My Black Wattle Woodpile – The Gift That Keeps On Giving

posted in: Auntie Clara's Blog, Blog Post | 25

When it was really cold in September I ran out of firewood. Bad planning on my part – especially since all the local firewood suppliers were flat out of stock at the end of winter. Finally I got hold of … Continued

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

The Soap That Came From Ireland…

posted in: Auntie Clara's Blog, Blog Post | 59

Once upon a time I swapped soap with Hajni Kele, the very talented soapmaster and owner at Mianra Soap in Cork, Ireland. The soap arrived, as international soap deliveries do, in a mail parcel. All the excitement of meeting soaps … 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

The Ghost Swirl

posted in: Auntie Clara's Blog, Blog Post, Tutorial | 166

  “I had decided to do what I shall call a Ghost Swirl; a technique where a deliberate design is ’conjured’ into the soap without the use of any added colourant. It’s not essential whether the design is swirled with … Continued

What’s Hot and What’s Not – A Study In Overheating

posted in: Auntie Clara's Blog, Blog Post | 73

Sensitive viewers be warned. This post is about soap overheating in various ways and features ugly soaps galore. For pretty pics I would suggest a meander through Auntie Clara’s photo gallery, a run through our Facebook photo stream, or a … Continued

Oh So Oval – Oval Soap Mould Tutorial

posted in: Auntie Clara's Blog, Blog Post, Tutorial | 102

My fascination with oval soap began when I was nine and my parents took us on a trip to Zanzibar. From that trip I remember seeing cinnamon trees and smelling fresh lemongrass for the first time and I remember walking … Continued

Soap In An Eggshell – Mignon Soap

posted in: Auntie Clara's Blog, Blog Post | 29

Yesterday morning I was all excited about blowing things. I was making soap for a soap challenge and that can get my pulse racing. Soap challenges are popular among soapmakers. The idea is simple: somebody comes up with a theme … Continued

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