Field Trip to Rocky Corner Soapworks

Hi Folks!!

We recently hosted a group of 15 homeschooled children for a morning soapmaking demonstration!

First, let me begin by saying the kids were terrific...very well behaved and attentive. They ranged in age from 3 to 14 and believe it or not, they ALL participated!

Some ready-made soap was passed around so the kids had an idea of what we were trying to make that day. Then we started talking about the wonderful oils we use for our soaps here at Rocky Corner. The kids were very interested and wanted to know where the oils came from (ie. not the supplier, rather the nut or plant). Then we did our melt down!

While the oils melted, I talked with the kids about the chemical we use to make real soap, sodium hydroxide. With glasses on, I went outside to mix the water and sodium hydroxide so the bulk of the fumes were carried away on the wind. The kids "ooooh 'd and aaaah'd" over the "steam" or fumes coming off the surface. Then they took a temperature of the mixture and were shocked to find it was 205 degrees!

From there we moved onto cooling our oils and water/lye mixture in a water bath.




Meanwhile, Maddy and I demonstrated how we bag and cover our molds in preparation for the final pour of the soap. The kids were full of alot of terrific questions ranging from some of the decorating methods we use to how much soap we make every day.




After putting the raw materials together and blending them with the stick blender, it was time for one final.......SMELL!! I told the kids I don't generally measure the fragrance/essential oils. I stop when the smell is what satisfies my nose!




Then it's time to pour...this first was a 20 lb. batch of Lemongrass Soap :)


In all, we made approx. 40 lbs of soap, including Lilac with Blueberry Seeds and Grapefruit :) Below is a pic or two of our finished products!


We had a terrific day with this particular group of kids. Many thanks to Mrs. Laurie Hipke for organizing this trip with Rocky Corner Soapworks...and for being flexible with dates/times.


We look forward to sharing our love of soapmaking with other school groups in the future!

Best to you all,

Karen

Show Schedule ~ 2011 Season

Can you believe it's already time to look ahead to Fall and our Christmas season of 2011? We've spent the past few weeks reviewing different opportunities for our company to show and think we've come up with a nicely varied list of venues.

With that in mind, here is our tentative 2011 show schedule for Rocky Corner Soapworks:

Feb. 26, 27 ~ Cabin Fever Craft Show, Mariott, 70 Constitution Ave, Concord, NH

Apr. 1, 2, 3 ~ Made In NH Expo, Radisson, 700 Elm St., Manchester

May 7 ~ Andover Crafts in the Park, Chestnut & Bartlett St., Andover

May 28, 29, 30 ~ Castleberry Fairs, Mill Falls Marketplace, Meredith

July 3,4,5 ~ Castleberry Fairs, Gunstock Recreation Area, Gilford, NH

July 31, Aug 1 ~ Bar Harbor Summer Arts/Crafts Festival, College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME

Aug. 14, 15 ~ Gloucester Waterfront Festival, Stage Fort Park, Gloucester, MA

Oct. 9, 10, 11~ Lincoln Fall craft Festival, Inn Season Village Shops, Main St., Lincoln, NH

Oct. 29 ~ Tewksbury Applefest, Tewksbury Memorial High, , Tewksbury

Nov. 4, 5, 6~ Boston Christmas Festival, World Trade Center, 200 Seaport Blvd, Boston Ma

Nov, 11, 12, 13 ~ NE Craft/Food Festival, Rockingham Race Track, Exit #1, Salem, NH

Nov. 20 ~ Greenland Pie Festival, Greenland Central School, Post Rd, Greenland, NH

Nov, 25, 26, 27 ~ Shriners Auditorium, 99 Fordham Road, Wilmington, MA

Dec.10,11 Christmas Festival @ Rockingham Racetrack, Salem, NH

Dec. 15, 16 ~ MIT Christmas Fair at MIT, Cambridge, MA

Salem Farmer's Winter Market Jan. 29, Feb. 15, 29, Mar. 5, 19 PleasantSt United Methodist Church, 8 Pleasant St. Salem, NH

Salem Farmer's Market @Lake Street Garden Center, Sundays ~ Juy ~ Oct.

Please Check our Website for times, show additions, etc.

Once again, thank you for your patronage in 2010!

Karen, Elizabeth, Kristen and Maddy
Your Soapmaking Team