Change of plans

Last week I was telling you all how excited I was for Thanksgiving, I teased about my beautiful tablescape and the meal I was cooking. CHANGE OF PLANS!

The original plan was dinner at my house for 12, no big deal. As the week went on, the neighbors and I started talking and several people didn't have anywhere to go. Others had family coming in that they didn't want to be trapped with and with this in mind we decided to all have Thanksgiving together. One problem, 30 people.

Only one house in the neighborhood was large enough for all of us, so we moved the entire Thanksgiving celebration across the street.

We divided up the tasks for the meal and I was responsible for a vegetable and dessert. My life just got much easier!

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving and really enjoyed our time together, but I must admit I was disappointed as I enjoy cooking the meal and doing the tablescape, but alas neither was necessary.

I did want to share with you what I had planned for the tablescape and apologize that there are no photos, but like I said, it never happened.

• Plain white linen cloth
• Antique crocheted overlay
• Wrought Iron Candelabra that runs the length of my table
• Petite votives
• Assorted photos in frames of various sizes of family and friends who I am thankful for. The photos would be interspersed along the table and at varying heights.
• Cobalt blue linen place mats
• Solid white china
• Silver flatware
• Cobalt blue water glasses
• Long stem crystal wine glasses
• Blue and white plaid linen napkins with silver napkin rings
• Place cards were to be my special message to each guest. On a white card and written in silver ink the card would say "Leigh, I am thankful for your kindness." "Clint, I am thankful for your generosity." etc. etc.
• Each person was to also have "to go" bags. Using craft paper lunch bags and tied with festive ribbons, each person would have taken away their left-overs for the next day.

Oh well, it didn't happen this year. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that your celebration was Home Made Easy.

Candling Made Easy...

I apologize for not posting recently. First I had computer problems and then camera problems and then life got in the way of posting. Hopefully now I am back up and running.

I have been making candles for quite sometime. I find it to be a rewarding and easy craft with a big payoff.

I have made candles in a variety of containers and in a variety of colors, it is super easy and fun.

Recently I found a number of miniature tins at my local craft store for fifty cents each. I bought $20 worth, knowing that they would make super cute candles that I could use for a variety of purposes.

Candling requires a number of steps, all of them easy to follow.

Required for this project is....

A block of wax

Melting pot

Thermometer

Knife

Wicks

Clothes pins

Tins

While you are preparing the process, I place the tins in the over at 170 degrees to warm. This allows the tins to be ready for the melted wax when it is poured in. The tins need to be warm so that the wax doesn't crack when it hardens.

In a large pot of hot water (just before boiling) place the melting pot with a large chunk of wax. Place your thermometer in the wax as it melts. Candle thermometers are marked with temperatures for different containers, always use this it helps with the process as different types of containers require different temps. For a tin you want the wax to melt to approximately 225 degrees.

For me the most difficult step in making candles is getting the wick to stand in the center. Some people use straws, others use the cover of a Bic pen, but most everyone uses clothes pins in the process. I have done all of the above and still use the different techniques depending on the style of candle I am making. For this particular candle I used just the clothes pins and a bead weight to hold it down.

Once the wax is melted you may add color or scents. All of these may be purchased at a craft store. For these particular candles I decided on no color since the containers were so colorful and added apple as my scent.

Pour the wax into your containers leaving a small amount of space at the top.

Don't use all of your wax at this point.... you will need more later!

Once the wax is in the container I then center my wicks and use the clothes pins to hold them in place while the wax hardens.

After the wax has hardened you will find that it may fall a bit in the center, this is when you will reuse the additional melt. Pour in the additional wax and bring it near the top of your container.

After the wax has hardened cut your wicks.

What an adorable and fragrant candle and easy to make!

These candles make great hostess gifts and can be wrapped in delightful creative ways, I will present the fun wraps in a future post.

Candling for yourself or others.... Home Made Easy!