Glow Diva Candles

Stop by GlowDivaCandles.com

2008-11-26T17:37:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone,
Glow Diva has been on hiatus for a little while. Well, we're back in full swing! GlowDivaCandles.com has a new look in addition to some new products. We are now offering many unique gifts ideas for the people in your life who love aromatherapy, incense and all-natural candles. Wonderfully scented non-toxic Holiday candles are also available. We are now offering a 20% off your entire order blog special. Please enter coupon code: candleblog . This discount is available to our blog readers and expires 12/31/08. If you are a Las Vegas local, please contact us for free delivery.

Live and online!

2005-06-04T21:38:00.000-07:00

Well, GlowDivaCandles.com is finally online! Any feedback is appreciated and welcome. It has been a lot of work for this launch, and I'm just so happy to have the candles out there. I have 3 different lines of candles available now, and I will be adding a few more soon, as well as my new Blessing Kits. Thanks to everyone who still checks this blog! :D

Blessings,
Jodi

2005-04-20T08:16:00.000-07:00

Seasonal Candles - Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter

Seasonal Candles Revamped

2005-03-13T20:04:00.000-08:00

Ok, so since the Nature candles are for the seasons, I might as well just call them Seasonal candles. LOL Sorry for any confusion!
Also, I've decided to offer them with the highest-quality commercial candle fragrances available, which will still enable me to drop the price to only $14.95. So, here are the new Seasonal Candle descriptions (colors stay the same, but I'll put them for reference):

~ Spring ~ (yellow & blue)
Spring Morning Dew
Clean bright florals of mimosa, lily of the valley and osmanthus
combined with crisp clean cotton accents -
Gives that fresh and crisp smell of nature starting a new day, very
refreshing - Easily used as a Rain or Ocean type scent

~ Summer ~ (yellow & red)
Grapefruit Watermelon
This blend of sparkling fruits and flowers opens with grapefruit,
watermelon, peach and hints of green apple and lime - The heart is
filled with jasmin and bright citrus florals - Precious musk and
sweet violet complete the dry down

~ Autumn ~ (orange & red)
Patchouli Raspberry
Deep, Earthy and Musk notes - Red raspberry puree with hints of
sliced strawberries on a background of vanilla beans and warm musk

~ Winter ~ (blues)
Iceberg
Unique, crisp refreshing fragrance with light ozonic top notes, fruity
heart, and balsamic base

The Blog Special - $2 shipping - is in effect until the end of March, so order now! :D

Thanks to all who have placed orders and expressed interest so far!

The Nature Candles

2005-03-06T21:15:00.000-08:00

I'm not 100% ready to go online with candle orders yet, but I thought I would offer them here first, to my blog readers! If you'd like a candle, just email me at my personal email (if you have it), or at my "official" email: GlowDiva@FeyCommunique.com. I will try to get more detailed photos up asap, but the Nature Candles are the ones in the display picture in the post below.
The candles are 3x4", and are $17.95. Get a "Blog Special" shipping cost of only $2!

~ Spring ~
Yellow & Blue
Herbs: Honeysuckle, Rose, Jasmine
Essential Oil: Ylang Ylang

~ Summer ~
Yellow & Red
Herbs: Lavender, Chamomile, Red Clover
Essential Oil: Orange

~ Autumn ~
Orange & Red
Herbs: Sandalwood, Sage, Rowan
Essential Oil: Cinnamon

~ Winter ~
Blues
Herbs: Wintergreen, Bayberry, Juniper berries
Essential oil: Spearmint

A happy customer!

2005-03-05T08:40:00.000-08:00

I mailed a candle off last week! She posted a comment below, but I figured I would highlight it up here. :D

"...And I got my very first Glow Diva Candle in this week. Spring!!! It smells so good, I love the ylang ylang in it, and it's just perfect. Not including the cute little charm that goes on it!
Thanks Jodi!!! "

Yay! Thanks, Heather!

2005-03-01T16:57:00.000-08:00

The candle display in the local Postal Connections store

First display up!

