Smart Lotionmaking

Author: Anne L. Watson
Publisher: Shepard Publications
ISBN: 1620352044
Category : Crafts & Hobbies
Languages : en
Pages : 154

Book Description
SPECIAL NOTE! -- ANNE WILL PERSONALLY ANSWER ANY QUESTION OF YOURS AFTER READING THIS BOOK. ASK ON HER WEB SITE, AND YOU'LL NORMALLY HEAR BACK WITHIN HOURS! Do you love the feel of a good lotion but find yourself unhappy with the cost, or wary of the chemical ingredients? Do you ever wonder if you could make it for yourself at home? Are you afraid to try because the lotion might not turn out well, or might even be unsafe? Anne L. Watson's "Smart Soapmaking" was the first book based on modern techniques that eliminate the drudgery and guesswork from home soapmaking. Now, by popular demand, she continues her handcraft cosmetics revolution with the first practical, comprehensive book on making lotion from scratch. Whether you want to make lotion for personal use or to sell, Anne allays any fears with methods that are proven safe and approved by experts, yet simple and easy enough to perform in your kitchen. You'll soon be making lotion that's better than any you've been buying, and at a fraction of the cost. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Anne L. Watson is the first author to have introduced modern techniques of home soapmaking and lotionmaking to book readers. She has made soap under the company name Soap Tree, and before her retirement from professional life, she was a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne and her husband, Aaron Shepard, live in Bellingham, Washington. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "The definitive guide to lotionmaking." -- Donna Puizina, Ekoaromas, Lafayette, New Jersey "Spells out everything and makes it easy to understand." -- Cheryl McCoy, Emerald City Soap, Haven, Kansas "Anne makes it so much fun, and so easy." -- Mary Jean Hammann, Grandma Jean's Soaps and Lotions, New London, Ohio "So logical and easy to understand that my first batch was a success AND a sell-out!" -- Susan Dinion, Holiday Farm & Handmade Goods, Berlin, Massachusetts ///////////////////////////////////////////////// CONTENTS A FEW FIRST THOUGHTS LIES AND LOTIONS (Myths About Lotion and Lotionmaking) LOTION LINGO (Learning the Jargon) WHAT IS LOTION, ANYWAY? (What It Is and What Goes Into It) THE TWO WAYS TO SANITIZE LOTION (And How to Choose Between Them) WHAT DO I PUT IT IN? (Choosing Your Bottles) WHAT DO I USE TO MAKE IT? (Gathering the Equipment You Need) STEP-BY-STEP LOTIONMAKING (From Prep to Cleanup and Beyond) TESTING YOUR LOTION (Making Sure It's Safe) MORE RECIPES! (Different Lotions You Can Try) MILK LOTION RECIPES (Treating Your Skin to Milk) DESIGNING YOUR OWN (How to Create Great Recipes) TROUBLESHOOTING (Tricks, Tweaks, and Fixes) MAKING IT A BUSINESS (How to Go Pro, Not Bust) WHY? WHY? WHY? (Frequently Asked Questions) WHERE TO READ MORE WHERE TO GET TESTING WHERE TO GET SUPPLIES

Smart Lotionmaking

Author: Anne L. Watson
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780938497554
Category : Crafts & Hobbies
Languages : en
Pages : 154

