Soap Lily: Tall and Skinny Shimmy

#coldprocesssoap #soapchallengeclub #tall&skinnyshimmy

Pictured above is our entry for this month. Read on to see the process...

Like a happy alarm clock it is time for Amy Wardens Great Cakes soap challenge. The design for the November challenge - The Tall and Skinny Shimmy - comes from the soaping artistry of Tatiana Serko who makes Creative Soap by Steso.

The instructions were great and it looked like a fun challenge, so we jumped right in and bought two tall and skinny silicone molds (which we've wanted for ever). We learned very quickly that the consistency of the batter is critical & we mean critical!!

Our first attempt - we used a recipe that we have used a gagillion times and split the batter in half so we could both try the technique. Oops, batter was WAY too thick!

1st attempt - split batch, no swirling, no fluidity, batter way too thick.

Basically this turned into a spoon plop!

On to attempt #2 - This time we used a recipe that we have used many times for our intricate designs. It stays very fluid for much longer. Well...it usually does... Again, we divided the batch in half so we could each try it, and again, the batter got thicker than we wanted.

2nd attempt - split batch, basically same as first attempt, still didn't get the swirls and shimmy we were looking for. We have another spoon plop!

*bright side, our soap inventory is looking quite colorful at this point (and they smell great, too)!

On to attempt #3 - again we used the fluid recipe, but this time we only made a 1/2 batch so maybe we could move faster. Kathy soaped and Alison ran the video camera...

YAY - sort of!

We got fluidity, and shimmy-ing (is that a word?), and pretty colors, but we also got something we didn't plan on - ricing! All over all the bars!

We couldn't figure out why. We've used the FO before in CP design w/o problems, and the oils were fresh and were the same ones we've used recently without problems.

It must have been the rain!

Do we quit? (lots of discussion)

No, I (Kathy) couldn't stand it!

I knew we could do another batch and have it work!

Right????

Wrong!

Attempt #4 - our last try! - Again I used the fluid recipe and made just enough for one tall & skinny mold.

Pretty in pink - but no fluidity, no shimmy. The batter (which I thought was fluid enough) wasn't pouring well.

So now that we've made you see all our non shimmy-ing soap please join us while we make the one that actually did shimmy, we call it tall and skinny shimmy - with a side of rice.

Even though we are happy that it shimmied, we are mortified to be entering this one amidst all the sure to be other beautiful entries. The soap may not look perfect, but it sure does smell great.

Please enjoy the video as we make our Tall and Skinny Shimmy with a side of Rice!