Great Candles [Hardcover]

Stewart Hyder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 1999

Classic and colorful. Twisted and rolled, and even shaped like an ice-cream sundae. Gilded, scented, stamped, or decorated: these candles will light up any room. Complete instructions cover a variety of different techniques, materials, and styles. Create floating candles in a range of shades, or "Siamese candles." Mold beeswax into a lovely flower or a lantern. Cut designs into the finished product, or put together a "mosaic" out of wax pieces. A beautiful bonus: the gallery of designer candles, including a bright bouquet in a vase and mini-lamps. 144 pages (all in color), 8 3/4 x 11 1/4. NEW IN PAPERBACK

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A number of well-produced guides explain how to make all sorts of candles, but few if any have the elegant European flair that distinguishes some of the designs featured here. Thorough instructions and beautiful photos give all the standards their due: dipped, molded, container, decorated, and beeswax candles are explored, along with interesting variations not commonly found in other candle making books, such as granite and marble effects, sculpted sunflowers, rubber-stamped designs, and a plate full of miniature candles made to look like delicious chocolate candies. Each project helpfully indicates the required skill level (mostly beginner and intermediate), though the instructions can occasionally be a bit hard to follow since they are presented as full, sometimes fairly involved paragraphs rather than short numbered steps, and at least one omits an important explanation (the paper candle shade must be placed on a metal support, which is pictured but never mentioned in the materials list or directions). Overall, however, this is a worthwhile and attractive book, particularly the concluding section of "artistic candles" designed by French and Italian candle artists. --Amy Handy

From Booklist

If many of the metropolitan public utilities don't fix their infrastructures, then many urban dwellers will be investing in candles--and light-making equipment. Yet Scots-born Hyder assumes the loftier aesthetic position, preferring to instruct us in the finer details of a decorative craft. More than 30 different styles are featured, each with excellent step-by-step color photographs, starting with the most basic tapers to elegantly sculpted calla lilies that flicker. Surrounding the projects is information about materials (whether beeswax, paraffin, or stearin) and equipment (a stainless steel double boiler will suffice, along with some other inexpensive tools) at the beginning and an awesomely artistic gallery of commercial foreign-manufactured lights. A starter hobby that's great for rainy and sunny days. A troubleshooting guide and a glossary are appended. Barbara Jacobs

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (June 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806959215
• ISBN-13: 978-0806959214
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,085,938 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book for Beginners, December 25, 2002

By 

S. Reddy "baby-rao" (Madison Wisconsin United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Great Candles (Hardcover)

This was my first time candle making.I went to my neighbourhood art store looking for something totally unrelated but when my eyes fell on this book, I made my boy friend "TOMMY" buy this book for me immediately.Candle making is a fun holiday hobby for the whole family and I made my candles for Christmas.This book is filled with wonderful step by step instructions on how to make candles for the novice.It also introduces you to some easy beautiful designs. A piece of advice for all beginners.Get the candle making kit as its cheaper.

Happy Candle Making !!!!!