It all started with a book.

When I read "The Secret Life of Bees," I was overcome with fascination of bees and beekeeping. This wonderful love story made me long to visit a real bee farm and explore the rigors of beekeeping.

So, one day, I did. In this information technology age, I went to Google to see if there were any bee keepers in the Dallas area, and sure enough, there were in Royce City. Just east of the Dallas mextroplex and about an hour and a half from Oak Cliff, the farm itself was quiet, except for the four huge dogs that constantly sniffed me. The Talberts who own the Sabine Creek Honey Farm were about as sweet as their own honey. They answered all my burning questions about bee keeping and owning a honey business.

I noticed that they kept all their leftover wax in large blocks. I had previously done some light experimenting with soaps and paraffin wax candles, but the room where all the wax was kept smelled so heavenly-- like warm honey dripping over flowers, I knew I wanted to work exclusively with beeswax. I bought one block that day, then came back a week later to buy five more. I wanted to share with the world what that farm smelled like, golden and clear.

I make candles because I love doing it. The process (besides breaking up the blocks) is soothing and relaxing. The smell of the wax is calming, and I can let my mind wander outside the cares of the day.