gottabt

You know it's funny but for me the side bar or menu was one of the things that I really liked about the design. I figured since it was different it was memorable. My old site had the menu on the left and I felt that it needed a change. It is funny how everyone has different opinions on it. I really do appreciate all the feedback. Who knows maybe next year I will go back to the side navigation.

Thanx!

I buy white kraft bags with twisted handles from nu-era.com. They seem to have the best prices. I especially like the split carton of half cub and half bigger. I just print up a special label and put it on the bag.

HTH,

Thank you all.

Someone mentioned that wsp discontinued their tins. Well, I got an email from them yesterday and they have launched a new site for packaging. They are still available at www.bottlesandtops.com.

HTH,

I have no ideas for you - in fact my dh car is now out in the driveway because I have taken over his side of the garage.

This rumor seems a little off since they are introducing J225. I would think that they would not go through the expense of introducing a new wax just to discontinue it. It seems like a lot of ppl prefer the astorlite waxes to the igi. I would be interested in seeing a market analysis of which brand of container wax sells better. I could see them discontinuing their own that compete with the j50.j223. I think that we are going to see the duplicates discontinued but then again my thinking could just be wrong - it would not be the first time.

As some of you know I have been here for awhile and posted my old site for suggestions. Well, for the last month I have worked very hard on getting it completely re-designed. I laugh that the old one looked like a flaming pumpkin. Please take a look and let me know what you think. I was going for a more upscale look and image. I also want to give kudos to Traci at Creative Concepts as she brought my vision to life. She was wonderful to work with and I love my new site. I hope you do too.

www.aburningdesire.com

Thanx so much for looking and any feedback that you have.

I always start at 6%. Like others have said if it needs more than that I will not add it to my line. This will give me a good idea if I will stick with 6% or start deducting. There are some fo companies that recommend (and I follow) using only 3%.

HTH,

Hi,

I have a similar model so maybe I can help.

To put up the tent.

Stretch and position about where the poles will go - this is easier if you and someone are on opposite corners.

Lift the poles and lock into the first position.

Unfold the top and on either side of the frame - walk the top across - billow air under it to lift it to the center top.

Go underneath and attach all the velcro fasteners.

When top is fastened then lift poles to final position.

Take down - just work in reverse. Just remember that when you are collasping the frame it works better if you and someone else are on opposite corners. We can get ours up or down in about 5 minutes.

HTH,

Switching waxes may cause issues with the wicking - try pouring a thin layer of white wax between the layers and then doing the next color - it helps contain the bleed.

If you are concerned about the bleed - this is a little trick I do in containers. About 20 minutes after the first layer - I pour a very thin layer of plain wax and then wait until that is set - about 10 min - then I pour the next layer. This seems to really do the trick and I have never had my red and blue bleed into the white center.

HTH,

I love my V - I use it for clamshells and votives (without a repour).

Tarts come out beautifully with this wax!

Those are made from water softener pellets. I make something similar but I use the crystals. I like the look of the crystals better but I guess it is whatever you like.

HTH,

Good luck - I am sure that if they scheduled the appointment you are already there. I would getting the appt would be the hard part. Let us know how it goes.

They seem to be working - the only thing is - the opening is so small that there is no throw. The meltpool is perfect but just not allowing the scent to escape like it should. I am purposing that some of them are filled with aroma stones rather than wax. Hopefully these will throw better. Or maybe a pair - one with stones and one with wax. Still working on this one. I will post when I get a chance.

You truly are the kumquat queen. Sounds like you had better get a corner on the kumquat FO supply cause you sure are going to need it. Did you get all those little pots fixed so you could pour wax into them? Will be looking in the gallery for future kumquat pictures.

As some of you know I am working with the Kumquat growers. They are only opened 6 months of the year so right now is the down time. I talked to her and I am so thrilled. They expanded their gift shop to be able to put more of my stuff in the shop. Can you believe that?

She then goes on to tell me that she wants kumquat blends to do Holiday gift sets so we are working on those.

She also have a holiday open house planned, a festival open house and then the kumquat festival. Last year we did not do well at the festival itself. I think that we just covered the fee. This year she tells me that she is going to get an additional space and we will be under their tent. Last year they completely sold out of everything kumquat by 2. The festival started at 10. Get this - everything that we sell we keep - no splitting of the profits. The 2 open house should have about 1500 ppl at their gift shop and then the festival brings about 11,000.

Then she goes on to tell me that she is in charge of the Holiday stroll decoration for the town and wants to showcase my candles.

And she is the pres of the PTA and would like to do a fundraiser or two.

I can not believe what a little kumquat can do.

To give you an idea of what I am looking at - last year we worked together for 6 weeks only at the end of the season and we sold somewhere in the neighborhood of 360 candles. I am sort of panicing due to what I need for all these open houses and such on top of the regular day to day business. So far, I only have 24 dozen poured.

Thanx for listening - I am so excited that I just had to share. I love being the official candlemaker to the kumquat growers.

Definately burn one - this is a great way to show how they burn in addition to getting ppl into your tent. I have also found that the other vendors around me have a tendency to buy at the end of the day since they spent all day smelling how wonderful they are. I have a lot of ppl comment - oh this is where the wonderful smell is coming from.

For similar crates I use 8" shrink wrap tubing. I got mine at Durapak on Ebay. They were the least expensive I could find.

HTH,

I add a few grains of vybar with the bakery scents. It seems that the vanilla based fo's are usually the ones that need extra attention to get them to blend.

HTH,

It seems to me that it is just a tart with a wick. My tarts last longer than that. The magnetic base thing is kewl so that the wick stays centered. Good idea I guess but I will stick with tarts. Does anyone know how much the refills are?

I am tryly speechless. Well maybe not - they are beautiful - truly inspiring. The photography is perfect. I am in awe!

I think that everyone has run into a couple that pull out even though they are crimped at the factory.

I have a suggestion if you are having a problem centering the wicks - it only works for glass but here it is.

Use a template to mark the bottom of the container for the location of the wick. Get a piece of floral foam - insert a straw or empty pen into the floral foam. Now put the wick upside down into the straw and lower the glass jar (also upside down) onto the wick lining up the wick base and the mark on the bottom of the jar. This is the easiest way I have found to make sure I am putting them in the correct place.

HTH,

Are you sure that the 2oz does not reflect the net weight? I have a 5oz apothecary but with how it is shaped maybe the 2oz is the weight not the fluid volume of the jar.

You may want to order a sample of the 5oz since it might be exactly what you are looking for.

I would recommend arranging the apples in a pinwheel fashion.

HTH,

Hi,

I have a question for those of you that own an impulse sealer. When do you need to replace the "blade looking" element? I guess I am looking for some kind of clues that it is time to replace it. I got a couple replacements with my unit but no indication of when it is time to replace it. Does anyone know?

TIA,