Saturday, January 29, 2022

I have a a recurrent headache for the last couple of days which is why I never got on here yesterday.  I am seriously wondering if I could have a variant.  It wouldn't surprise me since everyone I know has had some kind of issue lately.  

I have played so many funerals this winter.  It is truly sad to see the suffering families.  Our little village of Shepherd has had 22 funerals this month alone. 

The news lately is very concerning.  Thousands and thousands of illegal young men are being flown all over the country in the dead of night.  This administration barely tries to hide it any more.  If we aren't right with God now, we had better be soon.

The beeswax addiction continues.   I haven't met up with the Rhynard's yet to try out their wax.  I would really like to source the wax locally if at all possible.

Friday, January 14, 2022

Update on my printer!  Matt found the problem and saved me a ton of money since I don't have to buy a new printer!!!

I am still testing my beeswax.  It is definitely a learning curve.  The jar candles are giving me some grief so I need to work a bit more on those. 

Harold just walked in the door with a package of molds that I am very excited to try!!  The candle below weighs about 6 1/2 ounces and I am testing the burn time on that. 

In the mean time, I am impatiently waiting for the wax to melt so I can try the new molds.  They have a diamond pattern on them which I love!!!

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So I poured the candles.  I put a wick pin in the mold.  The wax leaked out of the bottom.  Lesson learned.  I will put a wick tab on the bottom.  I probably need to buy a roll of wicking which is what they use on the videos.  We shall see.   I just unmolded them and they were incredibly easy to remove from the mold!

Thursday, January 13, 2022

 This is one of those days when I look around and wonder if I will ever get caught up.  I love what I do and I have so many addictions - oops - crafts, that I can't seem to stay current on all of them.  I am gradually paring down what I do, but it will take a while.  I am also trying to get a way from buying containers.  When I have used up all of the clamshell containers for wax melts, I will be using only molds.  I don't like having to throw away the plastic containers.  I am in the process of pouring some molded wax melts with each batch of clamshells that I make.

 

 

Yesterday my printer decided to start giving me grief.  The color was all distorted.  I took it up to our trusty repair guy, Matt Peacock from MyTown Computers.  I cannot function without my printer so I will be glad to get it back.  Thankfully it was just a leaky cartridge, but it also probably needed a good cleaning. 

I started using the new batch of wax today and poured two cake candles and a couple of votives.  Beeswax is a bit of a pain because it sets up fast and leaves a coating on the pour pot and the utensils.  When I am done pouring I have to scrape off the residue and re-melt it.  I have a couple of wax melters so I may consider just devoting one to beewax. 

Here is one of the cake candles I made today.  I had to molds, but the one is damaged so it is going bye bye, 

Here is an example of the difference between the white wax and the yellow.  I love the white, but I am thinking I will go with the yellow since I am transitioning to sourcing locally.

 

The end of a Pandemic and the beginning of a new addiction.

 Wednesday, January 12, 2022

2022!  Can you believe it?  That last time I posted in here we were making masks due to the pandemic.  Now it seems to be ruling the world.  I say "seems" because we know who really rules the world.  

So much has changed in the last 2 years.  2021 brought me to a battle with breast cancer which, by the grace of God and many wonderful people, I beat. 

This time two years ago, I was manning the Vintage Village shop in downtown Shepherd on Thursdays.  It closed last year and we have moved our location to the east side of town in the Antiques and Uniques Marketplace.  

Things got really crazy in March of 2020 with the pandemic.  Then followed the death of my cousin David, my Aunt Betty, my cancer diagnosis, the death of my brother Bob, and the death of my Aunt Molly.  I can't think of a single person who has not suffered the death of someone close to them since the start of the pandemic. 

But there have been blessings, as hard as that is to believe.  Family is what got me through the last couple of years.  Thankfully they are all fairly close by.  I know many people who are not as blessed. 

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Currently I have been experimenting with beeswax candles for a variety of reasons.  Initially, I was interested in the spiritual reasons behind the use of beeswax because it is used in our church candles, but in my research I am learning that:

• Beeswax candles burn clean.
• Beeswax candles emit negative ions. (that's a good thing)
• Beeswax candles pull toxins from the air and purify it. 
• Beeswax candles burn 2-5 time longer than candles made from other waxes which offsets the higher cost of the finished candle.
• Beeswax candles are dripless
• Beeswax candles burn brighter than candles made from other waxes. 
• Beeswax blooms with age so that older candles burn even more brightly. 
• Beeswax candles have benefits for those with asthma and allergies which can be aggravated by candles made with paraffin.

Beeswax comes in either white or yellow.  The candles pictured here are made with the white form.  I ordered a small amount to experiment with, but from what I have read, the yellow is more desirable and a bit more aromatic.  I just got in a shipment of yellow and I can't wait to try it.  I am also planning to transition to getting beeswax locally since I am all about supporting local family businesses.  To that end, I spoke to Ron Rhynard from Rhynard's Blueberry Farm about getting beeswax from him.  I will be testing a small amount next week.  

I am currently testing burn times on several sizes and I am very excited about what I am learning.  The votive candle in the holder burned for 16 hours.  The candles aren't scented but this batch of wax gives off a subtle honey aroma.