Some Pretties for you

Choices from my team

This is really an amazing deal!

You get a box (10.5 inches x 7.5 inches x 5 inches)

filled with a bunch of different things from different

 people in my Etsy Team, Collaborators in Cahoots.

You will get things like:
- candles
- soap
- jewelry
- prints
- and much much more!
Check out the Mystery box 

These pastel mini thank you notes are ideal 

for popping into your customer's Etsy order.
They are decorated inside & out and there is 

room for you to write your own thank you

 to your customer.

Embedded glass fish & seaweed with sea shells 

Custom handmade betta fish gel candle for sale. 

in clear gel placed in a ivy glass bowl with all the

 makings of home: sand, wick, & a few shells.

Stunning natural AAA quality pink coin pearls grace 

this lovely floater type necklace.
The glass beads are Murano and all are strung 

on fine sterling silver coated beading wire giving the

 impression that the beads are floating. A delicate 

magnetic sterling silver class completes this lovely piece.

>

#2CIC Learn more about ValerieEssentials

This is my candle interview I did with WhoHub:

	How and why did you begin to be creative? I started in aromatherapy. I made soap, candles and oils for different causes, ex.  for headaches & stress, massages, appetite...  I would create baskets for different occasions.  Most of my customers would just give me  the scene that's in their head and I would  go from there. I wanted the customer to be  excited & amazed when they saw the finished  product. I'd always put a little something extra  to make them feel special too. However, the one thing that everyone wanted  were the candles. I would make  custom seascapes with scents that the  customer picked and every time they loved  the candle. Gel wax seemed to be  the new in thing back in 2000. Later I learned to make the customers  idea come to life and it was so cool  seeing a scene come to life. If someone  wanted a lighthouse I would do a light house  overlooking the sea with different color sand  and tiny shells up on the beach with the  tiny dolphins jumping in the sea. Then it  would have a custom scent.
	How do you avoid repeating yourself, or falling  into formula? How do you stay fresh? Some candles are the same but some are different  depending on the customer. Some like the  seascapes, some like candles that are teacher  related or something else. A lot like the drinks  and food. They look so real and when you  add a beer scent to a beer candle or  strawberry shortcake scent to a strawberry  short cake candle you have a conversation piece. The only downfall is the customer doesn't want  to burn the candle, even though I do refills too. I also make soy & palm wax candles but I  enjoy creating with gel wax the best because  you can create scenes you can make a center  piece or burn. The palm wax is popular because it is soot-free  like the soy wax but it is a harder wax and once it  sets the wax has a crystal design in it. I have done  many candles for weddings as well as other  occasions. It is always nice when the customer  wants to have a certain shade to complete their  look, then the scent they choose pulls it all  together and I had a part in doing that.
	Do you have a ritual like retiring to a lonely  place from time to time to cleanse your mind? Not exactly. I have two smaller kids and I do  not like to pour wax when they are around.  Too many accidents can happen even though  you are watching at all times and hot wax is  not a nice feeling. I know from experience.  Also when you have candles setting, the  last thing you want it hard vibrations from  kids playing near your working area. But I will sit at night and visualize what  the customer wants and how to make it  happen. I also think about what I could  do to make it even more special for the  customer to really surprise them. It usually  comes to me. If not I will contact the  customer a number of times and keep  them in the creating process to make  sure we are on the same path. I will  send samples to the customer to make  sure the color and scent is exactly what  they vision. Pictures can sometimes be  hard to tell the true color. Sometimes I may have trouble with the  candle setting properly so  I have done a set of pillars 4 times  before to get them just right. The  customer wasn't as picky but I know  what I would like if I were buying something.  I want it as close to perfect as I can get it. I am hard on myself because the customer  is putting their vision in my hands and I  want it to come through  as close as I can for them.
	When you accept a job, how much  value do you place on each of the  following? Money, creative  liberty, visibility, and to work with  the best. I would like to say that out of each  order I make a little something But  that's not true. However I know  that I am doing my best for my  customer. Sometimes if I have to  re do the candle (sometimes as many  as 4 times) it takes a lot of extra  hours or even days to complete  the candle. I would like to make  money and have my candles become  more than a hobby but I love to make  customers vision come true. I like the  challenge of getting it as close as I  can to what the customer in visioned.  Then to hear about what the customer  thought of my work really makes  those extra hours or days worth it. Since I focus more on the perfect  candle for my customer, I do have  many repeat customers and  new ones from the happy customer.  It makes it worth it to see some  one value your work and  is appreciative of it too.
	You are as good as your last idea.  Wouldn't you like to have a more  secure type of work? The only reason I would like a more  secure type of work is to have a  steady income. But I am lucky  enough to have a husband that works  hard so I can be a stay at home mom  for my two younger ones. I may not  have the money but I have the  time to be a good mom and have a  outlet of making my candles for  custom orders, my etsy shop and  craft shows. My shop can be found here-  http://ValerieEssentials.etsy.com

>

Custom Candles with ValerieEssentials

"Candles by Donald".

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Another Candle Maker with a Unique Product, the Gel Candle
I recently made the acquaintance of another candle maker with a most beautiful store.
VALERIE'S ESSENTIALS

A store filled with many very unique candles. All of the candles in this store are made with Gel. What is a Gel candle I asked myself? I did a little reading and acquired general background. Gel candles typically burn with a small flame, and exhibit a delicate luminescence that radiates through the translucent candle. These characteristics can lead to some beautiful effects depending on the candle type burned. Gel, put very simply, is a material made from mineral oil and resin. The transparency of the material allows the artisan to create very unique, clean, and long burning candles. Gel candles will generally burn twice as long as paraffin candles or about 10 hours per ounce of gel. This sounds so wonderful, will Donald make gel candles soon. Politely no, I am content to make hand dipped tapers and Palm or Paraffin wax pillar candles. Oh, the occasional sand pot candle will also be made. After all, boys love to play in the sand. Valerie’s candles are unique and any one of them will make a beautiful gift. A gift that is sure to be remembered for more than a few hours. I would like to share some of my favorites with you. Valerie's Essentials will be my first choice when I need to give that special gift.

>

Look!-Candles with ValerieEssentials

"Candles by Donald".

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Another Candle Maker with a Unique Product, the Gel Candle
I recently made the acquaintance of another candle maker with a most beautiful store.
VALERIE'S ESSENTIALS

A store filled with many very unique candles. All of the candles in this store are made with Gel. What is a Gel candle I asked myself? I did a little reading and acquired general background. Gel candles typically burn with a small flame, and exhibit a delicate luminescence that radiates through the translucent candle. These characteristics can lead to some beautiful effects depending on the candle type burned. Gel, put very simply, is a material made from mineral oil and resin. The transparency of the material allows the artisan to create very unique, clean, and long burning candles. Gel candles will generally burn twice as long as paraffin candles or about 10 hours per ounce of gel. This sounds so wonderful, will Donald make gel candles soon. Politely no, I am content to make hand dipped tapers and Palm or Paraffin wax pillar candles. Oh, the occasional sand pot candle will also be made. After all, boys love to play in the sand. Valerie’s candles are unique and any one of them will make a beautiful gift. A gift that is sure to be remembered for more than a few hours. I would like to share some of my favorites with you. Valerie's Essentials will be my first choice when I need to give that special gift.

>