Just a little update on last Sunday’s charity match. LJ and I had a great time. We didn’t make many sales, but then it isn’t the sort of place you’d expect to find a candle stall! We’re more suited to craft fairs, school fetes, pamper evenings, that sort of thing.

The matches themselves were very enjoyable. It was amazing to see the Pan Disability match against Spurs. When you think that the vast majority of the players were amputees. Some had prosthetic limbs but there were quite a few running, yes running, around on their crutches playing a decent game of footie. We could all learn a thing or two from these inspiring group of people who don’t let their disability stop them from leading a full and active lifestyle.

Next were the under 10’s mini soccer games. It was great to see the younger ones having a good time. If you saw some of them, their shorts s big they came down to their ankles. Bless!!

The main match saw Basildon vs Burma or as it was billed, The All-Stars vs The All-Sorts. Basildon’s line up included Kerry Dixon, Dave Cusack and former Basildon United player, now Southend Utd manager, Steve Tilson.

Attending the event too were members of The Red Cross and local community radio station Gateway FM, with a special guest commentator Sue of Essex FM’s Martin & Sue.

Unfortunately we couldn’t hold off the rain, but luckily it didn’t last too long. It was a good day out and everyone who came along seemed to have a good time. There was a small mention in today’s Evening Echo regarding the event and it looks like £2000 was raised for the Burma Flood Relief Fund. So well done everybody.

Tags: Basildon United, Burma Flood Relief Fund, Essex FM, Gateway FM, Pan Disability, Red Cross

I’ve been asked if I wanted to have a small display at the upcoming International Friendly against Burma on Sunday 3 August. It was a bit short notice. I was asked last week but it wasn’t till I bumped into Paul, their Commercial Manager, in the market today that he confirmed that it was a go.

The match is an International Charity Match but I think that all monies raised are going towards the Burma Relief Fund. The actual match kicks off at 13:00, that’s 1pm for anyone who doesn’t speak 24 hour clock. I’ll be there from 10am along with my daughter LJ. Hubby will be there too but he’ll probably be propping up the bar most of the day.

There are other things going on that day. At 10am there is a Pan-Disability match against Spurs. Starting at around 11am there is the Mini Soccer games for the under 10s. The main match as mentioned earlier is at 1pm against Burma. The day should wrap up at about 3pm-3.30pm.

It’s all in a good cause and should be a good fun day. So if anyone is in the area why not pop down. Entry at the gates is £5 for adults and just £1 for children. Not too sure if it’s true but there is rumour that the Burma team and their families are going to be laying on some traditional fayre. So if you’re into something a little bit more exotic than pie ‘n’ mash there culd be something there to tickle your taste buds.

Basildon United football ground is located at Gardiner’s Close, Basildon, Essex SS14 3AW

Tags: Basildon United, Burma Relief Fund, Pan-disability football league

Yep, that’s right. My creatively talented friend Sara, of Sara’s Texture Crafts, runs a ‘Sweet Home Blogger Award‘ and I was one of 5 winners. This came totally out of the blue as I wasn’t expecting it so it was a nice surprise when I logged into my blog this afternoon and found a comment in my spam filter, of all places!

So sorry Sara, my blog thinks you’re spam

For those of you who may not know, Sara is an extremely talented craft worker from London. She also works hard to raise the profile of DaWanda, which is a handmade craft marketplace. It’s like a European version of Etsy, but with English, French and German speaking communities.

You can check out Sara’s craft blog on my ‘Other Crafty Blogs’ link. The other 4 winners of the ‘award’ can also be found there too. I must say their blogs seem far more interesting than mine. My blog really is a ramble, bit like my brain!! I guess I named it right.

Tags: blog award, DaWanda

Yay!!  Got my delivery the other day, no guesses what I’ll be doing this weekend.  Had a good old sniff.  Mmmm they smell good OOB.  Can’t wait to get them in the wax.

Just need to update my website , my eBay shop and my DaWanda store.  I shall be doing that over the weekend, too.

I will be adding 2 new fragrances in July.   Lilac and Freesia, both lovely floral scents for the summer.  They should be here by the beginning of July

Tags: Fragrances, freesia, lilac

So what is going to be in the testing zone for July?  Well, I’ve just sent off for some samplers yesterday.  As they come from the States it’ll be about 10 days before they get here.  I’ll be testing Green Apple, Honeysuckle, True Lavender, Natural Eucalyptus, Peach, Fresh Cut Roses, Lemon Grass, Raspberry, Orange & Peel, Watermelon, Clean Cotton and Warm Vanilla Sugar.

