Well it’s our record so we can break it! On Sunday we taught fourteen wonderful ladies the art of cold process soap making. The maximum we have ever taught in a day was eight, so our attendance record was smashed.
The reason we taught so many students was because there were so many bookings that the ladies at the Melton South Community Centre rang us in a bit of a panic and asked if we could teach two classes in one day. Kim and I were up for the task, because once set up all we had to do was wash up the gear, replenish the consumables, and start over again.
Ben and Kim ready for the second class
We had a very enthusiastic crowd, even though the weather was cold, wet, and dreary outside. Kim and I managed to keep everyone entertained for both of the three-hour classes, with me conducting the soap demo, then teaching four students at a time in the kitchen how to make their own CP soap.
Kim kept the other half of the class occupied with a lye safety talk and a chat about troubleshooting steps they could take if they had any issues during their own soap making sessions at home. Things like acceleration, ricing, and the dreaded soap volcano!
Gavin and Kim – Little Green Workshops
Near the end of each class, before they departed, Kim demonstrated how to cut up soap after 48 hours of saponification using the block of soap we made the Wednesday previous. This was to show them how to cut, how to cure, and explain tips for handling during curing.
Tropical Tangerine Soap
This is how the our soap turned out. The fragrance is Tropical Tangerine. Nice little peaks on top and an amazing fragrance. The poppy seed are an excellent exfoliant which I really like. These bars should be available in the handmade soap section of our shop in six weeks time, less one or two for our personal use 😉
Tropical Tangerine Soap – Single Bar
Everyone loved the class (well that’s what they told us), and left with a smile on their faces, and bought some supplies for their next soap making session at home. Plus, they all got to take home their very own 1kg block of soap! What’s not to be happy about.
Ben has been working especially well at these workshops so we have decided that he is now officially a paid volunteer at Little Green Workshops. Kim even ordered him two name bars that match our own!
So there you have it. A massive class and our soap making record broken! Fun had by all concerned.
Oh shame you are sooo far away as I would love to come to one of your workshops!!!
Can you recomend an easy beginners (very scared of lye) soap recipe? I have made some calendula infused oil and I would love to use this as an ingredient.
I’m in the french alps and am having difficulty buying lye localy and getting my hands on tallow, but I’m determined to make my own soap!!
The soap looks good enough to eat!!!
Nearly, but a bit soapy 😉
Hi Gavin, we are at Nanango near Kingaroy. Where are you? Electricity is getting more and more expensive, do you have a solution?
Rolf and May