INDOOR AIR QUALITY, Is your indoor air hazardous?

Indoor air is 2-5 times more polluted than outside air. Learn 3 easy steps towards natural living that help rid your home of toxins and clean your home air. View full article →

Christmas Gift Wrap, the Old-Fashioned Way

I've been that person, speeding into Fred Meyer close to closing on Christmas Eve, all because I forgot wrapping paper! We've all been there, right?

The thing is, wrapping gifts beautifully and simply is half the fun! So now a days I don't really buy wrapping paper. You can use anything you have at home or just buy a roll of brown paper. I love using part of the gift to wrap with. Whether that's a vintage linen cloth, a ticking pillow case or just topping the gifts with something special like a pair of tapers, honey sticks, a candle snuffer or lip balm.

I love that the Old Fashioned Christmas is trending right now! While I've been using these old fashioned details for years now in both my home life and business, I love that there's a push for a simple handmade Christmas!

I really do believe that everyone should give something handmade. While making gifts from scratch isn't for everyone, you can add that handmade, thoughtful touch to your wrapping. For my gifts this year, I've put a spin on the Old Fashioned Christmas wrapping of brown paper packages tied up with string. I've added a few elements from nature to give it that special touch. I've used bakers twine and made my own ribbon from ripping unwanted fabric into strips. So go on a walk, grab some rose-hips, pine cones, moss, a few cedar sprigs or maybe you'll be lucky and find a birds nest. I've also in years past dried orange slices, used cinnamon sticks and other simple and inexpensive methods for adding those old fashioned details.

"Waste not, want not." , "Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without." These are the phrases that were used long ago when people wrapped gifts with old paper and bits of fabric. While we look back at the nostalgic beauty of these gifts, what we can take away are the simple, inexpensive things that were used with thoughtfulness to make our loved ones Christmases more memorable.

I remember as a girl helping my grandmother decorate her tree and making a popcorn garland. That simple activity as a child has stuck with me all these years later. So go wrap your gifts in this old fashioned tradition, perhaps with your children or grandchildren and let those memories be made.

DIPPED BEESWAX LEAVES FOR YOUR AUTUMN DECOR

Add a touch of Fall to your home with this easy craft. In seven easy steps make a dipped leaf garland that can be used year after year. This is a great craft for all ages!

 

View full article →

NEW to our shop... BEESWAX WRAPS!!!

Well we've finally taken the plunge! For a very long time you have been asking for Beeswax Wraps. For those of you who are new to these, they are reusable and Eco-friendly food wraps. They are made of organic cotton, beeswax, jojoba oil and tree resin. These are the perfect addition to any kitchen and can easily replace plastic wrap, which is not only good for the environment but also your pocket book!

We are so excited to be offering this eco-friendly bee product! We worked hard to find a maker that is right here in the USA. Which brings me to what I'm sure is your next question. What... you don't make these? So here's the brief answer. No, we did do trials making these and thought long and hard but when it comes down to it, we really want to focus on what we do and do it good. We've recently just moved into a large studio space where we have been able to expand our business including adding new retail partners. While we now have more room in our studio space, we just decided that we don't want to dedicate a large area of it to making a new product like beeswax wraps plus the added expense of investing in the proper equipment and materials. In reality we don't' want to spread ourselves too thin. We're trying hard to work on speeding up our processing time and get our product in your hands a lot quicker as well as have our product in more stores across the U.S. So in a nutshell that's the why.

Beeswax Wraps are great! They're a zero waste item, help food breathe when stored, therefore last longer and are 100% Natural. We offer a few great choices under our pantry section, so make sure to give them a try. As always thanks for your support!

 

Free Vintage BEE MINE Valentine Printables

Add a touch of vintage whimsy with these nostalgic bee themed valentines. 

 

View full article →

Our aromatherapy line just got better!

We're pleased to announce that we have re-engineered our Aromatherapy Line. This little twist will help slow the burn temperature down which in turn makes a less hot tin and a longer burning candle.

 

No fear, we are still using high quality pure cotton wicking that contains no lead. Our candles are still made with only pure beeswax and pure therapeutic grade essential oils.

