Hi Jessevieve
I think I noticed on one of your comments that you make your own soap etc? If this is true and I haven't imagined it, do you have any websites/books/recipes you can recommend as this is something I've always wanted to get into. If this is not you and it is a complete figment of my imagination, you have my sincere apologies - especially if you've been startled by reading a thread addressed to you :)
Piglottie (with very clean trotters from lush soap but who would love to make own combos and possibly not spend so much money in said shop thereby having more cash for seeds etc!)
Hi Piglottie :D I do make my own soap so you didn't imagine me saying that. It's really easy to make your own soap but there's a few safety things you need to bear in mind because you'll be working with caustic soda. But before you run away with fear of washing yourself with something containing caustic soda...bear in mind that although caustic soda is an ingredient, it is inactive in the final product because the process of turning oils into soap is that the caustic soda neutralises, so your final bar of soap (provided you followed the recipe correctly) will not be caustic.
I bought a book by Melinda Coss called the The Handmade Soap Book and I can highly recommend it for a beginner, it covers all the safety aspects and is packed full of recipes but also contains a very basic soap making recipe so if you're on a budget you don't need to go and buy all the bits for the more elaborate recipes. If you look at your local library the book may be available there, otherwise drop huge hints at birthday or christmas time for the book ;D.
Most of the equipment needed for soap making you'll already have in your kitchen. You will need a soap mould and although there are lots to buy you can simply use plastic containers of almost any sort, I use a large square plastic biscuit box, the soap is poured into this making a large block, the next day I cut it into bars of whatever size soap I feel like.
The petals from sunflowers, calendula and lavender I am keeping and drying to include in the next batch of soap I make in Sept (I won't make soap whilst my little ones are at home, I don't want any accidents), you don't need to include petals but I like to in some of the recipes. You can also add whatever fragrances or essential oils you like, but you can exclude the scents, it's up to you. I've made some soap that includes honey and no fragrances, just a subtle honey smell...very nice. Anyway I'm rambling....go get yourself a good book, preferably the Melinda Coss one and get started, it's great fun....but a word of warning, you'll want to make lots of different soaps and you'll end up with a years supply in the first few weeks of soap making ;D but don't worry, they're good as Xmas pressies. :D
If you want any other advice let me know, it's only a pleasure to help :)
Very interesting thread :)  I've had oatmeal soap which I think is used for rough skin.Â
Yes, oatmeal is a good exfoliant and can be included in soap. You can also buy pummice powder to include in soap as an exfoliant. My last batch of soap included lavender and tea tree oil which is good as an antiseptic and great for gardeners hands, especially when you've been picking gooseberries and full of prickles. I've also tried a green clay soap which is meant to help draw out dirt and grime but wasn't too impressed with it and didn't like the green colour very much. :)
Thanks so much Jessevieve - and its good to know I'm not going mad and imagining things :) Shall have a look for the Melinda Cross book. Love the idea of putting flower petals etc in soap and cant wait to start (am on hols next week so who knows, I may end up with the whole family's Christmas present sorted before the end of July ;D ;D ;D ).
Thanks again for being so helpful - I'll let you know how I get on! :)
PL, i found this via google
http://www.suite101.com/course.cfm/17779/seminar
read through and click on lesson which then takes you through the course. :)
I started reading through the link Svea has given and it seems to cover things well, I'm pleased to see it covers all the safety aspects. It also lists the Melinda Coss book as a recommendation, along with some others.
I forgot to mention earlier, this link to the soap kitchen http://www.thesoapkitchen.co.uk/ is where I've bought some soap making ingredients and equipment. :)
Having received a bar of Jessevieve's soup, I can confirm it is devine! I didn't want to use it to start with, precious don't you know, a gift, something sweet smelling and gorgeous to look at, but when I did, I didn't want to stop, and only shared it with number one daughter who has terrible eczema. Truly wonderful!