Making Merry Berry Soap, Drop Swirl Technique

Thank you for joining me for my first video after a long absence. I'm making this holiday soap for a local store. It challenged me throughout, as my design plan went awry. I also share a couple equipment purchases that I highly recommend, especially for newbies. I hope you enjoy the video!
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[@marymcandrew7667]

To me the cutting is the best part to watch! I love watching experts like you, pour soap and do swirls and I know it's going to be so cool to see what it looks like when cut! I make soap occasionally and love it, always inspired when I see someone make beautiful soap.

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Hi Mary ~ Thanks so much for watching my video and your thoughtful comment. It makes me happy thinking you might get inspired to make some soap! :) ione

[@ml3110]

And don't worry about boring us through the cutting. I love the cutting and looking at each bar. They are like fingerprints of your soap making love! I love the pouring and the cutting, too. 🎉❤

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Aww ~ Thanks so much for watching my video and your thoughtful comment. It was a joy to read! :) ione

[@ml3110]

I just love watching you poor soap, Ionie. These are so pretty. You inspire me and make me want to go make soap! ❤

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Thank you! If my video inspired you to make soap, I feel very honored! :) ione

[@suebutzer8394]

Your soaps are always so beautiful! You don’t seem to know how to make a bad design!

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Hi Sue ~ thanks so much for watching my video and your kind words. While this soap was redeemed, I assure you that not all of them are! LOL! :) ione

[@wild_free_homestead]

Reminds me of a candy. I can't remember the name of it but it was chewy, white with green, red and I think orange in it. Very pretty soap!

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Hi Debbie ~ Thank you for watching my video and your lovely compliment. I appreciate it very much! Now I'm curious about the candy you spoke of since it doesn't ring a bell. Let me know if the name comes to mind? Thanks again! :) ione

[@marymcandrew7667]

Yes I know exactly the candy you're talking about! The white part is nougat, can't remember what they're called!

[@susanravella6261]

That's the nicest Christmas soap I have seen! The colors and drop swirl are beautiful. Thanks for posting this video in November, so that others can try it out, and have time to let it cure.😃🥰

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Hi Susan ~ Thanks so much for watching my video and your lovely compliments! I appreciate you taking the time to write. :) ione

[@Lornadoone72]

I found the nutrabullet immersion blender on Amazon!

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Thank you for watching my video. I'm happy you located the stick blender on Amazon. That makes it easy to get. I was a little worried about others not having a Bi Mart store around. I know we don't have one where I live. Thanks so much for checking that out! Happy soaping! :) ione

[@susannminall7456]

Love the name of this soap.

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Thank you! I'm so happy you watched my video. :) ione

[@rlax7141]

That is so pretty.

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Thank you! I appreciate you watching my video and taking the time to leave a sweet compliment. :) ione

[@ShannonLea1218]

OH THANK GOODNESS!!!!! You FINALLY showed up in my feed again! You're one of my absolute favorite crafters but couldn't remember your channel name, and I looked recently. I'm even subscribed. I LOVE your videos, they are so inspiring!!

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Hi Shannon ~ thank you for watching my video and your thoughtful comment. I'm happy knowing you found my channel and get inspired. I watch a lot of other soap maker's videos for the same reason! :) ione

[@karinacanova7960]

They always come out beautiful despite the abrupt fragrance reactions or temperature, you always manage to do beautiful soaps, this is call “expertise “❤

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Aww ~ What a sweet thing to say! Thanks so much Karina, for watching my video and taking the time to write such a lovely comment. :) ione

[@kathysuleski5835]

So great to see you back, Ione! I can relate to this video, I've struggled with getting the ratios of accent color to base color right, having too much color left over. But your loaf turned out beautifully! It reminds me of those soft nougat candies that we used to see around Christmas time, as a child. Thank you for sharing! I never cease to learn from you!

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Hi Kathy! Thank you for watching my video and for taking the time to write. Your kind words always give me joy. I was kind of glad I goofed with this one. Upon looking at the bars now, it seems like they have a sprig with berries in the top portion. One of those happy accidents, I guess! Thanks again and happy soaping! :) ione

[@Juniordryglo]

Beautiful

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Thank you very much for the lovely compliment and for watching my video! :) ione

[@FranklyNaturalBeauty]

That’s a beautiful soap! Love the drop design!

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Thank you for watching my video and your lovely compliment. I appreciate it very much! :) ione

[@ivonvalle2683]

Great video, loved the colors, and the drop swirls they are amazing. Glad you are back. Thanks for sharing a Christmas soap early video. I’m going to try those colors.

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Thank you so much for watching my video, and for your lovely compliments. You put a big smile on my face! :) ione

[@elizabethwelcher3952]

So happy to see a new video from you! So pretty Ione!!! I never doubted it! 💗

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Hi Elizabeth ~ So nice hearing from you! Thanks for watching the video and your sweet comment. You many not have doubted the outcome, but I was tossing and turning the night before the cut, LOL!

