FlamingIdols
Announcement
Flaming Idols are altar candles featuring inspiring figures of the LGBTQ community.
Follow on Instagram @flamingidols to be the first to know about promotions, sales, and new listings!
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)
Open House (Center City)
The Outrage (Center City)
VIX Emporium (West Philly)
Items
All Items
Reviews
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spencet4 on Dec 2, 2022
5 out of 5 starsThese are so cute! The seller had great communication and helped with an issue I was having. Highly recommend!
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cindi on Dec 1, 2022
5 out of 5 starsMy second purchase from FlamingIdols to gift a friend! Both times, the candles (Tracy Chapman & now Lizzo) were absolutely adored. I have seen them in person myself and they're beautiful and such a fun keepsake for our queer altars. I also should mention that I reached out to the seller, Robin, to ask some questions about the cost of shipping for "bulk" orders. They were incredibly kind and responsive (and very prompt) to my direct message. I am excited to know they have even more designs beyond the etsy shop and I look forward to supporting Robin's business again in the future!
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Ani on Nov 15, 2022
5 out of 5 starsGreat customer service there was a tiny delay in my order and they shipped it right after I got in touch with them and were super helpful!
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A. on Oct 28, 2022
5 out of 5 starsPerfect little gift! So well made and lots of great options. Saw these in P-town and was so happy to see them again online!
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About FlamingIdols
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Idols -
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George Takei altar -
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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
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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
Yes I do take wholesale orders! Message me or e-mail flamingidols-AT-gmail.com for more info!
Accepted payment methods
Returns & exchanges
Cancellations
Cancellations: accepted
Request a cancellation: within 24 hours of purchase
Payment
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 $50 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.
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 confirm but 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 and a $3 restocking fee per candle. I will not mark items as a gift to avoid fees.
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. If you do not want to reship or do not respond to communication from me, I will refund your order minus a $3 restocking fee per candle.
Additional policies and FAQs
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. Materials for each candle run about $3.00 each. For each $12 candle sold online or in person, $9 goes to the organization associated with that candle. When Luminaries are sold on consignment or wholesale for $6/ea, $3/candle is donated. If you have questions about this, please feel free to contact me at flamingidols [at] gmail.com
WHOLESALE ORDERS!
Wholesale purchasing is available for a minimum order of 15 candles at $6/ea. Please e-mail me at flamingidols [!at] gmail.com to place an order.
Flaming Idols are available at brick & mortar establishments:
Burning Books, Buffalo, NY
Cb Boutique, Amarillo, TX
Deco, Raleigh, NC
Dirty Livin', Nashville TN
Domestica, Des Moines, IO
HausWitch, Salem, MA
The Merchant Company, Portland, ME
Nice Things Handmade, Philadelphia, PA
Open House, Philadelphia, PA
The Outrage, Washington DC
VIX Emporium, Philadelphia PA
Wish Gifts, Denver CO
Womencrafts, Provincetown, MA