We were lucky to catch up with Edward Brown recently and have shared our conversation below.

Edward, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Taking the first steps into making candles and soaps was a huge milestone for me. I started while working a full-time job and spent many days and nights not sleeping at all. It was very hard at first and there were plenty of times were I lost focus and thought to myself that it was just a hobby and never going to work. I spent weekends and any chance I could doing pop ups, staying up till 4am making stuff just to wake up at 8 am for the day job. One of my biggest regrets was taking a break and focusing on the day job. I realized then it was time for me to do what I really love and focus back on the fragrances. I saw the chance to put my own artistic flair into the products with natural ingredients and no preservatives. I realized I would’ve been so much farther on if I didn’t let the fear get to me. I faced many days were I would do a market and only make $20, had the weather tear down my tent, and had times my health even stopped me from doing events. But honestly the best thing I would tell you is take every “bad” thing that happens and look upon it and change it for the better. There is no real bad things with business, it’s your ability to adapt to the situation and look at what you are doing and adjusting accordingly. I had many candles and such I thought would sell but they didn’t so I went back and I asked people, I looked around, and then went back and made new things. The pure love I put into the products is the true happiness that I get from doing this. Sure some of the items may not be the smell I enjoy, but the smile on people’s face when they see what I made is the best thing you’ll ever get to see. Last year I had the biggest hurdle ever when I was diagnosed with cancer. I had to undergo surgery and chemotherapy. I also lost my dog to cancer at the same time. I never lost hope though during this. Even while going through chemotherapy, I spent time talking to all the nurses and doctors about stuff in general. I was highly blessed though because they wanted candles and soaps from me even though I was in shambles and a hot mess. But that gave me the push to see that even in the dark times if you stay true to what you do, you can make it happen. Take the bad things as a chance to adapt for the better. I am small but growing and never being afraid of any criticism and feedback is always going to be the thing i stay true to.

Edward, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I started the business when I noticed that so many candles in store smelled fake and manufactured to me. I am a huge fan of vanilla candles and noticed in store you could smell 5 different ones but yet each one would smell fake. I saw this as my chance to make a candle that wasn’t cheap paraffin wax and actually smelled like it should. So my first candles were Vanilla and I showed them to friends and family and everyone wanted one. I noticed at that point people want pure items. Soy candles that are clean burning and not a threat to your health. So I spend many months making candles and then the fun began. I branched out into soaps, lip balms, body butter, and more. Staying true to the promise of making sure they are all natural with no preservatives and fillers. Our Lip Balms are all natural which is lighter and with pure Vitamin e actually helps your lips. The Body Butter I make is based with Shea butter and other pure oils to actually sink into your skin leaving it feeling soft and healthy. The candles are Soy with Cotton wicks to actually fill the room with fragrance and not give out the black smoke you see so much from cheap candles. My goal is to make pure fragrance products with all natural ingredients to make it healthier for everyone.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I feel society is at a point where it needs to stop and refocus heavily on the community and support artists and creatives alike. I see how things keep being pushed for big business and corporations with little going to those that make the actual community. I think the governments need to push heavily into supporting the small businesses, the artists and creators. If there was more of a push to have small business open, maker spaces and events, and help to the artists things would be way different. A good majority of people want the handmade, the crafted, and the different than what you would get into store. The biggest thing “YOU” can do is spread the word of artists and creatives like me. Share their social media, let others know, and always consider them when you are out shopping. The big box stores don’t see when you buy something from them. An artist like me though it makes my day and helps me continue my goal of making more fragrances and get to the next day.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me the most rewarding part of being an artist is two big things. The first is the smiles you see on peoples faces when they see what you do and want to know the back story behind it. The second is the connections you make with other artists and the friendships that come with them. I would never want to lose any of the friends I have made along the way. They become your biggest asset in everything you do. From finding events, to forming ideas, and always having others around that you can talk to no matter what is going on.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.craftfoxboutique.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craft_fox_boutique/