Monday, March 17, 2008

From Colonial Tallow Candles to Modern day Soy Candles


Back in the days of my colonial and pioneer ancestors making tallow candles was a frequent chore as without electricity candles were used to eat by, read by, quilt and sew by and anything else that required the use of light.
Burning tallow could be a smoky and unpleasant smelling experience- but as tallow was the only product available for candlemaking( I am not sure when beeswax started being used but it had to have been received with great joy!) it was something they had to endure.
Someday I will follow in their footsteps and attempt to make beeswax tapers, nubbies, and lamplighters . Nowdays we burn candles not out of necessity but to enhance our moods, recall fond memories, freshen the air or to add a cozy ambience to our homes. With the invention of soy wax, for now I am happy to follow in their candlemaking footsteps using soy -wax a much cleaner and better alternative to tallow! Soy wax burns clean, and slow with amazing scent throw.
Since I am a pioneer farm girl at heart I pour my candles in square mason canning style jars and make my melting tarts in fluted tins that make them resemble little food type tarts.
More recently I have added a Simpler Tymes line which are poured in farmhouse style panrty jars with black metal lids and the tarts made in a very plain and simple shape resembling little prairie cakes. Although I have poured these tarts in several colors in the near future they will be poured in natural off white or primitive tan.
My candles can be viewed at http://www.pilgrimsandpioneersprimitives.blogspot.com/

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