The March Give Away Winners

First Post of the Day

I got some time Wednesday afternoon so I sat down, added all the names to the wheel, and spun to win! There are three winners; congratulations to you all. Be sure to let me know which one you want. 

Go here to see them all: http://horsiemama.blogspot.com/2026/03/kalamazoo-week-blackened-beeswax.html

Didn't win a beeswax ornament but want one? I will sell them at a discount ($5 for most all of them, and $3 for the small ones) plus postage to blog readers. Email me at horsismama8@gmail.com if you want any.

Thanks to all who entered!

Winner #1

Winner #2

Winner #3

Kalamazoo Week: The Blackened Beeswax Ornaments & The March Give Away

First Post of the Day

There are 136 ornaments headed to KZoo.

In no particular order, and labeled left to right, here they are:

Tin Roof, Bells 1, Angel Heart, Snowflake 2, Snowflake 3.

Sleeping Baby on Moon, Tree of Life.

Mother & Child, Dragonfly (a personal favorite.)

Cardinals. My best seller.  Rarely do I bring any of these home after an event.

Papa Bear, Mama Bear (I forgot to take a photo of Baby Bear but I have two of him, too.)

Squirrel, Ram & Kid, Bunnies.

Mini Fleur de Lis. The fleur de lis is a French 18th century symbol so, as you might imagine, these sell well at 18th century events.

 

The Roaring Lion. Also a mini and tricky to make but another best seller. He's pretty cool but worth the time and effort in getting the hot beeswax into all those tiny nooks and crannies.

Two Horses, Leaping Horse, and Pegasus.

Snowflake 1, Bells 2 (top), Art Deco (new), Snowflake 4 (new), Santa Head, and Santa Moon (a personal favorite.)

Stag (new), Bird in Pine (new). I am wondering if this bird will sell as well as Cardinals does. That stag is pretty impressive, too. I thought the mold looked nice but did not anticipate such a beautiful finished ornament.

Running Rabbit (new), Lavender Sprig (new), and Wolf Portrait (new.)

Old Time St. Nicholas with Bells (another best seller), Howling Wolf, Bison.

Bridled Horse (new), Horsehead (new.)

Seahorse (new.) 

Owl (another best seller.)

Honeybee (best seller), Portrait Lion (a mini).

For the March Give Away, the winner gets to choose a beeswax ornament from all of these. (If it is sold out, they can choose another or wait until the next time I pour.) 

To enter, comment on any/all blog posts published starting with this one and ending on Sunday, March 23, 11:59 PM Eastern time.

I'll spin to win soon after that - gotta catch my breath from being at Kalamazoo first. LOL

Good luck and stay 'tooned - another post is coming today!

Two Weeks to Go!

Tickety, tick, tick, TICK!!

Two weeks from today, I will be up in Kalamazoo, getting Jolis Chevaux set up, distributing the preorders I received, reuniting with some very dear friends, and hopefully finding out what my volunteer position is and how it fits into my day.

I feel tired already. 

I rarely buy anything when I go to events because I never get out of my booth. But there is one thing I really would like to have, and I think it is going to sell out before I will even have a chance to sneeze.

Paisley Yazel, one of the show's new owners, developed the logo for this year from an extant 18th century map.

Then she and Ethan commissioned mugs with that logo on it that folks can purchase at the event. I would love to get a red one but unless someone goes and gets it for me, I am out of luck. Ah, well. 

I am getting 25 new handmade pins, though! Rick is a silversmith and made these. I have three already and love them - no more arm sticks throughout the day!

Most 18th century women's clothing was pinned closed, and the net result for this 21st century woman has always been:

Me, the human pincushion, at the end of an event. It's not particularly painful, but I do worry about getting blood on my 18th century clothing.

Rick's pins are longer and don't pop out of place like 21st century sewing pins do, and that's why I bought all that he had. He's not going to make any more so they truly are the last of the last.

I've mostly wrapped up sewing, although I did make two stocks,

something I have not wanted to tackle before because of the rolled hem.

But, I got a new sewing machine last August and it has a rolled hem feature, so I gave it a try.

It was really easy and my practice piece turned out so well that I sold it to someone who needed a new stock.

The same person who wanted a stock also asked me to make him a cravat, not something I'd ever made before, either. But I do have a lot of experience pleating so I gave it a try.

I love pleating - pleats are so neat and clean.

The cravat is so long it was hard to get a good picture of it, but I am pleased with how it turned out.

Three pockets are in progress, but I need twill tape for the waist strings. Ironic, right? 

She who has ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR YARDS of twill tape, needs twill tape. (I need a different width and bleached, not unbleached.)

I also cut out a knee length cloak from green wool. A cloak is surprisingly easy to make, especially when you are using wool. (It doesn't ravel so you don't need to finish the seams.) I should be able to finish that early next week.

Believe it or not, I am already packing the car despite the fact that the event is two weeks away. There is a lot to bring downstairs, and I need to have it to Leslie's home for packing into the trailer by March 17.

