I can dig it.  Can you daddy-o? 

 

 

 

I've always been an Andy Warhol fan so I was pretty happy when a customer sent us this one.  Maybe not a soup can but iconic none the less!  They also sent a Shapard Fairey inspired candle image as well.  The two kind of go together, don't you think?

 

So, I hear you like candles...and you also like free stuff... You should check out our new soy candle giveaway contest then. Oh, but wait,you need a Facebook account to enter. What's that? You already have a Facebook account? Well then, enter away my friend! a Rafflecopter giveaway

We love this photo of our logo on a big "Thumbs Up".  Our customers are so creative!  And hey, our candles are eco-friendly and hand poured.  What's not to like, right?  

A friend of mine recently told me we should consider creating a mascot for Sheer Soy.  Honestly, I had never considered it before and the idea seemed pretty comical.  Don't get me wrong, I see the value in how the Geico gecko makes an insurance company seem more engaging but they're an insurance company.  Sheer Soy already has an engaging brand.  Our premium soy candles are simply the best candle available on the web (not to mention our company's modesty...).  Regardless, I couldn't resist having a mascot created for the fun of it.  Fear not, I only invested $5 in the process.  The end result is below.  Quite possibly the world's worst mascot. 

Does anyone else think he has kind of a "Fonzie from Happy Days" thing going on?

Finding a thoughtful and unique gift for friends and family can be such a headache.   When you do find that perfect gift, you feel like a hero but finding it is rarely a simple process.  Well, stress no longer!  We're here to help.  We've got the perfect gift suggestion for the candle lover in your life.  The Sheer Soy Candle of the Month club is the gift that keeps on giving (for 6 months anyway).  Club members get a new hand poured Sheer Soy candle mailed to them each month for 6 months.  We only send out our most popular fragrances so the club is a fantastic way to sample a wide variety of our best scented soy candles.  The candle club is also a great value for the gift giver because the first candle is free. 

Our soy candles are eco-friendly, hand poured and burn clean.  Try the Candle of the Month club today.

This holiday season, a lot of people are talking about "buying American".   Buying domestically produced goods is a great way to support our economy and is often the environmentally friendly option as well.  Buying a Sheer Soy candle is no exception.  In fact, you're supporting multiple domestic industries when you buy a soy candle from us.  Sheer soy candles are hand poured with pride right here in Omaha Nebraska.  In addition, our soy wax  is processed from soy beans grown in the mid-west.  You may not be aware but soy bean production is big business for mid-western farmers.  In addition, we purchase our jars and labels from local companies as well.  From the beginning to end, our soy candles are as American as apple pie.  They even smell as nice.  Don't believe me?  Try a Red Apple candle for yourself. 

Oh, the joy of shamelessly exploiting the latest fad!  I had this image created a few weeks back for Sheer Soy because I thought it might be funny.  And in a general sense, I think it is kind of funny.  The Gangnam Style video is really fun to watch and I don't know anyone that HASN'T seen it.  Why not exploit the trend to sell soy candles, right?  :) However, like so many other cultural phenomena, images like this will only be REALLY funny in a year or two.  I can't wait to have Gangnam style age to "macarena" status.   At that point, I suspect I'll like this image even more....

 

This is probably one of my all time favorite environmental cartoons.  It's funny because it's so true.  Often, choosing the environmental path isn't a sacrifice at all.  Our soy candles are a perfect example of this concept.   Sheer Soy candles are way better for the environment and your health compared to  petroleum based candles (um, Yankee candles anyone?) but they're also a better value for the money.  Our candles last longer, smell better and are produced right here in the mid-west which reduces their carbon footprints as well.  And, let's face it, the environment issues facing us are real.  Why not support companies, that like yourself, want to improve it ? 

 I've always liked anime art.  Even if you're not familiar with the term anime, I bet you've seen it at some point.  Anime is the type of art work used in Japanese cartoons.  The characters typically have big eyes and are usually kind of cutsie.  I've considered creating a line of soy candles with anime labels but I'm not sure there's a market for it.  The same thing with 1950's pin-up girl art.  I personally think pin-up art would look great as a candle label but I may be the only one.  Sometimes there's a fine line between unique product vs a product that no one wants.   How about you?  What type of label designs would you like to see?

Here's a sheer soy image anime style.  Looks great, right?

 

We love these photos take by our friend Beth Jansen.  Our candles have never looked better.  Enjoy!

I get a lot of questions from our customers about soy candles.  Soy wax is far more common now than it was 10 years ago but it’s still a relatively new and unknown product.  So, today’s blog post is all about the many benefits associated with soy candles.  The list is long but I’ll do my best to be concise.  I have a tendency to go overboard when discussing my passion for our eco-friendly candles!

