4Real Forums: modelling beeswax

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login

Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry

Topic: modelling beeswax

Author

Message

<< Prev Topic | Next Topic >>

LucyP
Forum All-Star

Joined: Aug 05 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 791

Posted: Jan 05 2009 at 10:45am \| IP Logged

(sorry not sure where to post this!)

We were given some really nice (you'd think) Artemis modelling beeswax for Christmas - it's made with plant dyes and should be so lovely, but we can't do a thing with it. It is very very hard, and tends to crumble and flake when we try to work with it. If we put it on the heater to warm up it melts but in our hands it takes maybe 20 minutes to warm up, and even then it is not useable for modelling because it still feels so unyielding. I wasn't impressed with the quality of the beeswax candle kit from the same supplier we were also given - the instructions were awful and o were the wicks, so I don't know if we got a bad batch, or if we are doing something wrong.

Anyone any good at modelling beeswax?

Mackfam
Board Moderator

Non Nobis

Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656

Posted: Jan 05 2009 at 1:55pm \| IP Logged

Lucy - I'd call Artemis. I have a box and I don't like it as much as Stockmar beeswax, but....it does become pliable over time - it doesn't crumble like yours. Perhaps you could talk to the company and they could just replace your beeswax products for you.

In the winter, I just keep a small bowl of it on a sunny window sill. It's just enough warmth to let it not be like concrete, but not so much that it melts.

__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19

, ds 16

, ds 11

, dd 8

, and dd 3

Wildflowers and Marbles

donnalynn
Forum All-Star

Joined: July 24 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 581

Posted: Jan 05 2009 at 6:30pm \| IP Logged

I have never worked with Artemis - I've used Stockmar and made my own.

But here are some things we do to get it started...

I start with a pretty small piece - maybe the size of a quarter.

I have the children cup their hands and blow inside - "warm up your little oven"...

then they hold their beeswax while I tell a story - if it is still very hard then I will set work on it for bit.

I generally try to get the piece flattened out so much that if you hold it up to the light it is almost translucent (you can look for shapes and stories like you would clouds). By the time it is very flat it is usually pretty pliable and then the children can squish into shapes they want.

I agree sunny windows are good!

On top of the wood stove in a pan - not so good.

I've always considered getting it into a workable condition as part of the activity - in fact - on the kindergarten level I know in some kindergartens - the activity is to make the flat piece and look for "pictures" when it is held up to a sunny window.

__________________
donnalynn

If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login
If you are not already registered you must first register

[Add this topic to My Favorites]

Printable version

Forum Jump

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com