This week I sorted the tubs and boxes out as I did inventory. 

Two of the apple boxes, three of the big tubs, the small grey tub, the box with the candy jars, and the wooden cash box all need to come downstairs and be put into my car.

Craig is willing to help, but his back is in worse shape than mine and he's also got some hand issues. So, I divide and conquer and take something downstairs whenever I head to the main floor of the house.

To keep my clothes clean while they travel in the trailer,

this year I bought garment bags to protect them.

I've not finished putting all the clothing into the bags, but I can get 4+ items into each bag. The only drawback is that that makes the bags fairly heavy. But, if I need to drag them downstairs instead of carry them, I can do that and not worry about the clothes getting dirty! LOL

When I did that inventory earlier this week, I'd realized that I needed to make more blackened beeswax ornaments as soon as possible.

Thursday I set up in the kitchen and got to work - it's generally a three to four hour process when I make them.

It's also very messy.

My walker hand grips get covered in cinnamon

as does the apron I wear 

and the face mask. (Cinnamon is powdery and not good if it gets into your lungs.)

My kids gave me some new molds for Christmas and I was anxious to try them out. I'll show better pictures another time - these aren't quite done.

I ran out of the string I use for the hangers, and Amazon had it for Next Day Delivery, so I ordered 3 skeins and then cleaned up and left things on the kitchen table so I could start again the next morning.

Except... they didn't come. They didn't even ship. Not the first time that Amazon has done that to me. 

I hope they arrive today so I can get more ornaments made. And if they don't, I have the green cloak to work on so my time won't be wasted.

I'll also take time to play with Pepper, too. When she brings me her favorite toy like that, I know she wants to spend some time together.

Wish me luck on that delivery from Amazon and stay 'tooned for more about Elsie Mae Breyer's foals.

Feast Prep: Blackened Beeswax Ornaments

Mama is struggling to go up and down stairs - not really a surprise as she is almost twelve years old. So, when she spends the day with us, Craig and I take turns staying downstairs with her. If we don't, she will slowly struggle upstairs, and while I admire her grit and determination, I worry that she will slip and fall backwards. (And, that she may also be in pain.)

Yesterday she and Nash spent the day with us, so I decided that was a good time to stay downstairs and do some Feast prep by making a batch of blackened beeswax ornaments.

They are not difficult to make, but the process is complicated and time consuming. I always set aside three to four hours when I make them.

The first thing I do is start melting the wax. That usually takes a half an hour for the first batch; subsequent batches go much more quickly once the water is hot.

While the wax melts, I prep the molds I want to use by cutting string hangers and placing them within the mold. I'm a one woman operation so smaller batches of five to six ornaments at a time works best for me.

As always, sweet Pepper is beside me keeping me company.

The prepped molds are put out next to the melting wax and then I set up the area where I will unmold the ornaments and blacken them with cinnamon. By now my entire home is smelling deliciously like beeswax with undernotes of cinnamon. It's heavenly!

This is a new mold - I love the detail on the baby's face!

Soon I am into a routine of melting, pouring, cooling, unmolding, blackening, and then repeating that sequence over and over. Today I made 40 new ornaments and it took four hours, not including cleaning up afterward.

The ornaments are not yet finished, though. I let them cool overnight and then I spray them with sealer to protect them from dings and damage. Another overnight wait, and then they are finished and ready to be offered for sale.

They sell very well at The Feast of the Hunters' Moon and Kalamazoo,

 and I'm even considering participating in the Christkindl Market in Oxford after Thanksgiving. 

It is held in the Dan Messner Building in Oxford, and Brooke (who is also the director of the Feast and has seen my ornaments there) has invited me to come set up for their Christmas event. 

A chance to do another event in that historic, horsey building? I'm all in! (Last two photos by Brooke Sauter.)

Don't forget the August Give Away - your choice of any haversack found here. Comment on any/all posts published Tuesday, 8/19 through Friday, 8/22 at 11:59 PM Eastern time to enter.

This non-unicorn lover loves those candy corn horns!

Get Yer Blackened Beeswax Ornaments Here!

First Post of the Day

You asked for it, so here they are - blackened beeswax ornaments. 

First, their history, which is pretty cool in and of itself. (I give this out to people who ask about them at the Feast or Kalamazoo.)

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Blackened Beeswax Ornaments

An Old German Art Form

History

The art of molding beeswax into holiday ornaments is a tradition that is centuries old and began in Germany with Lebkuchen bakers. The bakers used their Springerle and gingerbread boards to mold the first beeswax ornaments. By the mid 1500s, Christmas markets were thriving in German towns and there are records of merchants who made wax souvenirs which people took home and hung on their Christmas trees. (Source: O Divine Night Blog, December 7, 2008)

The custom of wax ornaments hanging on the Christmas tree was brought to America by early German settlers. During the 17th and 18th century, the ornaments might be left as is, painted, or even “blackened” by taking cinnamon and rubbing it over the beeswax casting while it was still warm.

