Dripping In Color:
Your Soy Candle Connection
Your Soy Candle Connection
Eco-Artist Kel.
"Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good."
"Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good."
Hi, my name is Kel, soy candle artist and owner of Dripping In Color: Your Soy Candle Connection. Like my hat says Mother Nature is my Homegirl. I can respect that and that is why I enjoy to blend, handpour and paint every single soy candle by hand. From the original scent combinations to the vibrant hand-painted designs -- the ideas are mine, the work is mine and, most importantly, the vision is mine. I prefer just "Kel," but many know me best as Kel the Candle Lady. I enjoy making natural soy wax candles filled with love, light, pride and pure integrity.
Meet Your Candlemaker: An Interview With Kel
How long have you been making candles and what sparked your interest?
About 9 years ago I started making paraffin candles. I loved candles and I wanted to make my own. It started it out as a hobby. Not interested in that lingering smell of heavy wax … I wanted to give up my hobby because I felt it was bad for me, my family and the environment. So I researched soy wax and tested it for about a year in different jars and such. It took me awhile to learn and I still do everyday, but immediately I noticed the difference in the burn from a regular paraffin candle to a soy wax candle. It is amazing.
What makes soy candles burn differently from paraffin candles, and why is it better?
Soy candles burn cleaner than paraffin candles because they’re made from all natural soy beans. Paraffin candles leave behind black petroleum soot emissions. Soy candles leave little to no black. Usually the little black that is left behind on a soy candle is a) improper wick care, or b) it’s in a draft. But in, paraffin it’s emitting 11 toxins and 2 carcinogens when it’s lit.
How long does it take to make a soy candle, like one of your hand-painted container candles? Without giving away any tricks of the trade, so to speak, can you sort of outline the steps involved in the process?
I really like to stay in a smooth sailing place of love and light when I make my candles. People rely on candles for relaxation and warmth. I want to make the candle with those same clear emotions. So that’s where I start – peace of mind, and then I drip them in color. The paint, I like it to set on the glass for at least a day. I pour the soy candles and those, as well, I like to sit and cure for a day before I ship them off in eco-friendly packaging. So about three days for hand-painted jars, and pillars five days. I really like those to cure and solidify before they go out.
What’s your favorite part of that process?
The whole process. I love what I do!
You have some really original designs and scent combinations – like Saltwater Tingle, Dreamnilla, Bamboo Sheets, Waterfalls, Reflections. Where do you get your inspiration?
Over the years of pouring different scents, I had many different single scents lingering about, and I would pull them together and make a scent. What it smells like is what I named it. My colors are just creative imagery put on glass. Something unique and different. I don’t just want to make a candle … I want to make an impression.
What’s your favorite design, and why?
That’s really hard. I love them all. I know that’s not as detailed as I should be, but I really do love them all. At times I paint a candle and I look at it and think, “I want to keep that for me,”: but then I’m like, my craft is working because I want to keep a candle that I made especially for one of my customers. If I love it, they will love it even more.
What’s your favorite scent, and why?
That’s tough … right now I am down with the Rhinds or Reason Essential Oil blend. It’s a perfect spring scent and the essential Orange in that gives me energy. Just the smell alone. I am kind of hip to the Waterfalls Pure Blend. Since the day I combined the banana, coconut, lavender, rain and white chocolate I just love it. Than again I love them all – that’s why I created them.
How often do you come up with new designs and scents?
I’m trying out more and more lately, and once I’ve tested them, and am happy with them, I’ll feature new scents and new designs in The Daily Drip on the home page to let people know about them. If the response is good, I’ll add them to my original scent blends.
What kind of responses do you get from people – whether they’re trying your soy candles for the first time or the fifteenth?
You know I adore the people that have stepped into Dripping In Color and given my soy candles a burn. I have had so many kind comments about my candles. One that stands out for me, and I get it from A LOT of people, is that they feel the good energy coming from their soy candle when it’s lit. That is what I want everyone to feel – comfortable and happy with what they bought. Candles are generally an important part of someone’s daily routine, and usually those moments are important.
What’s the most challenging part of your work?
Wow. I guess it would be getting ALL of the people out there who’ve never tried soy candles to try one, and see the difference. Sometimes folks think it’s hocus pocus, but in truth it’s just a healthier alternative.
What’s the most rewarding part of your work?
So much gratitude for my ability to do what I do is rewarding to me. To be able to provide a healthier alternative for people and the environment. Having been able to introduce soy candles to so many folks. Artistically being able to create unique soy candles with original blends, knowing that I’ve been the one to do that successfully and at the end of the day be proud of what I do. Yep. That about sums it up. I find my job delicious.
Do you have a question? Please Contact Me.
