The Blog of Lava Jewelry & Fresh Picked Candles

I have opened a new supply shop on Artfire called A Bead Sea!

I’ve decided to put my gemstone knowledge to good use, so I am offering primarily earthy gemstones beads – lots of jaspers including beautiful dragon blood jasper and aqua terra jasper. I also have a few of my destash items available for sale, like my extra sterling silver kidney ear wires.

Come check it out!

ArtFire just rolled out its “Collections” feature (similar to Etsy’s Treasury), so I created my first ArtFire Collection today. Enjoy!

My brother and I camped in/around Death Valley last week, with Cameron and Matthew Scott. The wildflowers were in bloom, which was an incredible thing to see. I hope to write more about the trip in my blog when I have time. In the meantime, enjoy my little slideshow from Death Valley.

For a long time now, I’ve been wanting to feature an Etsy seller who sold items made from supplies purchased from me. I’m always fascinated to see what people make after I send them a set of beads. I finally have my chance now with Etsy seller Beadworks by Kerri. She recently contacted me to show me what she made with the light blue flower-shaped beads she had purchased from me (see below). And I’m so glad she did!

Wedgewood Blue Spring Fairy Necklace

I sell a variety of handmade beadwoven and wire wrap jewelry items. I tend to do more beadweaving than anything else because it’s my favorite. Although my biggest sellers are the shawl pins.

What inspires you in your work?
Most of my inspiration comes from the stones themselves. I might have a stone for months or even years before it “speaks” to me and I then start a piece using that stone. Nature has a definite influence on my color and stone choices too.

What other types of art do you make for fun?
I still like to crochet smaller items like neck scarves and I dabble with sewing, cross stitch and scrap booking. I love making scrap books of trips Randy and I have taken.

I’d like to thank all of my customers for supporting the handmade industry.

Right now my work is only available for sale through Etsy, at
www.beadworksbykerri.etsy.com. I’m thinking about putting together a professional website and my dream is to open up a gallery someday.

Beadwoven Cobalt Blue and Emerald Green Necklace

I’ve chosen two fragrances to offer this spring: Green Apple and Pink Grapefruit.

Green Apple is a perfect spring scent! Tart and fruity! I truly love this scent.

Pink Grapefruit is tart with a floral component. It’s not sweet like most of the other scents I offer. It reminds me of the fragrance by The Body Shop.

I’ll be offering them only while supplies last, so get ‘em while you can!

This is a recipe I made up one night recently when I needed a snack. Although it is much less fattening than real cheesecake, it is not a low calorie snack! Enjoy!

Ingredients
1/3 pkg Neufchatel cheese
2 Tbsp confectioners powered sugar
1 drop of vanilla extract
low-fat honey graham crackers
Optional: chocolate chips, fresh fruit, or fruit preserves

Mix the Neufchatel cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract in a bowl until well-blended. Top graham crackers with cheese mixture. Top with extras if you like (chocolate chips, fresh fruit, or fruit preserves work well).

Yes, this is one lazy cheesecake to make!

My featured Etsy shop today is baronika5, a shop featuring jewelry made using a combination of polymer clay and filigree components – something I’d never seen before!

Red square filigree earrings

“My name is Rony and I am a Multidisciplinary artist. I design unique and colorful jewelry with several mediums as polymer clay, fused glass, silver and more, all inspired by flowers and other beautiful things around me.”

Tell me a little about yourself.
I’m an Israeli artist.
I’m married and have two children.
I live in a small city near the Mediterranean Sea.
I have a business degree from an Israeli University and for the last seven years I worked as a broker at the biggest bank in Israel.
In high school I studied art and fashion design.
I have always had a passion for art, I create in several mediums, such as polymer clay, ceramic, glass, sew, silver.
A few months ago I left my day job at the bank and now I am a full time artist, I feel blessed waking up every morning, doing what I love in my studio.

How did you name your shop?
My shop name is Baronika; I’ve just randomly changed my own name words, until I reached a satisfying sound.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting their own small business selling handmade goods?
I really believe that people need to follow their dream.
However, turning a hobby into a business is quite a challenge. You’ve got to be prepared to treat it like a job and realize that there will be some obstacles, both financial wise and personal wise. If you have interesting, unique, colorful or beautiful products, people will notice.

Gold and turquoise filigree necklace

Baronika5 jewelry can be found online at http://baronika5.etsy.com, http://baronikadesigns.etsy.com, and http://ronyrb.etsy.com

It’s been a while since I’ve featured an Etsy seller, and I’m happy to be starting up again. The first seller in my renewed series is Alison Kelley Designs, who sells handcrafted limited edition jewelry in a wide range of styles.

