Candle Kitty

Actually, Judy yeah that originally started me on the marbles, but since I use dye chips instead of liquid, I had to revamp the technique and since there are those that use chips as well, I thought I'd throw my technique into the barrel as well.

Forgot to add that this candle is pink and burgundy, a dark burgundy at that, there's places on this candle that almost looks black, but I LOVE it!

OMG, I LOVE THIS CANDLE!!!

http://www.candletech.com/forums/showthread.php?p=80535#post80535

God, it ROCKS to be back!!

Last one!!

Okay, the candle is NOT that unlevel, the deck post is. Doesn't help I was in a weird position myself!

I'm not too excited am I???

Second Angle.

Okay, several posts coming, I took a bunch of pictures of the candle itself outside and it shows several angles, bear with me, there's like five pictures.

This is one of two candles I'm currently working the instructions on, the other is Asian Sandalwood. This one isn't wicked yet, nor is it leveled, I was too excited when I slipped it out of the mold to see what I did. I honestly don't think I'll burn this one, it's going on my breakfast bar along with a 3 x 3 and a 3 x 9 once I get more wax on a mirror. It matches my kitchen and living room BEAUTIFULLY!

Okay guys, I'm ready...

Going downstairs now to get my marble that's been rattling in my head for two weeks into wax and a mold. I'm taking pictures as I go, my marble technique will be available tonight!

Just gotta grab my music, see you guys tonight!!

Yep, yep, very pretty blue!

Black Raspberry Vanilla, that's all I've got going today since I work this weekend.

Oh, and top off some Fruit Slices votives to get into samples. Other than that, resting when I'm not working, still wore down a little

First if you are related to Donita.. Than YOU MUST make some kick ass candles. I love her work. Must be in the blood...

Nope, not related by blood, just by our love of wax. I think I just got adopted, if that's the case, WOO HOO! I love getting new aunt's, they're the COOLEST!

Woo Hoo, Party At Top's Pad!!!

I swear, I'm working on those instructions TO-NIGHT! lol

Love them all hon, great work.

I like the one down on the lower right that's called Stoner Urethane Mold Release. That's probably the one I should get. If the candle doesn't come out right I'll just giggle and order pizza.

Want some company?? Sounds like a fun night with fire if you ask me!!!

but you know that out of this will come a lesson.....grasshopper.....it will all work our....promoise. Auntie D

Thank you Auntie!! You're always the best!

Sometimes, just my JOB is like being in high school again, the last thing I wanted to deal with is this. If it weren't for the fact that I love my job so much, I'd start looking for another one, it gets THAT BAD sometimes. I'm quickly learning to vehemently dislike my co-workers, but the funny thing is, it makes me love my job all the more.

Last word I heard about my situation is that several people I KNOW I can count on were giving those girls a seriously hard time. One of them was getting razed on so hard that she asked to go home early.

Little sis said no.

BWA HA!

I just fired their lousy butts from being my testers. I can't touch either one of them as far as actual firing. I think that's a good thing, if I had the opportunity to, I probably would have last night.

I've got a way to retaliate, and they won't like it when I get done with it either, but it's obvious there's no love loss between us because of this issue anyway. I just got back a few minutes ago, I had made some 3 x 3 pillars for them as thank you gifts (did that for all my testers) and I gave theirs to the big boss that loves the Jamaica Me Crazy and the supervisor on duty right now (happens to be my little sister, they've got her seething, feel sorry for them when they go into work tonight....wait, no I don't) to burn. Both were scented Fruit Slices and when I left, big boss already had his burning in his office and I could smell the FO as I was walking down the hallway. Little sis had hers burning as well and I left them both a few business cards.

I don't know what I'm more shocked about. I know for a fact that my candles are good, the other two testers are constantly foaming at the mouth for a new test candle and one of the fired testers had taken one of my pillars home and her mom snatched it from her and then called me later to comment how well it burned and how good it smelled.

Some of the candles I would take into work, just sitting on the desk were getting rave reviews for how well they looked and how good they smelled even before I lit the wick. If they want to play that stupid game, they'll lose in the end. And if by some chance they're thinking of starting their own business, they've got another thing coming, we all know that. But it scares me in the same sense if they are. One year of test burning candles is way different than actually making them.

I don't know if I should scream and throw things or just sit down and have a good cry. Just when you think you know people, they turn around and kill you because of one reason or another. It's getting to the point where if someone would ask me to move to the mountains with no contact other than internet, I'd probably say yes and when do you want me there while I'm shoving cats in cat carriers.

