Hi all.  I've read alot of your messages and you feel like a very nice "family"!
I am new to all this, but am intending to try to make my own soaps/lotions etc based on the fact that I am not only veggie, but violently allergic to all things yeast/fermented and dairy too    Makes my diet interesting to say the least, and I have to be VERY careful about what I use on my skin - when it's bad, I need alot of soothing/calming potions (other than ice packs and a little drinkie!).  I've had a go at M&P SLS-free soaps and because I want to use natural colourants and essential oils, will probably be posting "help" questions quite often!  Am not having much luck so far infusing things!!  Maybe one day I'll be brave enough to learn how to make CP soaps too.  Who knows!  I hope you'll all be patient with me.

Hello Joanne

Severe allergies must be a beggar - there are some very knowledgeable lotiony potiony people here who I'm sure will help (Helen's published some recipes).

I make MP soaps, using a lot of the base described as "Natural" (no SLS/SLES and herby oatmealy bath infusions (usually in bags) - are you having problems with this type of infusion or infusions/inclusions in your soaps?

Hi Elaine!
I've just finished reading your website (I like your humour - very similar to mine I think), and Helen has already told me you are a lady that knows alot!

I want to try to infuse botanicals etc to get nice natural colours.  So far, I have a jar of alkanet root in olive oil (heated and then left) which has done nothing except turn the oil a bit of a disgusting sludge colour; some calendula petals also doing nothing to the oil and lastly (and I gave up here and went for a sulk) some annatto seeds going vaguely brown.  I've tried heating them up in a bain-marie as it says on the internet but maybe am just being impatient!  Any ideas or suggestions would be very much appreciated!

Jo

Hello Jo!

Welcome to the 'family' 

I was lovely talking to you.  I think you may have set me on a bit of a quest regarding the natural colours (although the journey may take a few days - that is, unless someone can pass on some real pearls of wisdom first  ).  If you post it to say troubled bubbles or a cry for help maybe, it may get a little more exposure there 


I hope you find it useful here and as I said to you earlier, if you have any suggestions, just hollar', I'm all ears 

Hi again Helen!

When I've finished sulking about my current efforts, I'll post some cries for help as you suggested.  If, in the meantime, they change colour, I'll let you know!!

Jo

Ok Jo!  In the meantime, if I find out anything while on my quest, I'll post it up 

Hi JoJo, Welcome....
Have only been here a few days meself and have been spending my hours reading everything on the board...not good!!
It is tough dealing with allergies! I use only natural colourants...however mostly I ue the "colouring material " for other properties rather than the colour.I've not got the vibrant colours you'd get with synthetic colours but they are okay too.A couple I remember are ....unrefined oil(a pinch) will give a pretty good orange colour. Nettle plant(using the puree for my liquid) gives a nice enough green.

Can this be applied to M&P soap afrokelt?

Ah...silly me..JoJo makes M&P! I am not sure...I've never even seen M&P soap not to mention making it. The palm oil I think should be okay the nettle should also be fine...I suppose an experiment is called for here!

Hi Afrokelt 
Thanks for your reply.  I think I'm just going to have to play, but I'll certainly give your ideas a go and let you know the results in M&P soaps and anything else I may create!

Am itching to have a go at things tonight but am just too tired so will have to be patient.  Not easy when you've just had some new moulds and ingredients delivered 

If I can manage to take the photos tomorrow of the MP bases with various botanicals I'll submit them for an article. They've been sitting exposed for 3 weeks or more.

Natural dyes are funny things - fresh St. John's wort, macerated in oil gives a red colour (despite it's yellow flowers) which is goodly for bruises. Some of them are fugitive and on fabrics need a mordant.

Thanks Elaine

hi jo jo, would just like to say hello too, havent been able to log in for a couple of days and was getting withdrawal symptoms, i love it here and am sure you will too 
von

Hey Von!  You did it!!  kestrel is not quite bald yet 

  thats good, i am though and gone grey lol