Cissy

I taught myself, as a teenager, without a book, so it can be done. (LOL) Actually, I did sew a plain skirt in a Home Ec class in junior high shool, but didn't really learn much until I learned at home by trial and error. Do your practicing first on cheap material. What do you plan to sew.....simple styles or more advanced, fancy, complicated styles? Then you will know what kind of options you want on the sewing machine you purchase. I use to make a lot of my clothes years ago...don't have time now to do anything but sewing busted seams or hemming...have to hem almost everything I buy, since I'm only 5'2". Patterns and materials are so expensive now, that it's almost cheaper to buy an outfit and a whole lot less trouble. Not nearly as many people sew clothes for themselves as they used to, except to hem or "take up" seams. When buying your clothes, at least you can try them on first and will know how it looks on you before spending any money. I also have the Baby Lock machine that trims and does the seam edging like most clothes you purchase are done. If you never plan to do anything fancy, then you won't need a machine with a lot of stitching designs. Choose the machine that has all the options you need for a beginner and for your future plans. When I first started, I bought mine from Sears (Kenmore brand), so I'm not up-to-date on the latest. Walmart has a decent selection in sewing machines for the average seamstress. Tell us what you have in mind to sew, now and later, and someone else might be able to chime in and give you better advice on the best machine for your needs. You might check with a good-will store or consignment store if you have any in your area for a cheap sewing machine to learn on.

I don't like to have so many left over either, so I have only 4 to 6, and make them as needed. Try to have a couple different pine-type scents, a Christmas Cookie (my blend), Christmas Berry, another Christmas scent of several different FO's, an apple cider. I sell apple pie w/cinnamon year-round. Many of mine are my own secret blends. Oh, added Gingerbread this year and will see how it sells.

They are not my main supplier, and I order only a couple of FO's from them, but I've always called it in. Have you tried calling? I hate waiting for emails from anyone. Last year I ordered the Christmas Berries and it was totally different. I called them, they checked it out, called me back and said the bottles on the shelf had been labeled wrong. I lucked up, since they smelled other bottles labeled wrong. Otherwise I might have been out of luck. They shipped me the correct one at no charge and told me to keep the wrong one. (Sadly, it was a scent I did not like at all, or I would have been thrilled to get a free 16 oz bottle). They were really nice about the whole thing, and rushed it to me. Anyway, I could tell a difference in the new Christmas Berries they replaced, it wasn't as strong. They denied that anything had been changed, but I compared it to a small amt I had left, and it was weaker. I just had to use more of it. Even then, two customers said they could tell a difference. One of them asked if I was making them weaker now. Made me feel ready bad, as if the customer thought I was trying to cheat her. Now I need some more and want to order several lbs., but am afraid to. I also hate inconsistency. Once I put my product out for sale, I do not want anything to change. It hurts your credibility with your customers, when you don't mention it to them in advance.

Pumpkin and orange is yummy!

Hmmmm...... wonder how that would smell mixed with a Christmas tree scent? I'll have to order a sample of AA and try this blend.

The Wicks-Unlimited site says these wicks are specially engineered to burn in candles with high levels of FO?

I'm afraid to order any new wax to start testing at this point. Thank goodness, I post-poned ordering the 6036 and the 474. I've got my eye on the 464 and 444, but am afraid even to order those now.

A couple years ago, I bought one of their candles from Wal-Mart, smaller than the 11 oz. I never actually burned it all the way, because I started digging in the red colored wax and found that the wick was centered in what looked like a white votive with red wax poured over it. I never did understand the purpose of this. Maybe it helps the wick to burn better, who knows. I might try it sometime, just out of curiosity.