Book Description
Do you love the feel of a good lotion but find yourself unhappy with the cost, or wary of the chemical ingredients? Do you ever wonder if you could make it for yourself at home? Are you afraid to try because the lotion might not turn out well, or might even be unsafe? Anne L. Watson's "Smart Soapmaking" was the first book based on modern techniques that eliminate the drudgery and guesswork from home soapmaking. Now, by popular demand, she continues her handcraft cosmetics revolution with the first practical, comprehensive book on making lotion. Whether you want to make lotion for personal use or to sell, Anne allays any fears with methods that are proven safe and approved by experts, yet simple and easy enough to perform in your kitchen. You'll soon be making lotion that's better than any you've been buying, and at a fraction of the cost. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Anne L. Watson is the author of the wildly popular and widely acclaimed beginners book "Smart Soapmaking." She has made soap professionally under the company name Soap Tree, and before her retirement was a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne's other published books include "Milk Soapmaking," "Baking with Cookie Molds," and several novels. Anne, her husband, Aaron, and their cat, Skeeter, live in Friday Harbor, Washington. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "The definitive guide to lotionmaking." -- Donna Puizina, Ekoaromas, Lafayette, New Jersey "Spells out everything and makes it easy to understand." -- Cheryl McCoy, Emerald City Soap, Haven, Kansas "Anne makes it so much fun, and so easy." -- Mary Jean Hammann, Grandma Jean's Soaps and Lotions, New London, Ohio "So logical and easy to understand that my first batch was a success AND a sell-out!" -- Susan Dinion, Holiday Farm & Handmade Goods, Berlin, Massachusetts ///////////////////////////////////////////////// CONTENTS A Few First Thoughts Lies and Lotions (Myths About Lotion and Lotionmaking) Lotion Lingo (Learning the Jargon) What Is Lotion, Anyway? (What It Is and What Goes Into It) The Two Ways to Sanitize Lotion (And How to Choose Between Them) What Do I Put It In? (Choosing Your Bottles) What Do I Use to Make It? (Gathering the Equipment You Need) Step-by-Step Lotionmaking (From Prep to Cleanup and Beyond) Testing Your Lotion (Making Sure It's Safe) More Recipes! (Different Lotions You Can Try) Milk Lotion Recipes (Treating Your Skin to Milk) Designing Your Own (How to Create Great Recipes) Troubleshooting (Tricks, Tweaks, and Fixes) Making It a Business (How to Go Pro, Not Bust) Why? Why? Why? (Frequently Asked Questions) Resources

Smart Soapmaking

Author: Anne L. Watson
Publisher: Shepard Publications
ISBN: 1620352028
Category : Crafts & Hobbies
Languages : en
Pages : 106

Book Description
SPECIAL NOTE! -- ANNE WILL PERSONALLY ANSWER ANY QUESTION OF YOURS AFTER READING THIS BOOK. ASK ON HER WEB SITE, AND YOU'LL NORMALLY HEAR BACK WITHIN HOURS! Maybe you'd like to make your own soap, but you're worried that working with lye is too difficult or dangerous. Maybe you're scared off by "beginner" books that go on for hundreds of pages and leave you less confident than before. Or maybe you're already making soap, but you wonder if methods you've learned are slower and more complicated than they need to be. Whether beginner or advanced, you'll find "Smart Soapmaking" practical, helpful, and refreshing. Written by a former professional soapmaker, it explodes the myths about soapmaking and shows you how to make wonderful soap from scratch with the least fuss and bother. You'll get a wide variety of recipes, plus you'll learn how to modify them and create new ones. Want to make a luxurious gift soap? Or one that's all natural, with no artificial ingredients? Maybe a moisturizing soap for dry skin? Or one with a trending oil not yet in books? With "Smart Soapmaking," you can do all that and more, to get exactly the soap you want. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Anne L. Watson is the first author to have introduced modern techniques of home soapmaking and lotionmaking to book readers. She has made soap under the company name Soap Tree, and before her retirement from professional life, she was a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne and her husband, Aaron Shepard, live in Bellingham, Washington. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// ******RECOMMENDED BY THE HANDCRAFTED SOAP & COSMETIC GUILD****** "The only book [you'll] ever need." -- Mother Earth News, Feb.-Mar. 2019 "Should become THE book for soapmaking. . . . It's about time someone wrote a book like this. Most are idealistic and inaccurate. This book has a wonderful common sense approach that is SO long overdue. . . . I can recommend it with 100% confidence." -- Susan Kennedy, Oregon Trail Soaps, Rogue River, Oregon "Smart it is . . . . A simple, no-nonsense book that cuts through the curmudgery of stifling soap bibles like no other." -- Shellie Humphries, Harstine Island, Washington "A great book for beginners, with clear and easy instructions." -- Anne-Marie Faiola, Bramble Berry Inc., Bellingham, Washington "I learned more from Smart Soapmaking than from any other soaping book, and I have read quite a few. . . . It's written with the average person in mind, not a chemistry major. Directions are very simple and easy to understand. It really takes the mystery out of making soap." -- Jackie Pack, Stuart, Virginia "Groundbreaking . . . . Anne L. Watson [is the] universally respected and loved author/crafter/curator of this lost art for thousands of aspiring soapers . . . . Unquestionably the best book with which to begin. To be precise, it's probably the most accessible, most reader-friendly, and most immediately useful container of information a first-time soapmaker could hope to find." -- Wishing Willow (blog) "BRILLIANT to find the recipes are in grams as well as ounces." -- Jude Birch, Aussie Soap Supplies, Bicton, West Australia

