Marie Kauffman has been a professional candle maker for over
40 years. Learning the art of candle making from her mother-in-law in the
mid-1960's, her lessons were taken over the phone and by mail since they
lived several states apart. Over the years Marie has owned several
successful candle shops, ran innumerable candle parties and fundraisers,
and operated stands at festivals and malls, but her real passion is teaching
others the joys of candle making. Marie is an active teacher at Candles and
Supplies and in her own business, Flamin' Dame Candles, as well as "staring"
in a complete line of instructional DVDs. Many of her students are fondly
known as her "Candle Kids" and several are now teaching as well.
Marie's proudest achievement is bringing her son and daughter-in-law (Carl
and Noreen Hill) into the exciting world of candle crafting.
She is an incredible, positive-energy person who knows
all of the ins and outs (and is willing to share her experiences) that will
make you a better candle maker and business person.
Cindy Novack is the owner of Candles and
Supplies.com, Inc. and has been making candles since 1998. She started out
in business as a commercial candle maker specializing in fundraisers and selling
on eBay but her passion was to be creative. Cindy was always experimenting
with wax and additive formulas to create new and innovative products for candle
makers and soon became dedicated to
providing the best products possible to enhance your candle and soap making
experience. She has extensive knowledge on the different types of products
available and what are the best applications.
Carl Hill is a 3rd generation candle maker (son of Marie
Kauffman) and can't remember a time when wax was not a part of his daily
life. Having spent his childhood helping out in the family candle shop,
working various folk festivals hand dipping candles, and moving boxes for
candle parties and shows, Carl decided to go into computer networking for a
living. Having a mother who never stops proselytizing the joys of
candle making, it was just a matter of time before Noreen was stetting up a
candle making workshop in his basement. Now Gatehouse Candles is in a
4200 sq ft "Brick and Mortar" manufacturing facility, complete with a store
front. Carl enjoys teaching candle making and solving technical
challenges in candle crafting and mold design.
Noreen Hill,
co-founder of Gatehouse Candles, is an experienced candle maker, mold maker,
teacher, and small business owner. Noreen originally learned candle making
from her mother-in-law (Marie Kauffman) and has since specialized in
silicone mold making and developing innovative candle designs. Noreen
enjoys finding solutions to difficult candle making challenges, simplifying
existing methods, and teaching others what she knows.
John Strelnieks is the owner and inventor of
the Candlefun carving system that has revolutionized the cut-n-carve candle
industry. Carving candles is usually thought of as highly complicated and
technical but with John's great products everyone can make great
candles right away. His training is highly informative and his patient and
kind personality makes his classes so fun and easy to learn.
George Boddie (aka George the Chandler
hails from New Hampshire) has been making candles since the mid 70's.
He started out making ice cube candles as a Cub Scout project and has been
hooked ever since. He now creates pillars, containers, wedding alcove
candles as well as novelty candles for fun and business. He is now a full
time chandler in working at craft fairs, EBay and selling to local gift
shops. He learned candle making not only from books but from
teachers and videos as well as Internet resources.
Diana Furman fell in love with the art of
candle making at a Lumberjack festival in 2001 where she met Marie, her candle
mentor. After some lessons from Marie, Diana would spend hours designing
candles and incorporating her artistic talents into candle projects.
Designing and teaching others how to make candles is where Diana thrives and she
is most proud of her landscape candle. No matter how many you make,
each one will always be unique and a one of a kind creation.
Being a candle-maker has had
many positive effects in Diana's life including simulating her curiosity
to explore new ideas and introducing her to a wonderful group of people
throughout the country. What Diana loves most about being a candle maker
is the travel and doing what she's always loved to do which is teaching others
what she's learned.
Deborah Park Johnson
started a small business in 2002 (The Candle
Shop) that has continued to grow every year. When Deborah first started
the shop she bought candles wholesale and sold them retail until 2003 when she
took her first candle making class at Candles and Supplies.com.
Marie Kauffman taught her a great deal over the years (and continues to do so)
about candle making. Since then she has attended workshops and conventions
and continued to learn while making many dear friends. Deborah has also
learned through her own experimentation with different products, test burning
and keeping track of the results. She is an avid reader of different
candle making books, as well as information available on the web to increase her
knowledge of candles, candle making, aromatherapy, soap making, and other
related topics.
Tami Wells-Cato and her husband Mark Cato
are the owners of Gingerbread Cottage Country Candles. Their store is located
in a 219 year old home in Kearneysville WV. Tami and Mark participate in over
40 craft shows a year and they have owned the store since 2003. Tami is the
creative member of the team and produces the wide variety of candles, bath and
body products, air fresehners, and wax dipped products for the store. Mark
enjoys the challenges of selling to customers in the store, at shows and online
marketing . He has coached other crafters in improving their selling techniques
and marketing materials.
Robert Hill is a fourth generation candle maker, the son of Carl
& Noreen Hill and the grandson of Marie
Kauffman. Robert has worked in the
family candle shop for the past five
years and has successfully taught candle
making to students of all skill levels.
Sharon Roble is a weaver that took up soap making 9 years ago to
shake up her creative juices. She started taking candle classes at Candles
and Supplies.com and soon found a new hobby which has turned in a word of mouth
business. Sharon works as an Environmental Lab analyst and show dogs of my
own but candle making is her great pleasure. Sharon has attended every PA
Workshop given at Candles and Supplies and looks forward begin instructing
others so they can enjoy making candles too.
Jan & Jim Post were exposed to the art of candlemaking through
Jan's mom, Mona Hughes 45 years ago. Unfortunately with four children and
two careers we didn't take advantage of having a master chandler in the family.
After mom's passing we have rediscovered our passion for candle making with the
help of a long time, dear friend, Marie Kauffman. When we retired we began
to delve into candlemaking with more interest and verve than ever and specialize
in creating candles using molds from antique cut glasses. We hope
that everyone will enjoy our classes as much as we will enjoy teaching them.
Dan Neville began his candle making journey in 2005 including
yearly trips to the C&S candle workshops since 2006. Candle making began as way
to complement the crafts my spouse was making and a way to be more involved at
the craft shows she was attending. Personally, candle-making is both science and
art and that mix is something that appeals to my creative side. Growing our
market share and seeking new market opportunities for our scented home decor
products appeals to my entrepreneurial style. My sessions will share our
observations, things we've tried and things we've learned in hopes you can
benefit and get a jumpstart into your venture.
Patty Hawthorn started in the craft industry
28 years ago in management for Craft Showcase craft supply stores. From there,
she began making her own crafts, doing custom designs, wholesaling, and
retailing at craft shows and festivals. She started with glass staining, then
soft sculptured dolls, potpourri and herb crafts, and finally, four years ago,
found a new love in candle making.
Anne Pavlovich worked in marketing and promotion at Centennial College in Toronto for over 17 years. She and her husband Ron have owned and operated their own business in Hamilton Ontario for the past 30 years.
Ron Pavlovich taught engineering technology at Centennial College in Toronto for over 25 years. Antique lighting has been a passion for most of that time and candle making for the past 16 years.
Paul Kouri has
taught several student courses which included everything from the chemisty of
waxes and additives to advanced troubleshooting of wicks, fragrances and colors.
Paul has also taught classes on water fantasy candles at conventions. Paul
has held the position of the president of both the IGCA and Chandler's
International. He is a registered master chandler and has satisfied all of
the requirements and examinations for Chandlers International.
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