It might not be a bad idea after all. Maybe the Bisphenol A will kill the insects and mosquitos, if it doesn't get you first by inhalation or a 'blow-up'. LOL

LOL!!! Judy, a demo of a paraffin flare-up would scare newbies away for sure. They'd never place an order. Maybe this demo should be included in the kit they purchase! I wonder if I could sell more candles if I did a flare-up demo? LMAO

You could try J50 or J223 paraffin. They're both one-pour although they don't hold as much FO as 4627 and you won't get the 'vaseline' glass adhesion you get with 4627. Hopefully you will find a wax you like from a supplier that is closest to you, because of high shipping costs.

Lemon Pucker and Lavender? How about Pucker Up Lavender (I am NOT serious, just being silly). because I can't think of any better names than mentioned.

I didn't care much for it either. There's a note of something in it I don't like, but can't quite figure out what it is. If they would take it out, it would probably be good. Must be the type nutmeg or ginger they use in it. I have smelled both nutmegs and gingers that smelled good and some nutmegs and gingers I didn't like.

I third JBN's....the ginger is very strong...had to cut back in paraffin.

If you have other smoke and odor FO's you don't like, you might be able to salvage it by blending a small ratio of a strong scent you do like so that you like the combined scent better. I have seen smoke and odor eliminator candles in tobacco stores with orange, berries, etc. blended in. I didn't buy one to see if it actually worked, though. If you don't add too much other scent, maybe it won't effect the eliminating part of the smoke and odor.

I wasn't ignoring the helpful suggestions. Haven't had time to sign on in a week. Thanks, I'll have to try KY's Hazelnut with my next order.

Since you're in Texas, I wondered if you were close to JBN. If you order from JBN in the future, you might want to try a sample. Of course, CS's is cheaper, but you might find that one throws better than the other in your wax.

Don't know how far you are from JBN, but to my nose CS's Pumpkin Souffle smells very similar to JBN's Gingered Pumpkin. CS doesn't show ginger in their description, but it's definitely there.

I kept reading posts til I found the company. Scentsy. I wanted to look at their website out of curiosity. A customer (rather a nosey looker) asked me where do I get my warmers from. Naturally I don't give my sources to people who are rude enough to ask such questions. She said her sister sells the Scentsy warmers as if they were better than mine. Wish I had checked Scentsy out before, I would have known better how to answer her. Their website claims they are the pioneers. (meaning of the flameless concept). Actually, isn't Yankee Candle Co. the pioneers in making tarts? I wonder which company actually started making the electric warmers first. Yankee or Scentsy? Scentsy is certainly taking the credit for it, it seems. Anyway, I'm not interested in being a consultant for anyone but myself, at least for the scent bars. If the wholesale price is right, then I might consider selling the warmers. I just am not interested enough in contacting them to get a price.

I can't answer you on the 464 testing, but I really like KY's Red Apple. It's been really difficult for me to find a red crispy apple scent because most of them have the MacIntosh notes which I don't like at all. (I'm in the minority on this opinion) This one smells like a plain red apple. Love It! I spent a lot of money before finding this one.

I like BCN's Cabernet. Haven't tried any others since I like this one.

Who has the best straight Hazelnut? I have tried several. I'm looking for the 'nutty' scent but don't want one that is too sweet or has a burnt scent and don't want a blend with anything else.

Justcountry, I have some 4627 and 415 just laying around (don't like either by itself) and was trying to figure out what I could do with it. What ratio did you use for this blend? I also have a case of CBL129 that had too much vybar in it and looks like a souffle on top when it cools down. I am getting ready to add some 4627 to it to see what happens...maybe 10% 4627.

Candlelady.....That's a good one! "the five-finger discount...never heard it put so diplomatically. I'll have to remember that one! It definitely does happen and if the economy gets worse, it will happen more frequently!

.....and when you're in the candle business, it pretty much takes over your life. Even when you're not actually making candles, keeping up with inventory, doing your bookkeeping, selling, etc. etc. etc. , you are on this board trying to learn more, and constantly thinking about how you can improve this or that, what products you can add to improve your sales. Some of you might know how to turn it on and off, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet. It can burn you out sometimes, even though you don't want to do change to another job.