hellen

Most of my soaps come out some shade of brown...so I dont even bother trying to dye them anymore. I once tried to make a pinkish soap and it came out a really dark purple type of colour...it looked like dog poop to me!!! I called it *Sh.." soap..and guess what??? The 24 bars sold out at the market before lunchtime!!! Go figure?? When I first started making soap it all looked really ugly so I called it "Hell's (me) Ugly Soap..and now that my soaps look ok..the name has stuck! Everyone asks for 'Ugly Soap' to buy and then comments on how good they are looking now. I get a chuckle every time I think about it. Cheers, Hells

Donita, I need a lesson in hurricane making!!!! Ever thought of running some classes??? I'm over in the States in 2 years time...care to book me in??? Cheers, Hells

Hi, have you ever thought of running workshopsin the slower period? I am not suggesting you actually teach people how to make what you sell..lolol but other items that you don't sell? I got into selling candles/soaps etc and markets by actually running classes in for years in the first instance. perhaps you could run workshopsin bath salts, bath bombs, massage oils, body butters...that sort of thing? All you'd need to do is go through everything you know how to do but don't sell and operate a 'Gift Creation Workshop'. You could even offer these workshops as ideal Xmas presents but actually run the workshops til January. I don't know about your holidays, but here in Australia we have school holiday all through january so you could be inventive and market toward both adults and children thus allowing parents and children to learn together? Personally, I'd LOVE a workshop in packaging techniques!!! If you dont sell soaps you could operate a Melt n Pour workshop as well as a CP workshop using the room temp method...easy enough to do. Just an idea Cheers, Hells

Hi guys, When talking about ading the flowers onto the outside and then overdipping how is that done? Make the hurricane and then glue the flowers on..then redip? Or use a heatgun and embed the flowers and then redip? I am having WOES just trying to get ONE done ok...but I keep on trying (especially when I have spent a fortune on moulds). I tried a really large oblong mould that was made from PVC piping (now I just need a husband that's a plumber.lolol). How I eventually got the picture to stay there (I couldnt seem to cool it quickly enough) was I poured the wax into the mould and a few minutes later poured the entire lot back out. That left just a residue of wax and I managed to get the picture embedded that way. Perhaps that may work with the silk flowers? Also..is it possible to make an incredibly thin cane...dont remove it from the mould 9it'd probably break anyway) and then use a heat gun to just melt a litle bit of the cane at a time and add the flowers that way? Is there some kind of invisible glue you could use? As you can see my mind is wild with ideas because I haven't got this 'cane' making down pat at all and am just trying things and throwing ideas around. Cheers Hells

Just received an email confirming my order..this is what i bought. Lemon Biscotti Pie Candy Cane Christmas Pear / Spiced Pear Coolwater Type Redwood & Cedar Passionate Kisses Type Clean Cotton Type Fall Harvest Angel Type I simply can't wait....I had a hard time ditching the Sea Mist, Paradise and Andis Mint

There is NO hope for me!!! If your news broadcasts a middle aged woman inthe GUTTER clutching onto her candle supplies...it is ME!!!!!! I cannot help myself...as if I NEED any more scents. I just couldn't help myself. I have just ordered: Red Cedarwood Candy Cane Angel Bugger...can't recall the other six!!! I ended up with a list of 23...it was a HEROIC effort to get it down to just nine. Suppose I wil just be in for another surprise when my order gets here....sooooo excited!!! Cheers, Hells

I don't understand yout emperatures (I'm an Aussie). However, if it's left in the sun...yes it will melt. Mine is kept inside the house and it doesn't melt. Admittedly, it's in a cupboard so it's not exposed to any sunrays or anything....under 'normal' circumstances it wont melt by having it around the place. If you have a cool room somewhere put it there perhaps??? By the way, have you melted it yet? No idea what a gallon jug looks like.... Cheers, Hells

put in in the microwave for a minute or so

HI guys, Just received an email and they dont custom build molds....sob sob

I've just bought some molds from jonesbeecandleandsoapmolds.com They say on their site that they make anything you want....and I have asked for a 7" x 7" square hurricane mold. Their pre-made molds seem a good price, I'll get back to you when they give me a price on the one I want made. Cheers, Hells

Sorry, I can't help...I don't know what an 'Effusion Lamp' is?? I'll be interested in following this thread and finding out? Cheers, Hells

Hello, Glycerin is pretty cheap..I'd be trying my normal suppliers and seeing if they sell it in bulk. Chemists products are expensive (here anyway) Cheers, Hells

Just an idea..... Why don't you look into container sharing with another company??? Probably not a candle supplier...but a different company all together. It may take some time to get to you...but by sea may be the way to go. THEN....order a heap to last you months and months and start operating classes, or markets or whatever it is you want to do....people can buy from you as their "supplier" of their raw materials, and for those who dont really want the fuss and bother of making their own...well they can buy everything made by you. JUst a thought....