Blue Blossom Jade Earrings - Blue Jade Briolette, Bali Sterling Silver Flower Ear Wires

“My designs are eclectic, this is because I like so many different styles myself that I like to also offer a wide range of styles to my customers as well.”

How did you get started making jewelry?
I started tinkering with jewelry making back in High School. I used to wear these great big hoop earrings and with my long curly hair getting tangled in them I tore my ear piercing to a point were I could no longer wear french hooks, I was stuck wearing posts. Posts were very hard to find so came the need for me to make my own earrings. I have been making jewelry for over 17 years now, mostly off and on for family and friends. It wasn’t until the Summer of 2006 that I was inspired once again to start making jewelry. While visiting my mom we went shopping. We can across some pretty beads and my mom asked me if I could make her a necklace to match a top she had. I was so happy to make her something and I immediately fell in love once again with making jewelry. I began making piece after piece and with my great and supportive friends those pieces quickly sold, thus the start of Alison Kelley Designs.

What other types of art do you make for fun?
I enjoy all sorts of crafts, I like to sew, and paint, I love building things and working with tools. Give me a tool any day over any other kind of gift.

What inspires you in your work?
Everything around me in an inspiration, the garden, my swimming pool, the walk to my kids school, I see something that sparks a design or color combination. Color plays a huge part of my designs, I live to be surrounded by vibrant colors. Colors make me happy and I try to have a bit of every color under the rainbow in my jewelry. Something for everyone. After all wearing color with color is the best style advice I give.

What is your day job?
I am a business owner, a wife and I am a stay at home mom. I’ve got three sons ages 11, 9, and 5. They keep me quite busy but I am ever so thankful to have an outlet/business that I can do from home so I can still take care of my family’s needs.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting their own small business selling handmade goods?
Be true to yourself. Do and make what you like, if you don’t enjoy doing it then why bother. Have a business plan or some kind. Think of where you see yourself in say, 5 years. It’s good to visualize your goals and dreams, they are more likely to come true.

Lovely Red and Turquoise Necklace - Red Sponge Coral Tear Drops and Beads, Turquoise Heishe Beads, Sterling Silver

You can find Alison Kelley Designs online at http://alisonkelleydesigns.etsy.com, in a local boutique called Elegant Corner (San Jose, CA) and at the occasional craft fair.

There seems to be a myriad of confusion among candle makers and candle buyers alike about candles, so I’ve decided to compile my own list of facts and myths about candles.

Facts about Candles

Soy wax burns more slowly than paraffin.
TRUE. As someone who has made both soy and paraffin candles, I can attest to the fact that soy candles burn more slowly than paraffin. I have not done studies to compute an exact percentage, but it is a truly noticeable difference.
Soy candles produce less soot than paraffin candles.
TRUE. I have made and burned both soy and paraffin candles, and can attest to the fact that soy candles product less soot. The soot from the paraffin candles I burned in college left black marks on my computer and my walls. Oops!
Natural wax candles are more eco-friendly than paraffin candles.
TRUE. Natural waxes (soy, palm, beeswax) are derived from renewable resources, whereas paraffin is derived from petroleum. Some natural wax (although not all) is derived from sustainable sources. Natural wax is biodegradable, and produces less soot than paraffin as well.
Soy candles have a poor scent throw compared to paraffin candles.
TRUE. I have made and burned both soy and paraffin candles, and it never ceases to amaze me how some fragrances just seem to vanish when added to soy wax, despite the fact that soy wax can typically hold MORE fragrance oil than paraffin. (Typical paraffin can hold 6% fragrance oil, and typical soy 9%.)
Natural wax costs more than paraffin.
TRUE. Soy wax costs more than paraffin. Palm wax costs a bit more than soy. And beeswax costs WAY more than paraffin, soy, or palm.