We have also reformulated "JOY". It now contains both Patchouli and Vetiver Essential Oil as opposed to Patchouli and Cassia Essential Oils. Vetiver is a lovely oil that takes care of the nerves and maintains their good health as well as heal damage done to the nerves by stress, shock and fear. It, like Patchouli is an aphrodisiac.

We know you'll enjoy these great changes! We strive to bring you the highest quality Beeswax candles. As always, THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!

Baby Love

We welcomed our sweet baby boy into the world November 13th.

Meet Thomas Nelson Boitano

Thomas is after my dad and grandfather and Nelson is Johnny's mothers maiden name. We sure are enjoying this little guy! Today is my first day back in the studio, a short day but time none the less. We will start processing orders again on November 30th.

CONFESSIONS OF A NEUROTIC WICK TRIMMER

AND OF COARSE A GUIDE TO BURNING BEAUTIFUL BEESWAX CANDLES

Okay Folks, lets just say I burn a lot of candles. Not just because I enjoy to, yes that's a perk but also because I'm constantly testing candles. Before I launch a new product it undergoes testing, mainly to make sure that the wick size is correct but also to make sure that I like the overall burn and quality of the candle. Here are some tips to ensure a clean and long burn, so you get the most hours and enjoyment from your candle.

1) GOLDEN RULE: Keep wick trimmed to 1/4". This will ensure a long and clean burn. The longer the wick=the bigger the flame, which causes the flame to suck up wax much faster. All candles need their wicks trimmed at different times, some  shortly after they've been lit the first time and some after many hours. For the most part I find that the first time you burn your candle, after 30 minutes or so it should be blown out, trimmed and then go ahead and relight it. After that I usually pinch of the excess burnt wick before the candle is lit each time.

2) Watch the wax pool. Especially the first time. Candles burn with a memory so it's important to burn until your wax pool reaches the edge on container candles and near the edge for pillars. This will help prevent tunneling, which is just a huge waste of wax. Like I said "near the edge for pillars" this is just to ensure that you don't have wax spills.  However, drips and spills happen, just make sure to save them. They can be tossed in the wax pool of your bigger candle and will act as extra fuel. Make sure to use just a little bit at a time, you don't want to end up suffocating your wick.

3) Hugging, which is pushing the soft wax inwards all the way around toward the center of the candle. This is usually only needed on giant pillars. It's just a way to use as much of the wax as possible. Hugging is best done after you've extinguished your wick and you've let the wax cool a bit. Just make sure to push the wax inward slowly, you don't want to go overboard and burn yourself or suffocate the wick.

4) Burn your candles out of a draft. Drafts cause uneven burns and dripping. Use a candle snuffer as well, this will help eliminate spills and drips.

5) Burning with Symmetry. Sometimes wicks will start to lean and start burning unevenly. To correct this just use a metal object like a bobby pin or scissors and you can move the wick back to the center. This is done of coarse when the wax pool is still liquid, so take care to not burn yourself.

6) Burn on a level heat resistant surface. I have dedicated candle plates for my pillars and candle mats that I  burn my container candles on. Even if the flame is contained in a jar or a tin it still needs to be on a heat resistant surface. Metal and glass still get hot, especially if the flame needs trimmed. You don't want a heat spot on your fancy oak table.

7) Safety- just remember folks we're dealing with an open flame and hot wax, so burn wisely. Don't leave candles burning unattended. Try to not over fiddle with your candles. I can't tell you how many times I've carelessly fiddled with my candles and burnt myself usually because I didn't blow out the candle first, etc. So, blow out the candle first, let the wax cool a bit and then fiddle away...Saftey first!

With all that said, enjoy your candles, don't save them only for special occasions. Burning candles adds a nice ambiance to the home. I love burning tapers at dinner, anytime spent at the dinner table with my family is special. It seems to make our time together there not as rushed but more enjoyed. I burn candles nearly everyday, even in the summer. It defunks the smell of my house by basically cleaning the air.  Beeswax candles pull dust, allergens, toxins and more out of the air. So, by burning candles I keep my house smelling naturally fresh, fresh, fresh!

Burning candles should be easy and there shouldn't be a laundry list of rules. Everyone doesn't have to be a neurotic wick trimmer like me, just burn your candles and enjoy. But remember with a tiny bit of extra tending you will have superior candles that burn very long and clean!