Brownstown Handmade Crafts is a family run business based in Navan, Co. Meath owned by Sarah & Shane McDonnell. It started in October 2021 after Sarah learned how to make candles during the Covid 19 Pandemic. This quickly expanded to other handmade products such as room and car diffusers, massage and beard balms and wax melts.
Brownstown Handmade Crafts offer a variety of products, all of which are 100% natural with no additives and are all handmade. The candles and wax melts are hand poured and made of soy wax. This means there is care and love in every product we sell. We blend our fragrance by hand in order to offer a unique and pleasurable fragrance experience. We ensure a high standard of quality in every product and are committed to purchasing as sustainably as possible.
I tend to work evenings so I usually turn the wax melter on during the morning and add wax to it throughout the day. Once my husband comes home at about 6pm to take over minding the kids I head out to the studio (I am blessed that its at our house so the commute is only 30 seconds! I will then spend a few hours wiping out jars, wicking them up, selecting my fragrances and eventually the good bit, mixing the fragrances and pouring the candles. They then get left untouched until the next day! I could be out there until 11pm, just depending what I am making and how many!
The creativity of making new fragrances. I also find the whole process of making the candles to be enjoyable and I love being in my workshop as It’s my space.
Hmmm…. sometimes the labelling can be annoying if you are tired. Other times it’s trying to keep up with the admin tasks.
My candles!!!! They are everywhere!
Tell us about your first craft item you made
I have always loved crafting and remember doing a lot of painting and collages as a child. my first experience of candles was early 2021 after my husband bought me candle making stuff for Christmas. I was on maternity leave and had been researching it and I just fell in love. To make a business out of it hadn’t really been planned.
Who is your inspiration?
I look at candle companies who are doing good products and doing them well and try to take inspiration from them- the likes of Jo Malone, Max Benjamin or closer to home I love the Handmade Soap Company and Brooke & Shoals as Irish Examples.
What advice would you give someone who is considering this craft career?
Do it! you will regret it if you don’t at least try! you don’t want to spend your life wondering what if??
Where do you get your inspiration?
I follow a lot of other candle companies- big and small and both Irish and non Irish for ideas on social media to see new ideas and to see what’s current. I also read a few blogs, etc in relation to natural products, candles, etc.
Is sustainability an important aspect of your business?
Yes. Where possible we buy Irish and we try to reduce our carbon footprint. We reuse packaging and try to make sure our jars, etc are recyclable.
What’s the most challenging part of your craft?
Getting it right, sometimes, the fragrance isn’t right so I need to test it. sometimes things can go wrong such as the wax spilling on the floor (I call this a “Waxident”)
What made you choose your discipline?
I just love candles! for years my husband complained we had too many candles we could open a shop so now he’s eating his words!
Have you ever had a “happy accident” while making something?
Yes- I’ve made one or two fragrances this way by just seeing what happened
How do you balance creativity with the business side of things?
Some days are for finances and admin stuff and some days are for creativity. I had a childcare business so I am used to having to wear different hats for different tasks.
What would you say to anyone thinking of becoming a DCCI member
Why not. Whats stopping you?
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By Sarah Thornburgh
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