Wessex

As soon as I finally bought a smart phone, I signed up for SquareUp. It is very easy to use and set up. I believe there are a few people that use it on the boards. Of course, I do not really do many shows, so have not had the chance to use it yet (other than running my own card to see how it worked). Cheers, Steve

I put a few items on Artfire the same day I started listing on Etsy, and they have gotten only about 10% of the hits as on Etsy. Just no traffic, but at least I set up a merchant account on Amazon for Artfire, so I have that now. I have been searching through Etsy for a few hours, and my fingers are sore from reporting resellers, LOL. I am an ass! Maybe I should sell supplies there, the price people are getting for palm and soy wax is pretty good. Oh, and in case you all did not know this...palm wax comes from Palm trees (not the nut (kernal), the tree) that are grown and harvested in the US. Wow!!! Yes, feeling grumpy, LOL. Think I should take a pain pill and go to bed. But am busy pouring tarts and clamshells. Not for any orders, just feel like pouring something, LOL. Damn I'm bored... Cheers, Steve

I just got through reading a whole bunch of stuff on their forums, and I must admit I am a bit taken aback. It seems like they run the site like a dictatorship. What they say is the "word" and you better not disagree with them. To me, it appears they have set up their own little "regime", with the people who pay their salaries as the minions, LOL. I am afraid to even post anything in case they decide to send the Etsy Police my way. OK, I am blowing it a little out of proportion, but really, it does not feel like a place I want to be. And yes, I am a newbie there, so have little experience with them. But there are posters actually begging Admin to step in and offer some answers and they are no where to be found. Except when they are closing threads for no real reason. Sorry if I offend any longtime Etsy'ers, just offer ing my (unsolicited) opinion. But of course, I still listed a few new items tonight, LOL... Cheers, Steve

I just filled a large retail order (tarts and clamshells) that included Fresh Linen, Clean Cotton, Beach Linen, Black Linen & Amber and Cashmere & Silk (I think it is a "clean" scent). And interestingly enough, it included a couple sandalwood FO's, too! Vanilla Sandalwood and Indian Sandalwood are both starting to move. I had to start it, but once they were out there, they are doing well. Cheers, Steve Oh, almost forgot there was a couple of clamshells of Downy Fresh.

Because if you say something on their forums, the thread gets immediately closed, your shop gets closed and they take a kidney, LOL. So anyway, decided a few weeks ago to try out Etsy (also Artfire, but very little traffic there). Have heard that it was going downhill a bit, but wanted to try it anyway. So just put a few items on, no promoting or anything so was not expecting anything. Was planning to do a large push this week and list a couple hundred items, but am having second thoughts. Seems like Etsy is definately losing its purpose. Of course they say no reselling, but there are LOTS of people reselling, including whole shops that are nothing but dropshipping site for OBI and other wholesalers. Which again is a no-no. Went on a spree of reporting items that violated the TOS, but not a single item has been removed by the Admin. It seems they are turning a blind eye to resellers and are going for the money. It appears to me it is going to turn into another Ebay (Chinese wholesalers and US resellers) before too long. Also in the forums there are lots of people asking Admin about it, and are getting TOTALLY IGNORED. So is it just me, or is Etsy not a good place to go for new sellers. I imagine if you already have a following you are going to be OK. And of course it will take ALOT of time, work and promoting to get noticed. There are so many sellers competing there. So that is my little rant, sorry it rattles around a bit. Anyone else think Etsy is going to renounce it's proven "handmade, vintage, supplies only" route in search of the mighty dollar? Cheers, Steve

Very Nice! Steve

I can tell you that Gaia smells like dirt, LOL. I guess it is living up to it's name. I actually have a 1 ouncer right here, never put it in wax. The Fairy Garden is kinda "sickly" sweet to me, but I do like it. HT was excellent, too. I still have the Earthen Oak and Harvest Moon here, too. Never liked them enough to put them in wax. Went crazy one day and ordered a sample of everything she had at the time. Was around 30 scents at that time, but have not seen most of them in a long time. Still have alot of the samples, glad I never tested them out to find they were discontinued. But I will say it again, Merlin's Forest and her version of Witches Brew is 'da bomb'. Probably use more of these FO's for myself than for customers, LOL. Cheers, Steve

I am sorry I jumped the gun on the Spam comment, my fault. As far as the math part, it is still cheaper for me with shipping. So you learn math. Steve

Better price http://www.webstaurantstore.com/dart-200pc-2-oz-plastic-souffle-portion-cup-2500-cs/760P200B.html OP was pretty much a spammer. Cheers, Steve

