, which means it creates heat, which liquifies the soap briefly, turning it into a gel like substance). This makes honeysuckle prone to overheating and misbehaving. I gel all of my soaps. It makes them easier to unmould, and easier to cut sooner. But it means some of the fragrances are better made in winter, on cold days, where overheating is less of a concern. Comparatively, the Victorian Rose soap I made yesterday only gelled partially, which means it has a lovely solid centre, and when I tried to unmould it today, the corners fell off. I've left the remaining soap in the moulds for cutting tomorrow instead. I didn't insulate that batch (you insulate to keep the warm in, to hopefully make the loaf gel fully to the edges), because it looked like it was going to overheat. Cannot win, really. So there we are. Pictured is a wonderfully fresh Rosemary and Mint soap, which will be available in 6 weeks, both directly from me and from @craftislandau in Hobart, who already have some of our wonderful soap available for anyone shopping in the city. #soapshare #behindthescenes #bambleon #soap #studiolife #soapchemistry #soapmaking #soapmaker #soapswirls #tasdesigned #tasmanianmade #tasmaniansoap #skincare https://www.instagram.com/p/BzzcxUJnflo/?igshid=kg9d1n9bk290

[veronicafoaleessentials]

A new design on our Orange Petitgrain Crystal Soaps. These have a crystal keepsake embedded in the top, which makes them very pretty. It's almost the end of summer, which is slightly upsetting because it feels like we have had very little weather worthy of being called summer. Hot weather might be uncomfortable, but my bones ache in the cold, so on the whole, I much prefer it warm. It dropped to 0.3C overnight on Wednesday, which was unpleasant. I think we narrowly avoided a frost, a fact I'm sure my incredibly late and struggling tomatoes are grateful for. They only started to flower a fortnight ago, so I'm not holding out much hope for any fruit. I'll try my best to keep them protected and in the ground for another month, but geez, it hasn't been great weather for growing things. . . . . . . #SoapShare #Soapmaking #soap #soapdesign #skincare #coldprocesssoap #ColdProcess #BrambleOn #artisan #artisansoap #crystals #crystalsoap #tasmanian #tasmaniansoap #soapswirls #soapcrafting #barsoaps https://www.instagram.com/p/CLsedc1nRrZ/?igshid=u4hsmh2s0se1

[veronicafoaleessentials]

Here is our Saffron and Cedar soap, with patchouli. All cut and ready for the curing shelves. I also spent today restocking our lip balms. This always feels like a ridiculous amount of work, but it's worth it to have our lip balm box refilled and ready for customers. #sheabutter #soap #soapshare #skincare #coldprocess #vegan #coconutmilk #almondmilk #brambleon #tasmaniansoap #artisan #artisansoap #handmade #handmadesoap #love #tasdesigned #veronicafoaleessentials

[veronicafoaleessentials]

Pearberry goat milk soap, freshly cut. As expected, it smells like the most delicious blend of pears, raspberries, and strawberries. I'm quite happy with the colours, even though the light pink was meant to be bright purple. Obviously I have not sacrificed enough to the soap gods lately and they're unhappy with me. The last time I used this mica it worked perfectly, so I'm not sure exactly what happened this time. Maybe I held my tongue wrong. Autumn proper has hit here, and we've had frosts for the last few mornings. I've pulled all my tomato plants and I have green tomatoes hanging everywhere. Our season here in Tassie is short, but it does make the home-grown tomatoes so very worth it when we finally get some. In other news, I am also legally allowed to sell chicken eggs. This news came through right as all my girls started moulting and stopped laying, but it's good news for springtime. We will hopefully be able to offer small quantities of eggs at markets, along with soap, once we eventually do markets again. In the meantime, soap is always available online if you live in Australia, and if you're in Tasmania, you can arrange to visit the studio if you like. . . . . #tasmania #tasmaniansoap #soap #soapmaker #coldprocess #coldprocesssoap #soapshare #goatmilksoap #handmade #artisan #artisansoap #swirls #soapswirls #brambleon #tasdesigned #tassie #smallbatch https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv215OlnbmN/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1rja0fw4cpt19

[veronicafoaleessentials]

Two snaps from the market yesterday. Gorgeous hand creams, and the new Hibiscus Cucumber soap which will be making its way into the online shop very soon. (Very soon = as soon as I sit down at the computer and update the website) #soapshare #soapmaker #soapmaking #artisansoap #artisan #skincare #goatmilk #tasmanianmade #tasdesigned #soap #coldprocess #coldprocessoap #brambleon #handmade #handmadesoap #tasmaniansoap https://www.instagram.com/p/Bu0MTT0nhN5/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13tpbguxqww95

