Butterfly Swirl, Great Cakes Soapworks January 2015

So I really, I mean really, struggled with this swirl. I had only one goal for this swirl, produce a butterfly swirl that appears like a butterfly while upright. To read a little about my ventures in butterfly swirling, see this post.

I had a concept back in early December for a soap for this particular challenge. Getting new micas in late last month, however, made me rethink my color scheme. Ever have all those micas staring you in the face and get a tad crazed and overwhelmed trying to come up with the perfect color combo?!

I used this wonderful mold by American Soap Supply. Honestly, I am in love with this mold.

I attempted the said concept after signing up for the challenge. Let's just say it didn't work out quite right....Again.

So, (7th time's a charm) I decided I needed one more go at it. Unfortunately, again, the stars weren't lining up for a calm and thoughtful soaping session. I began, and then in haste reminiscent of last month's spoon swirl challenge; I, with sweat on brow, clock ticking faster than normal to the point of causing anxiety Edgar Allan Poe would be eager to write about because the child is upset mommy was doing something other than, well, whatever she was demanding (yes the same one...look for her in next month's edition), I soaped a panicked, wait!, stop and think a second, panic again!, butterfly swirl...

I am pleased with the outcome!!! I was living on the edge. This soap

has

• 42.5 ounces oils/fats 
• 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar to boost bubbles
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt to help harden 
• 9.45 ounces water for 33% lye concentration plus
• 3 ounces heavy cream added after the lye water was poured into the oils and after 3 short pulses of the stick blender, while in an ice bath 
• Cpop (first time ever, all that sugar and added cream, man I watched it like a hawk!, and as a fairly new soaper, this was living on the edge for me)

After a total of 7 attempts, I think I am putting this swirl in my back pocket and moving on.....for now. We shall meet again, one day, but for now it's time for a short water cooler break.



The Wisps of Irish Hills

Fragrance: Green Irish Tweed by Oregon Trail Soaps 
Colorants: micas and glitter by Nurture Soap Supplies, colorant by Bramble Berry

                            
                                  Freshly Poured

 

 

 

 

                                       After cpop

 

 

 

 

 

 

This last soap was my inspiration for the title. It isn't the most stunning of the batch, but I love its delicate wisp tail. 

And finally, based on most realistic, this final one is my favorite.

Thank you Amy again for hosting these wonderful challenges. I'm so happy to be a part of them!

Quick edit to apologize to any viewers that noticed me remove and replace my link up, twice lol. I've had technical errors all week and have been doing all this from my cell. It's been challenging, but that's what this is all about I keep telling myself haha!!

I also wanted to mention I watched hours of Zahida's videos (in spite of them being only minutes long). I just noticed I mentioned her in my swap blog post on trials of butterfly swirling, but not here. Again, working from a cell is difficult, and I ran into a time crunch, and found myself rushed. Apologies for leaving out the inspiration for this months challenge. Hopefully I can activate my hotspot appropriately next challenge and work from a real keyboard once again!

Butterfly Swirl, Soap Swap

This butterfly swirl is a bugger, I've come to feel. It has been the most difficult soap technique, for me, thus far in my soaping journey. Let me back up to December.

I signed up for a soap swap with 9 other soapers. The only rule of this swap was choose something to focus on (something we wanted to specifically highlight), and that thing you choose, do it to the best of your ability. So naturally, knowing this challenge was quickly approaching, I choose to swap a butterfly swirl soap. Having failed twice in the past at this technique, I knew I'd be needing a ton of practice.

My main goal- produce a butterfly swirl that looks like a butterfly while standing upright.
This isn't a requirement, of course. There are gorgeous soaps out there with intricate detailed butterfly wings that look perfectly executed while on its side. I was being stubborn, however, and decided I was GOING to make an upright butterfly swirl, or die trying. I was very much in awe of the soaps by Zahida of Handmade in Florida regarding this technique, and honestly her beautiful soaps inspired my fire for this upright style.

Obsessed much?!

I made 4 practice soaps in my 1 pound soap mold, and though one was executed well, the others were lacking in detail and color, and none produced an upright butterfly.

Here's the one I really liked and thought looked like a butterfly (much more so than my other attempts).

***The last picture below was my favorite. Unfortunately the pic flashed, and in haste I didn't retake it. Boy do I love this butterfly though:-)

I then decided, for my swap, I really needed to invest in a mold large enough to make the required 10 bars I needed to send in. I purchased a tall and skinny mold that makes 12 bars, which was perfect for this swap. I also hoped the added height would allow the wings to swirl more upright than my shorter mold did, and in doing so allow for an upright butterfly.

After the practices, I made my swap soap and decided it was good enough for the swap. At this point I was becoming a little burned out on this particular swirl. The swap soaps were not butterfly enough for a contest I felt, because they resembled more along the lines an owl or an organic plant or something. I am extremely happy with the swap soaps when it comes down to it, and so I signed up for the contest with the hopes of producing an upright butterfly.

I call this

Citrus Blast

Scented with a fragrance oil blend of lemon, agave lime, and yuzu

 

Is it just me, or are these some awesome mardi gras masks?!