Advent Candles

Here are some of our Advent Candles.

Traditionally these are set in a wreath but this is the Glo Candles take on it!

 

 

There are three purple candles, one pink candle and one white candle.

On the first Sunday of Advent, the first purple candle is lit. This candle is typically called the "Prophecy Candle" in remembrance of the prophets, primarily Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. This candle represents hope or expectation in anticipation of the coming Messiah.
Each week on Sunday, an additional candle is lit. On the second Sunday of Advent, the second purple candle is lit. This candle typically represents love. Some traditions call this the "Bethlehem Candle," symbolizing Christ's manger.
On the third Sunday of Advent the pink, or rose-colored candle is lit. This pink candle is customarily called the "Shepherds Candle" and it represents joy.
The fourth and last purple candle, oftentimes called the "Angels Candle," represents peace and is lit on the fourth Sunday of Advent.

On Christmas Eve, the white candle is traditionally lit. This candle is called the "Christ Candle" and represents the life of Christ that has come into the world. The color white represents purity. Christ is the sinless, spotless, pure Savior. Also, those who receive Christ as Savior are washed of their sins and made whiter than snow.

So there you have it!

Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner.
Everywhere I look there are pumpkins.... some are enormous
Have you thought of candles for your Halloween party?
These are selling like hotcakes along with our ever poplular black candles of course

And after Halloween there is of course, Firework Night.
We have made some candles for a Firework Themed Wedding in some bright colours.

Whatever you are doing to celebrate have great fun!

Fame at last!

Yesterday Glo Candles hit the news. No, not a broadsheet but the Cheddar Valley News. I am absolutely thrilled that the local group of papers took an interest in what we are doing in our workshop and about our participation in the Nationwide Yes Programme.
Take a look...

Some exciting news and a peek inside the Glo workshop

I thought I'd take this opportunity to share some exciting news with you.

Last year I took part in a new education initiative called the Yes Programme. It is a collection of videos rolled out to primary schools showing pupils a range of jobs and careers and how they relate to what they learn at school in the National Curriculum. The videos are 2-3 minutes each and the subject matter is people like you and me and what we do for a living. My video showed me making some candles and more specifically turning liquids(wax) into solids (candles). I was delighted to take part as the first (and only) 'career guidance' I received was at age 15 when I was asked what I wanted to do after leaving school. My view is that primary schoolchildren can be made aware of opportunities early on (and why they are taught some of the stuff they learn in class) without it being rammed down their throats so I was enthusiastic apart participating. I believe the day they filmed me the film crew had been filming a rocket powered car in Bristol that is aiming to break every land speed record ever!

Anyway - following on from this a Press Release was sent to local press in Somerset and very shortly afterwards I received an email from a paper asking if they could do a piece on Glo Candles as a local business.'Of course' was my reply. So maybe the word will be spreading a little more widely in the near future. I will update you in due course.....


An here's a peek inside the Glo workshop this morning

Spring at last

The sun finally put in an appearance so it was out in the garden and here are some photos to brighten up the day. Our tea garden (Charterhouse Tea Garden) is now open on nicer days so anyone passing can come and have a nose in our workshop and see what we are up to.

Lavender pillar candle

Square Yellow Pillar Candle

We were commissioned to make some special scented candles this week - a small prize for anyone guessing the fragrance.
Just email me at jane@glocandles.co.uk

Well hello everyone. It's been a while. I really will try and update the Glo blog more often. It's a busy week - making lots of heart candles for Valentines Day. Here are some of the most poplular Valentines candles.

Floting Heart Candles (Red)

Floting Heart Candles (Pink)

Orcio Jar Candles - Rose Scented

Heart Pillar Candle

3D Heart Candle

As I'm writing the snow is gently falling outside. This time I am hoping it doesn't settle. Pretty though it is I have had enough of floods and snow and am now looking forward to some warm Spring sunshine. The snowdrops have appeared (we are so high up here in the Mendips that we are usually behind other people) and the crocuses are popping up although not in flower yet.
Only a few days to go and then we'll be thinking of Easter....
Whatever you are doing for Valentines Day I wish you a wonderful time and much love

Jane x

Making our Candles Part 4

Packing

Just a note on the care and time that goes into packing our candles.
Candles are very delicate and bruise very easily. Because the majority of our candles are sent via post or courier they can take a bit of a bashing so I wrap and package them so carefully.

Firstly with some polystyrene foam.

