Last night at Mission Farm in Iron Station, North Carolina, I was reminded that sometimes the best part of a candle making class has very little to do with the candle.
Of course, we poured candles. We smelled fragrances. We created custom designs, decorated boxes, laughed, talked, and probably spent entirely too much time deciding which scent felt the most like us.
But somewhere in the middle of all of that, a room full of women became a little community for the evening.
And my heart is still very, very full.
A Candle Making Experience That Became Something More
One of my favorite things about hosting Love Square One candle making classes around Lake Norman and the greater Charlotte area is watching what happens once everyone settles around the table.
People start talking.
They help each other choose fragrances. They compliment each other's designs. Someone makes everyone laugh. Stories start being shared.
And before you know it, people who may not have known each other an hour earlier are creating something together.
Last night's group was especially full of energy, love, and genuine support for one another.
Even sweeter? Several of the women were joining me for their second Love Square One candle class, and many already own our candles.
As a small business owner, it's hard to explain what that feels like.
Someone purchasing one of our candles is special.
Someone deciding to spend another evening creating with us?
That's something I don't take for granted.
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Cozy at Home Was the Fragrance of the Night
Every candle class develops its own personality, and last night's unofficial winner was definitely Cozy at Home.
Everyone had the opportunity to choose a fragrance and personalize their candle, but there was something about Cozy at Home that this group kept coming back to.
Maybe we were all ready for fall.
Maybe we were craving that feeling of slowing down and settling in.
Or maybe a room full of women simply agreed that sometimes there really is no place we'd rather be than home.
Each guest also received a little gift from us, and we set up a decorating station where everyone could personalize their candle box with stickers and finishing touches.
Because the experience shouldn't end when the wax is poured.
The packaging, the details, and the thought behind it are part of the memory, too.
When a Stranger Becomes a Friend
Then something happened that perfectly captured what I hope these classes can be.
I made a new friend from Sacramento. 🤍
She's new to North Carolina, and there we were, two complete strangers who suddenly had something in common because we happened to be sitting around the same candle table.
We talked. We connected. And by the end of the night, she didn't feel quite so much like a stranger anymore.
Welcome to North Carolina, friend. I'm really glad our paths crossed.
It made me think about how many friendships and relationships begin this way.
You show up somewhere.
You sit beside someone you don't know.
You find one little thing in common.
And sometimes that's all it takes.
Maybe that's another kind of new beginning.
Handmade Gifts Mean a Little More
A few women stayed and made a second candle to give as a gift, which felt especially meaningful as we head into the holiday season.
There's something different about handing someone a gift and being able to say:
I made this for you.
You chose the fragrance because it reminded you of them.
You chose the design.
You poured it yourself.
You decorated the box.
And for that little stretch of time, you were thinking about someone you love.
That's exactly what we mean when we talk about meaningful and intentional gifting at Love Square One.
It doesn't have to be extravagant.
It just has to mean something.
And sometimes the experience of making the gift becomes part of the gift itself.
Find an Upcoming Candle Making Experience
Looking for a Candle Making Class Near Lake Norman or Charlotte, NC?
Love Square One hosts candle making classes and private candle experiences in the Lake Norman and greater Charlotte, North Carolina area, including opportunities for girls' nights, birthdays, holiday gatherings, team events, corporate groups, celebrations, and simply getting your favorite people together around a table.
We bring the supplies, fragrances, candle making guidance, and plenty of Love Square One touches.
You bring your people.
And you don't need to know anything about making candles before you arrive.
That's part of the fun.
Whether you come alone, bring your best friend, plan a girls' night, or book an entire private candle making experience, my hope is always the same:
You'll leave with something beautiful that you made with your own hands, but you'll also leave with a memory.
Maybe the Candle Is Just the Beginning
Last night reminded me why these experiences have become such an important part of Love Square One.
Yes, you leave with a candle.
But maybe you also leave feeling a little lighter.
Maybe you spend a couple of hours laughing with someone you haven't had enough time with lately.
Maybe you make someone's Christmas gift.
Maybe you finally plan that girls' night you've been talking about for six months.
Or maybe you sit down next to a complete stranger from Sacramento and unexpectedly make a new friend.
That's the good stuff.
Thank you to Mission Farm in Iron Station, NC, for welcoming Love Square One, and thank you to every woman who spent her evening creating with me.
To the familiar faces who came back for another class: thank you for choosing us again.
To everyone who already has a little Love Square One glowing in your home: thank you for making room for us there.
And to the new faces: I hope this was only the first time we get to create together.
Because the magic of new beginnings really can happen anywhere.
Sometimes it starts around a candle table. 🤍
View Upcoming Love Square One Classes and Experiences
Or gather your favorite people and contact us about creating a private Love Square One candle making experience in the Lake Norman or Charlotte, NC area.
Thank you for spending a few minutes with us today. Wherever life has you right now, I hope this reminded you that connection can begin in the simplest places. I hope you breathe, pause, and make room for a little more light.