2005-02-20T20:44:00.000-08:00

I have the first Glow Diva Candles display in a store!
I went over to Postal Connections Friday and set it up, but I forgot to take a picture (of course!). They hung a shelf on a wall over one of their prep tables, which holds the four Nature display candles (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter) - they are unwrapped and available for sniffing. :) Under the shelf I have a basket with eight wrapped and packaged candles ready to sell (two of each season). I also have some informational cards set up, and when I get the full-color brochure done, I'll have those there as well.
SO, we'll see how they go. I doubt they will be big sellers there, since people don't generally go into a shipping store to buy a higher-priced natural candle, but at least they're out there for people to see! So another goal has been reached. Yay!

News and Events

2005-01-23T22:07:00.000-08:00

Things are happening pretty quickly around here! I'm really excited about these upcoming opportunities.

One: I have a store owner that wants a candle display!! I've been working on a relationship with my local Postal Connections store that is right across the street. A husband and wife opened the store last year, and I talked to the lady over the holidays about getting a break on my shipping costs, if I agree to ship all my candles through her store. She readily agreed, so that was great in itself! Then last week I went in again (after going to City Hall to pick up my business license application!), since I had a candle to ship. I brought in a sample candle as a gift for her, and she just loved it. Apparently she's been wanting to carry candles in the store, and she wants mine! So just as soon as I have enough candles ready for a display, I can sell them in her store! So I am now working on a line of seasonal candles to have on display (since it's unlikely that a person going in there to mail a package will want a Pagan Sabbat candle!).

Two: I am going to have a table at an upcoming Women Empowering Through Community fair on Feb. 12th! I joined a group last week called the Birth Year Network, which is a group of professionals "Joining together to strengthen the birthing community through education and support". Basically they work to educate women so that they feel empowered to explore their natural birth options. This is a group I have been looking for ever since moving to Las Vegas! Oregon had several birth centers and lots of natural birthing alternatives - there is *nothing* available here in LV! This group is working to change that - it's all about natural living, natural parenting, promoting natural birth and breastfeeding - it's wonderful! So, now that I am a bona fide member, I get to have a table at their *monthly* workshops, as well as at these sorts of events. So I'm going to work on a nice display of Memento Candles, as well as having the seasonal line and a special Birth Empowerment candle, made with herbs and oils that will help focus a laboring woman's energies in order to have an empowering birth experience.

Simultaneously, I've hit a snag with my wax supplier, so I have run completely out of my lovely natural wax blend! Fun! The wax I just received as a replacement is not working for the regular candles, but it does seem to be working for the Memento Candles, so at least it isn't a total loss. Let's hope I can find a new supplier with comparable wax quickly, and that they have *fast* shipping!! Eek! As Barbara says: "Drama!". LOL Wish me luck that this all works out. :)

Prototype Sabbat candles

2005-01-19T15:10:00.000-08:00

Here are some the latest Glow Diva Candles with the *gorgeous* Focal Charm Bracelets that my friend and partner Barbara made. Aren't they great?!? Also check out the prototype of the new logo my awesome graphic designer friend Bridget is making for me. Is this thing coming together or what?!? :D

*Candles pictured are Imbolc and Yule (front L-R), Litha and Samhain (back L-R)

Glow Diva!

2005-01-11T23:32:00.000-08:00

I have been working really hard these last couple of weeks to get my aunt's website, Fey Communique, up and off the ground. I finished it over the weekend, just in time for the workshop last night. Which is great, because I was able to make up some business cards to have by my candle display, and several people took them and there were lots of questions about the site. I noticed there were some hits generated after the workshop, so I'm pumped about that.

So, for those of you who don't know, the workshop was a Spirit Crafting event that one of the local Pagans coordinates. She happened to come to the Cacklefest (our bi-monthly coffee get-togethers) before Christmas, when I brought a lot of my candles since I was giving them out as gifts. She mentioned they were having a candle-making workshop, and invited me to come. I said I could bring some of my supplies if that would help, and eventually it ended up that I would give the presentation and basically do the workshop. She said my candles were beautiful, and that I should bring some to show folks at the workshop. So I've been busy making up a sufficient supply of candles, and I had three Sabbat candles ready for display (I made extra of each in case people wanted to buy, I didn't want to turn away customers!!); I had Imbolc, Ostara, and Beltane candles there, plus a chunk candle and the Memento Candle of Rhia and my nieces (I decided to call the Keepsake Candles Memento Candles instead, since the former gets used a lot).

