beeswax candlemaking dipping set
MER 95103051
Regular price $70.00100% beeswax, including wick, and 1 dipping tin.
To use:
1. You will first prepare a 'double-boiler' for the beeswax pallets, with the included tin being the container to melt the wax, and a large pot of your own to boil water in. To begin, fill your large stockpot only halfway with water. Place the tall tin with beeswax pellets inside of the stockpot. In this manner, there is no water touching the actual beeswax pellets. Turn the burner to high heat. The temperature of the water should remain under 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hopefully you can keep your pot clean. It may still happen that some beeswax might drip into your pot. Some people like to use a pot that they don't worry about dripping wax as much, but it is possible with a careful handling to keep your pot clean, and the beeswax contained to the tin.
2. As the wax is melting, you can prepare the candle wick. You can make just one candle at a time, or you can use a longer string holding it in the middle with both ends dipping in at the same time to make two candles at once. It may be helpful to tie little weights to the ends of the string; you might use hex nuts, fishing weights, pennies stuck together in a clump of soft wax. If you do two candles at a time, then hanging them to dry afterwards will be easier for candles that are thicker diameter and need more time to dry. If you are only making very small diameter candles, then they won't take long to dry, and doing one candle at a time is fine.
3. Test the wax temperature with the included thermometer. It should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. You're ready to begin. For your first dip of the wick, you will seal the wick by dipping it into the melted wax to the desired length of the candle. Lift back out again into the air.
5. The wax should take about 4 seconds or so to air harden once the wick is lifted out of the melted wax. Re-dip once more, and then immediately plunge into cold water bath. Repeat Steps 4 & 5 until your candle reaches the desired diameter.
6. For some old-fashioned charm, hang the finished candles over a broom balanced on two chair backs, making sure the candles don't touch each other. Leave them to harden for a day in a cool, draft-free spot. Cut off the weights, and re-dip the ends to have the bottoms be more tapered.
Note: The beeswaxes pellets reduce in volume when melted. We advise you to keep a refill bag with beeswax pellets from Dipam, or simply melt down your remnants from your old beeswax candles.
0.6 kg (600 grams) of beeswax. 3 x 3 metres of cotton candle wick (eg. 9 metres in total).
Made in the European Union for Mercurius.
Bright December Moon postcard
MER 95502033
Regular price $2.35In the words of artist, Geertje Kapteijns: "'See the moon shining' shows Sinterklaas (St Nicholas) en route on his faithful gray in the dark and cold evening with the shining moon between the trees. In the foreground children with lanterns, a connection from Saint Martin to Sinterklaas. In stories and legends, Sinterklaas is known for his good deeds and help, a merciful person who came to the aid of people from anonymity."
Geertje Kapteijns (1980) is a visual artist, living in Dordrecht, Netherlands. When her children went to a Waldorf school, she was introduced to the way in which the seasons and annual festivals are celebrated and how children are able to be children during childhood. This has proved to be a huge source of inspiration. She started making chalkboard drawings and over time, she released them as cards, as well as her watercolour paintings as cards. The cards are small works of art that encourage a conscious reflection on a certain time of the year or a certain event and the feeling that goes with that. Drawings that make you look forward to remembering a beautiful moment.
There is something magical about a chalkboard drawing. Because of the black background, you not only apply color when you start drawing, but also light. Chalk as a material is vulnerable but also very flexible, you can make quick impressions with it, but you can also work with it in detail. The board drawings are transient, and eventually become again. However, this also creates space for a new drawing.
Geertje uses Mercurius chalkboard chalk for all her chalkboard drawings
10.5 x 14.8 cm.
Print of a chalkboard drawing on a large quality paper card.
Printed in the Netherlands.
The Return of the Light postcard
MER 95502024
Regular price $2.35In the words of artist, Geertje Kapteijns: "Candlemas is the festival of lights that closes the great Christmas season. Where we literally and figuratively take over the carrying of light from nature with Saint Martin and the lighting the first candle, and then on February 2, we welcome natural light and the start of a new growth cycle in nature with Candlemas. In the kindergarten classes, empty walnut halves are filled with leftover candle wax to make new candles. These walnut boats are launched by the toddlers to say goodbye to the artificial light of winter days indoors. Snowdrops stick their heads above the ground at this time, marking the start of another full year."
Geertje Kapteijns (1980) is a visual artist, living in Dordrecht, Netherlands. When her children went to a Waldorf school, she was introduced to the way in which the seasons and annual festivals are celebrated and how children are able to be children during childhood. This has proved to be a huge source of inspiration. She started making chalkboard drawings and over time, she released them as cards, as well as her watercolour paintings as cards. The cards are small works of art that encourage a conscious reflection on a certain time of the year or a certain event and the feeling that goes with that. Drawings that make you look forward to remembering a beautiful moment.
There is something magical about a chalkboard drawing. Because of the black background, you not only apply color when you start drawing, but also light. Chalk as a material is vulnerable but also very flexible, you can make quick impressions with it, but you can also work with it in detail. The board drawings are transient, and eventually become again. However, this also creates space for a new drawing.
Geertje uses Mercurius chalkboard chalk for all her chalkboard drawings
10.5 x 14.8 cm.
Print of a chalkboard drawing on a large quality paper card.
Printed in the Netherlands.