I have a confession to make. There’s a new love in my life.
Her name is Violet.
Violet Rae, our sixth baby girl
She’s less than 2 weeks old, under 10 pounds, and is delectably squishy. You can see some more totally adorable photos here. 😉
Seeing as I’m so enamored with Miss Violet, she’s my inspiration for February’s Soap Challenge Club! And because she’s part of my very DNA, what better technique to use than this month’s challenge, the DNA Helix swirl!?!
I chose to use Nature’s Garden Loving Spell fragrance oil since I seem to be under her spell! It’s sweet, juicy, sparkly, fresh, and intoxicating, just like my Violet. And of course, I used shades of violet to create the soap. Because she’s got the softest, most sensitive skin, I added nourishing ingredients to the soap like tussah silk and colloidal oatmeal. I also added 2 teaspoons of sugar to my lye solution (in the form of a simple syrup) to add bubbles, as well as 2 teaspoons of sodium lactate to add hardness to the soap. Amy’s slow-moving recipe of 35% olive oil, 30% lard, 25% coconut oil, and 10% rice bran oil proved to be ever-so-slow-moving indeed! And the fragrance oil was a breeze to work with; no acceleration or ricing at all. I mixed my lye solution to my oils and fragrance at around 110 degrees, and I had well over half an hour of very fluid soap to play with.
After emulsifying the lye solution and oils, I split the batter into 4 equal parts and colored them with the following: 0.5 tsp lavender oxide, 0.5 tsp lavender oxide and 0.25 tsp black oxide, 2 tsp titanium dioxide, and 2 tsp sparkle gold mica, all dispersed in water.
Left to right: deep purple, sparkly gold, lavender, and white soaps
After mixing in the colorants, I poured each color in long s-shaped curves down the length of my smallest slab mold. I filled the entire mold with soap this way, so there should be interesting details throughout each bar. As I neared the final pours, I was sure to carefully make lines to reveal all 4 colors.
All soap poured into the mold and ready for swirling
I then inserted a skewer to the bottom of the mold and made very tight s-curves perpendicular to the stripes.
The first round of swirling was so beautiful that it was difficult to make myself keep going!
Finally, I made the DNA Helix curve design, again going perpendicular to the stripes I’d just made.
DNA Helix swirl design in Love Spell soap. Can you see the helix? Pretty awesome!
The results are stunning! This is a beautiful design technique that I will definitely use again.
Love Spell soap in the raw
Since Miss Violet made her appearance, I’m busy trying to find a new normal. I haven’t made any soap until now. In fact, I cut this challenge very close and made this soap late last night! It’ll be in the mold for another day….
Here it is with dividers in place. Every bar will be so unique!
I’m excited to take a peak at all of the other soapy entries this month. (I made myself wait to look until after I’d made my own!) I’m certain we’ll have some incredible works of art like usual. Thanks, Amy, for another great tutorial! 🙂
Violet is so cute! Beautiful soap!
Wow, you’re quick, Natalia! Just posted and you’re already saying kind words! Thanks so much! 😀
Your colors are gorgeous!!
Thanks!
Congratulations!!! I can see why you are so enamored with sweet little Violet, and I’m incredibly impressed that you made time for this challenge! I suppose soapmaking is a form of sanity. Your soap turned out very beautiful! I’m sure the cut bars will be really cool too!
Thanks, Amy! It was fun to make soap last night! I have been missing it. Hadn’t made any for a full month, so I was itching to get back at it.
What better inspiration than your adorable little bundle, Violet. 🙂
Inspiration always has a way of making everything beautiful. 🙂
Thanks, Silvia! 🙂
How do you find time for soaping, Katy…..
What an inspiration, no wonder your soap got so pretty.
Thanks, Yvonne! I make time for soaping, often late late at night. It’s just so fun! Such a great creative outlet when everything else is going crazy around me!!
Love that Violet was your inspiration, no wonder, she is so sweet. Loved your soap design, beautiful swirls – nice work! (SoapLilySoaps) Kathy and Alison
Thanks, ladies! 🙂
Oh wow Katy, that’s stunning! How on earth are you finding time to soap? Violet Rae is sooooo gorgeous, aren’t you just sitting and staring at her whenever you possibly can :-D? You put me to shame, you really do – I signed up for this challenge too but just haven’t got round to it (again lol!
You seriously crack me up, Vicki! I must admit, I do stare at her a lot! And take tons of pictures!!! I’m in awe of how blessed we are with these beautiful babies.
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