Starting to Soap

So today is my first day soaping! Charlie took Mina sailing and I took this opportunity to start my soap project. I've been surfing the web for the basic supplies (molds, organic melt-and-pour base, colors and fragrances), not to mention WAY too many hours looking at really beautiful soap designs, and finally all of the stuff has come in the mail and I'm ready to start concocting. Luckily, I promised to be easy on myself and not have expectations of producing the world's most gorgeous soap on my very first attempt. Let's just say hurray for humble beginnings. These soaps were made with .5 lb organic clear and .5 lb organic white melt-and-pour (MP) soap base, using a 4-ovals silicone mold, sudan (Brown!) mica with the white, and sparkle pearl with the clear, and all frangranced with sandlewood frangrance oil. All products (except mold) from DIY cosmetics
Noteable issues that will need more research/work:

The sudan (DARK BROWN) mica turned a positively ugly dusty pink color with the white base. I do understand that mica works best with clear base, but I thought it would at least be brown. not so. I think I just need to get the liquid (oxide or other type) of colorant from Bramble Berry for the non-clear bases. Or possibly use more mica.

Fingerprints! I used a silicone glossy mold and boy, it does come out glossy. So much so that fingerprints and smudges are very visible on both the clear and opaque parts. I did spritz with rubbing alcohol and rubbed out the prints, which seemed to help a bit. I'm not sure I'm in love with gloss on opaque colors anyway. For the clear embed projects, gloss will be important, but I want to get some matte silicone molds.

Soap is indeed soft. This is a primary issue with MP soap base, but perhaps I will try leaving it in the mold for MUCH longer next time. I did 3 hours today, and it was ready to come out, but I would like it to be harder, if possible.

I kind of ran out of base. The bottom opaque layer divided up evenly, but I didn't have enough of the clear top to cover the fourth bar. Wierd- I measured out the base: 1/2 lb. each.

Successes:

I was able to do a two-color layer just fine. I tried to score the first layer with a fork after 15 min. of setting, but this was too long and it just made a big gouge in the soap- will have to score much earlier or not at all- seems the layers stuck together just fine; although maybe this is something that only time will tell.

Smells great! I just love working with frangrance.