SoyKandles

Well . . . a milk carton wasn't exactly what I was looking for in ideas for a candle container, but I guess you guys are out of new ideas!! Thanks anyway!

Just thought I'd get some ideas from all of you pro's out there! I'm looking for a new container for candles. I like the rustic look and have done the mason jar with rustic lids and apothecary jars with rustic lids . . . what else is a good and popular container for this look?? Hope someone has some ideas for me! Thanks in advance for your help!

I use Bitter Creeks red powder dye with good results. I also mix a little yellow powder dye with the red to get a good red. If you want a darker red, just add a little brown. HTH

Ahhh -- thanks for the info. I know about Kangaroo Blue, but just didn't put two and two together!!

What is KB's ? I found the cutter, but don't know what company KB's beveler is. Thanks!

SoapFreak - your soap is wonderful! Your edges are nicely trimmed and the soap looks so smooth. May I ask how you achieve such a nice look? Do you just use a rag and rub each bar and a beveler for the edges?

I maybe don't understand things correctly, but we do use all of our expenses as deductions on our Schedule C for our businesses. I guess it's the personal Schedule A that we don't meet the amount for deductions. Does that make sense? The large dog used as a security dog - now that's a great idea!! We have a yellow lab. Our accountant says that when you put down that you use a room in your house for an office, that's a quick red flag to the IRS and you will more than likely get audited. We've avoided that one for that reason. Thanks for your concern!

They did give me a small raise and every July we meet with the "men in charge" and are evaluated, etc. (probably not stated correctly). At that time we get raises also. They were very pleased I said yes, because of my experience working there already & my maturity (yeah, I'm old!!). I do keep records of all our medical expenses, but you can't use that deduction if you don't itemize. I don't think we've been able to itemize the last few years because most of our debt is paid off, not much for depreciation because we haven't bought new equipment, etc. (oh, our house is paid off also - no interest expense there anymore!) All we have is college debt from our girls' college!! I think I will enjoy the full-time job. I'm have a huge sale table at my candle shop now and hopefully I will sell lots of inventory. Us women love the word SALE!! Thanks for your thoughts!

madebymelanie - in your situation with 2 small children, I would stay home also and find a way to make things work. I did that also when my kids were young. Since I'm in my 50's, I'm not needed like I was in my 20's & 30's. But my 15 year old son was sick last week and he did ask me to come home early. I guess I'm still needed! Especially when is doesn't feel well. The last few days at my candle shop have been great -- customers in a lot and orders going out in getting more orders. Now if it was like this all year long, it would be worth it!! I start my bank job January 7. (Last year I was swamped with candle orders till the end of January! The stores were sold out and had to replenish their inventory, so it just kept going.) I'm going to make this work and be good at it!! I don't do anything half way, so I will be dedicated to this new position. Hopefully I can still do some candlemaking in the evenings. I have a type of candle I still would like to try and master!! Thanks for everyones helpful words! You are kind people to want to help me! Susan

It would be good to be appreciated! I'm so busy now with making candles, I sure hope I made the right decision!

I don't think I'll know if I made the right decision for awhile, I've got to give it all time. I would love to just continue the candles, but when my husband calls it a hobby and I feel it's more than that, that's what I resent!! So to keep peace in the family, I'll take the job. Then I won't have to work my butt off making sure my candle business keeps growing the way HE thinks it should. (sounds like there's more issues going on here -- not really!) We'll see him get mad whan we do go up a tax bracket!! It happened when I started doing well with my candles!

I'm working all day and all evening the way it is, so it should be any different! I will have to cut back on the wholesale customers though, or they will need to have patience. Why do I feel like part of me died? Don't answer that!! This is what I need to do for our family!!

Well, I suppose I will take the full-time job . . . and just hope this is the right decision!! I also hope I can keep doing my candles in the evenings or whenever as a smaller business/hobby. Thanks all for the help!

I have a program called IrfanView that I resize my pictures for my website with. It was recommended that I go no larger than 300 (300 what, I don't know!). I think you can go on the IrfanView website and download a free program on your computer and resize your photos.

My Casio's model # is PCR-262 / CE-160.

I will get back to you tomorrow with the model # of my Casio.

