Bev

I offer them but only make them upon request. I am doing my first craft show in the fall and don't know whether to make them for the show or not. They really are a PITA to make! What do the rest of you do ... offer them for sale at shows or just put them in your flyers you pass out?

As a candle shopper, during the holidays I used to look for spicey scents, ones with cinnamon or spices. I also liked to purchase the bakery scents during the fall and winter. This will be my first craft fair this fall. I plan to carry only three Christmasy scents, Cinnamon Balsam, Mulberry and Mulled Cider. The rest will be a variety ... some bakery scents, some florals, some fruity, some "clean" (such as Clean Cotton or other refreshing fragrances). We'll see what happens.

Portia, I do the same thing. Works like a charm.

Those are really beautiful soaps. Where did you get your molds?

I made 8 oz. container candles with this scent and they have a pretty good hot throw. I think the scent is a dead ringer for the pastries my former boss used to have shipped in to us from Wisconsin. Yum!!

I use Lonestar for some of my FO's and the ones I've tried are really good. Always were shipped out quickly, too.

I got my tins at Wal-Mart last year after Christmas in the clearance aisle. They were 3 to a package and were on sale for 25 cents each!! I've searched for them this year and haven't had any luck finding them. Glad I hit the clearance aisle last year.

I found this at Wal-Mart in the sporting goods section. It's actually a tackle box and cost a little over $8. There are three boxes which have 12 compartments each. The little sample-size tins from Wal-Mart fit in each compartment perfectly. It has a carrying strap and a handle so you can carry it on your shoulder or in your hand. The best thing is it is lightweight and small ... only 7-3/4" tall, 6" wide, and 6-1/2" deep. (Sorry for the quality of the pics ... I'm still learning how to use my digital camera!!)

Your Paypal account is tied to your bank account or credit card. When you make a purchase, the money is taken from your bank account (or the credit card if the Seller accepts Paypal credit card payments and you designate the funds come from the credit card rather than your bank account). If you sell an item, you can receive funds into your Paypal account. The funds are there and available for you to use for future purchases with your Paypal account. Someone jump in if I have missed anything or am wrong on any issue.

Now as a small chandler you could point out that you are doing Yankme little harm by infriging and that may be true, but it would be foolish of them not to send that C&D and be prepared to sue you. There are various reasons, but the most pertinent is that an undefended trademark loses its legitimacy. If they let hundreds of small companies infringe on the mark without lifting a finger, then a BIG company would be able to do the same thing.

Those of you who are asking how one can trademark a simple word like "tart" are missing the point. It doesn't matter if the mark is one word or a phrase or how ordinary the words are. We're not talking about trademarking the name of a pastry, but the name of a scented wax product. That's a totally unique use of the word, and I think a much much stronger trademark than some of the scent names.

This is what I love about this forum. I am always given a lot of "food for thought." This is why I come back here again and again and again. Before I venture out and try to become a real "business," I need learn ... and then learn again and again and again. I am always grateful for what I glean from this website. Thank you.

I agree not to ignore it. I work for a major law firm in St. Louis and believe me, these large companies have powerful attorneys who are paid big bucks. Yankme can afford to go after you much more than you can afford to defend yourself. I personally find the whole idea of trademarking a word kind of ludicrous, but needless to say, Yankme did manage to get the trademark on it so, unfortunately, we can't use it. Unless trademark, copyright and patent rules ever change, we have to abide by them just as we have to abide by many other ridiculous rules and laws that we may not agree with.

I sometimes find it almost laughable that a common word such as "tart" can be trademarked. What next, the bakery can't use the word "cookie" because Nestle Tollhouse uses it? I call my tarts Fragrant Wax Melts. Don't know if anyone has a trademark on the words "wax" or "melts" yet. Guess I'll just take my chances.

Gorgeous!!!

Don't know if you're asking me, but I'll reply. I work with soy but would not have a problem with a soy/paraffin blend for my votives if they came out looking good and having a good scent throw. Any recommendations on a good wax?

I personally hate the Ecosoya VB. I couldn't make a votive without cracking to save my life with this wax, and I always had trouble removing the wick pin without a piece of the bottom coming off. But since I had about 10 lbs. of it and I hate to waste wax, I started mixing about 30% container wax with the VB and that seems to help reduce the cracking. The votives come out creamy yet firm enough to pop out of the mold with ease.

When I finally finish using up the Ecosoya VB, I'm going to give the KY pillar/votive blend a try.

I got mine from Bell and Company Traders: http://www.bellandcompanytrader.homestead.com/products.html

$4.00 a dozen, which includes shipping. I painted the FO on with a small craft brush. The day after I painted on the FO, they were still a bit wet, but this morning when I checked them, they had absorbed the FO and are now ready to package.

I don't know how they will sell for me yet ... I'm going to try selling them at a craft fair in November. I thought I'd set a couple dozen out and see how they do. If they bomb, my friends and family will be getting them as stocking stuffers this Christmas!! :smiley2:

Your website is fantastic! I really like the softer image of your logo on the background of each page. Your products look great and the descriptions of each are very informative. Great job!!

One of these days I'll have to redo pics on my website - the candles all have old labels.

Well, I just checked out your website and all I can say is, "I want to be just like you when I grow up!!" Beautiful stuff!!

That is too cute for words!!

Congratulations! Here's hoping things just keep looking up!!

I scented a few of my auto air freshener blanks last night but I think I may have overdone it on the FO! :undecided They still feel slightly wet this morning. I've never done these before so I'm wondering ... are these ruined or will they eventually dry? Thankfully I didn't scent too many so if I did ruin them it's not TOO big a loss, but still .......

After work a couple of evenings this week, I plan to paint FO on my new auto air fresheners that arrived on Saturday. I also plan to pour more containers and then work on votives and tarts this weekend.

I love everything about candlemaking. I especially love labeling and packaging my product. It really gets my creative juices flowing. Of course, some may think that makes me certifiable! (Oh, did I mention I love wrapping Christmas presents, too?!)

I don't hate candlemaking itself. It's the lack of space I have that I hate. My goal is to have a work room one day where I can have all of my supplies in one place. It will be nice to have my kitchen back, my hall closet back, my spare bedroom upstairs back ... well, you get the picture!

We're all feeling your excitement ... the shop is absolutely beautiful! Everything looks wonderful. A true dream come true. I wish you nothing but the best!!