The Story Behind Thimble and Hearth and Why Handmade Matters To Me

I’m going to let you in on a secret… I started this business sort of by accident.

I’ve always loved making things and have tried just about every craft over the years. About 20 years ago, I randomly decided to make a three-dimensional apple candle. Had I ever made a candle before? No. Did I know what I was doing? Also no. This was before YouTube tutorials existed, so I just guessed my way through it. The candle was… not great. I didn’t love the process and quickly moved on to my next creative hobby.

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Fast forward 20 years, when I moved from Florida to New England and prepared for my first real winter. I decided to fully embrace hygge and focused on making our home feel cozy and bright — warm blankets, soft lighting, and of course, candles. Naturally, I found myself staring at candle-making supplies in a craft store thinking, I could make these.

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So I tried again. With zero research. I didn’t understand wax types, wick sizing, or temperature control — I just went for it. The candles were far from perfect (one even had two different wicks because apparently I make bold choices), but I loved making them. I was proud of them, and honestly, that feeling stuck with me.

Eventually, while making gift boxes for friends and family, I discovered CandleScience and finally learned how to properly make candles — along with soaps, scrubs, and several other projects that took over my kitchen. Using better materials and actual instructions made a huge difference. For the first time, I wasn’t just having fun — I was creating things I truly felt proud to gift.

Then the seasonal candle containers launched… and I lost all self-control. I started pouring candles nonstop and ended up with so many that I wondered if I could sell a few just to fund my growing candle supply habit. The only problem was that selling candles required labels, compliance information, and — most importantly — a business name.

That’s how Thimble & Hearth was born. The thimble represents handmade craftsmanship, and the hearth represents warmth, comfort, and home. It may not be the flashiest name, but it perfectly reflects why I create.

Since then, I’ve been learning everything from product design to social media to running a business. After years as a stay-at-home mom, it has been incredibly fulfilling to challenge myself creatively again. I know I’ll continue learning and growing, and honestly, that’s one of my favorite parts of this journey.

I have big dreams for this business, but I’m choosing to build it slowly and intentionally. Because for me, making candles has never just been about the final product — it’s about the process, the creativity, and the joy of making something meaningful by hand.

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As Mr. Rogers said, there has never been anyone exactly like you, and there never will be again. What you create is uniquely yours.

And I truly believe handmade is made better.

Thank you for being here — it means more than you know.

Until next time,

Elizabeth