 | 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 |
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