1)      Scented soy wax candles smell better than paraffin wax candles.  This is because the melting point of soy wax is much lower than paraffin wax.  Consequently, these candles produce a big pool of melted wax when burning and this is where the fragrance is thrown from.  Our products get great reviews from our customers because of this and they often comment how the aroma produced fills the room.  We know you want a candle that not only looks great but also makes your home smell fantastic too.

2)      Traditional candles release toxins when burned.  This is because most candles are petroleum based.  CO2 and other toxins are emitted when paraffin wax is melted.  Soy bean wax is 100% natural and doesn’t release anything nasty when burned.  This means they’re better for your health, especially if you burn more than one candle at a time.  In addition, our candles don’t have metal wicks.  Metal wicks are also unhealthy when burned and are used with traditional candles because they burn hotter and melt the wax faster.  Again, soy wax doesn’t need the extra heat because of the lower melting point.

3)      Soy candles last longer than standard candles.  The wax melts easily but lasts 3 times longer than paraffin wax candles.  This makes soy candles a great value for consumers.  The dollar you spend for each hour the candle is burned is much lower than other candles.  Bees wax candles are also eco-friendly but are much more expensive and don’t last as long.  

4)      Our candles are cleaner than other products.  Soy wax doesn’t produce black soot when burned.  The jars stay clean as the candle burns down so they look great in your home from beginning to end.  You also don’t get black soot on your hands when relighting.  In addition, soy wax is easy to clean up if spilled.  Because soy wax is a natural oil, soap and water is all you need to cleanup a spill.  You’ll need a heavy duty cleaning product to cleanup a spill made by a paraffin wax candle.

5)      Buying soy candles is a great way to support American agriculture.  Soy wax is grown and produced almost exclusively in the Midwest.  When buying a soy product you’re also supporting an important domestic industry.  I try to purchase as many “made in America” products as possible.  You’ll rarely find a soy candle that isn’t produced in the States. 

 Do you love soy candles like us?  If so, tell us why.  We’ll share your comments with the Sheer Soy community. 

June 08, 2011 - Gretna, Neb.

Sheer Soy, an online soy candle retailer, has launched a first-of-its-kind variety just in time for Father's Day: the morel mushroom scented soy candle. Wild - and wildly popular - morel mushrooms have a distinct scent and taste that appeals to fans (and mushroom hunters) around the world. Sheer Soy co-founder Jeremy Podliska, a morel hunter himself, said the popularity of this particular delicacy made it a natural choice for a soy candle incarnation.
 

“I belong to a Facebook page called ‘morel mushrooms’ and right now it has about 42,000 fans. I have also looked to Google, and there are several thousand morel mushroom related searches each day. As a morel enthusiast, and being in the soy candle business, I loved the idea of a morel mushroom candle and I began to wonder if others would too," explained Podliska.
 

It took Sheer Soy's manufacturer about two months to come up with just the right fresh morel mushroom scent. It's proving to be a hit with strong initial sales. "The morel mushroom candle has already become our top-selling Father's Day candle," said Podliska. "If your husband or father is a morel mushroom fan, they're going to get a kick out of this, a unique addition to their collection of Father's Day gifts."
 

In addition to the new morel mushroom scent, Sheer Soy's online stock, includes dozens of more traditional varieties like top seller caramel cinnamon latte, red apple and fall foliage.
 

About Sheer Soy Candles
Sheer Soy (www.sheersoy.com) is an online soy candle company based near Omaha, Neb. Each of the company's scented candles are hand poured and made with 100% pure soy wax, an ecofriendly and healthier alternative to traditional paraffin wax candles. Operating in a socially responsible manner is a top priority for the Sheer Soy team.
 

Contact information
Sheer Soy Candles
info@sheersoy.com

 

Check out the entertaining article below, and don't forget to check out SheerSoy's morel mushroom candle in production.

Morel Mushroom Enthusiast Loses Secret Spot to High-Tech Hunter

With morel mushroom season upon us, thousands of hungry hunters will set off deep into the forests in search of the elusive, edible morel mushroom.  Searching for the honeycomb-like fungi can be a fun, challenging activity for adults and kids alike, with the potential payoff a delicious, nutty, steak-like delectable worth its weight in gold, almost.

Morel mushrooms commonly sell for $40-$50/lb. While these prices have always attracted individuals and businesses looking to capitalize on its high-demand, it's largely an experience enjoyed by families and friends. But with only a fixed area of public land available, and more people joining the hunt, many long-time mushroom hunters have resorted to secrecy when it comes to their secret spots. This secrecy, it seems, has always worked well for the man in this story.

That is, until now.

Billy Renswald, a Missouri native, has hunted morel mushrooms since he can remember. "I love the morel mushroom and love the hunt. I've had the same spot for over 20 years…a spot I discovered and have kept very secretive, even from my own family," he says laughing. "I can't remember a season in 20-something years that I didn't find 10 pounds, maybe 15 pounds. This is a small, remote area in the middle of nowhere," Renswald adds.

