Anne-Marie Faiola

This is the most beautiful soap making book. The photos the different soap are all stunning. The book has beginning as well as advanced recipes. I thought milk would be just cows or goat milk, no it's almond, coconut, rice, hemp and just about any milk, even breast milk. This book is vegan friendly. It would make a fabulous gift book for anyone interested in making soaps at home.
I remember reading about famous people who would soak in milk baths to make their skin silky soft. I have been making soaps for years but never tried with milk. I am making several recipes for Mother's Day to hand out. I can't wait to get started.

Thank you to the publishers for an advanced copy for review… (meer)

If you are interested in making soaps, look no further than this guide by Anne-Marie Faiola. She gives step-by-step instructions, each of which is accompanied by a photographic illustration. The soaps range in creation difficulty from fairly simple to very complex. She explains differences in ingredients and explains chemical reactions and textures that might be achieved. She even includes a section at the end which anticipates questions users might have, such as the need for distilled water versus tap water. The milks used in recipes include mammals, such as cows and goats, nuts, and grains. She explains the process of creating milk from the last two sources. She discusses molds, from simple disposable ones to more elaborate ones. She provides lists of "kitchen tools" soapmakers need. The soaps are lovely and would make wonderful gifts. It's a fascinating book, but I'm a bit intimidated by it, probably because of the complexity of some of the more advanced recipes. Workman Publishing sent me an email offering me an egalley of the book which was offered through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.… (meer)

One of the first things that I noticed about this book is the organisation, or rather the division of the recipes in Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced soap making skills. The second was the wonderfully crafted soaps in different colours, with swirls, texture and different layers. It was a joy to look at the pictures.

Mammal milk and nut and grain milk recipes can be found in all three categories. The advantages and special techniques for working with milk are especially interesting, since soap making with milk is different to working with water.

This guide is interesting for any soap maker, whether they have tried making soap before or are experienced soap makers and want to try making milk soap.… (meer)

I've made soap a few times over the years, as a result of my "have to try every craft ever" scatter-brained mind, but am definitely not an expert by any means. This book is written for beginner soap makers, but I think it would be a handy guide for any soapmaker.

The book includes:

Soapmaking Process and Equipment
Step by Step Cold Process Soapmaking
All about Oils and Using Herbs
Scenting Your Soap
Making your Own Recipes
The book talks about the science behind soap making - which the geek in me enjoyed - and talks about safety. Using lye can be dangerous and deadly, so the author spends some time talking about this.

There are tons of photographs throughout, making me want to start making soap right this instant.

Not only are there a ton of practical recipes included, but there are a ton of simply gorgeous ideas as well, perfect for gift gifting.

A must have for anyone serious about making soap.… (meer)