Handcrafted Unscented Pillar Candles by Black & Light -A Product Review with a Great Giveaway

I love candles, in fact I almost always light one during dinner. So I was really excited about the opportunity
to try out Black & Light's beautiful and sophisticated candles. And I'm absolutely thrilled! Not just because they're the best burning pillar candles I've ever experienced (more about that later), but also because the candles are all handcrafted in the USA by artisans and the company is a socially and environmentally aware business.

And this is how my two 4" pillar candles arrived, in a carton that is designed for several uses! And I love that they included match boxes -I'm a sucker for details like that.


Then, I can't rave enough about the boxes the candles came in. They're simply gorgeous, made from recycled materials and also designed for reuse! The labels peeled right off without leaving any residue,
so now I have them for gift boxes or storage for my nic-nacs.


And here they are, the candles of my choice, beautifully glowing from top-to-bottom and from the inside-out. I had them burn for over four hours last Friday night and they're only shorter by 1/4". The company's claim that their unscented candles "clean-burn" over 15 hours an inch is spot on. And the secret to the "clean burn", or virtually zero soot: highly refined food-grade paraffin wax with a 100% cotton wick.
You can find the lobster motifs under Critter Candles.

Here a few more cool and random facts about Black & Light:
They're a family owned business, launched in January 2008 by artisan Holly Eve who is a retired elementary school teacher.
They also make Custom Candles, and were commissioned by the Obama campaign to design a candle for their web store.
Persons with disabilities prep their specially designed packages for shipping.
They donate 10% of their net proceeds of the Bees Candles to the research of the honeybee colony collapse west of the Mississippi.

How to Enter the Giveaway:

This Giveaway is closed now. Thank you all so very much!


Enter Once:
Head on over to Black and Light and let me know in a comment what 4" pillar candle you would choose.

Triple your Entry:
Mention this giveaway on your site and link to this post (and make sure to let me know if you do). Feel free to grab the button above.

Rules:
The giveaway is open to everyone with a USA address and you can enter until midnight on Tuesday. The winner will be announced on Thursday. If your comment doesn't link back to your profile or blog where I can find your email, or you don't have a blog, then you must leave your email so I can contact you if you win. You will have 48 hours to respond or I will choose a new winner. Winners will be chosen the old fashioned way; number tags thrown into a bowl -and I'm totally looking forward to that!

Save when you Shop @ Black & Light


Shop Handcrafted Unscented Pillar Candles @ Black & LightUse this promotional code ZAP120 and you'll get a 10% price reduction on your purchase and free shipping.

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Enjoying the Underwater World at Home

This is one way of bringing the magical and colorful underwater world to your home. But I of course was thinking more along the lines of beautiful photographic posters and wall murals. So I spend a couple of hours browsing Art.com and these are my underwater pics. I love that some of them are available in large sizes -over 60" wide. And as always, please click on images for more information and/or purchase.















To get a sense for scale the murals are shown with a standard size sofa.

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Knitted Scarves Inspired by the Sea by Sheryl Thies

Even knitting can be inspired by the sea!


In the book Ocean Breezes -Knitted Scarves Inspired by the Sea writer and knitting instructor Sheryl Thies presents a collection of 25 scarf designs that take their inspiration from the world of the sea, such as waves, plants, sea creatures, mermaids, turtles, starfish...


... sea foam...


... fishbone...


... and scallop shells.

Here an excerpt from Kristin's Book Review:

"I was a bit skeptical about a book full of just scarves. But Ocean Breezes surprised me. The designs are quite beautiful. The colors are vibrant, and the patterns are so varied that you’re sure to find something suitable for everyone on your holiday knitting list (the Nautical Twisted Rope for Uncle Joe, the lacy Sea Foam for Mom)."

And if you love knitting..., you might want to check out Sitting and Knitting at the Beach at my other blog A Beach Lovers Place.

Shared with The Beach Party @ The Shabby Chic Cottage.

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A Bounty of Beach Pebbles + Rocks

Beach pebbles and rocks...


... beautiful reminders of the shore.


Simple and zenlike.


Souvenirs from a beach walk...


... carefully chosen.


In all sizes and shapes, even the alphabet.


Decorative in so many ways.


Inspiring...


... and photogenic.


Bountiful beach pebbles and rocks.

Related Posts:
Beaches that Rock
Picture Pics: Beach Pebbles and Rocks


World Beach Project
People posting their pebble and rock creations on beaches worldwide.

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Edward Hopper's Lighthouse -Wall Art for a Lovely Kitchen

Before Edward Hopper (1882-1967) built his Studio House on Cape Cod he regularly summered in Maine, and what you see in this kitchen is the poster from an oil painting he did during summer 1929 of Maine's Lighthouse at Two Lights at Cape Elisabeth.

Gail Levin, the author of eight Books on Hopper, including his biography, said in an interview with the New York Times, "He painted many lighthouses, but there's none he painted more than the lighthouse at Two Lights."

And if you love lighthouses, check out this post: Lighthouses with Claim to Fame.


Roundup: Create the Look

Create the Look has been a feature at my other blog A Beach Lovers Place and is now being continued here, so I thought I give you a roundup, beginning with the most popular post. And as always, please click on images for more information and/or purchase.

Buoy Candles -Too Pretty to Burn:

I spotted this Buoy Candle Trio @ Cottage Lifestyle on Renee's porch, and I wonder,
will she ever light them up.



Open Kitchen Storage -Great:

You wouldn't want to hide these popular and lovely sea life plates behind cabinet doors. I'm glad to see more and more open storage since that's the plan for my new kitchen.





The Perfect Match:

This combo is a winner! Apothecary Jars...

... filled with the perfect Match Boxes, both from Sea & Jea.

Blue Crab:

The blue crab immediately caught my eye.

Then I remembered that I had seen this extraordinary species @ Watercolors, painted by the talented Laura Trevey. Her art is a celebration of color and as she says herself, "coastal living fun".

Throw me a Pillow:

Before: The bed isn't quite complete yet, don't you think?

After: Perfect!

Add some splash to your bed with this hooked throw pillow, or browse more pillows here: Coastal and Nautical Pillows.
Oyster shell painting by Bellamy Murphy

Every Girls Needs a Pearl:

Of course I'm talking about a pearl nautilus shell -I'm actually not a big jewelry person and the pearls that I inherited from my grandmother are stored away in a box. So back to the shell; to create this look...

... you need a Pearl Nautilus Shell and then follow Martha Stewart's Instructions: "Place a piece of floral adhesive on a plate (use just enough to hold the shell upright). Stick the shell to the adhesive, and then place a weight -- a fishing sinker, for example -- inside to help hold it in place. Fill the shell halfway with water, and add flowers, such as purple scabiosa and white phlox. Lastly, arrange pebbles around the shell; they'll add a finishing."

An alternative: A Nautilus Shell on a Stand.

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