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This has been an absolutely beautiful week with more sun and blue sky and puffy clouds than we’ve seen here in months. This weekend, it’s raining and the river is flooded. The mud’ll be knee-deep on our road (and that is only slightly exaggerating!). Winter isn’t truly gone, but it’s over in my mind so today is a real disappointment.
Friday, I drove my dear Georgia to an appointment in Charleston. Georgia always brings a hat and coat, even if she doesn’t need them, and a drink. She’s prepared. Yesterday was quite warm and gorgeous. Morgan took part of the day off school to come with us and capture the opportunity to be in the big city (and go shopping for softball gear). She’s a really sweet helper. She holds Georgia’s arm when she’s walking and she goes back to get her coat (that she doesn’t need) whenever she leaves it somewhere. She’s such a good girl. We had a nice day in the city, shopping and going out to lunch. It was bizarre. I never have days like that. I’m not sure I actually need them very often, but it was a nice change. And of course I can’t go to the big city without picking up candlemaking supplies. I came home and made some up right away.
Well, I made them up after I checked on my lambkins. (They’re doing just fine! I worried about them all day. As if they need me. But. You know. I worried anyway.)
It was already clouding up yesterday evening as Winter plotted her return. I made welcome to the sun again candles. Please come back, sun, candles. Sun, we love you candles.
Sunny stripes!
If it must rain on my pre-spring parade, I must have these candles.
Don’t know how to make candles? See So You Want to Make Candles–Basic Supplies to Get Started and How to Make Container Candles. By the way, I’ve been using a wax labeled “glass fill wax” for container candles and I really like it. I think it holds up better than the wax labeled as container wax.
To make striped container candles, melt the first batch with a good bit of dye. (I used gold.) Distribute the melted wax evenly between the containers and leave a little bit of the wax in the pour pot. Add more wax–but don’t add more dye. Now you’ve got the next layer–lighter. Again, leave a little bit of the wax in the pot and add more wax–but no more dye.
Each successive layer is lighter and lighter, topping off with a bright, shining sun that’s nearly white and almost feels like summer. Make as many layers as you want. I added scent with each batch. Remember to add scent only right at the end so you don’t cook it out. A good rule of thumb, by the way, is to double the scent per manufacturer instructions if you want a strongly-scented candle. (Yes, the scent is the expensive part, but have you ever tried paying for a Yankee candle? You can make a great candle yourself for far less than you can buy one.)
Trim the wicks, light them up, and worship the sun.
To attach ribbon, I wrap a rubber band around the top of the jar. I slip the ribbon through in the back then slip the ends through again before tying in a bow.
This keeps the ribbon in place, and when fire is involved, you don’t want your ribbon going anywhere you haven’t given it permission to go.
I found these cute little birds at Michael’s and couldn’t resist them. They have a clip at the bottom.
I clipped this one right into the middle of the bow.
Wouldn’t this make a sweet homemade spring gift?
Not that I’m going anywhere and giving anything to anyone today. This one’s staying right here on my windowsill. It’s exactly what I need on this gray, flooded-in, winter-again day.
Come back, sun!
See all my candlemaking posts here.
Posted by Suzanne McMinn on March 13, 2010
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Beautiful candles!
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