A Spark - The Story of How I Started Making Candles
- Brook Stanbery
- Aug 24, 2023
- 2 min read
The gleam of the flame danced off the wall and flickered around the room, providing a warm ambiance in an otherwise basic apartment. The sound of crackling wood brought me back to cozy fireplaces and Christmas hearths, and I pulled my blanket closer around my shoulders, welcoming the heat.
Jewelry, make-up, a waffle iron. These were just a few of the things I had listed under my Christmas list. But what I really wanted was something I could use and have a lot of fun with. Like a candle making kit! Why not?
When I unwrapped the gift, thoughtfully bought by my mother-in-law, I was thrilled. Days later, the kitchen had turned into my own little manufactory space. Wicks were strewn about, wax splattered, and my husband had to confine himself to the office thanks to the overpowering aroma.
A new passion was born.
Being the enthusiastic entrepreneurial spirit that I am, I instantly wanted to monetize and brand my discovery. I scrambled to find jars and scents and by mid-March I had my first vendor show. Cash only. Email sign up. And candles that probably didn't burn well or smell like much of anything. But I would learn. And soon I had a five-star shoppe on Etsy.
What's special about these candles is that they came from a season when I was recovering from a panic disorder and needed something grounding in the present. Something about the scent, the sound, the sight...all bring me back to the present when anxiety threatens to unravel my life.
I also love how many moments in the Bible talk about the significance of light.
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet. A light to my path." Psalm 119:105
"In the same way, let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven." Matthew 5:16
"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:5-9
No wonder the light of a candle makes such a difference in a room. It is a reminder of how God and His Word illuminates our hearts.
And here, at The Auburn Lady, we are dedicated to illuminating Him. That is, we want to shed light on all that He is and all that He says in His Word.
In the meantime, won't you check out our candles? Some of my favorite candles are our classic book collection. Click the link bellow to explore our complete shoppe and see what my experiments in the kitchen have turned into! :D
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