I went into the workshop with the goal of selling one candle to one new customer, and I sold THREE candles!!! Two Sabbat candles to two of the ladies at the workshop (I was pleased to learn that the ladies who bought them were not even Pagans, so even those have cross-over appeal), and Barb, who was gracious enough to accomodate me as moral support, snatched up my last Cucumber Melon (Bath & Body Works scent) green chunk candle. I am so glad Barb came with me, because I probably wouldn't have sold a single candle if she hadn't. I was busy with the wax, etc., and several times I overheard her telling someone about the candles and how I do them, and how they're all-natural, etc. I had my display candles in a basket on the counter, and when we were nearly done with the workshop, she whispered to me that I might want to mention that the candles were for sale and not just display. LOL So I did, and that's when folks wandered up to the counter and started asking questions about Glow Diva and Fey Communique, and that's when I sold the two Sabbat candles. So a HUGE thanks goes to Barb for helping make the evening such a success for me. :D

Another cool thing that happened is I gave Susan (the workshop coordinator) the remaining Ostara Sabbat candle as a gift for letting me come do the workshop, and she was talking to her friend about burning it at their Ostara celebration (around Easter). Last year it was held at the UU (Unitarian Universalist) church, where the workshop was held, and that would be just wonderful if she did burn it there, because she usually gets really good turn-outs for her rituals. So a lot of new people would see it and that would be awesome! Also, another woman was talking to Barb about homeschooling, since they are on the same hs list; this woman mentioned doing a candle-making workshop for a group of homeschoolers sometime, and I said I would be happy to do that, so who knows.

If you couldn't tell, I've decided to go with Glow Diva Candles as the business name for this little venture. I've been kicking it around for some time, and the more I use it, the more I like it, so I think it's staying. :)

I'm really close to launching the Sabbat candle line on the website; I have the three mentioned above ready to go, and I've been working on Litha and Lughnasadh. After that, I'll only have three more to go before I can get them online to start selling them through Fey Communique. So things are moving pretty quickly, and I'm getting excited. My first foray out into the business world surpassed my expectations, so I can't wait to keep going!!

Sorry this was so long, but a lot of things have been happening. Hopefully soon I'll have pictures of the new Sabbat candles up (they are turning out SO pretty!!!).

Talk to you soon!!

Update

2004-12-29T09:55:00.000-08:00

My shipment of natural wax came in, so I have been really busy making candles. I got two different types of wax; a 100% soy wax, and a soy/natural wax blend. I think I'm going to work with the natural wax blend; it's easy to work with and the resulting candles have a wonderful burn. Its natural scent is very pleasant, and both the commercial scents and essential oils seem to cover it easily. I had to order it from PA, and shipping was insane, so hopefully I will find a source closer to home.

I got a new melting pot that is just so slick to work with; it melts the wax in a fraction of the time, and without having to use the double-boiler and stove top method. A neighbor was giving away a large metal table and a small nightstand a couple weeks ago, so my neighbor/friend John and I grabbed those up, and Dave set up a workshop for me in the garage. Based on all the wonderful encouragement I've gotten from my friends (thanks ladies!! You know who you are!! :), I am really going to try to get this candle business going in 2005. I am ready and raring to go!

I have been working really hard on the Keepsake Candles, since people have expressed the most interest in those. I also have lots of ideas that play off the photo candle idea, so if I get a good solid technique down, I think they will be popular. I still have some work to do before I will get consistent results, but I am making some good progress.

I've been kicking around some ideas for names. So far I've come up with two; Glow Diva Candles (the logo would be a goddess figure, since diva is another word for goddess (thanks Diva*Mama! lol)), or Fey Illumine, since they would be sold on my aunt's site, which is Fey Communique. If anybody has any thoughts or opinions on those (good or bad!), or other suggestions, please share. You can email me privately if you don't want to post a comment.

