I bought myself a craft book, before Christmas. It’s full of nifty ideas for turning old ties into purses and knitting iPod cases, but the idea that really hooked me was a recipe for soap. I love those dinky little handmade soaps you get in nice shops - the sort that have rosebuds stuck in the top and scratchy grains for an exfoliating effect. The idea that I could make my own from things you can find in the supermarket was irresistible.
It is pretty much cooking except that you don’t eat the results. You mix up lye from caustic soda (this is the scary part as you need goggles and gloves), and you make up a oil mix according to a table that says what oils to use and in what proportion, and then you stir the two together and watch as the form a lovely soapy batter. Then you add essential oils for it to smell nice, and leave it to sit. And sit. And sit. And wonder why it hasn’t turned into soap yet. It’s been there for three hours now, and while it’s heated up a treat, It hasn’t started to set.
I might go back to baking cakes, it’s less of a worry.
