CANDLE-MAKING  with Beeswax

I entered the world of natural building by participating in a “Start-to-Finish” course with theCob Cottage Companyin 1996 after retiring from teaching art & sustainability at the middle school level. Returning to Michigan, I became a collaborator in the Strawbale Studio Project. I now educate (and learn) as much as I can about natural building & sustainable living through workshops, internships, presentations, exhibits & outreach at Strawbale Studio (strawbalestudio.org)   I had the privilege of illustrating theHand-Sculpted House Book,The Natural Plaster Book, andThe Cobber’s Companion, and being a start-to-finish collaborator on theKensington Kids Cottage, located within theKensington Metropark, at the Farm Center. Especially life-changing were my adventures during 1979 & 1980 when I received a Masters Degree in Social Ecology fromGoddard College in Vermont. I have been exploring Sustainability, Appropriate Technology & Design with Nature over the years, in my work withUpland Hills Ecological Awareness Center, Oxford, Michigan, and through my activities in natural building & other natural living skills. Now is a time of networking, sharing, coming together to envision & create. I am so thankful for this journey.

Deanne Bednar

ENJOY Beeswax candle dipping + a tour of the enchanting Strawbale Studio & grounds. This is a skill you can do at home  +share with others.

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Great to share the day making candle with those of you who could come !  
You can be on the Strawbale Studio listserve by going to strawbalestudio.org. 
I hope to see you at future events - workshops or full moon potluck, or internship ! 
Or start hosting nature events at your own home place. 
Warmly, Deanne