I love Merlin's Forest, Celtic Mist and Witches Brew. Definate must haves for candles. Cheers, Steve

Aztec is carrying the new IGI R-2322 (from Britz Wax). It is in small "bead" form similiar to Feather Palm. This is the brand IGI has switched to after the quality issues last year with the old PT Sumi Ashi glassglow. It is the same wax I have been using for months now, and it is Glassglow (unless maybe there is a quality issue again). The current batch I have is B101107-12. Like I said, I have been using it for months and it is pretty much the same as the old GG that I used to get from CS. Same pattern, same burn, etc. Oh, and GG Palm will not come out of souffle cups (I have tried and it has never worked) because it is a low shrink container wax. If I make Palm tarts, I use Feather. Cheers, Steve

Another thread on this you probably did not see. http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?98495-Moonworks-Floral-Muse-Pre-Buy Cheers, Steve

Hey All, Hoping ya'll could point me in the direction of a wholesale source for decorative jars/bottles for reed diffusers. I have been using Couronne.com, but looking to expand a bit. Tried searching here (with the google search, as the site search is pretty useless now), and also Googled around, but not a whole lot of luck. Thanks, Steve

I have always tested votives straight through from start to finish at one go. Have very seldom done timed interval burns with them. I figure most people will burn a votive for long periods of time, so that is what I do. Have never had any problems at all (Feather, Starburst and Featherburst wax). But I consider votives the easiest thing in the world: burn time, HT (and CT), making sure the glass doesn't get too hot is about all that I look for. Cheers, Steve

I generally use the CSN 12 for most FO's. The CSN 11 is often a bit too small, leading to a meltpool that accumulates too much wax. This means the meltpool will melt through the side because it is not being burned fast enough by the smaller wick. An underwicked pillar will either tunnel or blow out. The joys of testing! Cheers, Steve

That was the point. That's why I see a newbie with a site they want you to visit...not me! Cheers, Steve

Here is a good supplier if you need smaller than case quantity. $25.95 for 100. http://candlesupplys.us/100clamshelltartmolds-noflatrate.aspx Cheers, Steve

I hate toting all the heavy bags of money to the bank...oh, you said candlemaking, sorry. Cheers, Steve

It's a Spam post. Steve

That is one company that I have never set up a wholesale account with. Hopefully someone has used them and can give us a heads up on their customer service. Steve

I use both their pillar and votive shrink wrap and have been very pleased with the results. With the pillar wrap, I cut it to size depending on the size of the pillar, and it works great. It leaves an opening at the top and at the bottom. The overlap on the base is enough that your warning label can adhere to the shrink wrap (we all know that the labels don't stick to well to the wax). Same with the votive shrink wrap. I use a heat gun, not a hairdryer, like some people do. So, yes, it is a good product and I like it. BTW, I use the 3" x 9" pillar shrink wrap and cut it to size, you can get alot more pillars wrapped for just a little bit more money. Cheers, Steve

Hey Suzy, Get your butt in gear and start melting some wax!!! It is quite easy once you get the hang of it. Just make sure you do test the FO's, some just don't throw well in my soy wax (lots of FO's gathering dust at my place LOL). So anyway...GET IT IN GEAR...MELT SOME WAX And have fun. Cheers, Steve

That is the reason for testing, LOL. Sometimes things just don't meet our standards. But there are certain FO's and combinations that have great throw. It just takes alot of trial and error to find the combinations that work. I just don't have the time to branch into yet another area. I have my hands full constantly testing new FO's and tweaking my current lines. I am never happy with my products (can you say slightly OCD with the testing, LOL). I briefly dabbled with aroma beads and found several FO's that worked great and lasted a long time, but many petered out after less than 3 weeks in my car. Just a matter of finding the right FO's. Cheers, Steve

First post and advertising website...see if they come back? Oh, and "triple scented" sends me over the edge and I just want to email asking WTF it means. I have actually posted candles for sale and say they are NOT "triple scented" because that phrase means absolutely nothing..irks me to no end. Steve

Well 9 buck covers the cost of the clamshells at least, LOL. As far as dressing for shows, I have only done one show and I wore a beautiful, gaudy Hawaiian shirt and CLEAN blue jeans. Best part about it...it was a political event (complete with Congressman and Secret Service) and everyone was in business dress LOL. (BTW George Allen (ex Va governor, ex Senator and running for senate in 2012) bought 2 candles! But back to the thread. I really hope you did not bid on those beasties! Cheers, Steve