SoyKandles

How about . . . Reflection Candleworks . . .

Alajane:

I had my dad made me a holder for my roll of shrink wrap out of wood scraps. It kinds of looks like a toilet paper holder only pointing up. There's a square base that is laying on the table with arms sticking up and then a cross bar to hang the roll of shrink wrap from. This works really nice and didn't cost a thing -- now if you all had a wood-working dad to make things like this for you!!

Susan

I have searched and found some at Carolina Candles & Supplies, Candle Science, Nuscent Candle and with a little help . . . at Burch Bottle. Candle Soylutions might even have the 10 oz. size, but are out of stock right now. Now to see which one has the best price!

Thanks for the help!

Susan

I just found out I'm looking for the Frosted Candelina Jar. Sorry for the confusion!

Susan

Thanks for the info Tilly, but I cannot find the frosted bulb jar. There is a frosted round jar, but it doesn't have the same shape. Am I blind??

Are these jars out of style? I've looked all over and they are out of stock at the Jar Store; at Fancy Candle Jars.com they are expecting these in the middle of August . . . where do I find these?

I have a box of 12 and don't remember where I bought them - it was a long time ago. I like these jars because they look sophisticated!! I'm looking for a different jar other than all of the rusty-looking containers I use now.

I hope someone can help!

Thanks,

Susan

www.soyglocandleco.com

The word Garden could imply "a lot of" luxuries. In a garden there are lots of flowers or lots of vegetables. So you have many luxuries to choose from that Mary makes!! Does that make sense?

I have a Lemon Pound Cake from KY that doesn't have the fuel smell (using soy wax). It also has a great scent throw.

You might not like this solution, but I've purchased a 2" round punch at Hobby Lobby and used that in a pinch. The punches cost around $12. You can then buy the full sheet sticker and punch it out.

Thanks for all of your thoughts! I was so busy that I didn't take the time to do my candle books!! I finally forced myself before my appointment. Maybe I'm taking on too many projects!! I figured if I ended the year with $6,000 + in my checking account and I bought all of that stuff, I would have more of a profit. This year I'm definately making the bookwork more of a priority!! And I do need to refigure my prices to see if I'm on track. I'll keep making candles because I love to!!

Being a former addict myself I have a simple practice now that really cuts down on all of that stuff that you really want but don't really need....

Wait. I bookmark it and wait a week. If I still feel like I need it in a week I will buy it. Most of the time I look at it again and I do not feel that urge.

____________

This sounds like a good way to cure those urges!! I think I'm going to try this! Hopefully, I can join the "former addict" group soon!

This is part of my problem I have also!! I started a thread about how depressing our tax appointment was . . . I thought I made more money than the accountant said I made!! I thought right away that I need to stop buying all of those samples, and supplies for new products that I'll never complete!! Guilty as charged here too!!

We had our tax appointment today and things don't look so rosey now!! Yes, I made money, but the bottom line wasn't near as good as I thought it would be. I did buy quite a bit of shelving, some furniture pieces for display, and some work tables for my work room. (I moved my candle business into a building in September where I can make & sell my candles, lotions, etc.)

This is depressing!! Should I quit what I enjoy doing and just get a full-time job elsewhere? I already have 2 part-time jobs plus my candle business. My gross sales went up one and a half times from last year, but the bottom line stayed about the same as the last year.

If anyone would want to share their experiences and get me out of the dumps, I would appreciate it!!

I just got a sample of WSP's Sunflower and poured a tester candle. It smells good, but I'm not sure if it's like Yank***. This didn't help you but I hope someone else will respond here. I'm curious also.

I probably would not reply either. Or just say to start researching on the internet or her public library and let her do the work just like we all did.

It's fine to help someone when you can tell they've done some work researching themselves, but to give them everything . . . that's crazy!!

I think I'll borrow my daughter's new camera first and see if that makes a difference. Just thought of that . . . better late than never, I guess!!

Let me know Dest what the best kind of camera to buy is!!

I tried freezer paper at first and it was too transparent and made the background look gray. I was then told to use white posterboard and that worked better. I've tried it outside in the shade, in the sun even . . . since I've tried EVERYTHING maybe it is my camera. But if I can take a good picture for my website with the rustic backgrounds that I want, I guess that's more important to me.

About GROW Nebraska - the first year I didn't see many benefits, but this will be my 3rd year in it and I have been getting more stores added to my wholesale list because they have seen my products in a GROW Nebraska store. For for me, I think it's worth it - right now anyway!

Prairieannie: Yep, it takes Nebraska to make things difficult!! Then on top of it, they say we cannot use any photo shop to improve the picture. I think I'm just going to have a crappy picture in the catalog, which doesn't make me happy!!

Dest - my daughter told me that my digital camera is too old. Maybe I should invest in a new one also.

The other option is to pay someone to take "professional" pictures, but that $75 (a picture) and that money I could use towards a new digital camera. I only need 2 pictures, but I'm being stubborn and I'm not wanting to pay someone else for taking my pictures!!

Thanks for all of the input!

Susan

I'm trying to take a picture for a different catalog. I'm part of GROW Nebraska (a group that helps "Nebraska made" products) and they are putting together a new catalog. Their pictures require a solid white background. I can't figure out how I could take the pictures for my website, but cannot take a single picture on the solid white background that looks clear.

I too like the photos with something in the background (like SoapersWorkshop said). My candles are more down the rustic / primitive line - now stark white!!

I'm determined to get it -- thanks for your help!!

Susan

I've taken lots of pictures lately just trying to get one good picture!! I've searched for help and then I put together a light box with the plastic stearlite box and lights clamped to it with the "natural light" light bulbs. I've taken some outside on an overcast day - some on a sunny day too. I've taken with incandencent (sp?) bulbs; taken close up and further away. I'm just having a horrible time with this. I've used different settings on my digital camera too. I'm to my end!! I really need help!! I've taken pictures for my website and thought they turned out pretty good, so what's going on now!!??

Thanks for any help,

Susan

www.soyglocandleco.com

I've found with push tubes, if you cool your mixture till it's forming a scum on the top and then pour into the push tubes, this helps so they don't slip so easily. The push tubes I'm using now came with instructions to pour between certain temperatures (can't remember right now). After the first pour, I reheat the mixture that has stuck to my mixing container and finish filling the last tube. The refill temperature doesn't matter as much if you let the first pour set up.

Susan

I do have insurance and feel it is a necessity if I'm in business. I hate to pay for insurance, but it's just part of life.

It really upsets me that someone would sue another person or business over their irresponsibility. And for another insurance company to pursue this to avoid paying out to their customer is sad. I realize this is the way things work, but I guess I don't have to like it!! I hope none of us get sued! But be wise and get insurance. I have insurance for candle & soapmaking and the cost is reasonable for 1 million coverage. The insurance company I deal with feels my business is a low risk - it's probably the area where I live also.

Great question. I've stored mine and it's worked well for me. I was hoping I was doing things right!!

jgcurtis1961 -- I sent you a pm you. From another Nebraskan!

Ingrid - C&S is Candles & Supplies, right? I've read about this enhancer, but they don't say what's in it. Do you know what's in it? Maybe it doesn't make any difference, but I like to know what's in things. Thanks!