[veronicafoaleessentials]

Another shot of the Cardamom Sandakwood soap from yesterday, which I just love so much. I'll cut it in another few hours, and then set it to curing. In other news, like everyone else I speak to, I am hating the Instagram algorithm so so so much. I keep missing photos from people I want to see, and my feed keeps showing me things from days ago, which I've already seen and liked. So ridiculous and I hate it. Also has anyone else noticed an increase in the ads? Argh. I just want to see photos from people I follow in the order they were posted. #grumbling #soapshare #handmade #skincare #coldprocesssoap #coldprocess #artisansoap #soapmaking #soap #tasmanianmade #tasmaniansoap #veronicafoaleessentials #brambleon https://www.instagram.com/p/BpvHmFDhAw-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ubs98ghm9i20

[veronicafoaleessentials]

Cardamom Sandalwood soap in the mould. This soap proved (understandably) popular, and I am so delighted because it is one of my favourite soaps to make and to use. Made with buttermilk, and shea butter, it is creamy and rich, bubbly and amazing. And the complex woodsy fragrance is just to die for. I currently have two of these left in stock online, once those sell, we're out until these cure. . . . . #soapshare #skincare #handmade #tasdesigned #tasmanianmade #soap #coldprocess #coldprocesssoap #artisansoap #brambleon #soapmaking #soapmaker #tasmaniansoap #shoplocal #smallbusiness https://www.instagram.com/p/BptoDaPnbN0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=onyjmm46c971

[veronicafoaleessentials]

Honey Almond Soap, with shea butter and goat milk. I meant to post this earlier, but you know what it's like. Kids get off the school bus, everyone wants snacks, dinner needs cooking, work photos fall to the bottom of the to-do pile. This was a gorgeous fragrance to work with, and my soap room smells divine. Cannot wait to cut it. It's so creamy and delicious. #soapshare #handmade #tasmanianhoney #tasdesigned #artisansoap #skincare #soap #coldprocess #coldprocesssoap #enviroglitter #handmadesoap #goatmilksoap #goatmilk #honeysoap #brambleon #artisan #tasmanianmade #tasmaniansoap

[veronicafoaleessentials]

Our Sea Salt and Honey soap is cut and curing! Scented with a sweet blend of citrus, fresh ocean, patchouli, amber, and oakmoss. It is sweet, smooth, and oh so delicious smelling. #soapshare #Handmadesoap #handmade #skincare #sheepmilksoap #rawshea #tasdesigned #tasmanianmade #tasmaniansoap #smallbusiness #coldprocess #coldprocesssoap #artisansoap

[veronicafoaleessentials]

New goat milk soap. I have no idea what to call it yet, but I've got another month to think of something. The fragrance oil is Moonlit Petals from Eroma, and it is quite frankly, amazing. Sweet yet complex, with musky notes, and it doesn't make me sneeze like some other florals we've tried. I'm very much looking forward to keeping the ends for myself. #soapmaking #soapshare #soapporn #tasmanianmade #tasmanian #tasmaniansoap #skincare #floral #coldprocess #soap #handmadesoap #goatmilksoap #handmade #artisan #artisansoap #love #tasmania

[veronicafoaleessentials]

Also from yesterday, we have this beautiful Sweet Quandong and Mountain Pepper soap. I am in love with this fragrance, it's sweet and sharp, with a crisp spiciness. So amazing. . . . . . #soapshare #soap #soapmaking #soapmaker #handmadesoap #handmade #tasmanian #tasmaniansoap #soapporn #coldprocess #goatmilksoap #tasmanianmade #skincare #artisan #artisansoap

[veronicafoaleessentials]

The cut of yesterday's Olive Leaf and Thyme soap. It smells amazing. . . . . . #soapshare #soapmaking #soapporn #soapmaker #artisan #skincare #goatmilksoap #coldprocess #coldprocesssoap #tasmanianmade #tasmanian #tasmaniansoap #soap #handmade #handmadesoap

[veronicafoaleessentials]

Restocks of patchouli and musk soap, poured a few days ago. This soap is proving to be incredibly popular, and I can see why. Woodsy and smooth, it's a great blended scent. #soapshare #tasmaniansoap #goatmilksoap

[veronicafoaleessentials]

More restocks of our gorgeous patchouli musk soap. In the mould and waiting to harden up. Such a gorgeous soap to make, and then to use. I love it. . . . . . . #soapshare #goatmilksoap #brambleon #handcrafted #handmadesoap #tasdesigned #coldprocess #coldprocesssoap #artisan #artisansoap #tasmanianmade #tasmaniansoap #soapmaking #soap