So last week, armed with 3 mesh bags and his walking stick, Renswald once again set off to his secret spot. Upon arrival, in the same way he had done for over 20 years, Renswald walked several hundred yards into the trees, directly to the base of some old Elm trees. It was these same Elm trees, year after year, around which Renswald routinely fills his mesh bags with mushrooms. He even marked his special spot. "A long time ago I carved my initials into about a dozen Elms - these particular ones always had morels growing around them. It was automatic, every year."

But this year was different. To the surprise of Renswald, and for the first time since the late '80s, there were no morels by his old Elm trees. Not even a single, lonely morel mushroom.

"I was really shocked, and sad actually. Every year they are by those Elms," he said.

Frustrated, Renswald decided he would head home and try his spot again in a few days. Maybe it was just too early.

But as he walked away, slowly, he smelled something. Yes, Renswald claims to be able to actually smell the morel mushroom. "I was so happy. I knew exactly what I smelled," he stated with confidence.  

So he decided to search more closely around his old Elm trees. To his own surprise even, Renswald was right; he did, in fact, smell morel mushrooms.  There was one sitting just a few feet from him…or, at least, there was one sitting just a few feet from him. Unfortunately, for Renswald anyway, with exception of the very base of the morel mushroom -- it was gone, picked.

"I couldn't believe it. I knew right then and there somebody found my spot. They picked them. They picked them all."

What Renswald saw were the remains of a fresh morel mushroom, cut off at the base. Someone else had beat him to his spot, presumably only hours earlier. "I'm glad they cut it off at that base, rather than pull it out with its roots, so they will grow back again next year."

Renswald went on to find dozens more - all stems, all harvested. He counted the stems, totaling somewhere around 9-10 dozen morel mushrooms.

But who could have found Renswald's secret spot? After all, it was such a remote area, miles from the nearest city or farmhouse. Even if a person were to stumble upon it, getting to Renswald's favorite Elm trees was a challenge in itself, which included climbing over two barbed wire fences, crossing a creek and negotiating all sorts of fallen limbs and thick brush.

"They almost had to know precisely where they were going. It's like someone gave them a detailed map to my secret spot," Renswald jokes.

But strangely enough, as it turns out, someone did have a map.

Last Monday night, as he does a few times each week, Renswald logged onto Facebook. As he scrolled through the Facebook posts, Renswald noticed something oddly familiar, in a photo, posted by one of his neighbors.

"I about had a heart attack. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I was furious."

What Renswald saw in the photo was a man, his neighbor actually, of 20 years, smiling for a photo under a large, old Elm tree. In his hands he held two large bags of morel mushrooms. But this particular Elm tree, Renswald realized, wasn't just any old Elm tree.

"I saw my initials in the tree. I saw BR, carved right into my Elm tree."

Renswald said although he was upset, he sat quietly, pondering his next move. After all, he realized, his neighbor had as much right to his sacred, secret spot as anyone. But still, he was angry, "I thought he followed me out there. I don't know how else he could have found it…I have never told a soul. I was so paranoid about the spot, I drove a different route each time I went out. I even parked a half mile away."

Renswald decided anyway to send an email to his neighbor.

………..

From: Billy Renswald
Date: April 28, 2011 12:24:11 PM CDT
To: *******
Subject: morel spot

Jason,

I was on Facebook the other day and noticed a photo of you holding two bags of morel mushrooms. I also noticed it was in the exact location I find them every year. Of course, you have every right to hunt that spot, but I have to ask, how long have you been following me out there?

Billy

…………

And the neighbor's reply...

………..

From: *********
Date: April 28, 2011 12:59:11 PM CDT
To: Billy Renswald
Subject: RE: morel spot

Hahaha are you mad? It's not what you think, I didn't follow you anywhere.

Last year you emailed me a photo of you holding 3 big bags of morels. You were telling people about how you have this secret spot and this and that, how nobody else knows where it is, how you eat on them for weeks.

Well, you should know something funny my friend. When you take photos with your phone, no matter where you are on this earth, within that photo is stored your exact latitude and longitude. It's called geotagging. All I did was downloaded your photo, found the latitude and longitude coordinates stored in the photo, and within a couple minutes I pulled up an aerial view of your location on the computer. It pinpointed your exact location within feet!!! Then I knew you would be going out soon so I had to beat you to it.

Sorry if you're mad though!!

…………


As frightening as it may sound, Jason is pretty much right. Geotagging does exist, and by default it's active on many smartphone devices. For Billy Renswald, he learned about geotagging the hard way. "I have it turned off now. It's a neat feature, but it cost be my favorite morel spot. Now I'll be spending the next 20 years trying to beat my neighbor to my spot."

