preparing for wine cork season

Last year when I first brought these out I didn't anticipate how well received they'd be.  I didn't make enough and couldn't keep with the demand.

This year I'm doing my best to be better prepared and have spent the past two months pouring, dipping and packing up wine cork candles galore.

snowflakes and birthday wishes

Next Friday is my birthday. 

When my husband asked me a few weeks back what I wanted for my special day I said something to the effect of  "I want to gut my studio and start over"   To which he replied "you'd have to close down"

I took that as a good sign, means he's on board, means I'll have to close down at some point in 2012 but when?

It also means I have a whole lot of planning to do.  Stay tuned. 

gingerbread candles

Sometimes you find things in the most unlikeliness of places.

I came across the molds for these on a clearance rack at a kitchen store in the mall.  I walked by them a few times, I was looking for a garlic press..

What caught my eye was the 19 cents sign they had in bold black lettering hung on the metal rack. I had to stop and look at what junk they were offering for a meager 19 pennies.

At the bottom of a box containing bent up metal cookie cutters I found a stack of these gingerbread muffin molds.  I bought everyone they had and the case in the back!

saguaro cactus candles

It hasn't been easy capturing the scent of the desert and blending it in to molten wax, but I think I finally have it or pretty darn close to it.