Good morning everyone. I am very excited to say that I am so very grateful for the wonderful people who have been buying from me. It helps me to buy more materials, and new molds. Unfortunately, I am obsessed with new and different molds.
I made some lemon cream wax melts. They look like white chocolate bars with lemon cream. They smell delicious, like lemon merengue pie. Unfortunately, I finished all the lemon creme, among other scents. I need more!! I think people are liking the food scents more than the regular ones.
I was making candles, but I got a little worried. I kept reading online, how candle makers get so complicated. They work so hard to get just the right size vessel, the right wick, and everything that goes in them is so precise. I was able to do all that, and made some wonderful candles lately. My fear, si that candlemakers need insurance, they can get sued easily. If someone gets burned, or the vessel breaks, of God forbid the house catches fire because someone left it unattended. In my head, the worst scenario, is someone leaving a candle near a curtain.
I will tell you, we all need to be careful with candles, and not become complacent. I will tell you a story:
We were living in a little house, back in forever ago 2001or so. I had just moved to Moreno Valley. My husband was in Army training when I decided to try a new church. I ended up being asked by a Pastor, if I would take a kitten home. I had a hard time saying no. Pee wee (Pee brain) was a cool cat, but sometimes not very smart. I wasn't thinking one day, hubby and I were having wine, and watching something on TV. I lit a candle, because I love the way they make my house smell. Everything was fine, that is until Pee wee decided to walk around looking pretty. I got up to get something from the kitchen, and I turned around, to see something frightening, and hilarious. Pee wee had a habit of slapping things with his tail, to get food to fall to the floor so he can eat it. The candle must've smelled like food to him, he walked past and swatted the lit candle with his tail. Now he was walking around waving proudly in the air, a "Flaming Tail of Horror" around. I walked slowly, to not spook him. Got his tail with a kitchen towel. That was a close one!
Let's talk about cheap candles while we are here. I bought a pretty gel candle in a martini glass some time back. It was so cute. I wasn't intending to light it, it was so pretty. I had it on the mantle along with other pretty things and candles. Above the mantle is an NCO sword I gave my husband. It is mounted onto a wooden plaque and has a plaque on it. Above that, a replica of an antique 13 star U.S.A. flag pinned to the wall. Late one night, we were drinking, and watching something on TV. Mostly ignoring it, but actually talking and laughing. I don't know what possessed me to light the martini candle. We were in good spirits, literally and figuratively I guess. After a few minutes, I didn't realize it was overheating, and then suddenly exploded. Yes, it exploded! At first I laughed, it was funny. I got up to extinguish the little fire in the glass, and pick up the pieces. The gel had splattered in chunks, and some of them had a little flame. That was so freaky. Never again! What I suspect happened, is that it was made in China, to start with. I don't think they tested the glass for heat, it was so thin. The gel burned too hot and the results were explosive.
Sine then, I don't buy cheap candles, unless they are solely for decorative purposes. I buy good quality candles made in the U.S. I am sure candle companies here test their candles, and make sure they are not going to overheat or crack. I still never leave a candle lit where I cannot see it. Now, the wood behind the sword is marked with a black streak. I am grateful it wasn't worse. The flag is high up, so it doesn't cause a hazard, it wasn't going to reach there.
I do want to make candles, but I will have to be patient. I have to make one, and test it first. Then wait a couple of weeks for it to cure. Once I see that it works well, I can make more of the exact same kind. So, it's going to be a process.
In the meantime, I am making wax melts, mostly because it is so fun. And, I will say it again, I love to watch people smile when they smell my soaps and candles. The excitement and wonder is so special to me.
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