Hi everyone! I've been registered here a while but haven't had the time to do any serious mooching around until recently. Great board with loads of great advice! Thought I'd introduce myself...

I'm Susan (aka Swift, aka Swiftcraftymonkey - not Swifty - in homage to the writer, not because I move quickly!) and I live on the West Coast of Canada with my wonderful husband and adorable dog. I'm a chemistry geek and I'm a little obsessed with making bath & body products. I make pretty much every product I use - except deodorant and toothpaste - but I haven't tried making CP soap yet (I haven't found the time and I figure I can buy lovely soaps from amazing soapmakers!). I'm especially interested in hair care products and surfactants, but I love making any product! I'm always experimenting with new ingredients - right now I'm on an esters in everything spree - and I spend a lot of time at the computer researching and writing.

I'm an avid crafter; I'm experimenting with resin casting and trying to perfect my fabric stencilling right now, but I have to learn every craft I can as my husband and I run free programs for youth at the library and I need to be able to do whatever they ask! I don't sell my products - it seems like way too much stress, but I admire those who do - so I usually give my stuff away to friends and family. I love food based fragrance oils, and my current favourites are cream cheese frosting and Clementine cupcake (it used to be Wedding Cake, but they stopped making it - eek!)

What else about me? I love Doctor Who but I can't accept Matt Smith in the role yet, I've re-discovered the awesomeness that is ir*n Maiden thanks to Rock Band, and I quote lines from the Simpsons at inappropriate times.

Thanks for having me here!

Hello Susan - welcome aboard.

Our "resident" chemistry geek is taking a break ATM - but he should be back shortly.

I've not seen any Dr Who since the days of Tom Baker so can't comment on the later ones.

Hi Susan, nice to see you here.

Love your blog and I refer to it often  :buttrf:

I can't comment re Dr Who as I don't watch it but I did watch the new Sherlock holmes last week and LOVED it. Not sure if it will wing it's way to you but definetly worth watching.

Hello, welcome 

Hello Susan & welcome!    Hope you enjoy it here! 
I do watch Dr Who and have to agree with you re. Matt Smith.  I just can't get to like him as Dr Who!   

Ps. I am also a fan of your blog, I find it an endless source of useful & fascinating information, and has really helped me learning to make creams/lotions & conditioner!

Hi Polly! I've seen the entire new series and I can't warm to it. Matt Smith just doesn't have that same love of humanity as David Tennant, and I feel like Amy is just a watered down and less interesting version of Donna. Why they didn't have David Morrissey or Stephen Fry or Anthony Head in the role, I don't know! I'm looking forward to Torchwood as Russell T Davis is writing them!

Hi ElaineJ! Woo hoo! Another chemistry geek. I'm not alone (although he probably knows a lot more than I do as I'm studying most of it on my own)!

Hi Vanilla! Thanks for the kind words about the blog. I received so much help and learned so much from others who shared when I was a newbie, I'm just trying to give a little back.

And thanks for the welcome, Lissi!

Hi Susan, a very warm welcome to forum.  Its very nice to have you here.  We have a very mixed bunch here, from those who are just starting out to experienced folks, from aromatherapy to soaping, the community is broad and inclusive  :buttrf: :buttrf:

I haven't really watched Dr Who since DT 'regenerated', DT was just too good.  I first got to know him when he did Casanova and I nearly fell off my chair when I later saw an interview with him and he was Scottish!!!  My goodness, that guy can do a good English accent, I had no idea (mind you Seth MacFarlane of Family Guy does an incredible English accent too - Stewie totally convinces me  :mwaha:).

Anyway, I really look forward to chatting and getting to know you more around the boards 

Hi Susan and welcome!  :buttrf:

Hi Susan, it's lovely to welcome you here. Your blog has been a wonderful resource for me - I printed off most of your PDFs and have them in a file.

Stephen Fry would make a fab Dr.Who - I'm ever so slightly in love with Stephen Fry  :mwaha:

Hello and welcome

Hi, Susan - really good to see you here. I, too, have many of your pages bookmarked and will be posting pics of a new product soon that I made with your help. So, Thanks! I don't watch Dr. Who, but I am in North America so I think that makes me your closest neighbor here! Welcome!

Hi swift, nice to see you here. I have almost every corner of your blog imprinted on my brain now. And I still suck at making shampoo. But love my serums, solid shampoo bar (syndet) and conditioner (liquid).

Eire (rosehan)

@Lilli, my gawd girl, what is wrong with you, Stephen Fry. :mwaha:

I adore Stephen Fry! As an aside, there was an online discussion about whom a specific man would "go gay for" and Stephen Fry's name came up. The man answered that if you had a chance to spend time with Stephen Fry, why would you waste it not talking to him? That's not saying he's not "delicious" (his word, not mine), but to spend time with that mind...well, that's my idea of heaven!

Eire: How do you suck at making liquid shampoos?

Now Stephen Fry's brain is a diferent story altogether. If it was legal, I would do a direct drip feed.

swift, you answered my questions on the dish. My main problem was understanding the different surfactants available to me here and what is available in the States. Then consistancy, it was totally runny. Added 1% salt, still runny, left it aside for a few days to see if any changes occured, it turned into jelly glop. Just need to practice and play more.

Eire

Oh wow, how great that you're here (Now I am going to sound like someone who will pick your brain mercilessly - don't worry, I have broken myself in on everyone else here poor souls so it will go lightly with you!  :mwaha:) I have been on your site loads of times for reference and advice - welcome!