Great Great Great Great Grandmother Mary and The Love Moment

posted in: Auntie Clara's Blog, Blog Post | 16

Eighteen years ago we emigrated to South Africa. Then, like now, it was early October and the open fields around Cape Town were covered in thick carpets of purple flowers. I remember asking our driver what the purple flowers were? … Continued

Snail Beldi and Mushroom Soap – 2017 Edition of Soap On Holiday

posted in: Auntie Clara's Blog, Blog Post | 16

After last year’s holiday trip to Italy and the trip to the US and UK the year before, we decided to go back to our native Finland this year. It was a good decision because the ancient wood-framed and puttied … Continued

From Tadelakt To the Titanic – How To Use Soap

posted in: Auntie Clara's Blog, Blog Post | 39

A while ago I made some big bars of all-coconut laundry soap. I took some pretty pictures and posted them in a couple of soapmaking groups on Facebook. To my surprise several soapmakers asked the same question: how do you … Continued

Mäntysuopa – Finnish Pine Soap

posted in: Auntie Clara's Blog, Blog Post | 40

To Finns nothing spells out ’C L E A N’ more clearly than the natural pine wood smell of mäntysuopa, Finnish pine soap. It’s the smell of long, lazy childhood summers, saunas, lakes, boats – and rag rugs. It’s a … Continued

Double, Double Toil and Trouble: Snail Soap

posted in: Auntie Clara's Blog, Blog Post | 37

Here, close to the southernmost tip of Africa, our summers are warm and dry. The rain falls in winter when low-pressure fronts sweep in from the south. This is the heartland of South African wine country and the local vineyards … Continued

Agateware Soap

posted in: Auntie Clara's Blog, Blog Post | 85

At age five I was the uncrowned queen of modelling clay. I don’t think I had any remarkable sculpting skills, but I loved the stuff. Since it would keep me entertained for hours, my mother fed my habit and made … Continued

St. Florian, Patron Saint of Soapmakers – Soap Mould Tutorial

posted in: Auntie Clara's Blog, Blog Post, Tutorial | 93

When I first started making soap I saw the world with new eyes. Anything and everything equipped with some form of cavity became the centre of intense focus as a potential soap mould. This is a common phase that many … Continued

Ghost Swirl Soap Follow-Up

posted in: Auntie Clara's Blog, Blog Post | 14

The response to the un-coloured Ghost Swirl Soap that I posted about a month ago (you can read about it here) has been rather overwhelming. I’m humbled by all the positive comments and I’m very excited to see how other … Continued

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