:yay: I DO......(Imagine the Musuic) " Hells, Hells riding through the Glen,...Hells, Hells...with her candle friends....I used to adore Robin Hood....

Me again.... just read that you were in the UK. Email me at hellenr@optusnet.com.au and maybe I can help. I have found a really helpful supplier in the States and I live in Australia... Cheers

Hi there, Don't use DPG because it will clog up the reeds and it wont operate properly. 1) Make sure the reeds are rattan reeds 2) Cyclo is MUCH better than alcohol base (the alcohol dissipates too readily) 3) 50/50 cyclo to F/O 4) Mix together...VOILA You can put little pebbles or those coloured marble type things at the bottom of your bottle if you like for a really nice effect. Plus there are some reeds that are curly and perhaps coloured which can add a touch of difference. Lots of places in the States sell packaging, bottles, reeds etc. I buy my reeds from the States because even with shipping it is cheaper than buying them here. Have FUn...by the way Cyclo is the way to go because you use it also in perfumes, linen sprays, bath salts...it's excellent

In Australia it's ALL we get!!! Maybe we could house swap and give each other a holiday? You could laze at the beaches, or in a boat in the harbour and I could rug up, drink warm beer and visit all your historic places??? heheheh Cheers, Hells

When I make incense, I cut the top off of a bottle (HDPE) and use that. It has quite a large neck, I can easily pour off the remaining liquid into another smaller jar for using afterwards, can move the sticks around easily, and I can either keep it if it's a scent I use regularly, or toss it away. I end up with soooo many empty fragrance bottles so for me it's the easiest and most economical method. Cheers, Hells

I don't test all of my candles for UV, Sunlight, and the myriad of other things that are often posted on this board. I have excellent insurance, operate classes (have done so for years), and have repeat long term customers. I DO know what I do...I cannot ever possibly know what someone else may do with my products...or with the products I teach them to make. Asking questions so to have a standardised bar from which to guage what is happening to your products...or to ascertain possible, forseeable problems is, in my opinion, quite an intelligent thing to do. Good on you for asking your questions!!!! Keep them coming Cheers, Hells

I've made my first hurricane...and it was great!! So the picture was a little lopsided, the top of the 'cane was skew wiffed...but it was MAGNIFICENT! I started using a tupperware square container (it stuck, couoldnt get it out, couldn't cool the wax for the pictures to adhere....so, I chanaged to a 4" square mold...GREAT! Where can I get large square molds from? I've tried moldman, onestopcandle...Ebay. I'm wanting maybe 7" x 7 Also, what do you guys suggest looks better.....a mould where the diameter is the same as the height??? Also...can I get inserts that are close enough to help when wanting photos in the 'cane, or do I need to stick with adhering them to the side by cooling the outside of the mold? Opinions...PLEASE Cheers, Hells

I didn't buy a kit when I first started out. I just bought a kilo of wax and a few wicks (with sustainers). I even cheated on buying the glassware....I looked at the size of the jars that were for the wicks and then went hunting through my cupboards!!! My priority was just to see if I could make one....and THEN the addiction commenced!!! I used ice-cream buckets, long lfe milk cartons..everything you can imagine as molds for pillars....old vegemite jars for containers...I became completely hooked..and still am!!! Little by little I started buying moulds, glassware, tins, scents..omg my home is more like a warehouse! heeee Have fun Cheers, Hells

Another option is to sell it it....either here or on Ebay??? Personally, I wouldn't use it in M&P... Maybe make some scent melts for friends as gifts???? Nah...if ya don't like it...sell it and buy somethig yoou do want. Cheers, Hells

Hi guys, What % of sodium lactate should I use? Also, I add it to the lye mixture... is that correct? If so, do I mix it in with the water and after it is mixed thoroughly then start adding the lye? Made a lot of soap but never used sodium lactate before. Also I saw PKO in anther thread ...what is that an acronym for? Cheers, Hells

:DThankyou soooo much for your help....Yep... I am going to make a hurricane!!!! Cheers, Hells

Hi guys, It'll be a few weeks before I get a hurricane mould shipped here..but I am soooo eager to try them!! Any ideas of what I could use as a 'dupe' mould??? I was thinking an ice-cream container??? Any other creative 'whizzes' out there with any suggestions? Cheers, Hells