Market in Alliston!

While the summer isn't coming on with as much heat as I thought it was going to, it is here none the less. And we have been busy!
We just got back from a wonderful weekend at the cottage with great friends and an endless amount of food. Alex is loving his new job and spending all his free time with Kade. Kade is getting ready to start school in the fall and while he is potty trained and eating better, he doesn't like the idea that mommy is going to have to start working when he is away!
I've been selling candles and black rock soap at the market in Alliston. It is very new still and is starting this weekend at a new location! For the rest of the summer, the market is going to be at The Gibson Center from 8 to 12 every Saturday morning! Please come out and show your support to your local community!
Hope you are all doing well,
Bee supportive....
Melissa

Let the summer begin!

Hello Friends!

My candle making is under way! With the help of our lovely kade-sitter I've been able to make many candles faster and have a good stock pile now! I'm going to keep having her come once a week until I run out of wax and then I should have enough candles for the rest of the year!

Just a couple of updates....Alex, Kade and I are going to Feast of Fields again this year. I really enjoyed meeting people there last year and Alex really enjoyed drinking there last year so it was good for everyone! We sold a lot of candles there last year and that is very nice.

The other thing you all should know is that I've started selling my candles at markets here in Alliston. There are two...one at the Canadian Tire parking lot and the other at Moondance farm. Both are on Saturday mornings, and I'm going to be at Moondance the 2nd Saturday a month and at CT the rest of the month.

Looking forward to see you out there, I think the weather is going to be nice tomorrow!
Blessed bee,
Melissa

another sunny day....

Me again, and that's right, more candles are on their way. I think I've solved the overly helpful 2 3/4 year old....baby sitter! So our sitter is on the way too!

My goal today is another 30 sticks, 4 more pillars and as many votives as I can. I've put off making globes because the wick I was using seems to not be big enough even though I should have the right one. Plus they take a lot more work!

I'm also working on a dipper that I can dip many candles at once. Which would mean I could make 5 candles in the same amount of time as I would make 1 or 2. In theory I like the idea but I'm sure there is going to be a lot of kinks to work out. I will keep you posted on the candle making goodness!

Much bee love,
Melissa

and their on their way!

That's right, the wax is melting in the garage, my dad is on his way to watch Kade and I've offically pulled out my candle making sweater (which I've had since the 7th grade!)

Today I'm making mostly stick candles (hopefully 30 pairs) but most of these are already spoken for. If you would like candles, please let me know....I can start taking orders now!

Hope all is well with you, and that your enjoying the warm weather....I know I am!

Bee yourself, melissa

Still no candles, but lots of other crafting going on!

So, the weather has been nice but not nice enough to spend hours in our garage making candles. But that doesn't mean we haven't been busy. Alex just finished up school, and is going to have the next week off work (prime candle making time) and I've been busy crocheting! That's right, I've put down my knitting needles and have taken up crocheting, which I love!

Right now I'm working on making a vest for the summer. I found this pattern for a round about sweater and decided to make it with out the sleeves. I just started last night so I have about 2 inch done, but when I have more I will post some pictures.


http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Projects/Apparel/WR1774+Roundabout+Cardigan.htm

I'm always looking for things to do, so let me know if you find a good project!
Keeping beesy,
Melissa

Warm weather means candle making is upon us!

I may have mentioned that we make our candles in our garage and since its been so darn cold I haven't been able to make candles since the fall. But our neck of the woods is getting warmer and today we started cleaning out the garage and looking over our stuff!

This also means that I'm going to start getting supplies. I've been thinking about buying the supplies to make tea lights. We don't really use tea lights, but I've had people say they would like to have them. What do you think?

I can also start taking orders, so if you know that you would like some hand made local beeswax candles, let me know!

Hope is all is well,
Blessed bee, melissa

The pillars of our earth!

Beeswax pillar candles are a common favorite and for good reason. They last a super long time, they are easy to use and your best value for your buck.

These candles are also pretty easy to make because they are poured into a mold (the picture below) . The wick is drawn through a hole in the bottom of the mold and tied to a straw at the top. When the wax is melted I simply pore the wax into the mold and wait. As the wax cools a well is formed and the top of the candle dips in. After about 45 minutes of cooling a poke a whole in the wax and let it cool completely. Before pulling the candle from the mold I fill the well with alittle more wax so you have a solid candle with out a whole in it and then remove it from the mold. Then you flip over the candle and trip the wick and your ready to use your wonderful pillar candle.

Be sure to put this candle on a holder or at least a plate to catch any wax that may fall. It is very important to push the sides of the candle toward the wick as it melts down to be sure that you use up all the wax (you want to get the most light of your candle). It is good to let these candles burn for a couple of hours at a time and then push in the wax for next time. Oh and always remember to dip the wick into the wax to put out instead of blowing it out.

These candles are $20 each...a great value!

Bee yourself, melissa