FlamingIdols

Flaming Idols

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania On Etsy since 2013

2,942 Sales | 5 out of 5 stars

Top shop for gifts.

Buyers bought gifts from this shop and gave them 5-star reviews!

FlamingIdols

Flaming Idols

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 2,942 Sales

5 out of 5 stars

Shop owner

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Announcement    Flaming Idols are altar candles featuring inspiring figures of the LGBTQ community.

Follow Flaming Idols on Facebook or Instagram to be the first to know about promotions, sales, and new listings! https://www.facebook.com/flamingidols or @flamingidols on IG

If you live in Philadelphia and would like to pick up a candle in person, use coupon code STUDIOPICKUP in your order for free shipping, and send me a message to arrange date and time. My studio is located in West Philly near 49th St & Baltimore Ave, easily accessible by the 34 trolley.

Flaming Idols are available wholesale - send me a message or e-mail flamingidols [!at] gmail.com!

In Philly I stock at:
Nice Things Handmade (South Philly)
The Outrage (Center City)
VIX Emporium (West Philly)

Announcement

Last updated on Apr 10, 2020

Flaming Idols are altar candles featuring inspiring figures of the LGBTQ community.

Follow Flaming Idols on Facebook or Instagram to be the first to know about promotions, sales, and new listings! https://www.facebook.com/flamingidols or @flamingidols on IG

If you live in Philadelphia and would like to pick up a candle in person, use coupon code STUDIOPICKUP in your order for free shipping, and send me a message to arrange date and time. My studio is located in West Philly near 49th St & Baltimore Ave, easily accessible by the 34 trolley.

Flaming Idols are available wholesale - send me a message or e-mail flamingidols [!at] gmail.com!

In Philly I stock at:
Nice Things Handmade (South Philly)
The Outrage (Center City)
VIX Emporium (West Philly)

Items

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2942 Sales
3145 Admirers
 

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Robin Markle

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Robin Markle

Reviews

Average item review
5 out of 5 stars
(426)
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quality 16 shipping 65 customer service 21

About FlamingIdols

Sales 2,942
On Etsy since 2013
  • Idols
  • George Takei altar
  • Kate Bush altar

Flaming Idols is about the support and inspiration queer people give each other across generations and dimensions.

Flaming Idols comes out of my deep love for my queer community and the support we give one another. While the Luminaries Collection is only a small part of my inventory, it was the inspiration for the entire project. The first candles I made had an image of Grace Lee Boggs, and I made just six, one for each member of my queer anarchist study group. Over the 3+ years we have studied together, we have read many pieces by Grace, and she is a source of great inspiration to us. I wanted to be able to light a candle when I had a tough question and ask Grace what she would do. After I made the initial six, I started thinking about the many other people, especially queer people and queer elders, who I would love to have an idol of to call on for guidance. Thus, Flaming Idols was born!

I choose people to draw who have been influential or inspirational to me and my friends. I try to represent and appeal to a wide array of the queer community and our allies. Some idols, like TLC, gave me affirmation in my childhood and preteen years, while others, like Rachel Maddow, I didn’t come to know until much later.

The Luminaries Collection is the part of Flaming Idols that I am most proud of. My passion as an artist is to make art in service of social change and radical social movements. Through the Luminaries Collection, featuring portraits of queer artists and activists who have passed on, I am able to help financially support organizations that continue the legacy of these brave ancestors. The proceeds from the sales of different Luminary candles go to organizations that organize and advocate for queer people.

Each candle begins with an inspirational figure. I then use photo references to draw the person. Next I scan the drawing and color it digitally. When I am satisfied with the color palette, I print the image on a glossy adhesive paper. I then hand-cut each image and affix it to a plain candle.

Flaming Idols is an inherently political project for me. To read more about me and my art and activism please visit http://www.robinmarkle.com

Shop members

  • Robin Markle

    Owner, Designer, Assembler, Shipper

    I'm an artist/activist living in West Philadelphia, striving to use art as an agent for social change and community building.

Shop policies

Last updated on October 11, 2017
Thank you for your interest in Flaming Idols! Flaming Idols is a one-person operation creating altar candles to honor inspiring LGBTQ people.

Yes I do take wholesale orders! Message me or e-mail flamingidols-AT-gmail.com for more info!

