1.            Tell us your name, about your family, where you live and do you have a pet.

My Name is Lisa Kasper.  I live with my husband Scott and our daughter Isabella Rose and our son Scotty.  We live in San Jacinto (Southern) California.  We have a black cat full of mischief named El Diablo.

2.            How did you get started in the business of making candles?

I have been a candle addict really as long as I can remember.  My two grandmothers are probably to blame.  My gran Millie (my dad’s mom) was catholic and always had candles around.  My gran Sabra (my mom’s mom) had a beautiful pool in the back yard and used to float tons of candles in flower and lily pad dishes on the pool at night during parties and family gatherings, it really mesmerized me.  As you can see, I never outgrew it.  Some years back I wanted some black candles that were gardenia scented but could never find any.  While visiting my favorite beach spot I came across a beekeeping candle shop and they offered to teach me-just like magic- passion and obsession united and the rest is history. 

3.            Do you have any special reasons you celebrate with candles?

Many, we celebrate almost everything with candles in our home, even plain ole ordinary rainy days.  Birthdays of course, but I also like to sit peacefully outside at night under a full moon with candles keeping me company.  I also light candles to remember my grandparents on certain days as well as candles for my soldier friends until they come home.

4.            How long have you been in business as Blue Moon Candles?

Well, in 1997 we started crafting by giving our handmade candles and tarts to family & friends.  The real business of selling began later and has grown to include customers as far away as Italy.  I always love to package our orders see just where our candles will end up, it never ceases to amaze me.

5.            Is there any significance to the name “Blue Moon Candles”?  What is its story?

Blue Moon Candles means the world to me.  I have been moved by the beauty of the moon since I was a little girl.  I can remember watching the moon pass by my window at night, thinking there never was really anything as beautiful as that.  I like the term once in a Blue Moon…it commonly refers to months in which an extra full moon occurs and it only happens every few years, rare.  That is how I see our candles.  They are handmade to order and you get to choose the style, color and fragrance-one of a kind, rare. That is how I made the connection.

6.            Where do you get your ideas for the different candle categories? 

There have been many ways-some I have literally dreamt up! (I have a vivid dream life). Some were inspired by people (such as my Pirate husband), or things I love like Faeries or books or Magical art like Cindy’s.  Fragrances like good books can take you anywhere.

7.            Where did you acquire the knowledge of how to make your candles?  Did you go to any formal training?

I still continue to learn today.  After my initial candle making classes were completed, I decided to continue to learn everything I could about the types and properties of waxes, wick, aromatherapy-I want to be a sponge and soak up everything I can. There are always new techniques and the new waxes really interest me.  We want our candles to be as good for the environment as they are to smell.  We have released several new eco conscious all natural waxes and continue to strive to be the BEST!

8.            What makes your candles unique?

Our candles come in many shapes & sizes as well as quite a few different waxes.  The best part is YOU get to make the choice.  We handcraft every candle as ordered in the color and fragrance of your desire…so that means if you want a black gardenia candle for instance, you can have it!  Our candles that are scented have pure uncut fragrance and essential oils-the beautiful scents will last from the first lighting until all the wax is gone.

9.            How do you think candles enhance a special event or holiday?  Give us some examples. 

For me, every holiday and event should be held in candlelight!  Candlelight can even turn ordinary moments into magical ones. We have had several customers use our Gothic candles for weddings and engagements.  Our container candles are perfect for new mothers-we can add special text on the label to be meaningful to you, and they are useful aromatherapy and provide quiet subdued light to nurse a tired baby and not have harsh lights wake them up further.

10.          Candles are a great way to enhance holidays or mark special days in someone’s life. Would you share a Halloween candle story or other holiday? 

We created our Gothic Drip Finish candles to look like they have been burning in a old stone castle window and they are perfect for Halloween too!  Halloween night we always have every available corner overflowing with candles…as kids come up to the door they are always amazed to look inside and see them(even the “big” kids)-people come from streets away, just to soak in the scented light (well that and to be terrorized by our son and nephews ).  As some kids were walking away one year after getting their goodie bags my husband heard them whisper…”ohhh I think she’s a real witch and she may give out rats”…It just cracked us up!

11.          Do you have a favorite candle and fragrance?  Share with us why?

If I *had* to pick only one I would say our Celtic MoonSpice-A wonderfully fragrant blend of warm spices, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. The scent is warm, inviting, and absolutely delicious! It is a fall type scent but I use it year round.  However…Dreams of Dracula is a close second-see… hard for me to pick only one!

12.          Do you make all the candles yourself or do you have a staff?

I make everything by hand myself sometimes with the help of Scott my husband (he is a packing master and a creative genius!) and Bella who loves to tape up the boxes and apply labels whenever I need help.

