looking into wood and metal tea lights, Matt

investigating with the wooden material

a few ideas:

1. mutliple candle inserts on the same piece of wood

2. different shapes that could possibly be used for say single holders

3.varying scales and heights of wooden designs which hold candles

 investigating for the metal or tin materials a few different ideas.
cut out areas of the metals for light to glow through, also varying edges along the top of the metal to gain a great style.

Overview from class today

Today we each showed our mock up designs for each of our chosen materials. After doing the mock ups we encountered a few problems with each material.

Michelle using clay found it was too expensive (at roughly $5) per holder, so she may need to look into changing her material.

Maddie found that the concrete was difficult to get the consistency right and that it took a long time to dry, this problem isn't major and can just be solved with more forethought and practise.

Matthew made some really nice paper and material mock ups of his designs that will be done in metal or tin for the first week back, he used interesting architecture to have the holders curving up at the back and became lower in the front.

Shems concern with her material is that paper may potentially be too flammable, to help this she could make holders that have a lot of room around the flame and are stiffened with wire so they don't collapse.

I (Natalie) found that glass jars are a little tall to light candles safely in and curve up at the bottom so they don't sit flat, I can resolve this by finding smaller jars and putting sand in the bottom to rest the candle in.

We hope to have 5 resolved ideas for each material by the presentation at the Paramount.

We would like to have a relatively small stall, set up much the same as a traditional lemonade stand but more rustic, it needs to be in a dark portion of the hall so that the flames are seen by customers and look more effective. There was suggestion that we advertise our models on social media to ask students what kind of holder they would prefer to use, we can't really do this until we have some nicely made models to take photos of.

Our main concern is still how to make the product more interactive and we aren't sure whether anyone will actually purchase the holders, we are hoping to sell them at a very low price since they have not cost us much to construct and that people will choose them for their visual and practical quality.

Using fire, safety is also a main concern for us. We will need to thoroughly test each of our products at home first for an extended period of time and do everything we can to keep our stall a safe place for our customers.

NATALIE CRAWFORD

More Glass Ideas

Some more ideas I have seen for glass tea light candle holders:

If I chose to use a large jar or bottle we would need to get the long bbq lighting sticks or long matches, these would potentially have to be included with the candle holder as well when being sold as we wouldn't want our customers to burn themselves trying to get the candle lit within the holder

-Natalie Crawford

Fire Information

Since we are going to be using tea light candles in our stall at the market palace, the tutors suggested that we look into the safety methods in preventing fires and inform the students attending the market about the risks that can be associated with using fire in their homes.

Here is a list of fire-retardent materials that I found online - we are planning to hopefully use concrete to make some of our holders out of and potentially wood as we

• Rock wool
• Gypsum boards
• Asbestos cement
• Perlite boards
• Calcium silicate boards
• Treated lumber plywood
• Treated vegetable fiber (e.g. Cotton, Jute, Kenaf, Hemp, Flax, etc..)
• Fire-retardant treated wood
• Brick
• Concrete
• Cement render

Other materials that we are using are glass, paper, clay and tin.

The most worrying and flammable out of these would be the paper. When designing this particular material we would try to make a holder which has a wire structure to it and sits far away from the flame in the centre. After making a few mock ups of these we would have to determine whether this material was safe enough to use at all or whether it is too dangerous to use as a material at all.

Glass and tin will heat up when exposed to flames, as they are a good conductor of heat. This doesn't mean we wouldn't be able to use them for the construction of the holders but we would have to advise our customers that after the candle has been lit and placed inside the holder it is unable to be moved from the surface it has been placed on. If the person does want to move the holder they would be advised to blow the candle out, give the holder sufficient time to cool and then can be moved.

Clay isn't really a concern as it isn't known to be flammable, much like concrete. If it heats up to a very high temperature there is the slight chance of it cracking but this is unlikely.

Along with each of our holders we intend to produce a small information booklet regarding the particular safety precautions for each material, if we look into having some candles hanging also this would need to be taken into account also, and would only be used in conjunction with the less flammable materials. This would advise the viewer on how the particular candle should be lit, where it can be placed within a room and how long it should be left alight for. 

At the stall itself we will have a fire extinguisher present and ensure that not all display candles are lit, and that they are placed in a location where customers wouldn't catch their sleeves or hair on the fire. We will discuss further safety precautions with our facilitator when we meet with them.

