Tallbabydoll

It's not the same. The Chandlers Quarterly is going to be free to it's subscribers, at least to begin with. They are going to make their money off of the advertisers. If I remember correctly, this woman, I think her ct name was vcash, makes soy candles, and I believe she said her father runs a mag publishing firm, so she went to him with the idea of a chandlers mag. I mentioned including B&B and she asked for what soapers (and B&B creaters) would be interested in having in a mag. So I think at least to begin with, that ones main focus will be candles. But she said B&B has been mentioned to her many times, and since she asked us for ideas of what to include, I do believe it'll feature both. So ya'll find the thread under general candle making and post your ideas. You can't beat free.

I just saw a show last night about a "lavender farm" in California, where they have acres of lavender, and let people come and pick their own, as well as sell at a farmers market. You may be aware of this already, but it suprized me to find out that there are many different types of lavender. If he's letting you choose exactly what you want, you may want to research the different types and find out which one best suits your needs.

I started with blocks and chips, but now use liquid. I hated standing there scraping the blocks, nope not dark enough, scrape some more, and I'd get it all over the place, such a waste. BUT it's a pain sometimes controling the amount of color with the liquid. More than once I've ended up with a drop or 3 lol more color than what I wanted. And you have to be very careful not to spill, talk about mess.

When I added up my receipts for 2004 I had spent over $1,000 on candle making supplies. That may seem low to sum, but it was alot for me. I was green and spending way to much on supplies from the wrong places cuz I didn't know any better. But you learn your way around, who has the best prices, and best products, so the price comes down. I dont make containers, so I had no glass expense, and I didn't sell yet, so I wasn't going through supplies to make orders. I did participate in some swaps, one being for almost 50 votives. Swaps do use up supplies. I had started to get into B&B, but realized that I needed to perfect one hobby and make it a little more self sustaining before starting another.

Ditto, except most of my square pillars are draped layers.

I thought it'd be interesting to take a poll and find out what the most popular votive or tart wax around here is.

For those waiting, I requested my sample Feb 13. Well 2 months and a couple of emails later, I finally received them yesterday. A price list and suggestion chart came with ALOT of samples. Very resonable prices so I also hope to be able to switch to just these wicks. But I am concerned with the length of time it took for them to ship these out. I realize that these were free, but IMO it's also my first interaction with this company, and I'm now leary of the customer service. If I had paid for these, I'd be hoping mad and probably wouldn't order again.

When I first started I was using Yaley everything. To be honest, the only thing I found wrong was no hot throw from the fos, it takes alot of the color blocks to get dark colors and very expensive. Then I found this board and was informed that Yaley was garbage. So I started trying online suppliers. I haven't found a wax that I'd consider better. Yaley wax is the clearest I've tried so it makes beautiful chunk candles, mottles very nicely, releases from molds easily, I had no complaints. It's just so expensive if you don't have a 40% off coupon and JoAnnes is out of stock all the time. If you have the coupon it's $12.00 for 11 lbs, so about the same as case price online, sometimes cheaper depending on shipping cost. So I've been using candlewics 4144, IMO a good wax. Now that Candlewic's prices have gone up, I'm probably going to give 1343A a shot. Anyway back to Yaley. Color blocks-Only ones I've tried, I switched to liquid dye so cant compare, love liquid and wont go back. I use Albaster, good quality and 30 colors. Yaley wicks, as pointed out-to general, packaging says "for 2"-3" pillars" that's way to general-if it's for up to a 3", it's gonna be to big for a 2", if it's good for a 2" it's gonna leave a thick wall on a 3". The scent blocks and liquid fos are not only OUTRAGIOUSLY expensive, but total garbage!!! The worst scents I've ever used by far. The molds, great IMO but again way expensive, check out candlewic for great prices on molds. I continue to use Yaley's vybar and steric, I use the 40% coupon of buy when their having a 30% off sale and they're cheaper than online and work just fine. But if your within driving distance of candlewic, I'd just get all of my supplies there, LUCKY!

Thank you very much!

Thank

I'd suggest a smooth side jar. I feel the "eye appeal" is very important with these, so you don't want anything interfering with that. I'm not sure if canning jars are smooth or not, or clear enough. Personally I'd go with a clear B&B jar, and I like doomed lids, but this really is a personal preference. Maybe do a search in the gallery or google and see if you can find a style you like.

A clear jar so you can see the layers. I'd say it'd need to be a slightly larger jar like 6-8oz, otherwise you wont have enough room to make the layers.

