{Feature Post} BookBud - Better than a Beau?

Today I’m excited to speak with Gabriel Lea, first time YA author and creator of BookBud. Her little Etsy shop is creating quite a stir with her beautifully designed and professionally sewn book sleeves that have customers coming back for more. Why? Gabriel has cleverly applied her college education in fashion design and manufacture to creating book sleeves that are not only stunning to look at but are made differently to other sleeves on the market. When I asked Gabriel what sets BookBud apart, here’s what she had to say.

So how are your sleeves different to the rest?

Gabriel: All the book sleeves I know of are lined with foam which seemed weird to me for a few reasons. Firstly, you want to be able wash your sleeve when it gets grubby…it’s made of fabric…duh! You can’t just throw foam in the washing machine. It would need to be hand washed - not very practical or user friendly. Second, foam tends to compress and dent. I’ve had a lot of people tell me that their foam-lined sleeve is permanently dented where books have squished it out of shape. And third, it can be a struggle to wriggle your book in and out of a foam sleeve. So I wanted to make a better product for people.

Well, it seems that you have, given all of BookBud’s glowing reviews on Etsy and IG. 

Gabriel: Thank you. I started the store in February this year and I’m thrilled with how it’s slowly been building recognition. People are loving the thick, fleecy lining as a better alternative to foam. 

They’re also loving how well your sleeves are made and all the extras and add-ons they can choose from to customise their sleeve.

Gabriel: Yes, people can choose to add pockets, a cute button flap or a velcro tab, to name a few of the extras. 

And your prices are much cheaper than many other book sleeve stores too.

Gabriel: Well, I guess having worked as a designer, pattern maker and seamstress for many years, my sewing skills are pretty speedy and I use industrial sewing machines which are SUPER FAST! I have no interest in overcharging people. I think my prices are fair for a hand-made product and I intend to keep my product and postage prices as low as possible so everyone can afford a Bud! 

You also have Designer BookBuds in your store. Tell me about those.

Gabriel: I wanted to be the first to create book sleeves with original fandom designs, so I did. The Harry Potter houses were popular, as was the ACOMAF quote. I create the graphic designs and have them custom printed onto fabric and then sew them into BookBuds. I’m a huge advocate for saving our environment so the fabric is printed with eco-friendly, non-toxic ink. I’m hoping to have some new fandom designs finished in time for Christmas. I wish I didn’t have a day job to go to. Otherwise I’d just sit at the computer and write my next book and design cool book sleeves all day…bliss.

Well thank you so much for joining us Gabriel! 

You can visit Gabriel's Etsy Store here: 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BookBudByGabrielLea
Instagram here: 
https://www.instagram.com/gabriellea.author/

{Feature Post} Bookworm Candles and Crafts + INT giveaway!

                             

Can you believe it’s nearly the end of March already? We can’t and we can’t believe we’re already to show you the next feature post featuring Bookworm Candles and Craft. Now if you’ve missed the few first posts then don’t worry you can go back and view them by clicking this link: Bookworm Candles and Crafts Previous Posts.

Today we’re going to be highlighting their February Monthly Box and the theme was: One True Pairing – a box inspired by some of our favourite couples! 

So here’s a quick rundown on the items that were featured in this box:

*Moriel – Mor & Aziel love blended candle smelling like Illyrian wings, lily & dreams and its also has a double wick

*Karou & Avika Wishbone Moment Room Spray smelling like climbing ivy, jasmine and vetiver

*Starfall inspired soap 

*Clary and Jace wax melts. Clary smells like cinnamon, coffee and creativity. Jace smells like fighting gear, mangoes and wit

*Three quote badges 

*The Hunger Games quote pendant necklace 

Donna's Thoughts: For me this months’s monthly box is fantastic. I love it because not only did it feature one of my favourite OTP couples but several favourites. All of them in fact. I also love the variety that comes with the box which isn’t just candles but room sprays and wax melts and I know I’ll use every one of these items. Well done Danielle! 

Now March's box is already sold out but you can purchase April's box which is May the Odds be Ever in your Favour which is of course inspired by The Hunger Games! 
You pre-order April's box here: Bookworm Candles Etsy Store and use BOOKPFORLIFE10 to save 10% on all purchases!
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Next to show you today is more from Bookworm Candles and Crafts Blended Range. We’ve already showed you Romione and Belward, this time we have some more of your favourite couples. 

A Court of Mist and Fury Inspired Love Blended Candles - Feysand - Feyre & Rhysand. 
This candle is inspired by this gorgeous couple that we’ve all come to know and love and their unique blend has been created to turn two amazing characters into one candle. 
Feysand smells like mates, jasmine and peach and is a fruity floral accord along with an added rainbow to the top. 

Each lovely candle comes with a gorgeous push on lid and comes with Bookworm Candles and Crafts signature touches including a crochet band and a F & R charm along with a two toned wax to represent this beautiful couple!

