I enjoy crafts way too much to want to make major investments for supplies in any more new ones. But still, I like to try new things, plus I love the honeyed scent of warm beeswax. Randy Sue's beeswax candle making class at "Thank Nature" filled the bill. Trust my daughter to come up with the perfect gift for me.
Randy Sue's both an excellent teacher (her first career was as an art teacher) and an experienced wax worker. Not only does she craft her own commercial candles, several made from her own specialized candle molds, she is also a beekeeper and hive builder. She knows the business of bees inside and out, and it made our hands on work with the insects natural byproducts a lot more meaningful. While prepping our molds for the pour we learned about the worker bees special honey/nectar stomach, bees bread and pollen gathering. I never knew that individual groups forage in specialized gathering patterns that maximize the potential for delivering diverse nutrients to the hive, which also means that agriculture's use of bees to pollinate specialized crops can impact hive health. Quite a lot of ideas to take away with me from a two and a half hour pour and roll my own candle, hands on session.
In addition to teaching us the basics, Randy shared ideas, techniques and resources for people who want to start their own beeswax candle making businesses. It almost makes me want to shell out the $200 she said it would cost to get going. Well, almost.
Breathing problems and asthma are a major health challenge in my family. Though I regularly buy beeswax candles at my local farmer's market, I'd never before heard that they are the only candle recommended by the American Lung Association.
To quote Randy,
"Why use beeswax candles?
They clean the air of dust, molds, viruses, bacteria, and other pollutants
The ONLY candle recommended by the American Lung Association
They burn 3 times longer than paraffin candles
They are perfect for people suffering from asthma, allergies or sinus problems
You breathe what you burn!"
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