I been wanting to learn to make soap for sometime but I'm unsure how to start. I been looking for classes in my area but they keep clashing with my travels and I can't find a class where I go cause I'm only there for a short amount of time. So I'm hoping there is a kind person out there patient enough to teach me the basics. And I'm not talking about hobby soap making where you buy a already made block and reheat it.. I want to learn how to mix, measure, curing time, materials and where to get them. I'm willing to pay for the materials used. I'm living around the Des Moines area when I'm not traveling.
You might want to check out the soapmakers guild website. They have a lists of soapmakers you can look through by state.
http://www.soapguild.org/
Feel free to ask me any questions you have. I've been making soap for a little over 3 years. I can send you links to a lot of great sites. Not sure if it is ok to post them here though.