Smart Sourdough

Author: Mark Shepard
Publisher: Shepard Publications
ISBN: 1620352575
Category : Cooking
Languages : en
Pages : 319

Book Description
NO STARTER -- NO WASTE -- NO CHEAT -- NO FAIL 100% NATURALLY FERMENTED BREAD IN JUST 24 HOURS WITH YOUR HOME PROOFER, INSTANT POT, SLOW COOKER, SOUS VIDE COOKER, OR OTHER WARMER There's sourdough, and then there's SMART sourdough -- a whole new approach to an ancient bread! Most sourdough recipes lead you through days or even weeks of developing a starter before you can make your bread -- and then into a lifetime of maintaining that starter. But this book is based on the belief that all that rigmarole is no longer needed. With modern methods of regulating temperature, and with the easy availability of baker's yeast, honest-to-goodness naturally fermented sourdough bread can be made from start to finish in less than a day. With all the benefits of naturally fermented sourdough, it's only the hassle of making it that has discouraged home bakers. Well, hassle no more. The age of smart sourdough has arrived. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Mark Shepard began baking his own sourdough bread in 1979 and went on to publish the bestselling booklet "Simple Sourdough." In 2012, he began developing a sourdough method that's even simpler and more reliable -- one that could be used by anyone, with no fear of failure. Mark now lives in Bellingham, Washington, with his wife and fellow author, Anne L. Watson. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "A guidebook that introduces a quicker, easier, and more modern method for creating homemade sourdough bread . . . His straightforward strategy is particularly notable in that it takes less than a day and doesn't use a starter. The author provides useful chapters spotlighting how bakers can customize dough formation and taste variations based on loaf size, sourness level, and flavor diversifications; methods for rye, buckwheat, tomato basil, chocolate cherry, and other loaves are included, as well as sections on bread bowls, pizza crusts, and pancakes . . . Generously illustrated with charts, illustrations, and photographs. Overall, Shepard's book will encourage home bakers of any skill level to embark on a new, quicker, and easier way to make their own bread . . . A splendid and novel approach that takes the mystery out of a formerly time-consuming process." -- Kirkus Reviews, April 22, 2022 "A fresh new look at making your own sourdough . . . I love Mark's attention to detail. No matter your setup, tools, or needs, he's got you covered . . . I questioned his use of a pinch or two of baker's yeast, but his research and experiments have me sold. His recipes combine the advantages of cultivated yeast and naturally occurring sourdough bacteria to make bread that actually rises and doesn't take days to make."—Holly Howe, author of "Fermentation Made Easy! Mouthwatering Sauerkraut" “Mark Shepard shares how to make sourdough bread, with its characteristic flavor and health benefits, without maintaining a long-term starter. It’s relevant to anyone looking to save time in the kitchen, learn a new technique, or just read a very detailed and interesting book on sourdough.”—Emily Buehler, author of “Bread Science: The Chemistry and Craft of Making Bread”

