kate

Thanks for the tip dragontears, I'll try a little warmer next time - overall it's sticking, just bits and pieces are falling off now. And thanks for the links dayglow. I see candlewic suggests using their 4045H wax. I never even thought to look at their site for info, duh! I searched here and the archives and found lots of great pics, but not too many people seem to talk about the technique or wax choice.

Don't laugh (ok, go ahead, I know its bad!) ... this is my first attempt at a grubby (I ran out of wax before it was completely finished and I was too frustrated to mix more). What the heck do you do so pieces of it don't fall off every time it is moved? I had a woman approach me about supplying these when she saw my photo candles on display at a craft show. She wants the grubby to have cutouts so she can put votives inside, similar to the electric grubby, but the shell should not be scented. I mixed the wax by hand because I wasn't willing to sacrifice my mixer, but I think I'll need to find a cheap one if I'm going to do more of these. I used my standard HP wax for the core and candlewic 6228 wax to do the grubby part. I also have 4045H I'm going to try - anyone have experience with either of these and have an opinion about which one works better? Any insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Kate

Very nice!

Awww, she's so pretty! ... And the candle is too! I really like the oval shape you used.

I really like the look and the name, very cute. But, I'm on dial-up and your site is just way too slow - if I wasn't specifically looking at it because you asked, I wouldn't have stayed around for it to load ... it's actually still not loaded since I started typing this. Also, this is just personal preference, but if I have to click on something after I type in your web address, I won't bother entering. I really like your opening page, it's cute, but again, if I wasn't looking specifically at your site, I wouldn't have bothered clicking. Ok, it's finally loaded ... clicked on your gift basket link, and again taking waaaaay too long. For pics that small, they should pop up almost immediately. Maybe the experts can give you some suggestions on how to make things faster. I really do like the graphics and such that you picked, it's just too bogged down for my slow dial-up. Kate

Ok, here's my "secret" recipe for those of you who have been asking. I use Candlewic's 4045H wax - I can do both rustics and mottles with it. For the rustics, I add 2 T of stearic per lb of wax; 1/2 t UV inhibitor per lb; and 1 oz. FO per lb. I pour around 145-149 in chilled molds for the first pour. I find that the rustics always look nicer if they are tilted, even if I'm not layering with different colors or scents, the pattern from the tilting just makes for a nicer look. For each successive pour, I don't chill the molds at all, just pour the wax cool. For the mottles, I use 2 T of stearic per lb of wax; 1/2 t UV inhibitor per lb; and 1 oz. FO per lb. I heat my molds with the heat gun before pouring and pour anywhere from 177-191 (There's no ryhme or reason to the temp, just whatever the wax has heated/cooled to since transferring it from my presto to my roaster.) Now I just really hope that the atendees of my craft show Saturday like my pillars as much as you all do! Thank you everyone for your kind comments, it really does mean alot!!!

Thank you! I don't know if I have a secret, but here's a few things I try to do ... I pour around 145-149. I chill my molds before the first pour, but I just discovered that I don't need to ice them or cool them down after each layer, they actually turn out better when I don't do that. And the most important thing is patience when unmolding ... I always want to rush it so I can see how it looks, but that will destroy the frosted look if the candle isn't completely cool.

Me too, hence the whole group of them - they are scented pumpkin pie. The others ones are Strawberries and Cream, Grandma's Swingin' Eggnog and Blackberry Sage. The photo doesn't do the blackberry sage justice, it's much more stunning in person.

Ohhh, I want one! The whole thing looks looks great, very professional.

I'm getting ready for a show next Saturday - these are just a few I worked on this weekend.

I generally have to use 10-12 drops per lb of wax plus a touch of black to get a nice dark color with the coffee.

Good luck! I'm sure you'll do great - and I can't wait to see pics of your displays.

Hi there! Thanks for the suggestion, I'll try that when I get home tonight. I think that might work. I really appreciate everyone's comments, it's so hard to be objective about these things. And I really am open to suggestions, if anyone else has any thoughts please let me know! Thanks! Kate

Thanks for chiming in, I appreciate the comments!

