Samples in the works!

I didn't forget about you, my dear friends!!  I have a list of 15 addresses (wow, you guys are fabulous!) and have samples going on right now!  As most of you know, I have fibromyalgia, and when things like hurricanes and cold fronts blow through (or both at once), the barometric pressure just kills my body and I move at the pace of a turtle--hence my slow progress.  It takes a while for these things to set, too, and I want to include all of you in my research!  So thanks for the great response, and you'll be hearing from me soon...

I Need Volunteers!

 

Yes, Y-O-U!!  Now that I'm starting to grasp this candle science thing, I need to build my own test panel!  I think about what keeps me from creating candles for sale, and the truth is that I can't possibly burn enough test candles to learn where I need to improve and what wicks won't work with what size or wax.  And the biggest downside to making candles is that candle makers become insensitive to the throw and scent of the candles, so we end up wasting fragrance oils trying to overmix the batch to make it smell good.

I need a few people willing to suck it up and burn some of these candles.  They won't be big candles, they may not even be pretty candles, but they'll be FREE candles!  So, anyone want to make that sacrifice for the sake of a poor graduate student's wallet?  Does it tug at your heart strings any more if I throw in that I'm married to a school teacher?  Should I beg, pout, and plead?

So essentially, you'll get 2-3 test candles, probably votives or small containers, each one different from the next.  You may or may not like the scent, but do be honest about if it represents its description fairly.  You'll have to give each candle a brutal, but constructive, report card...and all of your efforts will help a young, broke lass like me.  It's my final semester of business school, the time when they suddenly only want us to use brand new 39th edition unabridged accounting texts that run about $20/pound of text...and then pay for that $50 virtual business team software that counts for half of our grade...oh, and don't forget to pay your fee for graduation, buy your cap, gown, and robe, and shouldn't you be showing off your school spirit with a personalized degree frame and class ring?  *banging head against empty wallet*

And if nothing else good comes from it, you got to enjoy free candles.  =)  Sign up--I got my email account linked on the side, and I'll ship to wherever need be as long as you promise to grade me!

Black & Whites

 

These are my medium-sized palm candles, and they came out so cool!  The square candle is 4"X4", and the round is 4"X3.5".  These would make such cute votives, huh?

  

I like this little guy...it's a leather scented candle, and making it made my house smell just wonderful.  I was leery on the leather, until I learned that there is a secret leather candle collecting subculture out there!

I was curious to know how a white palm candle would turn out, since the color is one factor of how the palm wax will crystallize.  I love this, it's gorgeous!  I see this and wonder why palm wax isn't popular for wedding candles?  This little guy is coconut milk. 

School starts today...ugh.  I don't have time to study, I have exciting things working in my kitchen! 

On my Candle Box, So to Speak

Why Palm Wax?

•  *The main ingredient in palm wax is palm oil, which is obtained from the fruit of palm oil trees. Palm oil is actually a "virgin" oil, because it is obtained just by steaming and pressing the palm fruit.
• *The oil palm tree is a natural renewable resource. It has a higher yield and is more resilient than any other oilseed crop. No artificial fertilizers or chemical treatments are required for its cultivation. 
• *Palm wax has a unique crystalline structure that is quite attractive.  Each candle’s crystal pattern is unique as the wax reacts to the color, scent, and mold pattern—no two palm wax candles are alike.
• *Palm wax candles are virtually dripless and soot-free.
• *Palm wax holds twice as much fragrance as paraffin or soy wax.
  

Why Soy Wax?

• *Soy wax is made directly from the soy bean.  The production of soy wax does not involve processes harmful to the environment, and contains no crude oil products. 
• *Soy wax is often advertised as “100% American” because U.S. suppliers--including the ones used here--purchase their soybeans from local farmers.
• *Soy wax burns “clean”, meaning it is virtually soot-free.  Many fans of soy candles claim that they find soy candles do not bother their allergies in the way that paraffin candles do.
• *The texture of soy wax is naturally creamy, with a unique, soft smell.  When mixed with other colors and fragrances, the results are a richer, more fragrant candle than other waxes and gels.

Why not Paraffin?

• *Paraffin wax is made from petroleum by-products, and often contains toxic additives used to manipulate the clarity and malleability of the wax.  The higher quality the paraffin candle, the more additives that were needed to create it.
• *Studies have begun to indicate that paraffin may contain as many as 11 carcinogen agents as a result of its petroleum chemicals. 
• *The EPA has begun to release studies connecting the burning of paraffin indoors to the increased cases of Black Soot Deposition (BSD), a toxic home condition that results from burning carbon-containing chemicals.  BSD can cause irritation of the lungs, and is harmful to those who already suffer from common lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, and COPD.
• *Paraffin wax undergoes the same refining process as all other crude oil products, making it harmful to more environments than just the homes it burns in.  We are already an oil-dependent society in terms of transportation, why do more harm to decorate our homes and offices?   
  

 I only use paraffin for my hurricane lanterns, since paraffin is the only virtually-clear wax on the market, and I am very careful to use only the necessary amount of paraffin wax.  Yes, I learned how to make candles using paraffin wax, but once I learned the differences in the wax, I vowed to only use soy and palm wax in the candles I plan to sell that will be burned.  It makes my inner hippie feel happy.  *smile*

New Hurricane Lantern

 

Size small.  This is the 4"X4" autumn lantern I did the other day.  The larger lanterns run roughly 6"X5", but they seem huge compared to this little guy.  I know, I do a lot with the leaves, but I'm eager for autumn to get here! 

Coming soon!

Wooden wick candles and reed diffusers.  YAY!!!

Not the Gothic Candles

I worked some on those, but I wasn't happy with the color and have to redo the pillar candle.  Instead, I thought I would share my new soy candles.  I usually take my pictures in natural light so that the quality shows better, but I was a little late doing so today.

