Friday, November 9, 2012

Mumurations over St Eval Candle Company

So, we're all sat at our desks beavering away when all of a sudden the noise of chattering and squawking  birds make us look up and out of the window. The field just next to our office was dappled with millions of brown and black starlings feeding on the ground. At that point a car pulled up the drive and startled the birds and they all took flight at once. It looked like a scene from Alfred Hitchcock film the Birds, the sky above the office darkened as they all swooped in unison. We are incredibly lucky to see this on a regular basis at present as the starling population is down by 73% since 1970.  Although the display looks organised and slick, the real reason for the tornado effect is that each bird does not want to be either on the outside of the group or the first to land for fear of being picked off by a peregrine or buzzard.
Recently the decision to farm the land surrounding factory and office slightly differently is another reason for the  increase in birds and other wildlife. The fields are being left in a natural state as are the hedgrows which means an abundance of flowers and berries. What other better reason do you need to come out to see us!




 www.stevalcandlecompany.co.uk











Friday, November 2, 2012

Warming Bonfire Ideas

With the weekend seeing bonfires and fireworks going off, we've come up with some hints and recipes to make your weekend go of with a bang ( in a safe way of course....)

Something to keep the adults warm from the inside out; why not try this scrumptious Mulled Cider by Wayne Collins from the BBC programme  Something for the weekend. This spicy, aromatic drink will hit the spot on a cold winter’s night.

     Ingredients

    Mulled cider


  • 4 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
  • 1 clementine, sliced into wedges, spiked with 8 cloves
  • 1 lemon, sliced into wedges, spiked with 8 cloves
  • 100ml/4fl oz whiskey
  • 100ml/4fl oz orange liqueur
  • 3 tbsp clear honey
  • 1 litre/1 pint 15¼fl oz cider
  • 4 cinnamon stick
  • freshly grated nutmeg, to garnish

    Preparation method
    1. Heat all of the cider toddy ingredients over a low heat until warmed through.
    2. Pour the cider toddy into 4 latte glasses or other heatproof glasses.
    3. Finish with a little freshly grated nutmeg.

And then something for the children to nibble on, Nutty Toffee Apples:
Studded with crunchy nuts, these toffee apples work well for a Bonfire Night party recipe.

Nutty toffee applesIngredients

  • 6 Cox apples
  • 6 small wooden ice lolly sticks
  • 225g/8oz granulated sugar
  • 110ml/4fl oz water
  • 30g/1oz butter
  • 2 tbsp golden syrup
  • 4 tbsp finely chopped mixed nuts

    Preparation method

    1. Push the wooden sticks halfway into the apples at the stalk end.
    2. Dissolve the sugar and water in a thick-bottomed pan over a gentle heat.
    3. Add the butter and syrup to the mixture and bring to the boil. Continue to boil, without stirring, until the toffee reaches 140C/275F (use a sugar thermometer to measure this).
    4. Remove the pan from the heat and gently stir in the nuts.
    5. Carefully dip each apple into the toffee, making sure each apple is well coated, and set aside to harden on a baking try lined with non-stick parchment.
       
      Whatever you do this weekend make sure you stay safe and keep warm!

           www.stevalcandlecompany.co.uk

Friday, October 19, 2012

It's a Fig Thing


 
Fragrance of the week is our Fig Tree Scent which can be bought in the form of tins and tealights - perfect gifts of even perfect treat for yourself! What ever the reason let the the clean and refreshing scent with hints of sweet fresh figs waft through your home this Autumn.

Did you know that Figs are believed to have originated in the Middle East and are now grown in many parts of the world.Figs have a rich history: the fig tree was the Tree of Life to the ancient Egyptians, and in the Bible they were said to grow in the Garden of Eden and their leaves were allegedly used to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness.
Figs are one of the highest plant sources of calcium and fibre, and also contain potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6 and antioxidants.

Here are five ways to enjoy figs:
1. Grill halved figs with honey and serve with mascarpone or fresh ricotta.
2. Add sliced figs to a salad of rocket, walnuts and blue cheese.
3. Wrap halved figs with thinly sliced prosciutto and drizzle with caramelised balsamic.
4. Include quartered figs as part of a cheese platter.
5. If you’re lucky enough to have a fig tree or access to an abundance of fresh figs, make fig jam.

 

If you're in Cornwall this weekend why not try to pop along to the Fifteen Cornish Farmers Market at Watergate Bay, just outside of Newquay. Maybe you can pick up some fresh figs!

Friday, October 12, 2012

Chuffed Choughs

The Cornish Crow is more commonly known as the Chough or Cornish Chough. The bird has been linked to the County for 100s of years. The Chough is included in the county's coat of arms alongside the miner and the fisherman, reflecting the bird's importance in Cornish culture. Legend has it that when King Arther died his spirit left this world in the form of a Chough, with it's red beak and red legs it signified the his gruesome demise.
By the turn of the 18th Century, naturalists of the time had already noticed a dip in the chough population and in 1947 the last remaining couple set up nest just outside of Newquay on the North Coast of Cornwall. Sadly, one of the birds died and it's partner patrolled the cliffs on it's own until 1973. From then onwards choughs were no longer seen in the wild -until 2001. In spring of 2001 3 wild choughs landed at the Lizard and stayed. The chough population from then onwards has grown stronger and stronger and in 2012five pairs fledged 18 young,  a record. Choughs back where they belong, 21st century emblems for Cornwall.
Emma Glew, one of our despatch team was lucky enough to catch sight of these beautiful birds in the wild and managed to take some stunning shots of the bird in it's natural habitat -all the images you can see were taken by her, stunning!