Myths about Candles

Soy candles do not product soot.
FALSE. Anything that burns is going to produce some amount of soot. It would be impossible not to. Soy and palm wax do produce LESS soot than paraffin.
Palm wax candles contribute to deforestation.
FALSE. It is true than some palm kernel oil is often harvested in a way that is harmful for the environment and results in deforestation, but there are groups like The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels dedicated to sourcing sustainable palm kernel oil. I buy my palm wax from a sustainable source, thanks to the work of the Roundtable.
Essential oils are safe because they’re natural.
FALSE. Essential oils are extremely concentrated all-natural substances, which can be a health hazard if not used properly. Some of them are not even skin-safe, and can cause burning or rash when placed on the skin in concentrated form.
Melted soy wax cannot burn your skin.
FALSE. Although soy wax melts at a lower temperature (just over 100 degrees Fahrenheit) than other waxes used in candle-making, it can reach temperatures in excess of 200 degrees.
Triple-scented candles smell stronger than other candles.
FALSE. This one is counter-intuitive, but triple-scented candles are not necessarily more aromatic just because they contain more fragrance. Triple-scented candles are produced by adding more fragrance oil to a wax than the manufacturer recommends. In order to get the wax to hold more fragrance oil, additives such as stearic acid or Vybar must be added to the wax. These additives can actually hold the fragrance oil TOO well, not allowing for a good scent throw.
Buying soy candles supports American farmers.
FALSE. Although some soybeans are grown in the US, not all soybeans are. There are some soy wax suppliers that source only from American-grown soybeans, however.
Soy wax is water-soluble.
FALSE. Wax by definition is not water-soluble. Soy wax is no different than any other wax in that regard. Soy wax does have a very different character than paraffin, beeswax, or palm wax, but it is not water-soluble. It is true that soy wax can be cleaned up using soap and warm water. In fact, sometimes I just wipe really well with a dry cloth, and that does the trick.
Votives and pillar candles can be made using pure soy wax.
FALSE. Pure soy wax is too soft and sticky to form molded candles like votives or pillars. Soy votives and pillars are made using a wax that is a blend of soy and either other vegetable waxes or paraffin.
One type of wax is the best for candles.
FALSE. Each type of wax has its pros and cons. The advantages to using paraffin is that it is inexpensive and it has a good scent throw. The biggest disadvantage is that paraffin is not environmentally friendly. Soy wax is more environmentally friendly, and long-burning, but it has a poor scent throw, and it is too soft by itself to make molded candles. Palm wax is a little pricier than soy or paraffin, but it makes amazing molded candles, and it has a better scent throw than soy. My personal opinion is that it’s the prettiest of the waxes because it forms beautiful crystals in intricate patterns as it cools.

I hope you’ve found my Candle Facts and Myths interesting and informative. I plan to update it periodically as I gather more information, so please let me know what you think I’ve missed in the comments below. Adding links to credible sources would be wonderful. I’m especially interested in adding more information about beeswax candles, about which I have heard many incredible claims.

I’ve written this candle glossary for those who wish to know more about candles. If there are terms I haven’t included here, just let me know in the comments. Enjoy!

Types of candles:
Container candle – Candle that is made by pouring wax into a container, usually metal or heat-resistant glass. Waxes that are used to make container candles are usually softer than waxes used for molded candles, and can generally hold more fragrance.
Gel candle – Clear, translucent candles made of a specially formulated candle gel containing mineral oil and polymer resin.
Molded candle – Candle that is made using a mold. Includes pillars and some tapers and votives. Molded candles can be many different shapes and sizes. Waxes used to make molded candles tend to be harder than waxes used for container candles, and typically cannot hold as much fragrance.
Pillar – Free-standing candle that is typically 2”-4” in diameter (can be larger or smaller too). Made using a mold. Can have single or multiple wicks.
Taper – Free-standing skinny candle. Made in a mold or by dipping.
Tart/melt – Wickless scented wax that is melted in a tart warmer to release fragrance.
Tea light – Small container candle, usually in an aluminum or heat-resistant plastic container. Typically measures 1 ½ inches in diameter by ¾ inch high.
Votive – Small candle that is meant to be burned within a tight-fitting votive candle holder. Typically about 1 ½ inches in diameter by 2 inches high, although size can vary.

Other candle-related terms:
Additives – Chemical, such as stearic acid or Vybar, added to wax to enhance certain properties of the wax, such as hardness, opacity, and fragrance capacity.
Base notes – Scent that lingers the longest in a perfume or fragrance.
Beeswax – Natural wax derived from honeycomb. Not a vegan product.
Carving – Technique for enhancing a candle’s appearance. Carving is usually done to a candle that has been dipped in many layers of different colored wax.
Cold throw – Scent of a candle when it is not lit. The “throw” refers to the strength of the scent and how far it carries.
Dipping – Traditional technique for making candles. Wick is repeatedly dipped into a vat of molten wax to form a candle layer-by-layer.
Dye – Used to color candles. Usually refers to colorants that dissolve completely when added to wax.
Essential oil – Very concentrated liquid, extracted from various plants, used to scent products. Also used in aromatherapy.
Fragrance oil – Synthetic oil used to scent products such as candles.
Hot throw – The scent a candle gives off when it is lit. The “throw” refers to the strength of the scent and how far it carries.
Mottled – A texture given to some pillar and votive candles.
Paraffin – Wax derived from petroleum.
Pigment – Colorant used in candles. Consists of suspended particles in the candle wax.
Top notes – First odors that are detected in a perfume or fragrance.
Wax – Insoluble, flammable substance derived from any number of oils, including palm kernel oil, soybean oil, or petroleum oil.
Wick – Probably the most important part of the candle. Provides fuel for the flame. Can be made of a wide variety of materials, including cotton, wood, paper, or hemp.