Be Safe During The Holiday Season

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Online shopping is convenient, you can shop around, find the best prices, and have your packages delivered to your doorstep without ever having to leave the comfort of your own home. However, getting a great deal online involves more than just getting the lowest price. You’ll want to be sure that products arrive on time, that worth is what you expected, that items include a proper guarantee, and that there is a way for you to return products or get support with any questions or issues you have.

If your computer isn’t protected from malicious software, your financial information and passwords are in jeopardy from being stolen (and everything else you store on your computer or do online). Avoid offers that seem “too good to be true” Don’t use an e-store that requires more information than necessary to make the sale such as offering your social security information, or driver’s license number. Does the merchant resell, rent, or share your information? Check the site’s privacy policy to understand how exposed your information may become. The best way to stay safe online is still by using an effective internet security product. When on marketplaces like eBay, check the seller’s reputation and read comments before buying a product to see what the experience was like for past customers. Try not to do any online shopping when you’re using a public computer (such as in an airport lounge or your favorite coffee shop) or when you’re using a public Wi-Fi network. Check Shipping costs for unusual amounts. So, “Let The Shopping Begin” but be safe.  

Shop locally:  Keep money in the community. For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, nearly half goes back into the community and our tax base. Get better service. Most local business have websites.  Local businesses often hire people who have a better understanding of the products they’re selling, and take more time to get to know customers. And, you can haggle with us over price.

Candle Care

Posted on by grammy

That time of the year. Holiday Candles everywhere. Lets look at a few tips.

Trim the Wick

Why

Each time you want to burn your candle, start by trimming the wick to between 1/8 and 1/4 inches long. We have very good results if it is 1/4 inch. (how to fix a short wick below) First, trimmed wicks will give you a cleaner, brighter burn. Untrimmed wicks are a lot more likely to take on a weird mushroom-esque shape that dulls and obscures the flame.

How to Fix a Candle Wick that’s Too Short

Even if you allow the candle to burn long enough, wicks can become too short for other reasons. Perhaps you trimmed it too far by accident, or it came that way from the store. It’s also possible for the wick to break off while hot and brittle. Fortunately, you have a few options for fixing a candle wick that’s too short:

  • Light the wick and let it burn for 20 to 30 minutes. Check the flame height occasionally to see if the problem works itself out.

  • If the flame remains weak, blow out the candle and pour the wax it melted onto a paper plate. Once it cools, dispose of the wax and plate in the trash. Alternatively, you can soak up the liquid wax with a paper towel or cotton swab (after the candle is extinguished, of course).

  • The newly formed indent in the wax exposes more of the wick. Relight the candle and check it after 20 to 30 minutes. If everything looks good, let the candle burn all the way to the edges before blowing it out again.

  • If the wick is too short even to light, melt a bit of the wax with a heat gun and pour it onto a paper plate. You can also scrape out room-temperature wax using a butter knife to expose the wick so you can light it.

First Burn

Just like the first cut is the deepest, that first burn is the most important. Candles should burn one hour for every 1 inch in diameter of the actual candle size. For example, a candle that is 2 inches across should burn for 2 hours. If a candle is not burned for long enough to allow the wax to liquefy or to melt from edge to edge of the container, it will create a “memory ring.” Once a candle has a “memory ring,” it will continue to tunnel for the life of the candle. No worry, you can fix this.

Keep the flame away from moving air.

When burning a candle, avoid proximity to fans, air conditioners, open windows, or crowded areas with people walking back and forth. Moving air can disturb the flame, resulting in those pesky black marks on the glass.

Store your candles properly.

Store candles in a cool, dark and dry place with the lid on to keep them clean of dust and debris, and to help protect the wax and fragrance. Highly fragrant candles have a life span of 6 to 12 months, depending on the scent. If you enjoy fragranced candles, then use and replace them often to avoid deterioration in appearance and performance.

We test and test than do more tests on our candles. A 2.5 inch candle with Balsm fragrance with 7% fragrance load might need an ECO Wick 8 but our Sandle wood may need an ECO 10 Wick. They both will burn but you may notice one may burn slightly better and sometimes they burn the same.  If you have any questions, email me for FAQ’s. Dont forget the first burn rule above.

Charming Shrugs

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This beautiful crochet Shrug Sweater is handcrafted and designed with comfort and warmth in mind. Comes with Beanie and fits size 6 to 10. Great for cool mornings or as an extra layer of snugly warmth on cold winter days.

 

 

for more details-click here

Winter Just Won’t Go Away-Thats Ok

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Winter just doesn’t want to leave yet. Don’t fret, Grammy Gramster has you covered. Soft & warm crochet baby afghans are handmade with love by me. Washer and dryer friendly.  So adorable. Great for keeping the little ones warm. Perfect for a stroller blanket, or a soft little space for the little one to play on. Use over car seats, carriers, and highchairs. It’s important to keep your baby warm when you leave the house and these are the perfect size to tote along. And for safety sake, cover your little one with a blanket over the TOP of her secured car seat. 