For more information on the birds and how you can help why not contact  the below:
RSPB South West Regional OfficeKeble House, Southernhay Gardens, Exeter EX1 1NT 
Tel: 01392 453775

The National Trust
Nature Conservation Adviser, Lanhydrock, Cornwall PL30 4DE 

Tel: 01208 74281 
  
Natural England
Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Team,  Pydar House, Pydar Street, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1XU Tel: 01872 245045











Friday, October 5, 2012

St Eval Picks - October


Once a month, we would like to share with you the people that make the St Eval Candle Company. Meet Ashley Farrant our sales coordinator.  So, should you have any questions about our candles, or would like to place an order Ashley may well be the voice on the end of the line!
 
Where were you born? Slough, Berkshire        
What is your favourite buiscuit? Homemade Millionaires Shortbread
Favorite film? The Goonies                                                             
Favorite part of Cornwall and why? North Cornish Coast, because it has good surf, amazing rugged coastline and great people.          
Favorite St Eval Candle Company Scent and why? Sea Salt, as it reminds me of sunny beaches even when the weather is being typically British!
 
Calling all budding artists
Seasalt Clothing company in Cornwall are running a great competition in aid of a very nobel charity. You have got to design a charity Christmas card - with a coastal twist of course!
Five winners will be selected and they will win a £50 Seasalt gift voucher and the thrill of seeing their card printed and sold in our shops this Christmas!
All the money raised from the cards will go to The Fisherman’s Mission – a great charity that dedicate themselves to helping coastal communities in difficult circumstances such as the loss of a fisherman.
To find about more about seasalt Cornwall or the Fisherman's Mission see the below links:
 
Seasonal Fragrances
 
Just a quick note to say that our seasonal fragrances are now up on the website - for all your senses will need to keep you feeling cosy and warm this Autumn. Click below to have a browse:
 
 
 

Friday, September 28, 2012

Pretty In Pink

Yes, the clocks go back soon. Yes the nights are drawing in, and yes it's getting cold. But that doesn't mean doom and gloom. There is so much to look forward to, you get an extra hour in bed plus you get to draw the curtains, dim the lights and wear that good old woolly jumper - bliss!
Although you may think of Cornwall as being a summer destination there is so much going on all year round - and even more so over the next couple of weeks.
Zapcat News & ResultsThere is Zap Cat boat racing on Fistral Beach Newquay for the adrenaline enthusiasts. For the foodies amongst us why not head to Truro for the Cornwall Food & Drink Festival. Failing those two options you could always walk the miles of coastline or the moor and woodlands. You could always come and see us hard at work, we do have a small shop which is brimming with bargains galore. Also, weather permitting we have the main workshop doors open so you can see us in action. Currently both drawing machines are in use as in the pouring table.

Every Friday we take a look at one of our fragrances and today's turn is the beautiful flower Peony. It is said that peony is named after Paeon, who was a student of Asclepius ( the Greek god of medicine and healing). Asclepius became jealous of his pupil, Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the peony flower. Who would have thought that a flower so delicate and feminine was named after a young man. There are many varieties of peony so the fragrance differs from one to the other. The St Eval Candle Company Peony is based on a very gentle and romantic, powdery floral fragrance. We believe that this fragrance best represents the beautiful heady flower, and is available in both tins and tealights.
 
www.stevalcandlecompany.co.uk

Friday, September 21, 2012

It's All About Bay & Rosemary


The company was at a trade show in London last week, and we were amazed to see people charge onto the stand pick up a Bay & Rosemary tin, breathe it in and then walk off again as if it was the most normal thing in the world to do - clearly they needed a quick pick me up!
We have also be inundated with orders through our web site for Bay & Rosemary, it is a fragrance that is so unique to us here at St Eval Candle Company and we are very proud of it. But what is it about this fragrance that is making people go wild for it?
Bay, the dried herb has been used for thousands of years for both cooking and medicinal purposes. And again as with most herbs they smell better than they taste! Whilst a little bit of research into Bay I found on the Wikipedia website that in the Elizabethan era, some people believed pinning bay leaves to one's pillow on the eve of Saint Valentine's Day would permit one to see one's future spouse in a dream. Forget 'roses are red'...bay is the way!
Rosmarinus officinalis or to the non-latin speaking Rosemary is actually a part of the mint family. Again according to the name "rosemary" derives from the Latin for "dew" (ros) and "sea" (marinus), or "dew of the sea" because in many locations it needs no water other than the humidity carried by the sea breeze to live. And, more importantly rosemary is thought to improve the memory. Amazing.
For all our Bay & Rosemary fragranced candles have a look on our website.
http://www.stevalcandlecompany.co.uk/fragrances/bay-rosemary/