The Infernal Devices Inspired Love Blended Candles - Jessa - Jem & Tessa

This candle is inspired by this lovable couple and smells like notes of time, burnt sugar and honey this candle has a sweet, gourmand scent. 

Each lovely candle comes with a gorgeous push on lid and comes with Bookworm Candles and Crafts signature touches including a crochet band and a J & J charm along with a two toned wax to represent this beautiful couple!

Mortal Instruments Inspired Love Blended Candles - Malec - Magnus & Alec
This candle is inspired by Magnus and Alec smelling like notes of shadows, ylang ylang and iris. The fragrance has a deep floral accord and even has a glitter top. 

Each lovely candle comes with a gorgeous push on lid and comes with Bookworm Candles and Crafts signature touches including a crochet band and a M & A charm along with a two toned wax to represent this beautiful couple!

Now each candle jar is big and holds 300ml of wax. If the big sized candle isn’t to your liking or if you want to try a smaller version you can also purchase it in a normal 4oz tin. Either way, you don’t want to miss out on these amazing blended candles! Prices are either £6.00 for the tin or £14.50 for the large jar. 

You can take a look at the selection of blended candles here: Bookworm Candles Etsy Store and use BOOKPFORLIFE10 to save 10% on all purchases!
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Next to show you a product that Bookworm Candles and Craft are rebranding and that’s their wax melts! Now I know there is a lot of confusion when it comes to wax melts, people don’t know what they do or how they’re used. Wax melts are pieces of scented wax that you melt in a burner. The wax melts are placed on the top of part of your burner and a little tea light goes underneath to melt the wax. There you have it! Your home will be scented through-out. You can purchase wax burners from companies like Amazon, Argos and even some of your local shops. 

So now you know a little bit about wax melts and their burners, here is the first new release from Bookworm Candles and Craft and it’s one of our favourite characters of the Throne of Glass series – Aelin! 

These wax melts are inspired by the Queen of Terrasen herself and they smell like jasmine, lemon verbena and embers. Each piece of wax should last around a week but it’s completely depends on how strong you want the fragrance flowing through your home. You can burn two pieces at a time for a stronger scent if you like. 

Each package comes with six wax melts and have a crochet band. 

You can purchase it for £3.00 or you can buy 3 for £7.50. Bookworm Candles and Craft will be releasing more soon so keep your eyes peeled. They will be available to purchase from the store soon!

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Now it's time for our monthly giveaway and this time it's perfect for you A Court of Mist and Fury fans. 

This time we're giving away a mini tin of Feyre and Starfall. If you've read the books then i'd definitely recommend you being excited over these candles and if that doesnt sway you let me tell you about each candle: 
Feyre smells like oakmoss, daisies & rainbows and 
Starfall smells like stars, surprises & hope. 
As you can see pictured to your right that these candles look amazing! 

To enter complete the entry form below and good luck!

Entry-Form

{Feature Post + Giveaway) Bookworm Candles & Crafts: Exclusive Products

                               

A few weeks ago I told you about Bookworm Candles & Crafts, a UK based company who create bookish themed merchandise such as candles, wax melts, jewellery and even some cosmetic products such as soap and bath bombs. If you missed the first post - CLICK HERE for more information. 

I will be working along side Danielle, the creator of the company and for the next few months, we will be showcasing some of her exclusive products. Each month will feature a different item and by doing this we hope to make you more aware of some of the amazing bookish products you can purchase. 

The first exclusive product that we will be showing you from Danielle's store and it's: November's Limited Edition Candle which is Rifthold (Throne of Glass themed.)

Rifthold is inspired by the captain city of Adarlan and where we first meet Adarlan's infamous assassins. This candle smells of honeyed apples, emerald roofs and of course glass towers. In beautiful shades of emerald and mint green and with all of the signature touches that Bookworm Candles & Crafts add to all of their candles.

The charm is of course a castle and no Rifthold castle would be without a gorgeous glass bead to match. The band has been crocheted in emerald wool and the button has an amazing emerald heart. This candle weighs approximately 250 grams and will burn for 30 hours!

With the Rifthold being an exclusive candle, it is priced at just £9.00 and only available for the month of November. So be quick, there's not much time left before this candle will be gone!

Donna's thoughts: Rifthold is without a doubt a must have product for any Throne of Glass fan! If you've read the books you know how much Rifthold plays a huge part in the series and honestly, the books just wouldn't be the same without it. This candle reflects everything there is about Rifthold, from the scents being uses, to the colour, the charms - everything down to the little details to the glitter on top of the candle. When I smell this candle, it makes me think of Rifthold and Celeana's journey but, more importantly it makes me want to fall in love with Throne of Glass all over again but this time I'll have Rifthold burning beside me!

You can purchase Rifthold here: Buy on Etsy
and for 10% off all orders use the code: BOOKPFORLIFE10

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The second product we have to show you is a NEVER before seen product and it's not available in Bookworm Candles & Craft's store until 1st December! So you are getting the very first sneak peak of one of her upcoming releases which is:
 Manon Blackbeak (Throne of Glass themed.)