SO, that's what I've been up to with the candles. Sorry I've been so quiet lately, things got crazy with the holidays and company arriving. Now that things are winding down, I hope to be around much more. :) I hope everyone had a very happy holiday with their families. :)

Green Chunks

2004-12-29T09:30:00.000-08:00

Some new chunk candles! These have been turning out really nice, I love the look. These have been scented with a Cucumber Melon candle scent (not essential oils, in other words). I've been having fun playing, as you can see. :) I gave most of these new ones away as Christmas gifts (the ones that turned out anyway!), so I didn't get to keep any of my really nice ones. I have plenty of candles to do burn tests on now, though! The "rejects" still look pretty good, so I can't complain. :)

Keepsake Candle - Natural

2004-12-29T09:24:00.000-08:00

Another Keepsake Candle, this one made with the all-natural soy blend wax. I used this one for a burn test, and the natural wax just burns SO nice. I'm really glad I'm getting away from the paraffin.

Starburst

2004-12-29T09:19:00.000-08:00

Here are some "starburst" pattern candles (the formation on top reminds me of a starburst). The two in front are prototype Yule candles, made with myrrh and bayberry. I plan to offer a set of two small pillar candles for Yule; one as seen here, and the other will be green with pine scent (thanks for the great idea, Barb!). I will probably make larger ones as well, in case somebody wants a single large pillar instead.

Soft Colors

2004-12-29T09:15:00.000-08:00

I've been experimenting with new coloring techniques, and I really like how these turned out. I bought some regular candle scent, and these just smell SO good. The two in front have a Moonlight Path scent (*love* it!), and the tall one is Jasmine. Too bad I had to give them up as gifts. ;)

Evergreen

2004-12-05T16:27:00.000-08:00

After three attempts, this candle is finally finished! The first time, I tried to put the pine piece inside the mold and pour the wax over it; it was too embedded, so it didn't show up the way I wanted. So I chopped it up and remelted it. The next pouring, I tried to take it out of the mold before it was completely cool, and yanked the wick right out of the candle. So when it DID cool, I chopped it up and remelted it again. I didn't get the deep green color I was going for, either, but I was afraid to add too much more dye and keep fiddling with it, so I just used it as-is (and there was no way I was going to melt and pour it yet again!). The embellishment took me a long time, but I think it looks nice. And, I added pine essential oil, so it smells faintly of pine.

Keepsake Candle

2004-11-24T14:40:00.000-08:00

This is my first "photo candle" - I used a picture taken of Rhiannon with her cousins this summer. The image is embedded into the wax. I made red chunks, then filled in with white wax. I really wanted to try this technique, so I bought just a pound of paraffin wax, since I ordered a lot of wax and am still waiting for it to arrive. Anyway, there wasn't enough wax, so I had to remove some of the red chunks and remelt them and had *just* enough. So, it turned out that I did my first two-tone candle at the same time! I can't wait to get my shipment of wax, so I can make a couple more. This one has a few blemishes, but it still turned out pretty good for a first try. I need to work on my photography skills while I'm at it, because these pictures just don't capture the true candle.

Lavender & Grapes

2004-11-19T10:12:00.000-08:00

My lavender candle. I don't like the picture of this one as well, but I love how the candle turned out. I put dried lavender in it, and scented it with lavender essential oil. I don't know how it will smell when it's lit, but it smells good even unlit. I pressed purple beads into the side, plus more silk leaves, and I think it turned out really nice. My first try with a triangle mold, too.

Autumn Leaves

2004-11-19T10:10:00.000-08:00

I made this pumpkin-spice scented candle for my grandmother's birthday (on Halloween). I added a touch of dried calendula, a Samhain herb. This is the first time I pressed silk leaves into the side, and I really like the look.

Samhain Candle

2004-11-19T10:08:00.000-08:00

My first ritual candle - I put orange chunks in this one, plus mugwort, sage, and calendula (Samhain herbs). I also added a touch of myrrh essential oil for a light scent.

New blog!

2004-11-19T09:36:00.000-08:00

Thanks to an idea from a friend, I'm going to set up a little blog to highlight my crafty attempts. Then I'll be able to log my progress as I learn. Right now I'm focusing on candles. Pics to follow shortly!