Eco Table Set Up

We drink wine....I like my wine. I LOVE wine bottles.  I think they are beautiful and it seems like there should be something to do with them other than toss them in the recycle bin.  My husband wants to like set up rows of them as decor...to me it is too reminiscent of a college guys apartment with liquor bottles lined up on the top of the fridge as some sort of representation of how badass he is that he drinks hard liquor.
Anyway....I wrack my brain for ideas.

I saw something the other day that made me think of this.
I like to use photo stands at shows to categorize and price (i.e. sign would say, Lip Balms $3, or 2 for $5).  But the itty bitty photo stands I have, tumble over when someone even touches the table.  why not use a few wine bottles, maybe even fill them with some sand if needed, and use a cute clothespin to add the sign to the bottle opening.
We'll have to try it out at the Etsy Craft Party and see how it goes.

Ezine Article on Soy Candles

I wanted to share this Ezine article on soy candles. Some similar thoughts were also recently shared on Fox News' Sunday Housecall with Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld Healthy Monday Pick of the week.

"Soy is everywhere these days, including in your milk, chips, nuts, and even burgers adding health benefits through and through, now it seems soy is also in your candles. Soy candles are a new and emerging type of candle the offers great benefits to those candle heads in the world that can't live without fresh aroma burning each and every day in their homes."If it lasts longer it's okay with me" said a friend of mine once during a casual dinner. Take that comment for what you will, my friend could've meant a variety of things by it, but in general consumers prefer long lasting items to those that are short in life span. Soy candles last 30 to 50 percent longer then traditional candles. Your average 14 oz candle, similar to a Yankee candle large size, will last about 75 hours. If you were to have that candle be a soy candle, it would last over 100 hours and smell just as sweet as the traditional candles do.Traditional candles are known to cause soot in and around the general area they are burning. For those that aren't familiar with our friend soot, think grayish black smoky smelling fog that clouds the top of your candle jar, on your walls, and even on ones ceiling. Soot is caused by the toxic elements in the traditional candles that are released when ignited. Soy candles are all natural and do not contain any toxins, thus no soot will come of them.Carcinogens are released into the air when a traditional candle is burning. Carcinogens can cause cancer, and other health related problems. New research is showing links between candles, charcoal, and other burning devices we use in our home lives as cancer causing. Research is just beginning on this issue; however it is a fact that soy candles do not produce carcinogens. When thinking about buying soy candles think of the old cliché, better safe than sorry."

Direct Link to the Article:http://ezinearticles.com/?Health-Benefits-of-Soy-Candles&id=182179

Eco-Friendly Soy Candle Refills

So ever since I started Lilac Ave back in July of 2008, I have really wanted to make a large concentration, on how to make beautiful, unique candles out of things that have lost purpose. You see this in my shop in items like the recycled jar candles, or a lot of the one of a kind candles. But one thing you previously haven't seen, is that I offer a refill service!

This came to light when so many of my Etsy Homefront Teammembers...many who just joined us in the last few months, and some that have been there for a while, but have forgotten, saw a refill I did for a friend of mine. So they helped me brainstorm, and we figured out a way, for those who are too shy to convo, can see what is offered.

Beginning today I have 4 new listings in my shop for custom refills. Here's how it works. If you have a 'non-flammable (that is important) container that you've kept because you've loved, or had a candle in it, that is burnt through, let me refill it for you! All you do, is mail me your empty container. Let me know what scent you like. I will fill it and mail it back to you. And now whatever it is, will have a new purpose. AND you can do this over and over. Think of the reduction to the landfill!

I've filled tea tins, old Yankee Candle jars, coffee mugs, old candle holders. Just about anything.

The listings are by size, so just buy and mail me the container, and we are ready to go!

Refill for 0-6oz $4

Refill for 7-12oz $7

Refill for 13-18oz $10

Refill for 19-24oz $12

Please take note that these prices also make it worthwhile. They are in most cases 25% off buying a candle new. This easily makes up for the shipping of the empty containers to me, with the added bonus of getting something truly special in return.

So, the only question is....what in your home can become a candle????

Why Soy?

At the bottom of each of my listings, I have a "Why soy?" explanation. I thought it may be good to really discuss the benefits of soy candles.