The was a person on the old board, I think her name was LisaButtons. She tried selling on the classifieds but was outted. Someone else did the same thing on this board not to long ago for this same site. Well I had copied the link for that supplier, hoffmans something or other. The base was $2.00 per lb and only $.20 per box and the molds were super cheap. Well I went to go to the site a few weeks ago, and my link no longer works, so I deleted it. I was wondering if anyone else has a working link for them? Thanks

I dont have any retail suggestions. However I do have an idea. Try to find a local handyman/carpenter and have him build some for you according to your needs. That's what I am going to do if I ever get to that point. You could even go to the local lumber yard and pick up the wood yourself, so all you'd have to pay him for is his time. He'd just have to cut and screw. Screw instead of nail so you can disassemble are reassemble as needed. If you don't know anyone like this, you could place a help wanted or situation wanted add in the paper, or places that let you hang flyers. "Handyman needed to build wooden shelving" Just be sure to see a portfolio of his work, or something to show you he knows what he's doing, and make a contract to cover yourself. HTH Edited...Forgot to mention that this would also save alot of $ on shipping.

They all look very nice, wonderful job.

I hope I can be honest here and not hurt your feelings. IMHO spring does not fit with these scents. Watermelon and strawberries are summer fruits, and vanilla doesn't really have anything to do with a season. I personally love vanilla, but it reminds me more of winter since it's so prodominant (sp?) in bakery fos. Since it is Strawberry Margarita, and margaritas are typically a summer drink, I'd go with something along one of those lines. Like Summer Slushy, or Summer Spritzer, Fruit 'n Cream Margarita.....something like that. I'd save the "Spring" theme for a floral combo. This is just my opinion, and I hope your not offended by me speaking it.

Since it's a summer show I'd focus on light products, and maybe develope a sunburn product. The body parfaits for example 1 layer lotion, 1 layer colored aloe vera gel? Maybe make some champagin or wine glass candles if your interested in that. There are some wine fos out there. I think the gel candles in champaign glasses are pretty, even if it were just for your display. People tend to take showers more so than baths in summertime, so I'd take more shower gel, and less bubblebath. They shave more often, so shaving products are great. They tend to want light lotions, and stear away from heavy creams and body butters. So I'd personally make and take along my products based on this. Not that I wouldn't take any "heavier" products, just less, and take more lighter products. HTH

not that you'd want to sell them, but for personal use, beer or mayo can be used as a natural conditioner. I've only read about mayo, but I've used beer and it really does work. There was something else too, but I just cant think of it right now.

I don't make containers, I make pillars, but I can tell you how I make marbled pillars, and maybe you can try it with containers, dunno. I color the wax one color (using pink and blue, I'd color it pink, cuz darker will show up on lighter better than the other way around) let the wax cool a bit til you get a thin skin, then stir stir stir til the wax is almost an oatmeal consistancy, then add a few drops here and there of the blue, mix just a little bit, dont over mix, or you will lose the marble and become purple, just 2-3 folds, pour into hot container. I would suggest to include fragrance even when testing if you intend to scent the final product. Each different scent can change which wick will be needed for that perfect burn. Therefore testing without fo (fragrance oil)(unless your candles are going to be unscented) is almost pointless. HTH

I mentioned on the chandler mag thread that including B&B might be a good idea. They are now looking for suggestions. So go and add your ideas all!

I mentioned on the chandler mag thread that including B&B might be a good idea. They are now asking for suggestions. The thread is under candle making discussions. So go add your ideas all!

For B&B recipes would be good, techniques, supplier reviews, product reviews (i.e. M&P Bases, or any base for that matter) Lye suppliers since this has become hard to find, packaging & displays, many of the same things chandlers are interested in. I'll go to the B&B section and bring this thread to the soapers attention for more ideas.

Not sure if these were mentioned, wick suggestions with what wax and the size candle your making, kind of a recommended starting point for your testing. For example IGI 1343-votives-36-24-24, so that when we start testing with a new wax. Then we can move up or down as needed from there. FO mixing for new scents is a great suggestion! Consumer reviews on suppliers and or products. Many chandlers also make B&B and soap. Thats a whole new topic, but would be a great addition to your magazine. It provide a whole new set of advertisers, potential readers, etc.

left click, highlight what you want to copy, then inside the message right click and click on copy, then come here and right click and click on paste. I have troubles posting emails on the site from time to time.

Is it your email addy? I tried again and got the same thing, userID and password required. If it is, it makes sense that they'll allow you in without these, but no one else.