Since I started getting serious with the wax playing, I pulled four people from everyone I know, people I thought I could trust and asked them to be testers for me. They loved the idea, said it was about time I sold them, blah blah blah. I have two votive testers, one container and tart tester and one 'I don't burn candles right, I just burn them' pillar tester (my best friend. You'd like her Top, pyromaniac like you). Things have been going fabulous for the last year, they were slinging back the kind of critiques I needed, what scents they didn't like, which ones they loved, gave me mountains of ideas, it couldn't have been a better batch of testers. They held no punches back, something I told them they would have to do if I was going to make good quality SAFE candles. Three of my testers are girls at work, I think my first mistake.

Since my down time due to the pneumonia, I had kind of held back on telling anyone when I would start selling/taking orders, I just didn't know (and still don't) how long I would be out of the candle making. I wanted my strength back 100%. But I was still getting bugged, so I quietly started telling a few of the girls that I would take small orders and they were excited. So last night, I took my order forms into work with me, sat down with the two that were there that I agreed to take an early order from and gave them both a sample bag of Love Spell, one votive and a couple of mini-tarts. We kept it quiet and discreet, I even drop kicked my big boss out of his office for a little bit so we could have some peace (gotta love the bosses that actually enjoy getting drop kicked by employees, they're so much fun).

When we were done, I had another gal come to me and ask about a candle party. Hadn't even considered that avenue yet and told her that it wouldn't be until sometime in January, only because of the sickness, the Christmas season and I was not in a position to do them yet. She didn't care, was even excited that I agreed to it and we made it a point to get together later in the evening to discuss a good time and how many people, blah blah.

I was happy, really happy for about two hours. I had a couple of orders under my belt, was thinking about the party, ideas floating in my head, I felt good. Until the candle party gal came back to me and said she changed her mind and that she was hurt. Okay, stop, time out, CUT and I asked what the hell happened in the two hours since we last talked. Two of my testers were there at work and when she told them that I was going to do a candle party, they IMMEDIATELY started downtalking me, told her that I was basically producing "poo" (best way I could think to save sensitive ears, we all know what that really means) candles and the only reason they agreed to even test for me was because it meant free candles. One of them even went so far as to say that one of my votives exploded in her kitchen.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would have lost my job had I followed through with my original thought. A good hard backhand with a closed fist would have changed their tune pretty quick, not to mention possibly a broken jaw considering how much red I was seeing I was so mad. I didn't say anything the rest of the night to either of the testers, also didn't say much to the party gal and wouldn't you know it, the two gals I took the small orders from hit me before they left their shift, returning the Love Spell back to me.

I do NOT even know how to begin to fix this situation, most of my sales WOULD have come from work. I even had guys on the ramp come to me and ask about anniversary and Christmas gifts and I had the Regional Director ask me if I could produce a 'company candle', which I whole-heartedly said 'hell yeah!' and THEN some. I DID fire the two testers before they left for the night, and I DID get some satisfaction from seeing the look on their faces when they realized they were busted big and not getting anymore exploding free candles from me.

When I got home this morning, I went downstairs for a bit and just stood in my workspace looking at everything and wondering what the hell I did to those two to cause this sudden about-face on me. I even caught myself a couple of times even doubting myself on the whole candle making venture. I'm still fighting that one to be honest.

Anybody have any ideas at all? I'm so damned lost at the attacks, not to mention this hurt me deep because I thought I could trust those two. What's even worse is that because of my schedule, I'm off today and tomorrow (work two, off two), which means this is going to get a chance to spread like wildfire before I can even get back to work and put it out.

Beautiful as always hon!!

Ok, got my riot shield in place, commence rock throwing :tiptoe:

NO way, Ducky!! It's a good point!! We've all had good points on this thread. Just kills me though that a little girl had to suffer and WILL suffer the consequences.

....tell them that yours is better than triple scented - it holds the maximum amount of fragrance it's able to hold for the type of wax!!!

Good Idea, mama!!!!

Good to see that you are feeling better and "scratching on your post again".........(smile)....:smiley2:

LOL, yeah, the old claws were definitely dull. Feels good to stretch them paws and get them working again. ~purrs~

I actually use the Universal Additive and my white is usually very white.

I actually will heap the wax over the top of the votive cup and then take a knife. While the wax is still warm, I'll slice through the heaped wax vertically and horizontally then pull the wax off the candle. Then as a finishing touch, I'll heat it up with the gun just enough to get a small layer of melted wax. Leaves a nice, smooth top and you'll still have the swirls.

Sorry for the delay in response, was sleeping since I have to work tonight :embarasse

You really must get over your respirator shyness. It's the new fashion trend and you were smart to keep yours until it came into style. Soon all the cool chandlers will be wearing one. You don't want to look like some kind of dork pouring candles without a respirator, do you?

I'm a dork, and proud of it!!!

Actually, something amazing just happened. Was downstairs doing laundry and decided to finish topping off the votives while I was down there and I can smell the eggnog!!! Oh happy day!!

Make sure to post pics, darlin'!!! Can't wait to see them!