Charlotte Snuggles

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Just in time for the cool New England wind to start howling. Charlotte Snuggles with a Beautiful Handmade Baby Afghan by Grammy Gramster. Grammy’s Reversible afghans are great for keeping the little ones warm. Great for Car Seat, Baptism, Keepsakes, or anytime you need a little help keeping warm. Can be used as a Lapghan. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See What Grammy Gramster Is Cooking Up For The Holidays

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Fall and Autumn in New England are wonderfully beautiful, seem magical sometimes. If you dont stop and look around once in a while you might miss it. “Ferris” Don’t fret, Grammy has just added some great scents for your home. Nothing says Fall like a flickering candle in your home as cooler weather blows in.

 

 

Autumn is here, and soon, the Christmas  Season will be upon us. Where did the summer go this year?  It might not be beach weather anymore but Grammy Gramster has the  holiday spirit glow again.  There’s  nothing  like a scented candle flickering while watching your favorite family Hallmark Holiday Movie, or just sitting around the fireplace with friends. So, what does Grammy have? Lets take a look.

24 oz of 100% soy wax, hand poured into hand-painted holiday mugs. Let the Dual Wicks warm a delectable Hot Cocoa Fragrance that will Make the entire room smell delicious. And, when the candle burns down, just wash out the jar and enjoy the mugs for years to come. 

 

 

Decorating your tree this year. Grammy Gramster’s “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree” is a necessity.

These 16 oz Candles will give you the fragrance of Fresh Cut Balsam and will burn for many hours.

16 oz Mason Jars are $12.00 each

8 oz Jars are $8.00 each.

24 oz Mug of Cocoa is $18.00 or two for $35

Santa Mug coming soon with Warm Wassail Fragrance. Traditionally, Wassail is a  spiced ale or mulled wine drunk during celebrations for Twelfth Night and Christmas Eve.

 

Not all crafts

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I love when the grandchildren visit. No doubt, crafts and creating new things by hand plays a large part in our lives and I enjoy watching them use their imagination creating unique ideas. Nevertheless, it isn’t all in relation to crafting the perfect product. Self expression and creativity plays out more importantly. They can learn to follow instructions, develop motor skills, problem solving as well as expanding patience. Oh, and the bonding time with the kids is incalculable. Our oldest granddaughter, 14 years old, is rather imaginative and on numerous occasions we seek out suggestions or instructional methods from her. She also possesses multi-media skills. Not only can she create and edit videos, she effortlessly writes the scripts. The youngest, 7 years old, enjoys crafting as well, but is easily distracted on cookie cutter crafts. Ah, but let her find some flowers or plain old rocks out in the yard, and she’s off to the races with ideas. She loves to put pen to paper or sometimes a word processor, to write epic stories complete with illustration.  They both  love photography and each one has a special style on subjects and color. Our grandson, now 20, is a machinist. He enjoys creating anything out of metal. So, in some way they all are creative as many kids are.
We never compel an idea on crafting. We will on the other hand, explain how to be safe, follow instruction and how things react with each other ie: what types of glue, wax, paint, sealants, types of wood, etc. might be best for the craft in mind are discussed. At the end of the day, it’s not about the finished creation, but developing the Craft of thinking and patience.

Below, Chloe uses a compound microscope. Loves to look at insects, sand, jewelry beads, and much more. She knows the proper procedures and definitions on both Compound and Stereo Microscopes. She understands Diopter Adjustments, Fine Focus, Mechanical Stage, Stage Plates, and not to touch the hot light elements. Today she is looking at stone beads for an undetermined project.


 

Our Models

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Abbey and Chloe, our granddaughters, love to model some of our crochet.  Chloe wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. “I love nature” she often cites when we are walking in the woods or filming the wildlife with infra red photography in our back yard.   Abbey seems to be headed towards Visual & Media Arts Development  She can edit a video quicker than Quentin Tarantino and write a script on the fly on any subject. Abbey is an honor role student. Below, Chloe puts a goat to sleep with gentle voice and hands. She make the best Christmas cookies. Abbey is the big sister, they love each other very much. Abbey is the great protector. Oh, and they love to play Parcheesi with us. 

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Make someone special smile

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make someone smile with a heart felt note card

 

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Our photo note cards make great gifts for newlyweds, graduates, and long-distance friends,  relatives and couples. There is nothing more personal than receiving a hand written note card. In this age of a digital world, note cards sends the message that you care enough to reach out and connect to the special people in our lives. You can’t hold an email and feel the way you do with a note card in your hands. Unlike a quick view on a computer monitor, or an email that is deleted, note cards can last an eternity, with the love and warmth of its intent. So,, what are you waiting for.