How I Make the Ornaments

These beeswax ornaments are made from just two ingredients - triple filtered pure beeswax and ground cinnamon. There are no dyes used to artificially blacken or color them nor are any oils added to enhance the cinnamon scent. (Interestingly, the beeswax scent generally is stronger than the cinnamon when the ornament is finished.) 

While I’ve used both the old fashioned wooden Springerle molds as well as silicon molds, I’ve discovered that the removal of the ornaments is easier from the silicon molds and only use those now. (Although the nice thing about this art form is that if you damage the ornament when pulling it from the mold, you can just toss it back into the pot, melt it down, and pour it again!)

Care for Your Ornament

Beeswax has a melting point of 140 degrees Fahrenheit so don’t leave your ornament in a closed car on a hot summer day. I would not store blackened beeswax ornaments in the attic, and would keep them out of direct sunlight, too. Other than that, they require no special care.

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All ornaments are $8 plus shipping except where noted. Any with an asterisk by the name are out of stock. I may make more before Christmas if I get time, but I cannot guarantee that.

Email me at horsiemama8@gmail.com if you want to order anything. Thanks.

Assortment One

Top Row: Snowflakes/Stars (version 2), Old Fashioned Santa with bells

Second Row:  Snowflakes/Stars (version 3)

Third Row: Snowflakes/Stars (version 1, version 2, version 3), Santa Moons

Fourth Row: Christmas Bells, Santa Moon, Oval Christmas Bells

Fifth Row: Tree of Life, Honeybee, Oval Christmas Bells

Sixth Row: Dragonfly, Honeybee, Oval Santa Face

Seventh Row: Roaring Lion, Heart Angel

Assortment Two

Top Row: Double Bunnies, Leaping Horse

Second Row: Double Bunnies, Ram & Lamb, Leaping Horse, Pegasus

Third Row: Cardinals, Squirrel, Howling Wolf*, Pegasus

Bottom Corner: Bear Cub*, Owls, Lion Portrait (Due to size, these are $3 each.)

Middle Bottom: Bison*

Right Bottom: Double Horseheads, Horse Portrait (Horse Portrait is $3 due to smaller size)

Something I have begun noticing with my own beeswax ornaments is that, as time passes, some are getting a silvery finish. I think it's lovely, but thought you should be aware that that may happen to your ornaments. 

One last tip - I've not had any issues with loss of that cinnamon smell, but just in case, I plan to pop in a cinnamon stick with my own beeswax ornaments when I take down the Christmas tree this year.

Blackened Beeswax Ornament Choices

Second Post of the Day

My goal this past week was to make 100 new blackened beeswax ornaments. I melted and poured two days straight, and then counted to double check that I'd hit my goal. 

Ninety-nine. Surely not! Had I miscounted the first day's pouring? I thought I knew what I needed to make on that second day to hit my goal of 100!

I counted again. Ninety-nine. The tally did not change. 

I was dismayed at first and then I started to laugh - that goal of 100 was a number I'd set. I was only one short and I could reset the goal to 99 if I wanted to. So, rather than melt more wax to make the 100th ornament, I called it good.

Here are the ornaments that I made for this year's Feast of the Hunters' Moon. (Three weeks from today!) The Give Away winner will be able to choose from among these although not every one is available. (A few have a flaw.)

Tray 1: Three different kinds of Snowflakes/Stars, Bunnies, Cardinals, and an Elk. (The elk is flawed - those antlers are so fragile and one broke. I fixed it while the beeswax was still soft but still...)

Tray 2: Leaping Horse, Dragonfly, Tree of Life, Squirrel, Double Horseheads, Heart Angel, Bison (both flawed), Howling Wolf, and Old World Santa with Bells.

Tray3: Oval Christmas Bells, Santa Head, Owl, Standing Bear, Baby Bear, Roaring Lion. 

This is the second day's pouring awaiting sealing - I forgot to get a picture of them finished and on trays!

Non Trayed Pieces: Snowflake/Star, Bunnies, Leaping Horse, Pegasus, Round Bells, Angel Heart, Wolf, Bison (flawed; it's a difficult mold), Oval Bells, Santa Head, Dragonfly, Roaring Lion, Lion Profile, Horse Profile, Standing Bear, Sitting Bear, Baby Bear, Old World Santa with Bells.

Some stats just in case you are wondering:

- The best sellers are the Snowflakes/Stars, Cardinals, Old World Santa with Bells, Bunnies, Heart Angel, Owl, Honeybee, and the Roaring Lion. (He is really detailed and hard to make, but so, so cool!)

- My favorites are the Heart Angel, Round Bells, Santa Moon (not pictured), and Double Horseheads.

- Not pictured because I had enough of them in stock already: Ram, Honeybee, Santa Moon, Round Fleur de Lis, Plain Fleur de Lis, and Mini Hearts (about the circumference of a dime.) These are also available to choose from if you win.

Good luck to all who enter!