Country Crafter

Here is an old link to a mold and candle we produced when we sold, (still make these occasionally). I think a pillar type made totally of wax with no bark wrapping is the way to go, much safer. http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33139

If it is in reference to particular waxes I would say that the type of wicking, (both those that you listed are types of wicks if your not familar with them), that they have indicated work well with that type of wax. HTH

http://www.silkytyme.com/fragrance_oils.html

I think that the power of the fragrances is underestimated, I poured pretty steady for 6 yrs. without proper ventilation etc. and experienced alot of medical issues including two bouts of a chemical pneumonia which the drs. put down to my candlemaking. For the last two yrs. we have worked in a much better environment with exhaust fans as well as wore 3m respirators masks and things improved greatly. Even now although I am near involved in candlemaking as I was I still will not pour without putting on the mask etc. I can feel it in my lungs and the effects last for days. Please do what you can to improve your working conditions, masks fans etc. you only have one set of lungs and fragrances are full of chemicals that will not do them any good in large concentrations!

http://www.aquariusaroma-soap.com/index.php?cPath=22_235_97 Here is a few more available, Canadian site. I know Martins, soapymolds, was a big supplier of these and they are no longer in business.

Thanks everyone! I don't think I am a great painter but I do enjoy dabbling, took some classes when we had the store and our instructors taught Folk Art classes and have played somewhat on my own. Here is a site chiptooth that has some tuturials on it as well as projects. One thing about paint, you can always paint over and start again! LOL Hope you give it a try and share some pics with us. Wendy http://www.artistsclub.com/

HI all, thought I would share something I made up for a few friends and family this year, (10 in all). It was a perfect year to paint these snowman shovels, we have had a ton of snow! LOL

I am going thru some older albums and rearranging and found some pics of candles that I don't think we ever posted. Some we don't make anymore but perhaps will do a few as old favourites.

One loss we never considered upon opening a store was our local wholesale accounts. A few we kept however sales from these accounts did drop with our products available instore which didn't make the retailers happy with us and a few outright stopped purchasing wholesale from us as we were selling from a retail location of our own. (They had no problems with us selling on the craft circuit but didn't not want to compete with a brick and morter store that we operated. ) Although total sales of our products were not impacted greatly with these losses of venues that sold our products overall we definately sold less on the whole but dollar value did not drop greatly as we sold more retail. Just a thought.

Hi Jeana, we have used transparency covers and skip the wick hole for the reason you state, however we do punch a few holes outside our labeling area for scent release so people won't lift the covers off. HTH Wendy

You can use a leather punch, it looks like a nail set, (which you can use too if you file the end slightly to a point). Make a template with paper finding the centre of the circle, slip the paper under whatever you using for the cover or on top if the cover is not transparent and punch using a rubber mallet or hammer. (Use an old book or magazine underneath so you don't damage the surface your punching on. Wendy

The whole idea of testing is working to achieve a candle that looks good, burns correctly and offers both great hot and cold throw. Selling off testers (even at a reduced price) that don't meet those expectations in my mind may confuse the customer. Will they actually understand that this is not how your regular stock burns, what if they give it away as a gift, what will that person think etc. Personally I would not offer "testers" out to the public, use the wax for something else or remelt carefully and repour with the correct wicking. Test a couple of repours yourself to see how they hold up with the remelt.

Great answers thanks so much. A blend may be the way to go down the road for us. Wendy

Taking into account we work with both soy and paraffin but not together as a blend, I am wondering what it is exactly you all prefer over the blend rather than either as a stand alone product. I feel we have achieved great candles both with paraffin and soy and do the soy to market to the "soy" crowd, an alternative choice. If we offered a blend we couldn't do that, I don't feel comfortable marketing a blend as a soy product and I sure our target group choses soy over paraffin for their own reasons. Having said that our paraffin outsells our soy hands down, probabaly due to the cost difference in our pricing structure, we just can't produce and all soy candle for as little as a paraffin. In addition we offer a limited selection of soy products so that ofsets the sale figures as well. So I guess what I am asking is do you feel you that with a blend you get better throw, a better looking candle, can market it as soy....or what? Just curious Wendy

Candle Magic makes them, different colours, glitters etc.

Yes, try an LX16 and see how they do. Sometimes the burn will be slightly uneven but with a little hangup but it should catch up on subsequent burns. Wendy

Hi Sandra, it does depend upon the flute they are pretty narrow and as gel burns hot and a layer should remain during the burn as an insulator we use an LX. Depending upon the scent and colourant either an 8 or 10 works for us. As well I prefer the Libby flutes, they seem to be thicker than some of the other ones out there. HTH Wendy

It is unfortunate that we still see directions and products around like this. Hopefully she will think to do a test burn! Wendy

We too have used both goo gone and goof off however in the event of having neither on hand or not wishing to use a chemical product, tear off the paper top as you are and apply a little veggie oil or peanut butter, let sit for a bit and wipe wipe a damp cloth. Works on most labels other than the odd stubborn adhesive. Not sure what type of labels your using but if redoing is a consistant chore perhaps look into a repositional label, they can be removed quite easily and stick well at the same time. Most companies offer them. Wendy

Are you making your own embeds?

Hi I have quite a few Martins Molds, we were a craft store retailer that bought from them for resale, however I don't think we have the specific ones you mention. If you interested in seeing what we have remaining pm me. We cleared out quite a few with our final online sale as well as a local event but do have a hundred or so left of various types. I am quite busy at the moment with personal things but if you have the time I would be happy to count stock and send along some pictures. Wendy PS I am Canadian

Colonial Tin used to sell these if I remember correctly but I don't have a current catalogue to check and my passwords for the site are at the shop, perhaps someone else can check or can confirm for you. Wendy

Votives were are bread and butter when we were retail however sales did drop when we went back to homebased. Gift boxes of votives for us always sell Mother's Day, Christmas etc. We do have a few retail customers that buy in boxes of 18, yes we let them mix and match. We also have a few wholesale accounts that use our votives, they buy an intial display unit, either all votives or a combo of melts, t's and votives and restock by either the 9 pack or 18. I like pouring votives, find they are easy and quick! However we do our pours at at least 8 lbs. per scent and stock them. Wendy

They look great! Thanks for sharing. Wendy

Actually wholesale looks to keystone at minimun plus any ship costs. So if your wholesale cost is $19 + dollars a retailer would look to at least double that plus shipping on the shelf. Pretty pricey I think for the bears from a retailers standpoint. (But I don't do bears so I am not sure of the going prices on the shelf.) Wendy