Keep the Kids warm and comfortable in the cool Autumn days ahead.

 

 

Take a peek here for Ponchos

or click below for our new items

 

Some Items coming this fall

 

With so many sizes, designs, and colors available, candles are a popular choice for adding warmth and style to any space. But to ensure you get the most enjoyment out of them, it’s important to give your candles the right level of care and attention.

Luckily, it doesn’t take much time to show your candles some proper TLC. To help you out, we’ve put together a complete start-to-finish list of simple candle care tips that’ll give you the perfect burn every time.

Let the candle burn allowing the entire surface to become fluid during the first use

 Use a candle snuffer

To limit excess smoke and prevent hot wax from splattering, use a candle snuffer when putting out the candle, holding the snuffer over the flame for 5 seconds. Allow the candle to cool before moving and covering it with a lid. Also, ideally. you use a kitchen skewer (metal or wood) to extinguish the flame by dipping the wick into the pool of melted wax and bringing it back up again to straight position.  This method will also limit the smoke and coat the wick.  Dipping your candle wick is the secret to a cleaner, safer burn.

Put the lid on after each use

Cover your candle with the accompanying wooden lid to prevent dust from gathering on the surface after each use. Keeping your candle clean will help it last longer and ensure scent preservation.

 

 

Trim the candle wick

Long candle wicks that had fallen into the molten wax may create an unpleasant smell. Trimming it will help your candle last longer and smell fresh every time, ensuring an even burn. Make sure to keep the candle’s wick at approximately 1/4 inch

How to Store Candles

Most candles stay in good condition for around 12-16 months after purchase. While you can still use old candles, you’ll probably find that the quality of their burn, fragrance, and color has diminished. Knowing how to store candles correctly helps you keep them fresh for as long as possible.

Temperature and light exposure are two key factors in candle degradation. So it’s a good idea to keep yours in a cool, dark place like a cupboard or basement. Some people even place their spare candles under a glass cloche so they can remain on display even during storage.

If you notice condensation on the surface of your stored candles, it means the temperature is changing too frequently. Wipe them with a paper towel and store them somewhere with a more consistent temperature.

Place Your Candle on a Heat-Resistant Surface

Of all our candle care tips, this might seem the most obvious. But you’d be surprised how easy it is to forget.

As your candle melts, a small pool of wax will form at its base. This melted wax still retains a lot of heat, which can damage your furniture. Place your candle on a heat-resistant surface – or better yet, in a candle holder – to avoid unnecessary burn marks.

Get the First Burn Right

The first burn of a new candle is a vital step in how to burn a candle evenly.

When you light it for the first time, be sure to let the surface of the candle melt completely to the edge of container. Putting it out too early can create a rim of hard wax that never melts even as the wick and central wax continue to burn down. This is known as tunneling.

As a standard practice, it’s best to burn a new candle for around 1-3 hours before extinguishing the flame. So don’t start new candles when you don’t have time to enjoy them!

Let Each Burn Last 3-4 Hours

We already mentioned that burning your candle for a short time can cause tunneling. But if you’re using a scented candle, it can also mean that the fragrances don’t have time to release. That’s because those delicious smells don’t come from the candle itself but rather evaporation from the pool of hot wax.

Letting your candle burn for too long can also be problematic. This can lead to your candle overheating, which in turn thins the wax. As well as damaging the fragrance oils and causing your candle to put off soot, your candle may slant and burn unevenly.

Keep it Away from Wind

Of course, a strong breeze can blow your candle out. But even gentle wind from a draft, window, or air vent can cause the candle to burn quickly and unevenly. So if you see the flame flickering, put your candle somewhere else or utilize a hurricane glass container.

Why Reusing Old Candle Jars for Candles Isn’t Ideal:

While repurposing old candle jars in creative ways is encouraged, reusing them to make new candles may not be the best idea. Here are a few reasons why:

Residual Wax and Soot: Even after cleaning, some wax residue may remain in the jar. When reused for new candles, this leftover wax can affect the fragrance, burn time, and overall performance of the new candle. Additionally, soot from previous burns may accumulate on the jar, leading to an unsightly appearance and potential health concerns.

Safety Concerns: Candle jars are often designed to withstand the heat of a candle flame, but with each use, the integrity of the glass may weaken. Reusing old candle jars increases the risk of the jar cracking or shattering during use, posing a safety hazard. It’s safer to use jars specifically designed for candle-making.

Fragrance Contamination: Different candle scents can mix and alter their intended fragrances. Reusing old candle jars may result in an undesirable blend of scents that can diminish the overall aromatic experience. To ensure the best fragrance quality, it’s recommended to use clean, unused candle containers.


Repurposing old candle jars can unleash your creativity and give them a new lease on life. From storage containers to decorative accents, there are numerous ways to repurpose these jars that add both functionality and beauty to your living spaces. However, it’s important to avoid reusing old candle jars for new candles due to potential issues like residual wax, safety concerns, and fragrance contamination. By exploring alternative ideas, you can maximize the value and enjoyment of your old candle jars while prioritizing safety and quality.

.

 

 

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

 

Grammy Gramster’s most recent  addition is Mint Chocolate.

Makes a Great Holiday gift that will make your kitchen or any room smell

Deliciously Fantastic

Click Here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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. 

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

You’ll love our collection of wreaths perfect for decorating indoors and out. Great for Mom’s birthday or housewarming gift. Shop Here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thimbles, Hooks & More at Chartley United Methodist with a small display of selected items.

 

Perfect gift for loved ones. Child to Adult.    Great for sitting around the fire, or those cool evenings on the porch.

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.

 

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. 

Abbey showing off her new additions to Thimbles, Hooks & More

New 8.5 x 11 matted prints.  $12 each

The many ways to wear our Sashay and Starbella scarves

So, want to know the difference between the two scarves, let Abbey fill you in on some style

 

These Slouch hats would make a great handmade gift for the kids.

 

Become a member of “The Hole In The Hat Club”

Ponytail, braids, or any kind of  hairstyle, no problem with these hats.

Happy New Years

from all of us at Thimbles, Hooks & More