Smart Soapmaking

Author: Anne L. Watson
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781620355114
Category : Crafts & Hobbies
Languages : en
Pages : 116

Book Description
SPECIAL NOTE! -- ANNE WILL PERSONALLY ANSWER ANY QUESTION OF YOURS AFTER READING THIS BOOK. ASK ON HER WEB SITE, AND YOU'LL NORMALLY HEAR BACK WITHIN HOURS! Maybe you've made melt-and-pour soap and want to move on to something more challenging and rewarding. Maybe traditional soapmaking appeals to you, but you figure that working with lye is too difficult or dangerous. Or maybe you're already doing it, but outmoded ideas and methods are complicating the process and slowing you down. No matter which of these fits you, you'll find "Smart Soapmaking" practical, helpful, and refreshing. Written by a former professional soapmaker, this book explodes the myths about soapmaking and shows you how to make luxurious soap from scratch with the least fuss and bother. With both customary and metric measurements, plus a list of suppliers in five countries, "Smart Soapmaking" is the first truly international book on the craft! ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Anne L. Watson is the first author to have introduced modern techniques of home soapmaking and lotionmaking to book readers. She has made soap under the company name Soap Tree, and before her retirement from professional life, she was a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne and her husband, Aaron Shepard, live in Friday Harbor, Washington. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// ******RECOMMENDED BY THE HANDCRAFTED SOAP & COSMETIC GUILD****** "Should become THE book for soapmaking. . . . It's about time someone wrote a book like this. Most are idealistic and inaccurate. This book has a wonderful common sense approach that is SO long overdue. . . . I can recommend it with 100% confidence." -- Susan Kennedy, Oregon Trail Soaps, Rogue River, Oregon "Smart it is . . . . A simple, no-nonsense book that cuts through the curmudgery of stifling soap bibles like no other." -- Shellie Humphries, Harstine Island, Washington "Way overdue. . . . A gift of common sense caution, proven methods, tried-and-true shortcuts, and some excellent recipes as well, for both the professional/experienced soapmaker and the eager beginner." -- Deb Petersen, Shepherd's Soap Co., Shelton, Washington "A great book for beginners, with clear and easy instructions." -- Anne-Marie Faiola, Bramble Berry Inc., Bellingham, Washington "I learned more from Smart Soapmaking than from any other soaping book, and I have read quite a few. . . . It's written with the average person in mind, not a chemistry major. Directions are very simple and easy to understand. It really takes the mystery out of making soap." -- Jackie Pack, Stuart, Virginia "Groundbreaking . . . . Anne L. Watson [is the] universally respected and loved author/crafter/curator of this lost art for thousands of aspiring soapers . . . . Unquestionably the best book with which to begin. To be precise, it's probably the most accessible, most reader-friendly, and most immediately useful container of information a first-time soapmaker could hope to find." -- Wishing Willow (blog)

Milk Soapmaking

Author: Anne L. Watson
Publisher: Shepard Publications
ISBN: 1620352036
Category : Crafts & Hobbies
Languages : en
Pages : 107