How long have you been making candles and what sparked your interest?
About 9 years ago I started making paraffin candles. I loved candles and I wanted to make my own. It started it out as a hobby. Not interested in that lingering smell of heavy wax … I wanted to give up my hobby because I felt it was bad for me, my family and the environment. So I researched soy wax and tested it for about a year in different jars and such. It took me awhile to learn and I still do everyday, but immediately I noticed the difference in the burn from a regular paraffin candle to a soy wax candle. It is amazing.
What makes soy candles burn differently from paraffin candles, and why is it better?
Soy candles burn cleaner than paraffin candles because they’re made from all natural soy beans. Paraffin candles leave behind black petroleum soot emissions. Soy candles leave little to no black. Usually the little black that is left behind on a soy candle is a) improper wick care, or b) it’s in a draft. But in, paraffin it’s emitting 11 toxins and 2 carcinogens when it’s lit.
How long does it take to make a soy candle, like one of your hand-painted container candles? Without giving away any tricks of the trade, so to speak, can you sort of outline the steps involved in the process?
I really like to stay in a smooth sailing place of love and light when I make my candles. People rely on candles for relaxation and warmth. I want to make the candle with those same clear emotions. So that’s where I start – peace of mind, and then I drip them in color. The paint, I like it to set on the glass for at least a day. I pour the soy candles and those, as well, I like to sit and cure for a day before I ship them off in eco-friendly packaging. So about three days for hand-painted jars, and pillars five days. I really like those to cure and solidify before they go out.
What’s your favorite part of that process?
The whole process. I love what I do!
You have some really original designs and scent combinations – like Saltwater Tingle, Dreamnilla, Bamboo Sheets, Waterfalls, Reflections. Where do you get your inspiration?
Over the years of pouring different scents, I had many different single scents lingering about, and I would pull them together and make a scent. What it smells like is what I named it. My colors are just creative imagery put on glass. Something unique and different. I don’t just want to make a candle … I want to make an impression.
What’s your favorite design, and why?
That’s really hard. I love them all. I know that’s not as detailed as I should be, but I really do love them all. At times I paint a candle and I look at it and think, “I want to keep that for me,”: but then I’m like, my craft is working because I want to keep a candle that I made especially for one of my customers. If I love it, they will love it even more.
What’s your favorite scent, and why?
That’s tough … right now I am down with the Rhinds or Reason Essential Oil blend. It’s a perfect spring scent and the essential Orange in that gives me energy. Just the smell alone. I am kind of hip to the Waterfalls Pure Blend. Since the day I combined the banana, coconut, lavender, rain and white chocolate I just love it. Than again I love them all – that’s why I created them.
How often do you come up with new designs and scents?
I’m trying out more and more lately, and once I’ve tested them, and am happy with them, I’ll feature new scents and new designs in The Daily Drip on the home page to let people know about them. If the response is good, I’ll add them to my original scent blends.
What kind of responses do you get from people – whether they’re trying your soy candles for the first time or the fifteenth?
You know I adore the people that have stepped into Dripping In Color and given my soy candles a burn. I have had so many kind comments about my candles. One that stands out for me, and I get it from A LOT of people, is that they feel the good energy coming from their soy candle when it’s lit. That is what I want everyone to feel – comfortable and happy with what they bought. Candles are generally an important part of someone’s daily routine, and usually those moments are important.
What’s the most challenging part of your work?
Wow. I guess it would be getting ALL of the people out there who’ve never tried soy candles to try one, and see the difference. Sometimes folks think it’s hocus pocus, but in truth it’s just a healthier alternative.
What’s the most rewarding part of your work?
So much gratitude for my ability to do what I do is rewarding to me. To be able to provide a healthier alternative for people and the environment. Having been able to introduce soy candles to so many folks. Artistically being able to create unique soy candles with original blends, knowing that I’ve been the one to do that successfully and at the end of the day be proud of what I do. Yep. That about sums it up. I find my job delicious.
Do you have a question? Please Contact Me.
Copyright . Dripping In Color: Your Soy Candle Connection. All rights reserved.
Soy Candle FAQs
What are soy wax candles?- Why Soy?- Do You Wholesale Soy Candles? - Soy Candle Scents & Essentials - What are Soy Candle Sun-Melted?
Soy Candle Catalog Soy Candle FAQs Scent Menu Custom Soy Candles Soy Candle Burning Tips
Soy Votives Soy Pillar Packs Soy Candle Refills Go To Great Links MySpace Subscribe Contact Me Private Label Soy Candles Wholesale Spa Soy Candles Aromatherapy Soy Candles
Soy Candle Classics Handpainted Soy Candles
Search & Shop Catalog