Asked if he remained friends with his neighbor following this experience, Renswald replied, "No comment."

To learn more about Morel Mushrooms, click here. To learn more about Geotagging, click here.

 

 

We thought our friend was crazy when he suggested we add a morel mushroom scented candle to Sheer Soy.  We eventually agreed to listing the mushroom candle as “coming soon” to gauge overall interest and demand for the product before we went through the time consuming process of actually creating it.   Needless to say, my expectations were exceedingly low.  But our friend, an avid morel mushroom fanatic, was onto something.  When news of the candle hit the web, the response was shocking.

Step 1: Start with 100% natural soy wax flacks.  Many companies claim their soy candles are 100% natural but a quick look at the candle label will prove otherwise!  We know if the candle isn’t 100% soy wax it won’t burn as clean or smell as great.  We NEVER mix paraffin wax in our candles.

Step 2: Process the wax.  This is where the science begins!  We’ve painstakingly tested and retested our candle making process to ensure our soy candles are of the highest quality available.  This dedication to quality is what sets our candles apart from the competition. 

Step 3:   Use a 100% lead free wick.  Burning candle wicks containing lead is unhealthy. Wicks containing lead actual release lead into the air when burned. Here at sheersoycandles, producing safe and eco-friendly candles is our top priority.

Step 4: Operate the business in a socially and environmentally responsible way.  We know our customers want a great product but also want to support companies that care about the environment.  We hold these same values and have them in mind with every candle we produce.  Soy candles are natural, sustainable and an excellent way to support the agricultural community.    

Try a SheerSoy candle for yourself.  We take great pride in every hand-poured candle and we’re confident you’ll love our soy candles as much as we do!

Soy wax is everywhere these days. It’s commonly used in many health oriented and environmentally friendly products however many consumers are unfamiliar with the benefits and unique properties of soy wax. Here at SheerSoyCandles.com, we specialize in soy candles and love sharing our knowledge and passion for these candles. Here are five things you probably didn’t know about soy candles.

• Soy candles were only recently invented. It’s true! Soy wax was developed by Michael Richards in 1991. Mr. Richards was looking for an alternative to beeswax to produce natural wax candles. Beeswax candles were popular but 10 times as expensive as a traditional paraffin candle.
• Soy wax is 100% natural.  For this reason, soy candles are the “candle of choice” for environmentally concerned consumers.  Paraffin candles are made from petroleum and release CO2 in the atmosphere.
• It’s easy to clean up a soy candle wax spill.  A soy candle spill only requires some soap and hot water to clean. Paraffin wax from a traditional candle can be very difficult to clean if spilled on textiles or furniture.
• Soy candles can produce a more intense aroma than a traditional candle.  The scent of a candle comes from the pool of melted wax. Soy wax has a lower melting point than paraffin candles and consequently has a larger pool of melted way to disperse the fragrance. This is why soy candles smell so good!
• Soy candles produce far less soot than paraffin candles.  In fact, the soot produced is 90% less and also is white. For this reason, soy candles are the healthy alternative to a paraffin wax candle. Breathing toxic soot can be very unhealthy and will eventually cover nearby walls and furniture.

Interested in learning more about soy candles? Learn about the Top 5 Reasons to Buy a Soy Candle.

Here at SheerSoyCandles.com, we love our soy candles and consider them to be the best candle available. Ultimately, there are many reasons to choose a soy candle but we’ve compiled our top five reasons below.

• Soy candles are renewable and cost effective. For this reason alone, a soy candle is far superior to a paraffin wax candle. In addition, soy bean wax is a natural wax, similar to beeswax, but less expensive. Because soy candles are made from 100% natural waxes, they are eco-friendly and biodegradable.
• Buying a soy candle is a great way to support the American agricultural economy. One recent study suggested soy bean production could increase by an additional 60 million pounds per year if soy bean wax were to replace paraffin wax in our candle production. In other words, using a soy candle is a great way to support American famers as well as the environment.
• Soy candles are simply better than traditional candles for consumers. On average, a soy candle lasts three times longer, produce almost no black soot and smell incredible. For candle-lovers, this means more hours to enjoy the candle. In addition, soy candles are much cleaner. There’s nothing worse than getting black soot all over your hand when you try to relight a traditional paraffin wax candle.
• Soy candles contain no carcinogenic compounds or toxic chemicals. Burning a soy candle will never put your health at risk. Paraffin candles can actually release toxins when used. Do we need to say more?
• Soy candles smell great. The quality of a candle’s aroma is determined by the burn quality. This is because a candle’s scent comes from the pool of wax that is created during the burn. The aroma of a well designed soy candle can be better than a traditional candle because of the quality of soy bean wax.

Try a soy candle from SheerSoyCandles.com for yourself. You’ll find our candle quality, design and aroma to be second to none. To learn more about soy candles read 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Soy Candles.