Wrapping - 1st layer - polystyrene foam

In polystyrene foam with Glo logo

 Then with some small bubble wrap.



2nd layer - small bubble wrap

 Then with some large bubble wrap.



3rd layer - large bubble wrap

In large bubble wrap



Sometimes they are packed in boxes like this but sometimes a layer of corrugated card is added before sealing in a plastic mailing bag.

Having taken such care making the candles the last thing we want is for them to arrive damaged, so this is an important part of the process. We don't make any profit from package and postage and are happy to receive glowing comments about the condition of the candles when they arrive at their destinations.

So that's it. Amopther time I will show you how we make some of our scented / aromatherapy candles.

If you ever have any questions please ask. We are always happy to show you around if you want to come and visit. Just contact jane@glocandles.co.uk

Making our Candles Part 3

Finishing Off - Pillar Candles

Once the candle is out of the mould we check for blemishes. Some can be rubbed out with a tea towel. As the candles are solid colour all the way through and not dipped we can rub pretty hard to remove marks and flaws.

Small water bubbles or white marks can be removed by using a hairdryer. This essentially melts the wax a little but when it cools down again it returns to the colour of the wax used.

Waiting to be finished




Checking straightness and
smoothing the bottom

A word about bottoms:

The bottom of the candle is in fact the top that you saw in the open mould. It is usually quite rough and needs flattening and moothing off. Candles of 75mm diameter and more are gently placed on a metal heated plate that melts excess wax and smooths it down. 75mm and under go under the rotary saw to make sure they are straight.
We then place a sticker with all important burning and safety instructions on the base.



The saw

Cutting the candle base





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Polishing

TOP TIP!

I polish the finished candle with a shoe shiner which removes any smudges and fingermarks and gives it a beautiful sheen. Now all ready for packing.

Polishing the candle

Next time - not very exciting but I want to share how carefully every single candle is packed so it reaches you safely.

Making our Candles Part 2

Melting & Pouring - Pillar Candles

Whilst the moulds are being wicked the wax granules have been in a sort of bain-marie melting.
Any dye that needs to be added to the wax is added at this time and stirred in. This is dependent on the colour of candles that have been ordered.

Melting & Pouring area

Melting jugs in bain-marie

When the wax reaches 80-84 degrees Centigrade (depending on wax type used) it is ready to pour. But before we do we need to warm the moulds in a heater. They don't need to stay in for long; around 5-10 minutes, raising them to 30-35 degrees Centigrade.

Heating the moulds

Wax ready to be melted

Reaching the right temperature

Pouring

Still pouring

The wax is poured very carefully into the mould so as not to create air bubbles. We fill to to the very top taking care not to spill over. This is then left to cool, usually the next day. As the wax cools it shrinks and visibly dips in the centre. The candles need to be topped up - sometimes several times - being very careful not to come over the level of the original wax.


Wax poured to top

With larger candles the surface skin is pierced to prevent air bubbles inside the finished candle. See below:

Topping up - see how the wax has shrunk


When the candles are totally cooled they are ready for the big reveal.
Sealing putty and tape are removed from the bottom and the wick is again visible. A sharp tap should release the candle, but as often as not the candle needs to be placed in a fridge to cool a little more. It is then easier to release.

The Moment of Truth

This is the moment of truth. Until the candle is actually out of the mould we never know if it is a good candle or not. Some minor blemishes are natural with hand poured candles and we have ways of improving the finish (more on that next time). If they look as though they have been run over by a truck or aren't going to pass my quality control then it's back into the jug to be melted and made again. Sometimes little blemishes such as one teeny drop of water can cause enough of a blemish for me to refuse to send a candle out.

NEXT TIME: It's all about bottoms and finishing off

Making our Candles Part 1

Preparing the Moulds

I thought I would share with you the way we make our pillar candles. There are many steps and every candle is lovingly hand poured. We take great care every step of the way - there are so many things that can go wrong so we put a lot of effort into making sure things go as smoothly as possible.





Clean aluminium moulds on the shelf




Wick (cotton) is inserted into hole in mould



Wick is pulled through and wick pin is pushed through the wick

The wick pin holds the wick central and straight

Mould is turned upside down to secure the wick

Wick is secured using plastic tape



White tac is used to seal wick down (to stop wax escaping after it is poured in)

Mould is now ready for the pouring process (see other shapes in background)


NEXT TIME: Melting and Pouring