My dad just helped me revamp part of my basement into an actual crafting room (with a new wall and door!), it's fabulous - not fancy, but very comfortable. I have pale yellow walls, and I picked that orange color for the door and some of the shelving. The door has been in the house for close to 100 years, and when we painted it, it came out really neat and I fell in love with it. It's hard to tell from the label, but some of the original dark color shows through the paint and gives a nice rustic effect ... Anyway, I've been contemplating a new name for a while now - I always like the ones that don't have anything to do with candles - and when I saw that door it just hit me. I know it's an odd name, but I think it will stick with people. (My own family couldn't remember if I was "Candles by Kate" or "Kate's Candles" so I didn't figure I had much chance of anyone else remembering either!) Now that I'm looking at the label here, maybe I need to superimpose a candle over the image of the door? It needs something ... this is just not where my creativity lies ...

I've had an identity crisis and decided to change my business name. Until now I've only sold to people I know or friends of friends, that type of thing. I decided it's time to get into the craft show circuit and really get my website going, so I changed from Candles By Kate to Orange Door Candle Co. This is my first attempt at my new hang tags for my pillars. I'm looking for honest, constructive criticism - I want to use the door, but I’m just not sure I like how it is now. Thanks for looking and sharing your opinions! Kate

I'll be very interested to see how your candles burn, as I had posed the recent question about concave vs. flat. Just FYI, I concluded that I do have to wick up on my concave candles. Of course I wasn't smart enough to document my findings with pics. :embarasse Kate P.S. - those candles are beautiful, love the color!

Thanks for the input. I've been looking around the Pennsylvania govt. web site, but I can't find anywhere that says I can't use it. I keep finding things that tell me if I do incorporate, I have to use co. or inc. I was hoping someone had something bookmarked that would tell me for sure. I'll have to call and ask someone about it on Monday. Kate EDITED to add: Doh! I just found the following at a page I had bookmarked a long time ago ... "To register an assumed or fictitious business name, form DSCB: 54-311 must be filed. This application must contain the following information: The fictitious name. It does not have to contain a corporate designator such as "corporation," or "limited". It may contain a corporate designator if the owner is a corporation. The use of the word "company" or "co." in a fictitious name by a sole proprietorship or a corporation is permissible."That info came from http://www.dos.state.pa.us/corps/cwp/view.asp?a=1093&q=431168 and applies to Pennsylvania businesses.

I know there have been discussions about this before, but for some reason when I do a search none of them are coming up. I know I've read that you can't use the word "company" in your name if you're not an actual company just a sole proprietorship, but can someone point me in the direction of some documentation about this? Also, does it differ from state to state? I'm in Pennsylvania. Thanks for the help! Kate

I don't care about using the same wick in the flat and concave - I have several odd-shaped molds that I use different wicks for - I was just hoping that I wouldn't have to start all over with testing. Since the 24 ply works well in the flat, I was assuming it would work just as nicely in the concave - and once again I learn that I can't assume anything. Thanks for your input Top, I really appreciate it!

Thank you for chiming in, I really thought I was nuts. I test in burn cycles of 3 1/2 to 4 hours for my 3" pillars, mainly because I preach to everyone who buys a candle about burning it the first time an hour for every inch of diameter ... etc., etc. I'm usually a little conservative on wicking because I fear the powerburners who let candles burn for 6, 7 or even 8 hours and wonder why the wax is in a big pool on the floor. I like a little shell left at 4 hours, enough that the wax won't break through if someone does let it go for a long time. At the same time, I worry about someone only burning 2 hours and it tunneling the whole way down. Ahhh, the frustrations of wicking. I had all my metal molds down pat with the wicks, and I was hoping these new molds would act the same, but I guess it's just time to test, test, test and then test some more!

I used the same wax I've been using, the 4045H, and the scents I've tried aren't new either. I'm quite perplexed now! Thanks for the input!

Ohhhhh, I love them!!! The colors are really lovely.

Has anyone noticed having to wick up on molds with concave tops, as opposed to flat tops? I just got a bunch of new aluminum molds and they have the concave top. I used to only use the metal ones that have a flat top (and by top I do mean bottom of the actual mold). I usually use 24 ply in my 3x4 round candles, but the ones with the concave tops are tunneling. Anyone else had this happen?

Those are beautiful!