13.          Do you make custom candles?  If so what have you done so far?

Almost everything we make is custom made, to order.  We have done everything from candles for our soldiers to the dolphin labs in Alaska to Hollywood Club premiere nights and celebrity gift bags.

Custom Wine Glass Candles done by Blue Moon for Peaceful Art Jewelry/Design LLC with Jewels inside

14.          Do you have any tricks of the trade about candles?  (Like how to get candle wax off cloth or out of the container without ruining the container, etc)

Absolutely, because just ask Scott, if it can have wax spilled on it-it has had wax spilled on it over here! Most of our containers are done with all natural blends of wax; a great side benefit is they clean up with soap and hot water.  I put mine in the sink with a few drops of dish soap, fill them with hot water and after a few minutes empty them, rinse and wipe out. Easy!  To remove wax from washable fabrics: scrape off excess wax and then run boiling water through the fabric. We have more tips on our website at: http://bluemooncandles.com/Candle%20Safety,%20Tips%20and%20Tricks.htm .

15.          Many people are concerned about products being eco friendly?  Do you offer a line of candles that “Go Green”?

Absolutely!  We are concerned about our Earth and are one of the first Candle companies to offer new Earth conscious waxes!   All of our waxes are manufactured or gathered in the US.  And the Natural brands are FDA certified, Kosher certified & USP certified, as well as non GMO and from sustainable crops.  All of our wicks are organic unbleached cotton or hemp. http://bluemooncandles.com/Go%20Green%20with%20Blue%20Moon%20Candles.htm

Our Beeswax is gleaned from a specific “Bee Guardians”.

.16.         We love our pets.  Do you have any safety tips about candles for using around our animal friends?

Well having had many different pets here and it does seem easier for some reason to use container candles around them.  We always keep our candles up high when we have pets or small children in the house-keeping them out of reach of tiny hands and wagging tails is key. The aromatherapy line is great to keep the house smelling fresh and not like wet dog.  Although El Diablo really does love lavender-whenever that candle is lit, he makes a dive for my lap and knows it is book time.

17.          Do you make a “scentless” or “scent free” candle that can be used for those customers that have allergies?

Yes, our daughter Bella has a fairly severe case of Eczema, which is one of the reasons we started developing a bath and body line. We became tired of trying different steroid and chemical laden prescription creams that never seem to help. We switched her to nature based products, and while it is not 100% cured it is maintainable and SO MUCH better that it was! We now feature candles as well as shampoo, conditioner and lotion that are paraben free, and free of chemicals that will irritate your skin or allergies.

18.          Do you have a fairy story you would like to share? 

My daughter loves faerie stories, especially the ones I make up just for her.  After she had a bad dream one night I told her about the fairies that dance outside her window at night in a fairy ring (to keep her free of bad dreams).  The next morning we were watering outside, and sure enough…there was a tiny mushroom ring right there in the grass.  She was so excited, and told everyone that would listen that day that the faeries were there!  And really, who’s to say they that they weren’t.  J

19.          How do you choose the scents for the fairy artist candles? 

Sometimes the Artists themselves choose-for instance Cindy is hands on, and all of the blends in her candles have originated from her input.  Sometimes the candles choose the scents.  As crazy as it sounds, I look at the piece of art and the feeling it conveys to me influences the choice of fragrance to lend itself to the feeling.

Fairy Art Candle with Jewelers Crystals inside done by Blue Moon Candles with Cindy Thorrington Haggerty Art.

20.          What is new for the company? Can you give us a teaser?

Where to start! We have so many new things in the works this year! One of the ideas I am most excited about is our “limited editions” and “one of a kinds”.  Sometimes I feel almost an itch to create something special and different. As that happens we will be listing the items for sale, on our website as well as our Facebook Fan page.  Fans of the page will get first chance to grab the new items.  We will also be having monthly sales and secret giveaways only for Facebook fans and newsletter members only.

21.          Do you have any advice for someone who wants to start an online business like yours?

Some of the best advice I was given is to do something you love, something you have a passion for.  It feels more like playing and less like work that way!  Once you find something you love, practice and continue to learn all you can.  Find mentors around you that will encourage you and keep you on track.  You do not have to know all of them personally-I have some mentors that I follow online, they may not even realize that, but they still educate and inspire me.  My goal is to be the best at what I do.  You can learn too!

22.          Do you have a favorite saying or inspirational quote you would like to share with us?

The most influential quote to me is by Martha Washington: I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition.  

Lisa, Thank you for the opportunity to learn a little more about you.  Your candle site and the candles themselves are wonderful.  If you have any thing that you would like to see added to this interview please feel free to do so.  We want people to want to know you and your product better.  In love and light, Mystic (Dana) and Cindy