Personally, I feel like the candles I make in soy wax smell less perfumey, and more "fresh" than traditional candles I am used to, or what I smell when I walk down the candle aisle in Target/Walmart/Kmart/fill in the blank.

However there are more scientific reasons why soy is better!

- They last longer

I know in my studies that Yankee Candle says their tart lasts 8hrs. I am pretty sure they are about double the size of my .6oz tarts that burn for at least 16hrs...some customers say even longer.

A soy wax candle can burn twice as long as paraffin....think of it, it's like you are buying twice the amount of candle, for usually a similar, or slightly higher price.

- It is vegetable based versus petroleum based.

Soy wax comes from the soy bean, which is a vegetable crop. In fact, many of the soy bean farmers are American farmers. So buying soy candles is also supporting domestic farmers and workers.

- Soy is green...it is renewable!

Because soy is a vegetable, it is a renewable resource. Paraffin (what traditional candles are made from), are made from petroleum, which we all know is NOT a renewable resource.

- Soy burns cleaner.

Soy wax does not produce the black soot that paraffin candles do. Less mess, less "stuff" in the air.

Recycling by Reverse Osmosis

So if you've been to my shop you know I like to recycle jars and tins into candles. But what can you do when you've bought a candle from Lilac Ave, and you're done?

If you read my Nove blog on "How to make the Most of Your Candles", then you saw that when a candle burns down, you can freeze it for 10min, and then easily remove the remaining wax. Not only can you use the remnant wax as tarts for a tart burner, but you can use the container too, and that is what this blog write up is about.

After removing the wax, make sure you hand wash out the rest of the wax. Then run it through the dishwasher. Make sure the container is spotless and smell it to see if the candle scent is still there. I do not suggest using the container for food as pictured, if you smell any remnant of candle scent, but you 'should' be able to have 'washed it all out'.

Here are just a few thoughts.

Send your container back to LilacAve and get it refilled with a scent of your choice for less than $1/oz. For example the above is 5oz, and the refill would cost $4.

Use it as a dish for lose change. Then it is not only saving the Earth, but saving some cashola!

Use it to hold craft supplies or office supplies! Not only a good way to organize, but CUTE too!

A perfect size for an afternoon snack of grapes, goldfish, or nuts. See above about making sure the container is completely clean. Athough soy comes from nature, you don't want to eat wax ;)

How about a business card holder?

A great way for crayons not to roll away while your child colors!


I'd love to hear even more ideas!!!

How to Make the Most of Your Candle

Recently, I had some buds over, and we were talking about things I do, and what they do to make their candles last EVEN longer. I thought I should share these tips with you folks!

1. A Simple Motion Goes A Long Way- A buddy of mine loves her mod square candle she bought from my shop. She found a way to lengthen the life of her candle. The very first time she lit it, she picked it up and sort of tilted it around to widen the melt pool. After that first light, the candle is like memory foam, and will melt back to those same distance, causing a longer fragrant burn. This works with any candle that is wide in area, but maybe short in height.

2. Waste Not, Want Not- I had a wonderful leaf shaped candle. It smelled fabulous as it burned down, but it eventually came to it's end. Well because of it's unusual shape there was a lot of wax still hanging out in the nooks and crannies. It seemed like a waste to lose. So, I put the candle in the freezer for 10min. This causes soy wax to shrink. So when I pushed at the wax in the nooks and crannies, a chunk fell out. I saved all these chunks, and have been burning them in my tart burner. These crumbles were equivalent to at least 5 tarts....a savings of $5, and letting me enjoy the great scent for an additional 80+ hours.3. I Just Can't Let Go- Some containers are just too perfect, too pretty, too sentimental to get rid of when the candle is gone. I've had several cases over the last few months, where owners of these little jewels, give the containers back to me, to fill with their favorite scent, or one they want to try. Refills are discounted from a regular candle purchase, and a great way to do your part in conservation and reuse.

4. Do You Believe in Reincarnation- Look around you and many thinks that could or would be trash, could be a treasure. How about filling your favorite Schnapps with a matching Reed Diffuser scent? How about making last nights pasta jar see another day, as a mega jar candle? These items can be filled for you as well...making your trash, your treasure :)