The Scriptorium is cool and quiet, like you're the first one here in some time. It doesn't stop the hearth from roaring to life as you approach. You'll have company soon, and you've some catching up to do, so get comfortable.
Welcome Adventurer.
It's been a while. Thank you for checking back here, your presence means more than I can say. Much has happened between our last meeting here and now. Would you allow me to catch you up on life beyond the Scriptorium?
In June I got married, and it was beautiful and near-perfect. However this, followed closely by my first medieval fair as a vendor, left me utterly exhausted. I've spent the last month and a bit re-organising, re-shaping and re-evaluating. Marriage doesn't feel any different to what my relationship was before, yet getting married was somehow so deeply transformative that I have let go of so many multiple versions of myself via clearing out old belongings. It was necessary given how much had to be sorted through anyway, with all that we collected for the event. You'll be seeing goblets and thrifted vessels make their way into the shop, filled and unfilled, for the same reason.
Two weeks after the wedding I attended Winterfest in Windsor, NSW, with my husband and our two friends as The Witch & The Woodsmen. I helped my husband and friend as Carve the Pines as well as Natasa as Enchantment Grove debut their products by dipping into my very limited knowledge of branding and design. We all stuck with similar branding aesthetics for the event, with handmade paper, hand carved stamps, kraft labels and black tissue paper. This was such a successful event, all four of us have been full steam ahead with big shifts and ideas, as well as commission work, since.
Natasa and I have been working together again, and I've been offering more of her creations here at Lost World Candles until her website is ready to go live. If you purchased a botanical bundle or incense from our latest restock, you will receive an introductory discount code for her website when it launches.
Additionally, you may have seen the work I commissioned from our favourite blacksmith Levi. We have more planned with both these incredible creators so thank you for welcoming them so warmly into this space.
I purchased this Skyrim inspired lockpick (pictured below) from Levi at Winterfest, and have since been speaking to him about stocking them in the shop. They tick the "threading fantasy into real life" box that Lost World Candles aims to encourage, and are the perfect size and shape for a multipurpose candle tool. The hook on one end is perfect for dipping and relocating wicks, and the flattened end is great for scraping and prying wax out of candle holders or off of trays where it may have dripped.
In an attempt to simplify the resin incense and beeswax concept we introduced at Winterfest, I've been working on an offering that, thanks to Natasa, has been named "Witch Wax & Gravel".
For a while now, I've been introducing to friends and family the concept of using resin or powder incense in an oil burner in lieu of charcoal. By using beeswax as a carrier, this method produces far less smoke, and the incense lasts far longer since it doesn't get used up in a single burn. Beeswax does lend a sweeter note to the fragrances being used, which allows you to experience a depth to the incense ingredients that would otherwise be missed.
This offering would come in a little reusable tin or jar, and contains witchy beeswax shapes and a mix of premium resins such as Dammar, Gold Copal, Gum Arabic, Opoponax, Sumatra Benzoin, Frankincense, Myrrh and Dark Copal. As you can see, the resins look a little like gravel.
Lastly, something that has been asked for many a time prior to Winterfest: Art prints. We've invested in some nice handmade art papers to print some of our designs on. We debuted these at Winterfest as well, and they were received well. I'll admit it's rather satisfying to see my designs hanging on such beautiful paper - and I was asked often, due to my art style, if I do block or lino printing. Due to the nature of the paper, and the fact that I will be printing these at home, these prints are subject to the occasional ink splotch. Each piece is unique, since I tear the paper to size myself as well.
I would love to know, dear Adventurer, what you think of these proposed offerings.
We'll be fulfilling orders this week, including some stockist orders, as well as planning the next restock and helping Enchantment Grove get her website set up.
It looks as though Winter may be waning, but while it hangs on with its last breaths I do hope you are staying warm, cosy and safe.
