Thursday, July 29, 2010

I Never Thought It Would Happen To Me

Remember the movie The Jerk?  Remember Navin Johnson saying,  "I never thought it would happen to me."  It is with that same sense of stupor that I am saying the same thing.

A long time ago I thought it might be fun to learn how to make candles.  I was newly married living in a little house and the kitchen was my work space.  Of course we didn't have a computer or internet access (it was the olden days) so I depended on books to teach me the craft of making hand-poured candles.

It was frustrating at first, but I persisted and was determined to perfect the candle-making process so I could burn my own candles instead of having to buy them from overpriced retailers.  Finally I was able to consistently create candles of various sizes and shapes with perfection.  I liked pouring candles so much I had to begin selling them in order to make more.  After a period of hobby selling, I began my business, Auntie B's Wax.

I still have all of those candle-making books in my studio.  Yes, I now have a "studio" instead of having to work in the kitchen, thanks to a bigger house.  I still refer to those books too, for inspiration and renewed ideas.

Several months ago I was appropached by a book editor. She wanted me to contribute to a new candle making book, one specializing in natural waxes.  Of course I was thrilled as I work heavily with palm wax and beeswax, both  which are natural and renewable.  My contributions are instructions on how to make simple molded candles of both palm wax and beeswax.

I'm not selling anything, and I don't profit at all from this book.  I wasn't even paid for my contribution.  However, it is an honor for me to be able to give to new chandlers what I had reaped from contributors and authors of all those books from which I had learned ~ the benefit of experience.

So, like Navin Johnson I look at "my" book and say to myself, I never thought it would happen to me.  Who knew that girl making a mess in the kitchen would actually be asked to instruct others on how to do what she had mastered?


It's all a little overwhelming, but also very satisfying.  I hope this book finds its way into the hands of interested beginners, and that the instructions from all the contributors inspires creative candle making.

This book is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as other retailers.

5 comments:

MaryAnn said...

"You're in the phonebook! You're in the phonebook! You're somebody!" Congratulations! I'm so proud of you! I hope you'll still remember us little people when you become rich and even more famous (but mainly rich!) who knew you when you had to put your candles in the freezer so they wouldn't stick to the mold!

Sara said...

I forgot about those days when the candles stuck in the molds all...the...time. Drove me nuts! And there was an instance when that happened not too long ago, as you well know, Mary Ann. Always solving problems and always learning, but I've come a long way.

I'll never forget the little people who brought me to this great position in life. *gives queen wave to the commoners* (heehee)

Cheri said...

And why not, I certainly see you as a author and more, it obvious to me you are here for great things and don't argue with me okay!!! Congrats... here is your start!

Jane Carlstrom said...

Yay hay, cheering in Bemidji. What wonderful news. Congratulations.

Sara said...

Thank you everyone. You're making me blush!

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