While camping with Rob and Trisha two weeks ago, we stopped in at The Soap Shed to replenish my soap supply and that's when I learned that Tim teaches classes each month in his basement, now converted into a classroom. To add to my excitement, I learned that Tim has been on the John C. Campbell's faculty for eleven years!
Within a day or two of returning home from camping, I signed up for a beginner's class to start my soap making adventure! I'll be perfectly honest with you that the thought of using lye was pretty scary and then knowing that math would be involved, I was really intimidated. But Tim is a retired science teacher and he was the perfect instructor to calm my fears.
Along with three other students, we were given a 30-page notebook chocked full of information and from 9:30 to 4:30 we learned the science and art of soap making!
Tim spent the first three hours talking about the history of soap making, basic soap chemistry, lye, safety equipment and rules, what's needed to make soap, characteristics of oils, learning how to read and use a Saponification Chart, math needed to make soap correctly and safely. Then we watched him demonstrate how to make Grandma's Lye Soap.
During that demonstration we learned mixing techniques, equipment, procedures, the concept of trace, when and how to use fragrances or essential oils, monitoring temperatures, types of molds, drying and curing of soap. I was taking notes and photos like a madwoman!!
Thanks for dropping by for this rather long, involved Postcard. This is Sharon, your friendly soap maker signing off until tomorrow.