Accepted payment methods

Paypal Mastercard Visa American Express Discover Apple Pay Giftcard
Accepts Etsy Gift Cards and Etsy Credits
Returns and exchanges
I gladly accept cancellations
Request a cancellation within: 24 hours of purchase
I don't accept returns or exchanges
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
Returns and exchange details
If you receive a candle in the mail that has been damaged or broken, please send me a photo of the damage within 30 days of the shipping date and I will send you a replacement.
Payment
All items must be paid for in full before they are shipped.
Shipping
Domestic Shipping:
All candles are shipped Priority Mail through the US Postal Service. Priority mail arrives in 1-3 days and includes insurance of up to $100 if items are damaged or lost. You will receive tracking info from etsy when I print postage for your order. If your order is fewer than 12 candles, they will be shipped in boxes of up to four candles per box. I use etsy's calculated shipping feature which determines shipping based on weight of the candles and your zip code, so I can't offer shipping quotes but you can get one by adding the items you're interested in to your cart and seeing what is estimated before paying.

I am happy to expedite shipping when possible, i.e. 2-day or overnight shipping. Please send me a message prior to making a purchase and I will let you know if I am able to expedite your order. You are responsible for related additional shipping fees, which I will inform you of.

If an item is lost or damaged, you must notify me within 30 days of the shipping date. I am only able to file a claim with USPS withing 15-60 days of the shipping date, otherwise I am not able to receive a refund and neither can you.

If the post office attempts to deliver a package but you are not home and/or do not respond to USPS notifications left for you to pick up the package and it is sent back to me, you are responsible to pay for re-shipping.

****IF YOU LIVE IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA**** you are welcome to pick up your order at my studio in West Philadelphia, near 50th St & Baltimore Ave. Use the coupon code STUDIOPICKUP to get free shipping on your order, and send me a message so we can make arrangements. If you do not send me a message to make arrangements within three days of your order, I will cancel your order, minus a $3 restocking fee. If you are not responsive to follow-up communication and/or do not pick up the order within two weeks, I will cancel your order minus a $3 restocking fee.

International Shipping:
Candles shipped internationally are shipped with First Class International shipping. If you would prefer Priority or other international shipping, message me and I will look into cost. Depending on where you are located, it will typically take 2-6 weeks for the package to arrive.

Customs may levy taxes/fees on items shipped internationally. It is the responsibility of the buyer to pay these taxes and fees. Any package that is returned to me due to the buyer's refusal to pay these fees will be refunded minus the shipping costs. I will not mark items as a gift to avoid fees. Doing so is illegal and I cannot risk the consequences that getting caught shipping illegally would have for my business.

If an item is lost or damaged, you must notify me within 30 days of the shipping date. I am only able to file a claim with USPS withing 15-60 days of the shipping date, otherwise I am not able to receive a refund and neither can you.

If the post office attempts to deliver a package but you are not home and/or do not respond to postal notifications left for you to pick up the package and it is sent back to me, you are responsible to pay for re-shipping.
Additional policies and FAQs
About Luminaries Candles & Proceeds Donation

I am always skeptical when I see "proceeds from the sale of this go to..." because many times some large company is using that as a gimmick to increase sales and only donate 5% of the profits. That is not the case with Flaming Idols Luminaries candles. For each $10 candle sold online, $7 goes to the organization associated with that candle. Materials for each candle run between $2.50-$3.00 each. When one is purchased, I pay myself for the time it takes me to prepare them for shipping. Right now I am aiming to pay myself $12/hr, estimating that I can prepare 8 candles for shipping each hour ($1.50/candle x 8 = $12). When Luminaries are sold on consignment, I subtract $3 from the payment I receive from the consignment shop and donate the difference. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact me at flamingidols [!at] gmail.com

WHOLESALE ORDERS!

I do wholesale orders. $5/per candle, minimum of 15 candles per order. Please e-mail me at flamingidols [!at] gmail.com to place an order.

Custom Designs
I am happy to create a custom candle for you! Check out my listing here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/212437699/custom-glass-votive-candle-gay-altar
All custom designs are property of Flaming Idols/Robin Markle and can be reproduced and sold at any time.

Flaming Idols are available at brick & mortar establishments:

Box, St Louis, MO
Deco, Raleigh, NC
Domestica, Des Moines, IO
Glad Day Bookshop, Toronto ON
HausWitch, Salem, MA
The Merchant Company, Portland, ME
Nice Things Handmade, Philadelphia, PA
On Centre, Jamaica Plain, MA
Otherwild, Los Angeles CA
Rose Gold, Seattle WA
Sex & Ice Cream, Kansas City, MO
VIX Emporium, Philadelphia PA
Womencrafts, Provincetown, MA
Wholly Craft, Columbus OH