March 12 2021 Saturday 9:30a -2p. CANDLE-MAKING from Beeswax . . from Nature ! Arrive at the enchanting Strawbale Studio grounds, for a 30 minute tour of the Thatched Roof Buildings, Earth Oven, Rocket Stoves, Strawbale Structures with Earth plasters....Then....Settle in . . . relax and enjoy the aroma and rhythm of Candle dipping ~ with wax made by local bees.  Receive the gift of warmth for yourself, and you may want to invite a family member or friend to join you in this experienceBring a Lunch for yourself. Tea and Coffee will be provided. The price includes all materials to make 6 candles, and earthen sculpting material will be available if you want to shape and decorate candlestick holders! There will be a variety of natural materials from the land that you can use to decorate your projects.  You can also collect some ahead of time as well, which is FUN !  (bark, stones, leaves, etc.)Agenda &amp; Resources are below.What to bring:<ul><li>Wear comfortable old clothes.  Wax may get on them.</li><li>You might want to gather some nature items ahead of time to use as decoration.</li><li>Bring a snack for yourself. Hot water and tea will be provided. </li><li>Covid Guideline will be followed: masks indoors with distancing, and masks optional outdoors with distancing. If that doesn&#x27;t fit for you, you can check back in spring of 2022 and see if things have changed. </li><li>You can receive a refund if you feel ill before the event, and stay home. </li><li>You might want to photograph the Strawbale Studio or such.</li><li>More information about our agenda, candle-making &amp; resources, below.</li></ul><a href="http://www.strawbale.pbworks.com/go" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"></a>The Location of the Strawbale Studio land is one hour north of Detroit. 2691 Noble Rd. Oxford, MI 48370. It is at a private residence. Park in the front grassy meadow immediatly the right as you come down the lane. If the lot is full continue straight ahead and park in the field. Follow the colorful pinwheels to Walk to the house and read the sign which will direct you further. You can drop people off at the house, but park the car in the the grassy meadow. If you have further questions contact Deanne by text or phone 248 496 4088 or email strawbale.programs@gmail.com.<a href="https://testdsw.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/dscf0415-768x1024.jpg" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"></a><a href="http://strawbale.pbworks.com/Candle-making+Class" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> </a><a href="http://strawbale.pbworks.com/Candle-making+Class" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">CANDLE</a> - MAKING Resources --- so you can make /demo/ your own candles. How to make, and where to order materials, Introduction; Circle up around the kitchen island counter. What is bees wax? Show an examples:  Candle holder, addition of nature items. Matchbox. Start with one candle each, then 2 each.Materials:  Crock pot, warming tray, hot plate, wax, pie tins, stirring big stick, spoon or knife to clean edges, tall cans.  Crock pot on table with a step ladder for kids.  Two dipping areas.Steps:<ul><li>Label wicks.</li><li>Tie wick to stick.  Start with one.  Get another soon.</li><li>“Smoothly down, smoothly up” … move.</li><li>Prime the wick.  After first dip, hold the wick straight until it hardens. Let drip, and then tap the bottom if you want.  Optional: hang on rack.</li><li>Size of thumb (3/4 “) Ending time .</li><li>Breaking up into teams.  Can move to the other group.</li></ul>Directions for Candle Stick Holder – sculpted from earth:<ul><li>What is cob?  Identify earth for natural building, sculpting.  Make a very stiff mix.</li><li>Going taller.  Create support.  An armature.</li><li>Smoothing, texturing, adding things.</li><li>Letting dry / keeping moist.  Speeding up– use fan or heat source. Slowing down. Put in a plastic bag.  .</li><li>Painting &amp; Sealing. (egg yolk)</li></ul>Directions for MATCHBOX decoration (optional project)Materials:Wood boards and cardboard covered with waxed paper.   Small rocks and natural items.  Clippers, scissors, silverware, wood skewers,<ul><li>Materials:  glue, scissors, magazines, natural items.  (consider chalk technique or colored pencil or water color on black (like bookmarks.  Make book marks first)</li><li>Directions:  Collage directly on the box, or trace the size on a piece of heavy paper or paper bag, collage, cut out and glue to the box.  Leave material to wrap around all edges, or add on a decorative edge paper.  Ends can also be covered.</li></ul>Directions for Stenciled CARDS:  (when this is offered as an option)<ul><li>Materials: Paper, pastels, scissors, tissue</li><li>Directions: Make a paper stencil from paper. Using a pastel, rub a color patch onto an extra piece of scrap paper. Using a tissue, pick up some of the pastel — like applying rouge or “blusher” — and fill in the stencil onto the card you are making.</li></ul>How to make your own Campfire Incense  (when this is offered as an option)Grind up pine needles and leaves, and mix with a binder of starch paste and/or pine pitch. Shape to a cone or tiny log, or experiment covering a fine stick.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~How to Make Beeswax Taper Candles – after this workshop on your own ! (All materials are provided for your workshop this December !)<ul><li>square braided wick (see details below)</li><li><a href="http://www.ehow.com/shop_beeswax.html" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">beeswax</a>   (see details below)</li><li>tall coffee can or dipping vat</li><li>a pot to boil some water</li></ul>Step 1  Melt the beeswax in the dipping vat, or coffee can over medium low heat by placing the vat in a pot of water. Let the water come to a slow rolling boil and the wax will slowly melt. This is the longest part of this project!  I bought several tall tomato juice cans for the project.Step 2  Cut your wick to the length of desired candle stick. Be careful to leave enough wick so you don’t burn your finger tips. You want a little bit of room to work with.Step 3  Once the wax is melted it will appear rather clear. Dip the wick so that the bottom of the wick is almost touching the base of the vat. Lift up and pull string straight and tight. LET COOL. Keep dipping until you get the desired width of the candle.  (Although not recommended by me, some people submerge the candle in water between dips, but this can cause water to be trapped inside the wax, especially if it is humid weather which would prevent the water from evaporating quickly.  <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_4625287_beeswax-taper-candle.html" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">http://www.ehow.com/how_4625287_beeswax-taper-candle.html</a>Beeswax: types and where to purchase  Why buy local? Ideally we can support your local ecology and economy by purchasing beeswax from a local place that raises bees, sells honey and possibly wax &amp; wicks as well.  You can google “candles and beeswax” or “honey” in your area. <ul><li>Great Lakes Bee Company https://thegreatlakesbeecompany.com/product/beeswax-1lb-block/ 1 lb $12. </li><li>Jodi Bee Honey Farm <a href="http://www.jodibeehoneyfarm.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">http://www.jodibeehoneyfarm.com/</a> (not open?)</li><li>Honey Flow Farm <a href="http://www.honeyflowfarm.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">http://www.honeyflowfarm.com/</a> (only sells candles?) </li></ul>What kind of beeswax? You can buy cleaned wax or clean it yourself (see directions below).  Some folks also sell a darker wax from the brooder bees.  I got it at ½ price and cleaned it myself, as it had quite a bit of “dregs” that settled out when the wax was heated.Wick: sizing &amp; buying  Wicks are best if they are the correct size for the candle.  If  too small,  a wick can go out, as the wax floods the wick.  Too large, and the wick can burn because it can’t get wax fast enough.  For a dipped beeswax taper candle, size 1/0 or 2/0 square braided cord is recommended.  I bought wick on the internet from 85ft  of 1/O SQ Braid Cotton Wick W142 for $3.60.18 ply Flat Braid Cotton Wick Yardage: 10 yards from <a href="http://www.alittlecandleandbathshop.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">www.alittlecandleandbathshop.com</a> for $2.95 + $4.95 shipping. I haven’t experimented with the flat braid, but bought it because it was “unbleached” cotton.   Websites have suggested 3/0 square braided wick for 1/2″ to 3/4″ beeswax candles.Judy from Jody bees recommends 1/0 or 2/0.  You could also try local craft stores.Cleaning the beeswax  If there are particles in the wax, melt it, and pour through a cloth that is attached to the top of a metal can or pot with a rubber band or wire.  The screening material can be a fine cloth, like a sheet, or cheese cloth with a tissue on top.  Change the tissue occasionally.Firestarter Project: I like to put dryer lint in cardboard egg cartons and pour some of the old wax over it. Let harden. Sections can be ripped off and used to start fires! Enjoy the process !Deanne

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