I haven’t seriously made candles since we moved to our new house in 2008.
I used to spend several hours each month with family and friends pouring enormous pillar candles for gifts and to sell for charity. I’d collected a few thousand dollars of molds and equipment, but a few years ago, I sold most of it.
Recently, I became interested in learning more about the eco-costs of using paraffin (refined solid petroleum) for candles and kerosene/mineral oil for lamps and outside torches. I researched how others have mixed different types of wax, and I started collecting leftover wax bits and candles that didn’t burn well.
Today I poured three candles from batches I dyed more than 10 years ago. I also mixed some of those leftover paraffin candle bits with beeswax candle bits, olive oil, and soy wax flakes, and put it into a candle container that I’d cleaned out.
Paraffin molded pillarsRecycled mixed waxes with olive oil, and a little of cedar and lemongrass essential oils in a recycled candle container Paraffin pillars and mixed recycled waxes/oils in a recycled candle container.
Craftical Creations is a little bit of a lot of different things. I help people and organizations build and keep digital self-reliance with combined tech support, device repair/maintenance, and no-rush personalized skill-building sessions. Because I'm passionate about making tech resources available and connect the people who can least afford help with digital self-sufficiency support, I sometimes accept offers of partial payment via bartered services and items I need to help the next person who needs help to use technology more safely and effectively.
Likewise, I help total beginner to lifelong expert creatives alike with a number of services: rescue-salvage-repair-maintenance on artist and maker tools, equipment, and supplies/materials. I guide and host customized solo and small group skill-building sessions. I support experts in their fields with the technology needed to teach in person or in video classes, and I help with simple video-creation tech setup and tutoring.
If that wasn't enough, my college studies and work experience helped me become successful at co-designing and testing new variations on fiber arts tools. I'm exceptionally well-specialized as a tool designer, prototyper, tinker, and tester. I have assisted several tool craftspeople, especially wood workers and fiber tool inventors. My wide base of knowledge in the physics, chemistry, anatomy, biology, design, video prototype testing, accessibility, and documentation position me uniquely for helping toolmakers tweak or create prototypes to best increase the effectiveness, durability, and market appeal of their their new spindle, wheel, combs, carders, and other product desigkns.
Not all, but last of the main areas where I specialize, I'm known to help connect fellow artists with talented tool crafters, small fiber farms and mills, and other people find and acquire the tools and supplies and customers they need in the most affordable and sustainable costs/margins feasible over the long run.
In other words:
Customized and Affordable Tech Support and Tutoring:
I maintain, diagnose, explain and repair the most common frustrating digital challenges - with patience and flexibility.
Virtual Assistant Services
- Admin & clerical tasks
- Creativity: copywriting, copy editing, website design & social media and email marketing
- poetry, testimonials, personal audio and video interviews, (genuine!) product evangelism, trades of keeping prototype tools in exchange for video testing sessions with the tool creator
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Cooccurrent Consulting - Virtual Assists for Anyone & Everyone 
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