- NATALIE CRAWFORD 

Glass Ideas

After class today we decided to give people one material to focus on each, my (Natalie) material being glass I have looked into designs and potential problems with using this particular material.

These are just a few designs I like which involve either painting or staining the glass, or using coloured glass. I like the idea of hanging the jars with chain (another material that is strong which we could potentially find instead of buy. Putting something in the bottom of the jar so the candle sits further up is also a cool idea if we/I am unable to cut the glass. The hanging design of the second image also looks sturdy while looking visually pleasing also, will look into ways in which glass can be hung safely and the best way to avoid a fire hazard. 

-NATALIE CRAWFORD

The Experience

In class today we were talking about examples that we would create with metal and stumbled across this image. These are upcycled jello moulds and have a really nice shape but the thing that we really liked about this image is the way that they are mounted on the piece of wood, also the idea that there is more than one.

When we pitched our idea to another group in class we found that the idea of a set was more appealing so this is definitely something that we will experiment with.

It needs to be more than just the customers buying the product, we must create an 'Experience' between us and the customers, some kind of interaction. 

Talking to the tutors:

One of the things the tutor suggested was a possible option of a DIY kit for the customers to purchase

It needs to be more than a pop up store, how do we make that happen? 

Customers will likely not be able use nails and a drill but there may be some options that are achievable.

People need to engage with the product

Working with the light to 'sell' the product, maybe create some kind of installation?

Choosing a darker space for the market place

More of a set may be more popular, exaggerate the rustic idea

Look at the movement and different displays that the holder can create/project through the use of light

Must look into heat and fire concerns - bring portable fire extinguisher

Perhaps a tag to display fire information or a little card that comes with the products

Next weeks presentation:

List of environmental concerns or requirements may be useful

Look at how we are going to display the product - perhaps create a black open cube made from foam board

For our presentation for next week we have designated each person to use a different material and create our own tea light holders based on our own interests. 

I, Michelle, will be experimenting with clay.
Maddie will look into using wood or concrete.
Natalie will be using glass, looking at jars and bottles etc.
Shem will be experimenting with different paper designs.
Matthew will be using tin or a type of metal, as he studies industrial design.

Also Shem is our designated Group Ambassador.

We also were really interested in donating the money that we earn to a charity, potentially the Cancer Society. The Cancer society is involved with candles, especially the relay for life.

Michelle Francombe

Eco Friendly lamps/ Tea Lights

Eco Friendly Tea Lights

It has been my prime focus to try and introduce products which can reduce the unnecessary garbage created by us where ever possible.
One of the most sensitive regions I found which needed an improvement was the unnecessary usage of the “Aluminium Tea-Light Candles”.
Everyday billions of tea-lights are made especially in China, and we use them for a few hours and chuck them creating unnecessary garbage.

Now I have come out with 2 systems to replace this, and be environmental –friendly and responsible to mother earth, which is the need of the hour.
An oil –based tea-light, which runs on oil and wick. This was introduced a few years ago and has caught on and done a lot of good size 2.25 inches diameter 0.75 inches height Price Rs. 50 each. Now recently invented and introduced is a unique wax tea-light system -

Chotu eco-friendly, organic wax powder system: Tis new invention firstly has been named: "CHOTU" in honor of my most beloved companion who left his physical body on the 4thapril 2012, leaving behind a void in this space and my life. This extraordinary being was so involved in the whole pottery and was always around me during my creations on the wheel. His unique presence from the beginning - that is from the first potter’s wheel being constructed to this invention which was taking shape (when he was so sick.) made me feel it would be appropriate to name this creation CHOTU, as it means small and this small tea-light is “small” but has the power to change a lot on this planet.
The invention involves a permanent base tea-light made of ceramic and comprising of a notch and a ceramic ring. To make a candle one has to put a pre-cut wick which is provided in the ceramic ring and fill the powder of organic wax, and the candle is ready for use. It takes just a few seconds to make the candle and after every use one has to only snap out the ring with a nail provided and this pulls out the residual wick from the last usage, and one makes the candle again in the way explained above.

