Kia ora koutou I am a new soaper and just thought I would join to share and learn more. I live on the beautiful (but wet and sometimes cool!) west coast of the south island. I have always been a creative crafty person and have been interested in making soap for some time. I got sick of having to hide my expensive vegetable oil based soap from the rest of my rather large family, as I couldn't afford for us all to use it!How sad is that! So I decided I would teach myself how to make soap and then we could all use the wonderful soap! Yay! I started in November which was very perfect in time for Xmas gifts etc. I have only been using the soap for a few weeks and I have just got my head around the 'no brainer' soapcalc. It took a while to understand the lye discount thing and in the beginning I just wanted to make soap from recipes I had found on the internet. I have been attempting to swirl but not a lot of success so far but I know I will get there. Yeah and I think I always beat too much as I am scared of the soap not setting so it's panic stations sometimes to get it out of the pot! Have just been using recycled molds so far- I am hoping that at least one of my lovely large family (of males, might I add!) might oblige sometime soon and offer to help/make me a soap mold! Well, pigs do fly sometimes! Has anyone ever used sand in their soap or infused eucalyptus leaves in oil and then used the oil?I made some beautifully colored yellow soap using carrot jiuce instead of water plus many more exciting and different bars. Any info much appreciated. Thanks Arohanui Mandy Coleman Mokihinui Mansions 36-56 Lewis Street Mokihinui RD1 Westport 037821837 0273075881