Supplies

I am feeling pretty good today, I am starting to get quite a bit of response from my blog:)  Most of the comments are I am really enjoying your blog but where can I get the supplies?  Getting the supplies is sometimes difficult especially when you live in the middle of nowhere like I do.  I am lucky enough to not be that far out that I am still able to have internet:)

I buy a good majority of my supplies online from http://www.bulkapothecary.com/.  They have almost everything you would need.  They have some of the best prices I have found online or in a store.  The products that they carry are exactly what they say.  Two of the items I will not buy anywhere else are essential oils and beeswax, I have not been able to find a better price anywhere. 

If you are not into online ordering or have little patience like me and want to try this today you can try Hobby Lobby.  The local Hobby Lobby here in Cookeville, Tn has a great selection of anything you might need and I am pretty sure most of the stores are the same.  If you want to try glycerin soap they have a nice 5lb pack of glycerin blocks for $19.99, a comparable price to online retailers.  They have ok pricing but the packages are smaller, which is ok if you do not plan on using much.

When I first started soap making I tried making my own molds out of cardboard, it works but messy!  I also have made some out of plastic pvc, good choice as long as you can cut the pipe.  Finally, I broke down and bought a couple molds from Hobby Lobby, they work great and the soap will pop right out, I have also used the soap mold to make deodorant bars.  However, to be cost effective I thought I needed to find another way.  Last year I found myself thinking of what I could use because I had to make a large batch and did not have enough molds then it came to me, silicone baking molds.  I had a box full of molds my grandma had given me from an estate sale she had went too.  They worked perfect, the soap would pop right out and it was more flexible so I did not have to worry about cracking or melting the thin plastic molds.  I know silicone baking molds can be expensive but I have found great deals at garage sales or on EBay.

I hope you check out http://www.bulkapothecary.com/, you really can get lost in this website.

I love hearing from everyone so please leave me comments or let me know what you might be wanting to try!