Book Description
SPECIAL NOTE! -- ANNE WILL PERSONALLY ANSWER ANY QUESTION OF YOURS AFTER READING THIS BOOK. ASK ON HER WEB SITE, AND YOU'LL NORMALLY HEAR BACK WITHIN HOURS! Do you love the feel of milk soaps but shy away from the cost? Are you looking for a special kind of gift you can make yourself? Or do you already make soap and want to try something new? Anne L. Watson's "Smart Soapmaking" was the first book based on modern techniques that eliminate the drudgery and guesswork from home soapmaking. Now, by popular demand, she continues her soapmaking revolution with the first practical, comprehensive book on making milk soap from scratch. Experience the rich, soothing, luxurious feel of milk soap you've made yourself. Your skin will thank you for it. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Anne L. Watson is the first author to have introduced modern techniques of home soapmaking and lotionmaking to book readers. She has made soap under the company name Soap Tree, and before her retirement from professional life, she was a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne and her husband, Aaron Shepard, live in Bellingham, Washington. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// "Beautiful in its simplicity. . . . A definitive book for experienced as well as beginning milk soapers." -- Rebekah Bailey, The Original Soap Dish, South Whitley, Indiana "An easy to read and understand book that will take the mystery out of milk-based soapmaking and debunk some of the myths surrounding it. It contains some great basic formulas to get you started making milk soaps of any kind, and fuel to let your imagination run wild when you are ready to formulate your own creations. A good source of information for new soapmakers, and also suitable for more experienced soapmakers who want to start making milk soaps but thought it would be too difficult." -- Amanda Guilfoyle, Bodelicious Bath & Body Products, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia "As always, Anne is up to her usual excellence. This book demystifies milk soapmaking so everyone can have the luxury of a truly decadent bar of soap *easily*. LOVE this book!!!" -- Susan Kennedy, Oregon Trail Soaps, Rogue River, Oregon "If you have an interest in milk soaps, this is the book for you. . . . Debunks much of the popular wisdom that may have discouraged some soapmakers." -- Kevin M. Dunn, Author, "Scientific Soapmaking" and "Caveman Chemistry" "As uber-soapmaker Anne L. Watson demonstrates, milk soaps made properly are [rightfully] well-known for a quality of luxurious buttery softness that is undeniable. . . . Anne once again acquits herself ably as a scholar of the suds and a natural communicator." -- Wishing Willow (blog) "Enthusiastically recommended." -- Midwest Book Review, Feb. 2009, "Reviewer's Choice" "Full of information that milk soapers, whether novice or experienced, could use to make better milk soaps. Anne writes in a conversational style that made me feel as though I were sitting down with her in her kitchen. . . . Anne details what seems to be everything there is to know about the subject. Rather than simply offering her opinions and favorite practices, Anne did extensive testing and experimenting, learning how to make the best milk soap bars that could be made. Soapmakers will be impressed with the amount and quality of Anne's research and observations. . . . That leaves the question: Can a neophyte made good cold-process milk soap? I now say yes, with the caveat they have 'Milk Soapmaking' in hand." -- Beth Byrne, "The Saponifier," Sept.-Oct. 2010

Cool Soapmaking

Author: Anne L. Watson
Publisher: Shepard Publications
ISBN: 1620352060
Category : Crafts & Hobbies
Languages : en
Pages : 78