Some of these I’ll be using for creating more blends, as well as stand alone fragrances.  They’ll be ready just in time for the height of summer.  Also in the testing zone will be the blends I made up the other day.  Just to refresh your memories they were Afternoon Breeze, Hawaiian Breeze, Island Sunset, Jasmine Powder, Lavender Lullaby, Plum & Pomegranate and Winter Wish.

Tags: fragrance testing, Fragrances

I thought I would have a bit of an experimentation day today.  I took a look at my fragrance oil stock and thought it could do with some sprucing up.  Many candle makers at some time decide to mix some weird concoctions to come up with some unusual fragrance combinations.

Well I tried a few and have come up with some quite nice smelling ones.  I’ve chosen 7 to test in wax.  I’ll be making them up during the week.  It’s one thing to smell nice in the bottle and another to smell nice in the wax.

The 7 new testers are Afternoon Breeze, Hawaiian Breeze, Lavender Lullaby, Plum & Pomegranate, Jasmine Powder and Winter Wish.  I must admit that I thoroughly enjoyed my blending session.  However, it has occurred to me that I can make some more varied ones with some basic scents.  Guess what, they’re all scents that I don’t carry.  Oooh that means spending money.  I better had be nice to hubby *big grin*

Tags: candle scent, fragrance oils, oil blends

Yep, that’s right! I’ve lost my mojo. I’ve been sort of stuck in a rut with everything at the moment. Not too sure why I’ve lost a bit of heart. Maybe it’s because at this time of year candle sales tend to be very low. I know that I’ve been kept busy by my hubby’s business. well, after all he is the one who finances my candles. But my blog has also gone the way of the dodo.

So it’s kick up the bum time! As it is quiet candle wise I’ve decided to have a rethink on my website. I’m going to be revamping the shopping cart area. The new cart will have rewards point capability. Much like supermarket loyalty schemes. With your newly accumulated points you will be able to redeem them against future purchases. I will also be selling my candles worldwide rather than UK and Europe.

I’m trying to think of ways to lure some of my eBay customers to purchase directly from my site rather than eBay. Will have to have a good brainstorming session for that I think. A new shopping cart will also mean new products to add to the existing range. What will they be? Well, there will be new fragrances, new candles and accessories. Maybe even new waxes (if I can get through the testing stage quickly).

So that’s the challenge I’ve set myself. That should keep me busy during the quiet summer months. If I can keep myself on target I should have everything ready for start of the busy season.

Tags: candles, eBay, new site

It’s just come to light that candles are going to have to conform to BSI Standards for candle safety, warning labels and sooting.

There are quite a few of us discussing this on the forum. We all feel that regulation IS a good thing as there are many people out there who are selling candles without any safety testing whatsoever. Unfortunately, there are people who have purchased a beginner’s kit and then think that they are experienced enough to start selling to the public. They give us, the genuine candlemakers, a bad reputation. We spend countless time and resources in ensuring that our products burn safely.

The downside to the proposed new legislation is that it could drive the small independent candlemaker out of business. What would the charge be for testing our candles for safety and sooting? Bearing in mind that every single combination of container, colour and fragrance we offer would be subject to testing.

This is a subject that I will be monitoring closely. If and when these regulations come into force it could mean a complete rethink for many of my fellow small candlemakers.

Tags: candle legislation, candle safety, candle sooting, candle warnings, candles

I received a phone call from one of the members of the Laindon Townswomen Guild last week.  She bought some of my candles at the Pamper Evening and was really impressed with them.  Needless to say she placed an order with me for several candles.  They are all going to her friends who all commented on my strong smelling candles.  She had one burning one evening when they were all round and they just couldn’t believe how much better they were than others they had bought in the High Street.  One even said they were better than Yankee Candles!!

Well of course I’ve always known that.  It’s just getting that message across to others.  Many people tend to be a bit sceptical of handmade candles.  I don’t know why.  They would much rather buy some mucho cheapo candle from the pound shop and then be thoroughly disappointed with it.  I know some people who will never try a decently made candle because they compare every candle to their bad experience.  So sad.

I’m hoping that this will be a good start as one of the recipients of my candles is a mobile hairdresser who loves candles.  Fingers crossed that she will be suitably impressed and pass on my details.

Tags: scented candles