We have almost twice as many products on the site now, ready for your strong start to the upcoming Summer months. I hope you're going to travel, dream, and explore. That's what I want for myself and everyone I know. After a pretty rough winter, it just seems like time to overcompensate and truly soak up the nice weather.
Did you know that the art of candlemaking is called 'chandlering'?
I am so proud of this 'Freshly Baked Cookies' candle scent mixture. I have to give Mark credit for helping come up with it- it really does smell like you just made a batch of fresh-baked cookies and it warms the feeling of the whole house. We thought of the concept while living in a hotel for two weeks back in January due to flooding issues, and I think were just wanting to think about cozy, comfortable things.
I want to make mini ones (votives), change up the label, keep working on this. There's a place I like called the Foundery that I went to print and cut out vinyl labels.
'The Foundery was built upon the goal to fuel the creative community with unique access to industrial-grade tools and knowledge, and to provide a safe and accessible makers’ space for Baltimore’s creative community to gather, learn, build and teach.'
With the cost of a day pass, you get access to embroidery machines, laser and vinyl cutting, woodworking, screenprinting, and more! It's also a nice, diplomatic space to think creatively and relax. And you can get a big mug of Zeke's coffee and a hot dog while you work.
This post is dedicated to Jenny Lai and her unique, positive vision for herself and everyone around her. We met living down the hall from each other at our arts boarding high school in Natick, MA. We'd have dance parties in her room, hang out in practice rooms, explore together. She always knows what I need, often before I do. My first time in New York was with her to scope out whether we'd want to go to college there. If I hadn't gone with her, my life might've been really different. I think it's definitely high time we went back to our roots- 12 years later (last time was freshman year of college).
Walnut Hill School for the Arts feels like a secret gem, tucked a short ride on the metro away from Boston. A little oasis for arty high schoolers from all over the world who knew what they wanted to do with their lives, or so they thought. As background- I used to want to be an opera singer. My dad loved classical music and supported my yearning to be on stage. My siblings and I all took piano lessons already, so I started doing my vocal scales on the keyboard after practicing the same songs they were. I knew I didn't want to stay in Texas forever, so I presented the idea to my voice teacher, and made a tape. When I found out I got a scholarship, I presented the idea to my parents. To their credit, they let me go with some conditions, like I wouldn't date anyone, and continue to go to church every Sunday. And I followed those rules. Once I got to school, I met some great friends. To this day Jenny and a few others are still very important to me. I admire and am inspired by them a lot. Halfway through my Junior year, I had a very serious talk with my dormitory parent/ surrogate advisor/ birthday twin Ken Tighes, who said he saw me sketching every night and if that's actually what I wanted to do for college- I should start making my portfolio right away. If he hadn't helped me move to the Art Department, my life would have been (again) very different. To go back to this place and reminisce with these people was very special to me.
I remember being fifteen: hanging out in the grass snacking, sneaking into the campus center at night to drink chocolate milk, and painting for hours in my art studio space. Getting to see Jim Woodside, who was head of the Art Department and has only grown more and more into his role since I was a student, and his granddaughter Juniper, was incredible. His daughter Ruby is so great and Becca who hung out and walked around with us.
This whole trip took around 24 hours total. Took the bus down Friday night and got in super late, looked at our old art with Jenny, woke up in New York and took another bus down to Boston to ride the old red line to Natick. Ate some McDonalds but also really good tacos at a place called Southwest Grill, both inside South Station. After the afternoon walking around, we got dinner in Cambridge at Kimchi Kitchen and then I uber'd to the airport to get back home to Baltimore Saturday night. I almost teared up at the most perfect cup of coffee Mark had waiting for me when I got into the car: warm milk with honey mixed in, and fresh hot coffee poured over it.
The saying 'home is where the heart is' couldn't be more true. It's always been one of my favorite quotes, and I enjoy making type treatments that form an image, like this. After testing out different materials and ways this could print, I truly believe this is the best way to share this message, and hope you or someone you love enjoys it as well.
As Valentines Day nears: a gift that will smell like a dozen red roses for a lot longer than the flowers. Simple and clean smell with rose hips essential oil fragrance.
You try it sometime. Some of it is fun. I like breakfast buffets- and if you stay at a Residence Inn like we did, I hope they have on-the-go nutella packets and greek yogurt on deck.
However, there are unfamiliar noises and smells you start to notice more after a few days. I guess it's a give-and-take.
