News & Observer | newsobserver.com | Who & Ware: 2007

Published: Dec 15, 2007 12:00 AM
Modified: Dec 15, 2007 06:09 AM

Blends feed need for creativity

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Artisan at a Glance

Who: Raquel Bailey

Ware: Bath and body products, soy candles, jewelry

Location: Durham

Contact: www.botanicblends.com, 220-2606

Price: Bath and body $4 to $20, candles $15, jewelry $15 to $60

Where to buy: Online at www.botanicblends.com or by calling 220-2606. On orders of at least $50, Bailey offers free personal delivery in Durham and, for a $5 fee, delivery in Raleigh and Chapel Hill.

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New flame: Soy candles are her latest entry. "They're really hard to make because they're really sensitive to temperature. But I want to keep things natural, and when I researched waxes I found that a lot of them have carcinogens. But soy candles are all natural and the soy is farmed here in the United States. They burn evenly and slower. You could even eat the wax, but it won't taste good." Bailey also uses the wax to triple dip pine cones for a scented fire-starter kit she started to sell this winter. "I've been wanting to do those for awhile. I picked the pine cones at my park."

Batches of beads: Bailey added beaded jewelry to the site simply because she enjoys making it. "I love everyday, affordable jewelry. I bought a little batch of things and said, let me see how this goes. I'm not a master jewelry maker. I just make what I like. It's hard to put them on my Web site because I want to keep them all."

Keeping a hand in things: With everything she does, Bailey tries to keep it simple. "I'm trying to stay classic and not get into the fads." Even her labels reflect that. "I wanted everything to look professional. I used to do some home shows and people would think I was a representative for the company that made the products. I'd say, 'oh no, I made that product by hand. I put that label on that jar.'" Bailey can imagine having a storefront, with a kitchen, someday, but for now she's content to work at home and sell her wares online. Whatever happens, she wants to keep making her own products. "I love the things I make, and people really appreciate that it's made by hand and that I work hard. That's what really keeps me going."

Side dish: Although her plate is overflowing, Bailey can't stay out of the kitchen. She recently teamed up with another Durham woman to start offering a vegetarian meal-assembly service. "I'm still very interested in cooking," Bailey said. "When people visit me, it's like a cookfest. I have every meal planned. If I didn't like to cook, I'd never be doing the soap business."


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