pdevine

I opened my retail shop up in Nov and am having a tough time deciding how I want to display ALL of my candles. For most fragrances that I carry, I make the following:

Tins 4 & 8oz

8 oz Square masons

Flower Pots (the clear glass one's)

Votives & Tealights

Mottle 3x3 & 3x6 pillars

Some fragrances, also Linen/Room Spray

I can't decide whether to display everything in the same fragrance together or to display same containers (no matter the fragrance) together.

How do you prefer displaying your items? TIA Portia

I am beating my head against a wall trying to find either the Cobalt Blue or Green 2, 4 & 8oz size bottles for my Linen spray. I can find clear all day long, or one size of the colored bottles, but not the other sizes. Can ANYONE please tell me where you can find these? TIA Portia

I use 4794 for my tealites and the TL wicks from Candlescience and love them. HTH Portia

First thing I did was contact my state and apply for a Tax ID, then called my local offices and found out what they required. That's a start,,,,HTH Portia

I spoke with my accountant and he told me that I could capitalize my business. That is, take the $ that I've spent on supplies in the past years and if they amounted $10,000 or less then we could deduct them all at one time and if it was more than $10 k, then he would spread the cost out over so many years. HTH Portia

I use an electric griddle with a removable drip pan. I just started doing it this way and man is it so much easier and accurate. I have yet to try the method of leaving it in the mold, turning it upside down and the mold allows it to level evenly. HTH Portia

When I make them, I use 1 1/2oz/# with RRD's and get an awesome throw. Portia

I too use several different waxes in my pie/cake candles. I've learned alot about making them via reading posts/pictures and then coming up with my own method. HTH Portia

Has anyone ever tried the fluorescent dyes from BC? I am looking to try some fluorescent colored candles and just wondered if they were truly fluorescent once in wax. Also, at $14.95 for a # block of dye:cry2: , does anyone have a cheaper source for these? What I am wanting to achieve is the neon/fluorescent colors like the Nascar colors. TIA Portia

Thanks Henry K, I will check them out. I have maybe a # of the pellet form and was looking to use this and whiten it if possible. Portia

The only thing I said about paraffin candles are they clog the gas logs up--which HAS been proven. I DO know this for a fact because we have 2 gas fireplaces not even 3 years old and we have replaced the logs at least once in each of them---they should have lasted a good 10 years. We WERE told by someone who has been in the gas fireplace business for 10 years that the paraffin candles are what did it--I always bought them and burned them---from a major candle company. Since gas fireplaces are a huge industry here I am just trying to save others the expense of having to prematurely replace the logs.

We have had gas logs in our house for 12 yrs now and have YET to replace on of them, and we use them on a daily basis in the winter time. And I've been making candles for 5 years now.

Portia

Knowing that beeswax has a very slight yellowish tint to it when it's hard, is there a white dye to use to make it WHITE? I have alittle of the "white" beeswax, but want to make some snowflake x-mas tree ornaments with it and want it WHITE.

I don't have any white dye, nor have I ever used any, so I wouldn't know one from the other. Also, this is my first experiment with beeswax in this form before. TIA Portia

What type mold (shape, raised or recessed detail?) are you using? I have one of those night lights from Ginger @ Flexible Molds with the heart cutout and there is a particular way that I have to get the candle out or I have the same problem. Portia

I ALWAYS use 1 1/2 oz/lb Joy wax, that is unless it's a really knock your socks off strong fragrance. Portia

I use Joy wax for ALL my containers and have NEVER had anything like this happen, no matter how big of a wick I have tested. Now grant you I've not tried one that is overly too big. I have also tried CD wicks in Joy and haven't had this to happen.

Are you mixing your fo enough? I can't imagine what you have going on there. I would love to see a pic of what is happening. Portia

I make the wedding cake candles and I use the regular cake pans, just be sure and spray them before pouring into them. You have some beautiful looking cakes. HTH Portia

I have to 2nd the one from NG's, but the one from TN Candle Supply smells just as good to me. HTH Portia

Thank you all! I love making these. For my icing, I use 2 parts votive and 1 part gel wax, with UV Inhib. added. These have been sitting for roughly 5 months and no change in color yet. It's still as white as it was when I poured it. But, it's never too late,,,,,LOL Portia

I make and sell alot of these and I put a tealite in a class tealite holder in there. I make the full sized and a size smaller. HTH Portia

I have made firestarters with them, but they don't move too fast around here. I am fixing to start using them in my leftover veggie cans, paint the outsides with glow in the dark paint and call them "Survival Candles". My thought is that you could definitely find it in the dark.

I haven't tried these yet, so who knows how well they will go over. That way, I'm not wasting wax and I'm recycling the cans. HTH Portia

OK, got my Sales Tax info, but could someone please tell me is your sales tax due every quarter and by the 15th of the following month? They gave me all this, but there is no where telling me when it is due by. TIA Portia

I've never made them, but you could soak them in STRONG tea, letting them dry and then if need be you could run the iron over them. HTH Portia

I sell tons of them and they are safe. HTH Portia

I wasn't sure where to post the here or the Off Topic area. I am in need of some particular handmade primitive dolls and was wondering if there was anyone on here that made these wholesale? If so, please PM me and I will give you further information on what I'm looking. TIA Portia

Ok, Lindsaycb,,,,,,,,,,is it ok to nominate you my "Decorator"?,,,,,,,,,LOL The whole space is roughly 30' x 50'. I am more excited about the huge work space than I am the front display space.

Ok, I know this may be a stupid question, but what is Shabby Chic style? Portia