This bayberry candle comes from a friendso on Christmas eve burn it down to the end.
For a bayberry candle burned to the socket,
will bring joy to the heart and gold to the pocket.
When I was a little girl, one of my favorite books was The Little Mailman of Bayberry Lane. Ever since, I've always loved the thought of making my own bayberry candles. Now that I'm home and am putting down some roots, I can finally make that little dream come true! On our south fence I'm going to put a row of bayberry bushes. They'll make a beautiful hedge, and with any luck, I'll have a ton of bayberries to make a few candles! To make the candles is pretty easy. Just boil the berries and the waxy coating floats to the top. Pick up the wax when it cools, remelt it with 20% beeswax (Bayberry wax alone is too brittle and will crack), then pour into candle molds or dip tapers. Voila'!
Northern Bayberry is native to the East Coast, but it is hardy and adaptable to a wide range of conditions, so I should be able to grow it here without much effort. There is a high demand for real bayberry candles, and they are quite expensive, so maybe I can even make a few dollars!
Here's the bayberry in Summer dress and decked in Winter silver! Such a beautiful bush!
I can't wait!
2 comments:
Hi I came across your blog(written on my birthday) while searching for a Baby shower present. We are supposed to bring our favorite Children's Book. But WAIT -my favorite book is The Little Mailman... also. Did you know it is out of print? And now considered VINTAGE? Jeeze -I had to order a used book off Amazon. And i will NOT pay for expedited shipping -so it will arrive late. Now I ponder...Is it acceptable to give a used book and can i deduct the cost of the book from the limit i have placed on the gift? And now that I have found it again -I don't want to give it away! :))) Moral dilemmas at a baby shower -what is the world coming to ? I also love Bayberry scent- every once in a while I can find a good bush here at the Jersey shore! Never tried to make candles. Enjoyed your blog. robin
:) Thanks for sharing! I'm glad you stopped by! ;)
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