[@susanhaight2517]

When I buy a silicone mold, my hubby makes boxes like that for me with the raised lids! I love them. Also, thank you for the info on the immersion blender. I’m going to have to get one for sure. Your soap turned out absolutely beautiful!!! Very inspirational ♥️

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Hi Susan ~ thanks so much for watching my video and taking the time to write. I appreciate your lovely compliment and I'm happy knowing you found the video inspirational. Your words put a big smile on my face! Also ~ I hope you love the stick blender as much as I do! :) ione

[@BethOvertonCPMmidwife]

This was an extremely encouraging video to me! Thank you for sharing. Your soap is perfect and I'm amazed. I have only been making soap for a short time, and I was getting discouraged because every bar has been a learning experience, but nothing turned out like I planned. Your video reminded me that the surprises also can be successes.

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Hi Beth ~ Thank you for watching my video and the thoughtful comment. My experience has been the same as yours when making soap. What makes it fun for me is the experimenting, and that is always a risk. I'm amazed at how many happy accidents I've had. Even when one comes out as planned, it never happens exactly the same twice! Best wishes on a wonderful soap making journey! :) ione

[@countryblends]

Beautiful, as always! I may “copy” your design idea for a holiday soap of my own.

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Thanks for watching my video and your sweet compliment. I think the accidents of this batch actually worked in favor of a better design than I had planned. The top part with thicker colored portions and the hanger swirl makes it look like sprigs on top. Have fun making your holiday soap! :) ione

[@Olmacdonald]

That came out gorgeous ❤🎉

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Thank you so much for the lovely comment and for watching my video! :) ione

[@Heartwing37]

This is a gorgeous soap!!!

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

I really appreciate you watching my video and your lovely compliment. Thank you so much! I call this one my happy accident, LOL! :) ione

[@vaping-Ore.State.83]

I am from Oregon....great video first time watching you.

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Hi Amber ~ Thanks so much for watching my video and for your kind words. It's nice having an Oregon viewer since that's where I was born and raised. It will always be home! :) ione

[@vaping-Ore.State.83]

@@EvesGardenSoaps I am orginally from ocean shores, wash. state. But live in sweet home, Ore. since 2008. Pretty awesome and nice out here i love it. But yea i have a friend her husband makes soap. I am hoping to get one bar this year.

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

@@vaping-Ore.State.83 Hi Amber ~ We are the opposite in that I lived in Oregon over 40 years and now live in WA, lol! Two of my children and their families live in Bandon, on the southern OR coast. It's always great to spend time there. All the best in getting your handmade soap gift! :)

[@walkingwater893]

I hadn't made any soap in 5 mths but did finally the other day, it was snowing crazy here! 😊

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Thank you for watching my video and taking the time to write. Getting snowed in sure helps with creativity, eh? LOL! Happy soaping! :) ione

[@christineclarke1739]

Thank you, a beautiful soap. I can do lovely hanger swirls but not drop swirls. I will try your technique to make a sweet pea soap they need drops.

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Hi Christine ~ Thank you for watching my video and the lovely compliment. I appreciate it very much! Have fun making your Sweet Pea soap. I bet it will be beautiful. :) ione

[@cliviascreations]

Such a nice festive soap. Love your videos and chat, welcome back.Where those berries from your garden?

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Thank you for watching my video and your thoughtful comment. I appreciate it very much! To answer your question, the little red balls are made from soap. As a child, we had numerous holly trees around, and decorated with their branches. My Mom even boxed them up to send to friends who lived where they didn't grow. I always think of holly this time of year and made the little soap berries to represent them. Thanks again and happy soaping! :) ione

[@cliviascreations]

@ thank you so much. There is a bush or a tree can’t remember exactly. I believe is called the purple berries and it make the most beautiful natural purple color and I have been on a hunt with no good luck. The berries you made loos so real!!

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

@@cliviascreations Hi again! I have seen purple berries on bushes when hiking in the woods. After reading your comment I had to "Google" wild berries and look at some images, LOL! :) ione

[@cliviascreations]

@ they are called Beaty berries, turkey berries and the natural purple color from them is just insane very beautiful

[@cliviascreations]

@ I sent you a link to a video from a fellow soaper Patrick since I don’t have one myself, thanks

[@walkingwater893]

Love it, reminds me of fruitcake!

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Thank you for watching my video and your lovely comment. The soap design does have those red and green pieces in it like fruitcake! Happy soaping! :) ione

[@bernadetteazzi]

❤

[@heavenscenthomestead4242]

I just bought the same mold. I haven't had a chance to use it yet. How much oils did you use for it? Lovely soap. I learn something new every time I watch one of your videos. Thank You.

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Thank you for watching my video and the lovely compliment. I appreciate it very much. To answer your question, I use 56 oz of oils in my recipe for that mold, but I always make 2-3 oz extra soap. I also don't water discount. I hope this helps and happy soaping! :) ione

[@MeSing2U]

Hi! You may have said already but when using your colorants, do you have them mixed with oil or water? I need to do this with mine and just wondered what you use. Thank you

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Thank you so much for watching my video! To answer your question, I mix colorants differently depending on the design and colorant. Many times I mix with a little distilled water, provided I have enough time to Stick Blend them in. Pigments and oxides I have mixed ahead of time in oil, 1/5 ratio. I always use oil, even the mica, with accelerating fragrances or fast moving recipes. I hope this helps and happy soaping! :) ione

[@MeSing2U]

@EvesGardenSoaps Thank you!

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

@@MeSing2U You are very welcome. :)

[@dianarivers5537]

Beautiful

[@EvesGardenSoaps]

Hi Diana ~ thank you for watching my video and your sweet compliment! :) ione