Saturday, November 21, 2009

Giveaway winner announced and candles

Thank you so much to everyone who left a message on my giveaway post, and to those who thanked me for the free design on Among the Gum Trees! Your positive response has filled me full of warmth and humility. THANK YOU! :-)

I sat at my computer this morning and chose three winners using the True Random Number Generator:

Random generator 2

The first number drawn was no.2, left by Sue of I Purr Furr to Craft.

Random generator 36

The next number drawn was no. 36 left by Laila of Lailas Lapper.

Random generator 68

The final number drawn was no. 68, left by Michelle (no blog).

Congratulations ladies, I shall email you with the two pattern designs this evening!

For anyone wishing to purchase my designs, they are available in my ETSY store (just click on the button below to take you there). Both designs will be published next year in Country Threads and Handmade magazines - Just a reminder for the Aussies among you who may want to wait until the magazines are on the shelf!

Winter etsy shop button

Well, I have had a busy afternoon and learned the fundamentals of a new craft!

I met up with four dear friends (the girls I used to go painting with at Kerryanne’s studio), and the lovely Karen taught us how to make scented soy candles. It was so much fun!

But that wasn’t the only treat! Marisa and Anne are attending a ‘chocolate-making’ short-course at the moment and Marisa brought along some cute and mouth-watering delights.

Christmas puddings 1

The chocolate-coated Xmas puddings contained either marshmallow or mixed-fruit (soaked in Port). They were delish! Not to mention cute – have I said that already?!!

Anne made a beautiful moist Hummingbird cake:

Hummingbird cake

Then after we’d finished lunch and cake we had our first lesson in candle-making!

We prepared the first ‘batch’ of candles (or rather, Karen did! Don’t you just love that “Universal WE”?!!) and chose ‘spiced orange’ for the fragrance, and added some orange dye to the soy. Here is an example of one candle, poured into the glass votive and cooling. The wick is held in place with a wooden lolly stick that has a hole drilled in it.

cooling candle

As it solidifies, the soy begins to lighten in colour and looks like this:

cooled candle

There was no waste either - as the soy that was left over was poured into these latex “ice cube” moulds - and will be used as “melts” in our oil burners.

candle melts

I need to wait 3-4 days before I can burn my candles, to give them time to cure. They smell wonderful already, even before they’re lit!

What have you been up to this weekend? Whatever you do, I wish you every happiness!

Until next time – warm ‘orange-spice’-filled hugs! Vikki x

17 comments:

I Purr-Furr to Craft said...

How perfectly lovely! I am so glad that the cakes were not made at the same time, You would not like to get those mixed up with the candle making!
the cakes looked Delicious, and the candles even better, I adore the melts too.
Thank you so much for your lovely patterns, Now i have 3 things to make!!!

Simone de Klerk said...

The cakes look very very good (O: Congratulations to the winners for the wonderful giveaway! Have a great weekend.

Jenny of Elefantz said...

Congratulations to the three lucky winners!!
Yum, those cakes look divine...and I LOVE the candles!! How clever!! I made orange and cinnamon spiced with honey as a drink when we have colds and the aroma is sweet as! I imagine your candle will have that same feel good scent, Vikki. :-)

Abby and Stephanie said...

Many years ago I make candles by melting down my children's old crayons. Pretty and they did work but they didn't particularly smell yummy. I do want to work with soy in the new year! Love candles.

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

Thanks for showing your technique of positioning the wick with the pop stick. I have candle making supplies that I have been wanting to use for a while - I will have to make some over the summer holidays.

Allie said...

Congratulations to the winners!!! Those chocolates look almost too pretty to eat but that wouldn't stop me, and the cake looks delish. I LOVE the candles. What a great idea for the leftover wax, I like no waste!
I'm going to start on Mother's Love today, yippee!!!!!!!

Wendyb said...

drool...drool!!!! Lots of yummy treats....now my turn to lick the screen!!!!! Eeeeeew....I got candle wax!!! hehehe Must be more selective but what delicious eye candy too! Well done Vikki. XXX sugary hugs 'o)

Sharon (Stitches on Mars) said...

Hi Vik,
Those choccy delights looked great..how could you eat them ha Ha ...especially coming from me.
Congratulations to the winners, especially the lovely Sue.

BTW, where do you get wool felt from?

Love & hugs,
Sharon

Liz said...

Well done to all winning the gorgeous Vikki's designs, especially Sue (I Purr-Furr to craft), must be your week this week!
Gorgeous stitching Vikki.
Lizzie
XXX

Deb said...

Congratulations ladies on the winning of Vikki's pattern. Lucky you.
Sweetie, I love the look of your candles and that fragrance sounds absolutely divine. How do you find the time to do everything you do, although I do think its good for you to do things like your candles with your girlfriends as it would be like a relaxing episode for you.

Kerryanne @ Shabby Art Boutique said...

Sounds like an amazing way to spend the day Vik and with some of my favorite friends too. I miss you all so much!

Having been a recipient of Karen's lovely soy candles, I know how lovely they are. I bet your batch of orange scented candles will be delightful too.
Hugs ~ Kerryanne

Joy said...

Congrats to the lucky winners!!! Love those candles, that looks like such fun!!
Hugs & love,
Joy :o)

Srinity said...

Delicious looking cakes! Nom, nom, nom! :)
The candles look pretty. I have a couple of scented candles on my shelf near my stitching chair. I am allergic to strong fragrances so I can't burn them but they give a light scent as they are. I like it and the smell is not so strong to make me sneeze. :)

Kim D. said...

Congratulations to the lucky winners.. Fun stuff, enjoy..

Anna Rosa Designs said...

Hi Vikki,
Wow, those lucky gals for winning your great prizes.
Soo generous of you.

Glad to hear your still catching up with your old class mates and having fun.

Ahh, I loovve candles and I'm often looking around for sweet smelly ones. Is this the Karen I know? Why isn't she advertising and selling these
I'll have to hassle her!
Hugs,
Anna

Micki said...

Congrats to the winners! The cakes look wonderful, and I love candles too!
Micki

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