Benefits of the System:

1. One permanent base lifelong: There will be no eco-garbage created at all, unlike the Chinese aluminium tea light candles of the use and throw nature
2. One permanent ring to hold the wick: In case of aluminium tea lites there is an aluminium base at the centre of the candle which holds the wick in position, this ring so often falls into the environment and the chances of this getting recycled is almost nill.
3. Organic wax: The wax in the chinese candles is paraffin wax which is a synthetic petroleum product and in contrast to this the wax here is vegetable oil based and is thus organic.
4. A very good consistent flame with a very good glow till the very end. The last hours of the aluminium tea light are weak and do not give sufficient glow and illumination.
5. One can carry this tea-light from one corner to another, as compared to aluminium which gets too hot and cant be carried around.
6. Gives everyone a “unique kind of joy and happiness "to build their own candles". Without having to depend on someone else. This joy has its own beauty and is uncomparable.
7. One can make this a aromatic candle by pouring a few drops of selected essential oil at the base of the tea lite.

But the most valid and encouraging thing about this invention is complete elimination of the useless eco-garbage we all create. This eco-garbage on a cumulative basis is colossal. Imagine how much gargage is created from a billion such units produced everyday. It’s you and me who can make a difference now. in every possible way, and this certainly is a big way ,many more am sure are still to come, and lets act now and stop the procrastination with no further delay and replace this tiny intangible way of lighting an aluminium tea-light candle everyday to produce junk by, a better, cleaner, healthier alternative.

Link to website-  http://www.potters-shelter.com/EcoFriendlyTealights.aspx

MADDIE BARNETT

How candles can benefit our enviroment- Eco Friendly

The Eco Truth about candles-

With the winter holidays here, many of us will be burning more candles both as seasonal and festive acts. While a candle doesn’t have nearly as much environmental impact as, say, car pollution or air pollution from factories, burning candles does create indoor air pollution. While we certainly want you to enjoy your holiday festivities, including candles, we think it’s important to keep aware of the ways in which candles can pollute the air and how to make responsible environmental decisions.

Candles and Chemicals
Paraffin candles, in particular, produce a number of harmful byproducts when burned (including greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide). As an added bonus, paraffin candles (which are the majority of candle brands) are petroleum products. That means that they’re made using a nonrenewable source that also adds to pollution via oil spills and other processes for extracting petroleum. Yes, if you have a candle habit, you are using the same non-environmentally friendly chemicals that you use when you drive a car. Additionally, scented candles may also release toxins from the chemicals used to give them their scent – and, of course, during the holidays we all love our scented candles.

The Candle Wick
What the wick of your candle is made from can also make a big difference in how environmentally friendly your holiday (or everyday) candles are. Many candles are made with wicks that have additives like zinc and lead – both of which release harmful gasses when they burn. In many places, lead wicks are illegal, but it’s often difficult to enforce this entirely.


Wasteful Candle Packaging
Unless you’re making your own, almost all candles come in some type of individual packaging. Tea lights can be the worst for this since they are many individual candles often with individual wrappers as well. What can you do to minimize wasteful wrapping? Consider these ideas:

Remember You Can Recycle Aluminum: Many candles use aluminum as a base, including tea lights. Remember that nearly anything aluminum can be recycled. That includes your tea light bases.

Buy Candles in Glass Containers: Glass can be recycled, reused and even upcycled into other home projects. They may cost a bit more on the shelves, but opt for candles that are in glass containers. Then, of course, be sure not to throw those containers away!

Avoid Candles with Extra Plastic: When you’re standing in front of that shelf of candles in the store, avoid anything that has extra plastic packaging overtop of an already serviceable candle holder. You just don’t need it, and neither does the planet!

What are the Most Eco-Friendly Candle Solutions?
So, in addition to packaging decisions, what can you do to reduce the environmental impact of candle burning in your home? Here are a few tips.

Buy Soy or Beeswax Candles: Soy and beeswax candles emit fewer harmful chemicals when burned. If you’re purchasing store-bought candles, try to opt for soy or beeswax selections.

Make Your Own Candles: Candle-making can be a bit messy, but it’s also relaxing and better for the environment than purchasing! You’ll be able to control the ingredients that are used in your candles as well as reduce the amount of packaging used.

Buy from Local Candlemakers: Finally, as with any consumer purchase, if you can buy from a local artisan, then do. You’ll reduce wasteful packaging, support local businesses and reduce pollution from transporting goods across the country (or world!).


Link to the website/info- http://www.postconsumers.com/education/the-eco-truth-about-candles/

MADDIE BARNETT