Friday (on Monday) Favorites: Green Illuminations

My new candle!

Happy Monday, everyone! Due to Blogger being down all day on Friday, I held off on posting the latest Friday Favorite until today so check it out!

Recently, I was able to stop by the Handmade Promenade on Massachusetts Avenue and I was thrilled with all the fabulous local talent! One of my favorite purchases of the day was my new candle from Green Illuminations. It's not just the one candle that I love, either. It's their whole concept and pretty much any products they have to offer!

Green Illuminations, founded and owned by Jarod Wilson and Shan Parker, takes beer and wine bottles and turns them into beautiful lanterns and candles. By taking the bottles and cutting them in half, one bottle becomes two different pieces. The tops are used to create lanterns and luminaries and the bottoms are filled with natural soy wax and turned into candles.

The candles are extremely environmentally friendly as they are scented with 100% essential oils.. For an extra green feature, their 5 oz candles include wooden wicks which burn slower and cleaner. You can only find their 5 oz candles at their craft shows to be sure to keep an eye out!

"For our first candle scent, I wanted to to use traditional Buddhist scents, such as Sage and Cedarwood," said Wilson.

Buddha

That's how the pair came up with their first scent called, "Buddha". Wilson went on to explain that after the initial scent, they decided to center all of the candles around people that have been enlightened in both the real and mythological sense.

"Monk was inspired by monasteries in southern France that grow fields of oranges and lavender, continued Wilson. "Juno was inspired by the Roman goddess who gave a bunch of oranges to Jupiter on their wedding day as a gift."

I absolutely love that.

Lanterns? Yes, please.

Apart from their candles, their lanterns are positively stunning and would surely make a lovely ambiance at any patio party. Don't you agree? We are in the middle of a backyard overhaul (more on that to come!) and I can't wait to add their lanterns to our landscaping!

And if that isn't enough, Green Illuminations also uses wine corks to make practical and pretty trivets and magnets. I am totally impressed at how they are able to up-cycle every part of a wine bottle.

Green Illuminations combines earth friendly methods with beautiful artistry in both product and concept so I do hope you will give them a try!

Their products can be found on their website, Etsy shop, and at the following locations:

• Little Green Bean Boutique - East 10th Street
• Indy Swank - Fountain Square (in the Murphy Building)
• HomeSpun Indy - East Washington, Irvington Area
• Nature's Karma - Clay Terrace
• Wholly Craft - Columbus, OH

And if that's not enough for you, the Green Illumination guys are offering a 5% discount to all RH readers using the code:RmnticHppie through their Etsy shop!

So, be sure to stop by any of the places above to check out their stuff! I have no doubt you'll love it just as much as I do!