Our Candle Making Adventure...
From ForestCandleStudio to ForestCandleStudio2

(Marcie) The Beginning:
Spring/Summer 1996
During my studies in a post-graduate 2-year studio art program, I was experimenting with encaustic painting techniques & fell in love with working with beeswax. Then I began using roses from my garden in my encaustic paintings. One idea led to another, & the sculptor side of me envisioned a candle shaped like a rose, mounted on rock, adorned with whole roses. I'd never seen anything like it, and when asking around, no one else had either. I had to see what it would look like!

I'd always loved candles but had never made them before. Determined to make my rose candle idea a reality, I devoted countless hours that summer to see if I could make it happen. First, I studied traditional candle making methods, then I developed my own original techniques to create my unique designs.

In September, my first group of "Rose Candle Sculptures" sold out in two days! Shortly thereafter, local candle shops & gift boutiques contacted me, & Forest Candle Studio was born!

1997 - 2011:
Over the years I was asked for more designs, resulting in "Rose Garden Pillars" & "Rose Garden Tapers". I was honored to be a featured artist on the Carol Duvall Show on HGTV (Home & Garden Channel).
In 2009, I opened my first Etsy shop "ForestCandleStudio"
In 2010, I joined the American Rose Society to learn more about roses to incorporate into my designs.
In 2011, I added three new designs - "Rose Column Tapers & Pillars", "Organic Spice Candles" & "Icicle Tapers".

2012 - 2021:
I developed new candle colors and several new designs & adornment options, including "Glitter Rose Candles", "Peony Candles" & "Floral Tapers & Pillars".
So busy with my Etsy shop orders, I stop selling to local shops & boutiques to focus exclusively on my relationships with my Etsy customers & private clients.

(Marcie & Camille) 2022 - beyond:
My daughter Camille & son Cary grew up helping me in my art studio with all facets of making/designing/sales & admin tasks. Now as adults, Camille & Cary are emerging artists in their own right, in their own artistic fields (in addition to candle making!). I'm so pleased that Camille has now permanently joined me in the studio, & as an owner she opened Forest Candle Studio 2 with me!

As Always:
We will continue to use our own special techniques & designs to handcraft each candle as an individual work of art. Whether lit or displayed, they are meant to add beauty, joy & natural luxury to your life. No two candles look exactly the same. New designs will be added to our shop as they evolve,

We value our customers & hope to enhance their lives through our artwork. Close attention to details, in both customer service & the crafting of our work, is of the highest importance to us. We appreciate the opportunity to share our creativity.

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HOW WE MAKE THE CANDLES:
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We use 100% pure beeswax from honey farms in California & the Pacific Northwest. Our natural beeswax colors range from golden amber to ivory white. To create a wide variety of our unique hand-dyed colors, we dye the beeswax in small batches using eco-friendly USA-made candle dyes.

With loving care & close attention to detail (& our favorite knives & paint brushes!), we pour, hand-build, sculpt, shape & dip many delicate layers of beeswax until satisfied with each candle design.

To adorn the candles, we air dry whole roses, petals & leaves in small bunches throughout the year. A final dip in beeswax preserves their natural beauty. Other adornments include organic spices & herbs, organic lavender & other flowers, specialty wax paints & glitters, ribbons, brooches & other beautiful or unusual materials.

Most of our candles have no scent added (our beeswax has its own light natural honey fragrance). In candles we add scent to, we only use organic essential oils added to the beeswax, &/or organic spices/herbs rubbed onto the outside of the candles.

For the Rose Candle Sculptures, we hand-cut natural stone to use as bases, attaching strips of felt on the bottom to protect your furniture. Each sculpture is signed by the artist on the base.

The entire process for making each candle can take several days to a week or more.

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WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU:
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A variety of candle sizes, styles, colors, adornments, & quantities are available in our shop or by request. Any of our candles can be customized to your needs - just ask!

Since 1996 I've had the pleasure of creating candles for customers all over the world for:
• year-round gift-giving • home decor • weddings • holidays & other special occasions • entertaining • relaxation • spiritual rites • memorial candles • and more...
Custom orders are always welcomed.

Customer reviews from 2009 -2021 can be seen here (at my original Etsy shop): https://www.etsy.com/shop/ForestCandleStudio/reviews