Book Description
SPECIAL NOTE! -- ANNE WILL PERSONALLY ANSWER ANY QUESTION OF YOURS AFTER READING THIS BOOK. ASK ON HER WEB SITE, AND YOU'LL NORMALLY HEAR BACK WITHIN HOURS! Soapmakers may love to add a variety of materials to soap, but they find that some cause more trouble than others. In the heat of the chemical reaction, an ingredient might discolor, or lose its scent, or develop a bad smell. Or it might cause problems during soapmaking, giving off noxious fumes, or making the soap harden so fast that there's no time to pour it in the mold. Help has arrived. Anne L. Watson extends the low-temp techniques from her book "Milk Soapmaking" to making soap from a variety of special ingredients, including cucumber, citrus, pine tar, beer, and wine. Soaps that have long challenged home soapmakers will now pose no problem at all. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Anne L. Watson is the first author to have introduced modern techniques of home soapmaking and lotionmaking to book readers. She has made soap under the company name Soap Tree, and before her retirement from professional life, she was a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne and her husband, Aaron Shepard, live in Bellingham, Washington. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// CONTENTS GETTING STARTED (From High-Temp Soapmaking to Low) WHAT DO I PUT INTO IT? (The Ingredients of Cool Soapmaking) WHAT DO I USE TO MAKE IT? (Gathering the Equipment You Need) PROJECT #1: MILK SOAPS Recipe: Anne's Cool Milk Soap COOL SOAPMAKING STEP-BY-STEP (From Prep to Cleanup and Beyond) PROJECT #2: CUCUMBER SOAPS Recipe: Basic Cucumber Soap Recipe: Cucumber Yogurt Soap Recipe: Cucumber Green Clay Soap Recipe: Cucumber Apricot Soap Recipe: Cucumber Avocado Soap Sidebar: Designing Cucumber Soaps PROJECT #3: CITRUS SOAPS Recipe: Basic Citrus Soap Recipe: Orange Yogurt Soap Recipe: Citrus Honey Soap Recipe: Ruby Red Grapefruit Soap Sidebar: Designing Citrus Soaps PROJECT #4: SOAPS WITH ACCELERANTS Recipe: Sweet Bay Soap Recipe: Pine Tar Soap Sidebar: Designing Soaps with Accelerants PROJECT #5: BEER and WINE SOAPS Recipe: Basic Beer Soap Recipe: Chocolate Ale Soap Recipe: Red Wine Soap Recipe: White Wine Soap Recipe: Anne's Coconut Beer Soap Sidebar: Designing Beer and Wine Soaps WHY? WHY? WHY? (Frequently Asked Questions) WHERE TO FIND MORE

Smart Housekeeping

Author: Anne L. Watson
Publisher: Shepard Publications
ISBN: 1620352117
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 126

Book Description
SPECIAL NOTE! -- ANNE WILL PERSONALLY ANSWER ANY QUESTION OF YOURS AFTER READING THIS BOOK. ASK ON HER WEB SITE, AND YOU'LL NORMALLY HEAR BACK WITHIN HOURS! There's no shortage of experts to cheerfully advise you on how to declutter, organize, and clean your home. But do they know what YOU want and need? Or are they only pushing rigid, quirky systems that ignore people's differences and how we really live? With insight, wit, and common sense, "Smart Housekeeping" cuts through the clutter of questionable and often silly advice to offer practical keys to reclaiming and maintaining your home. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Anne L. Watson is the author of a variety of works, including literary novels, soapmaking manuals, and two cookie cookbooks. She is also retired from a long and honored career as a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne "lives apart together" with her husband, fellow author, and publisher, Aaron Shepard, in Bellingham, Washington. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// CONTENTS Getting Started A Decluttering Tale Keys to Decluttering Step-by-Step Decluttering Clutter Control Keys to Organizing Keys to Cleaning Sharing the Load A Few Final Keys

Castile Soapmaking

Author: Anne L. Watson
Publisher: Shepard Publications
ISBN: 1620352052
Category : Crafts & Hobbies
Languages : en
Pages : 70

Book Description
SPECIAL NOTE! -- ANNE WILL PERSONALLY ANSWER ANY QUESTION OF YOURS AFTER READING THIS BOOK. ASK ON HER WEB SITE, AND YOU'LL NORMALLY HEAR BACK WITHIN HOURS! For centuries, the name Castile has been associated with the highest quality in soap. But Castile -- made from olive oil, traditionally in factories -- has proven hard to translate to craft soapmaking. It has earned a reputation as difficult to make, slow to cure, and lacking in rich lather. Until now. Anne L. Watson, author of "Smart Soapmaking," continues her soapmaking revolution with the first practical book on making Castile soap bars at home. With the secrets revealed in this advanced guide, you'll be making lovely, quick-curing, lather-rich Castile quickly, safely, and reliably. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Anne L. Watson is the first author to have introduced modern techniques of home soapmaking and lotionmaking to book readers. She has made soap under the company name Soap Tree, and before her retirement from professional life, she was a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne and her husband, Aaron Shepard, live in Bellingham, Washington. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// CONTENTS GETTING STARTED (Facts and Myths About Castile) THE KEYS TO CASTILE (Moving It from Factory to Kitchen) WHAT DO I PUT INTO IT? (The Ingredients of Castile) WHAT DO I USE TO MAKE IT? (Gathering the Equipment You Need) Recipe: Anne's Classic Castile STEP-BY-STEP CASTILE SOAPMAKING (From Prep to Cleanup and Beyond) MORE RECIPES! (Different Castile Soaps You Can Try) Recipe: Milk Castile Recipe: Herbal Castile Recipe: Oatmeal Castile Recipe: Cleansing Castile Recipe: Gardener's Lemon Poppy Seed Castile Recipe: Castor Castile Recipe: Coconut Castor Castile Recipe: Tropical Castile WHY? WHY? WHY? (Frequently Asked Questions) WHERE TO FIND MORE