Today's theme:  fruit.

First, the container candles.  The color isn't as orange as I'd like, but the smell is awesome...pumpkin spice.

I got a little overzealous with these.  I was shooting for bartlett pear/vanilla sugar/Macintosh apple, but I got too happy with the pear and my candles suffered...hence the lack of apple with the pyramid candle.  I plan to break these down and redo them, but you get the idea.

Working on small hurricane lanterns tonight.

I'm back!

Vacation is over!  Spending time with the better part of my family is always good for the soul.  I've been relaxed, rejuvenated, and, most importantly, inspired.  That's right, I found my newest project in the old antique stores of the Ozarks...wood wicks.  On the hunt now for the perfect wicks...wish me luck!

Working on candles for my brother today.  Some of my goth friends will appreciate these.

Going away...

I did another personalized hurricane lantern and I can't wait to share it...has to wait, though, since it's a gift and I don't want to risk it getting seen early.  Same with the container candle I just finished, and I'm expecting some new wax, scents, and molds to come in tomorrow or Monday. 


But, I'll be outtie for the next week or so...going to spend some time with my brother, taking him to see the aunt & uncle. Before that, I'll be spending time time with some old friends just chillin' & relaxin'...I can't wait!  I will return in about 8ish days!!  =)

Playing with Paraffin

I decided to experiment with color yesterday. Now that I know the results, I have all sorts of ideas for shapes, additives, colors...I've got a plan for a brighter version of this:



I have a lot more projects I'm doing this week that I won't be able to share until I get back from vacation. They are gifts, and I don't the wrong people to see them early. =)

As promised...

...new pictures. I just couldn't let the soy candles be misrepresented like that. I think these pictures show the quality of the wax a little better, and the creamy, natural texture of the candles. I just wish you could smell these...especially that vineyard candle. I made that one to match my MIL's house. I was looking for something a little art-deco that would match her grape theme.

I was very impressed at how well the cappuccino candle came out. Paraffin would not have blended that smoothly--I would have been left with clumps and my colors would have run together.

As you can see in the container candle, soy also tends to be a little softer than paraffin. I didn't do a repour on that one, which is why there is the gap near the wick. Paraffin would have caved in the center, so this is evidence of the better quality of soy. I should also note that I'm using soy for molds and not containers, but it's working OK so far. I'm not sure my budget can handle a 4th type of wax just yet...

And now, the hurricane lanterns

Picture embedded lantern:




And the "autumn collection":




These are definitely my favorite to do, but they require a lot of (expensive) wax and are an all-day event. But they sure are beautiful, aren't they? I see Christmas presents...

Soys are here!

Oh, how I wish those pictures did those candles justice! They are just so silky smooth, so creamy, and smell SO good! In order, we have cappuccino, white tea & ginger, and vineyard.

You know your addiction has gone too far...

...when you make a candle out of it.

More experiments

Frosted candle in buttercream scent:




That was quite fun to do.

Chunk candle--not a good picture, but it's a lavender candle inside a white block candle. Basically, I had extra wax and nothing else to do with it.



And look, another gel candle gone "right"! Sort of...it was hard to get the gel in that container!

Finally, success!

Marbles in gel, good.



I have a friend who wanted Sweet Pea scent, so I experimented and came up with, what else? A potted "plant"!

BTW, Sweet Pea is really an awesome smell!

New stuff coming!

I ordered soy wax and high-temperature paraffin, should be here by the end of the week. The high-temp paraffin will be for hurricane lanterns--I've experimented with this on a smaller scale and just love it. To really have a good lantern, though, I need bigger molds and better wax. So, there ya go.

Soy wax is a much better quality wax, burns much more pure than paraffin, and has a wonderful natural color and smell to it. It is an excellent wax for anyone with sinus problems or allergies, as the toxin level is next to none. Of course, people still debate that like they do everything else, but I know people with horrible allergies who swear by soy. What kind of hippie would I be without soy candles?

I also need to dig out my old digital camera and get a new memory stick for it. My phone can only handle so much, and the quality is only OK. As I get better, I naturally want to have better pictures. *wink*

I think I'm going to give my initial projects to Special Rodeo to sell at their yard sale this weekend. Maybe they'll get a few extra bucks.

So, about those gels...

Seems like a really neat idea, but it is much harder to manipulate than I had originally imagined. Wow.

For instance, gel is extremely sensitive to foreign substances. Lesson one: do not use potpourri in your gel.










See the foaming? I call that "gel volcano". Oops.

Volcanoes are not always bad...I turned "bad" into "scenic" in this creation:




I titled it "Seaside", and it was fitting to use the scent "Ocean Breeze". The volcano made a nice little wave-looking action and pushed just the right amount of shells to the top. So, shells good, potpourri bad. Who knew?

By the way, that explosion up top happened while I was on the phone with my aunt, so it's officially her candle. I warned her to never light it, though...

I am officially a crafting nerd

I mean, really, who else starts a blog all about crafts? What's that, you say? They are common on the internet now? Yes, well, I figure this ought to stop those "look what I made" emails, right? *smile*

OK, so I've discovered palm wax. I love palm wax--it creates a really great crystallization pattern that can be manipulated while it sets. I'm currently toying with the different patterns and colors, but look what I've got so far:



This is a starburst pattern in pink sugar scent. I kept the crystals small, since the candle itself is about 4" X 4".


I love how the patterns on this pyramid candle got bigger toward the bottom. And I love this scent--pineapple cilantro. I think this one is already a favorite.

Tomorrow, I take a stab at gels.

Soon to Come...

...I'll be blogging all about my candles and new creations. Stay tuned!