About not wanting to get out of the candle business . . . some days I kind of want to and then the next I definately don't. Just an undecisive person!! I feel to keep the candle business it would be more work in the coming years. In order to keep the business up where it is or have it grow, I have to do more marketing and keep my product "out there" . . . will I be up to doing that in a few years? Or will that part get old? I think my husband really wants me to take the full-time job, but he won't make me do that and isn't telling me I have to. About talking to my accountant - I've thought of that, but he's also part owner in the bank where I would be working!! (it's a small town!) You brought up a few good points though. Something to think about!!

I bought a $99.00 Casio from Office Max and it's fine for my business. I didn't want to spend a lot and just made sure it had the report print out for the end of the day. It's simple to use. It doesn't have a read-out on the customer side of the register. That is the only bad thing I have found.

Well, I got a little more time to make my decision. Not much else happened . . . guess I'll work on my candle orders tomorrow and do a lot of thinking!!

That's part of the problem, my 15 year old son even made more per hour than I'm getting paid working part time. And now they want me full time with that same wage??? I'm really having a hard time at this decision, aren't I??? Thanks for your input!

The insurance would be a family policy and I found out I would have to pay 5% and the bank pays 95%. So the insurance would cost me $400-500 a year. I hadn't thought of losing the deduction for my husband's business. We are always looking for deductions and here we'd be losing one!! I will ask them about the part time / full time wage policy!! They're probably just trying to hire me cheap!! I do wish there would be someone else around here that would share in the passion of candlemaking and my whole business -- I'd love to have a partner! But like you said, it's hard to find someone who is as picky as you or I are. But it is our business and not theirs and that makes a big difference.

Tomorrow is one of my part-time days (work Monday's and Friday's!!), so I'll see what they say. Right now I'm leaning towards quitting totally at the bank and continue with my candle business!! Insurance or not! Like I said before, we pay our insurance, but do get a tax deduction thru my husband's business (he's self-employed). I'm rethinking because a little over a year ago we purchased a lot right next to my husband's shop and it has the building where my candle shop is in. We made that investment and I have a real hard time not going thru with that committment!! We could rent the building out as an office building to a small business . . . but . . . I just don't know!! We are glad we purchased the property so if my husband needs to expand his business he can, but it's not like we're made of money!! Yeeeeekkkk!! What to do . . . and no one can tell me exactly what to do!! Whatever decision I make I have to stick with!!

Yes, I did talk to him yesterday. I got more info on the insurance benefit and I asked if I could have a few days off when my daughter has her baby. She had asked if I would stay with them a few days - hey, can't pass that up!! I can take a few days off with no problem. Now the wage is still the problem. They feel that insurance is enough of a raise. I've worked there almost 4 years (part-time), so they won't have to train me and they know what I'm like. If I accept this position, I'm committed and will do the best I can do for them. He said if it comes to the wages holding me back we can talk to the president of the bank and work something out. Well, lets go talk!! I need to stick to my guns and get a little more. My brother is mad how employers treat women and men so differently (wage-wise). He encouraged me to get more up front before you get the job. Sometimes what they say will happen in the future just doesn't happen!! It's getting closer to decision day!! Thanks for everyone listening and replying to my dilemma!!

We've always had insurance, but being self-employed all our lives, the thought of someone else buying our insurance sounds great (especially to my husband!). That part of the full-time job thing is for him!! I know I would have a hard time giving up my freedom. He says if I decide to stay with my candles that I will have to make the business grow and possibly hire employees. Now the employee part sounds stressful to me!! My building isn't that big either, so would I have to take a loan to expand?? Trying to figure all of that out at my age (51), it sounds easier to go work somewhere else and do the candles on the side. Another thing that my husband says is that if I'd work full time till retirement that it would really help our social security (if it's still around by then!). I know being self-employed can help that also, but even though he tries to support me, I feel that he think making candles is piddly (sp?) I'm going to talk to the full-time boss again with more questions today - not giving him an answer yet!! Since I work there part-time now (2 days a week) -- he said my wage wouldn't increase, but the raise would be the insurance. I feel the wage should increase some for going to full time. More later!!!!

OK, it sounds like the most sensible thing is to take the full time job (with insurance and other benefits!) and keep my candles at a more part time thing. I'm sleeping on that tonight. Thanks for your help. If someone else has an idea, please let me know!