Smart Soapmaking Around the Year

Author: Anne L. Watson
Publisher: Next River Books
ISBN: 1620352613
Category : Crafts & Hobbies
Languages : en
Pages : 424

Book Description
SPECIAL NOTE! -- ANNE WILL PERSONALLY ANSWER ANY QUESTION OF YOURS AFTER READING THIS BOOK. ASK ON HER WEB SITE, AND YOU'LL NORMALLY HEAR BACK WITHIN HOURS! In between writing several of today's most popular and innovative beginner books on soapmaking -- including the modern classics "Smart Soapmaking" and "Milk Soapmaking" -- Anne L. Watson engaged in a number of projects, experiments, and investigations into areas of advanced soapmaking. A lot of it never got into those books! Now Anne shares with you her explorations into such topics as herbal soaps, chocolate soaps, silk soaps, sea soaps, "wood" soaps, citrus soaps, cucumber soaps, oatmeal soaps, egg soaps, beer and wine soaps, castile soap, and even laundry soap. Along the way, she shares hard-earned tips about soap equipment and ingredients, choosing soapmaking suppliers, designing and resizing recipes, troubleshooting, trace accelerants, soda ash, essential oils and fragrances, natural colorants, gift soaps, and soapmaking as a business. And as a special bonus, she provides a fun and instructive look at the history of soap ads, using antique trade cards from her personal collection. Looking for new challenges as a soapmaker? Anne's soapmaking almanac will keep you busy, engaged, and entertained throughout the year. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// Anne L. Watson is the author of "Smart Soapmaking," "Milk Soapmaking," three more books on making soap and lotion, other popular books on home crafts and lifestyle, and many novels and children’s books. In a previous career, she was a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne lives in Bellingham, Washington. ///////////////////////////////////////////////// SAMPLE Almost any kind of soap will get you clean. But beyond that, what do we look for? There are so many things to consider -- lather, fragrance, color, and effects on the skin, to name just a few. Then there's the whole process of making that soap. Is it easy or tricky? How long does the soap need to age before it's safe and pleasant to use? What additives are beneficial? Which affect the chemistry of the process? How can we get around difficulties? How do you turn soapmaking into a business, if that's what you want? This almanac started life as a monthly "magazine" posted on my web site, where I shared projects, experiments, and investigations I took up between writing my first three books on soap and lotion making. There was a lot that never got into the books! Along with practical questions, I gave some attention to the social and cultural side of soap -- to attitudes and prejudices and myths. I'm fascinated by soap advertising and its claims, and by the history of the daily process of cleaning ourselves, our homes, and our clothing. All of that says a lot about where we've been, and maybe something about where we're going. I'm glad now to offer all this in the more enduring form of an almanac -- something to keep in your collection of soapmaking references. Before we start, though, here are just a few practical notes: Most important, this is not a beginning soapmaker's "how-to" book. It contains many recipes, but they're mostly just ingredients lists, because I assume you already know how to make soap. If you do need basic directions, please see one or more of my other books -- especially "Smart Soapmaking" and "Milk Soapmaking" -- or any other reputable resource.