Skyelight Candles Blog

I was asked this question last week by a friend of ours who lives down the road. I thought she meant candle making but she actually meant the Blog because I don’t keep it as fresh as I should. Well, the reason is simply this – nothing much happens up here to report during the winter – the shop is closed from Christmas Day until the week before Easter and, since I am out there covered in wax and smelly stuff for the rest of the year, I do try and take a break. However, we have actually been very busy this winter with internet orders from people who got our candles for Christmas and are ordering more – thank you to all those people, it is very satisfying to know that the candles are not only being appreciated as presents but that the recipients like them so much that they want more of them. I do have to congratulate Skye Candles in Broadford who have won an award for their product but I do also have to point out to people that we are two entirely different companies. The amount of people who came in the shop last year and thought we were affiliated was extraordinary but no, we are two companies doing different styles and both doing very well from it – long may it continue. Anyway, the weather (always the topic of the British) is ‘dreach’ and, as I type this entry, I can’t see the Trotternish Ridge which is usually in view from my window. Thank you for all the emails and the orders and I look forward to hearing from you all and seeing some of you during the coming year in the shop.

Very quiet Christmas at home – although the shop was very busy, especially with Internet orders – thank you all very much. New Year was disastrous as far as the weather was concerned so nobody dared to go out ‘first-footing’ – the wind would have blown them away never to be seen – just like Brigadoon! Anyway, took the opportunity to go visiting sister in Ayrshire for a couple of days and have just arrived back to 496 emails (489 of them junk) and telephone calls from people wondering why I am not answering the phone. Anyway, will start to experiment in February with some new designs for the candles and hopefully come up with some more unusual items to add to the already burgeoning stock – watch this space!!

Went down this morning to put the OPEN sign out and nearly got blown off my feet – not an easy task for any wind as I am almost 16 stone! The rain is horizontal and the phone lines keep going on and off – that’s how we know winter has arrived up here. Anyway, it is Christmas Eve and the shop is open for last minute shoppers – there’s always the few who have forgotten someone. Can’t wait for 5pm as that means the shop is now closed until Easter – although the web site orders will still be active and going out all the time.

I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers over the years and to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy and Peaceful New Year

After almost 2 weeks of glorious weather it suddenly changed with a vengeance. One day it was so hot everyone was walking about in shorts and t shirts, the next – up to our knees in rain – typical Skye weather. But that is the beauty of the island – it changes with the weather but never really for the worse. Got donated a huge box of candles from one of the churches in Portree, which was very nice of them but we never use any wax that we are not sure of its origin, so we melted them down and remade them into different candles for the church to sell at their welfare stall – with any luck will make them a few pennies. Boiler blew up – so had to stop making candles for a week until the new one arrived – still getting used to it as the temperatures are slightly different to the old one – but will get there. Lots of Christmas stock selling at the moment – see, it’s not only Harrods that open their Grotto in July! Anyway, off to start heating the wax up for today’s adventures – hope the weather stays dry.

Been a bit of time since I put a bvlog up here but the weather has been unbelievable – winds with gusts up to 100mph in Staffin. No electricity one day for over 6 hours – no problem for us – we had loads of candles at our disposal! Been busy with our new design SKYE STORM – been selling extremely well both in the shop and over the net. I don’t know where the time goes, though. One minute I’m up to my armpits in molten wax, the next I’m back up to my armpits in molten wax – don’t seem to be able to get any time off this year. Not complaining but would be nice to have a breather! Oh well, back out into the horizontal rain and wind