For those of you who know Manon, or even if you don't, Manon Blackbeak is half Ironteeth witch, half Crochan. She is the heir to the Blackbeak Witch Clan and Wing Leader to the Thirteen. She is also the rider to the Wyvern Abraxos and owns a sword named Wind-Cleaver. 

Manon's scents are spiders silk, burnished gold and hope which gives you a soft and floral smell representing her Crochan heritage. In beautiful shades of yellow and gold with all of the signature touches that Bookworm Candles & Crafts add to all of their candles. 

Manon comes in a exclusive red tin and the charm is of course wings which represent her leadership of the Thirteen. The band has been crocheted in grey flecked wool and has a leather cord braided into it. 

This candle weighs approximately 250 grams and will burn for 30 hours!

Donna's thoughts: When I asked Danielle why she created a Manon candle her answer was simple. She said "Manon believes that she was born heartless and I don't think that's the case. I think Manon has a huge heart. She's loyal and brutally honest. Her love for Abraxos is second to none and I love that. I wish I was one of the 13. And by creating this candle I wanted to show you her softer and more loving side - her Crochan side."

Without trying to spoil the books for anyone who hasn't read it, I honestly 100% agree with Danielle and seeing this candle in person and seeing how beautifully it has been created, you can see much love Danielle herself has put it to this candle to you show you - the fans - who we believe Manon really is.  Her scents compliment each other and it has a unusual scent but ones that's soft and floral. If I'm honest, it makes me love Manon that much more - seeing her softer side in person. 

Manon will be available from Bookworm Candles & Crafts Etsy on 1st December! And for 10% off all orders use the code: BOOKPFORLIFE10

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And finally, we wanted to tell you about Bookworm Candles & Crafts monthly bookish box. November's was the very first bookish box which was sent out to all customers and was a massive success. 
November's theme was "I Claim You to Whatever End' (Throne of Glass themed). 
Included in the box was:
*Dorian Candle Tin: Scents of glass chips, petite grain and book pages
*Carranam Soap Bar: Cucumbers, carrots and aloe smelling like wind, fire and soulmates
*An assassins keep bath bomb: Sweet almond oil and gold
*Celaena Chocolate Addiction Lip Balm: A lovely chocolate lip balm made with cocoa butter
*Badge Selection: Three in total 
*And finally Chaol's Amethyst Ring: He gave this ring to Celaena in Throne of Glass which she wore until Heir of Fire.

Donna's Thoughts: This was the first ever bookish box that I purchased and it didn't disappoint at all. I was really impressed with the selection of items in the box because it wasn't just a candle - there is a huge variety of products and ALL of these items are exclusive products and aren't even available to purchase in Danielle's store. This is what makes this box extra special. Knowing that the items are all crafted especially for this box! It honestly felt like Christmas had come early for me - as a massive Sarah J Maas fan, I just knew I wanted this box no mater what it contained. It's hard to pick out a favourite item but Chaol's ring feels pretty damn special! 

Unfortunately November's box is no longer available to purchase however December's box is and it's Christmas at Hogwarts - Harry Potter themed! And it's only £16.50! 

You can purchase Christmas at Hogwarts here: Buy on Etsy
and for 10% off all orders use the code: BOOKPFORLIFE10

So you've had an exclusive look at some of the amazing products that Danielle has to offer and not only that, we're going to give you a hint at for January's Bookish box! 
Hint: It'll be a royal selection. 
Can you guess? 
Let us know in the comments if you've figured it out! =) 


And not only that but we're are offering ONE winner the chance to win the MANON BLACKBEAK candle (See the picture to your left)
 Enter by completing the rafflecopter form below. A winner will be announced on 4th December! Good Luck! 

Entry-Form

Bookworm Candles & Crafts Contact details: 

Email: www.bookwormcandlesandcrafts@gmail.com

Etsy Store: www.bookwormcandlescraft.etsy.com
Instagram: Bookwormcandles 

{Feature Post} Bookworm Candles & Crafts

                               

Today I have a very special feature post for you and I'm excited to share it with you. It's going to feature a newly opened UK bookish merchandise company. 

Who else like myself wants all the bookish merchandise from candles to bookmarks to well anything we can get our hands on? I know you all do! But being in the UK where a lot of the sellers are from another countries has its downside because shipping costs are so expensive, but I’ve recently discovered a new company who are UK based and that means us UK’ers can finally get more involved with the bookish merchandise.

And this company is: Bookworm Candles & Crafts which is a UK based store created by owner Danielle Robinson where she brings to life all your favourite bookish scents through handmade candles, melts, soaps, jewellery, badges and bookmarks.

Danielle kindly agreed to visit the blog today and tell you all about her amazing bookish products which she has for sale on her Etsy store. She’s also here today to show you her newest addition to her store and for all you Sarah J Maas fans, you might want to keep reading. And so I’m going to ask her a selection of questions that I hope you will all enjoy and give you the opportunity to get more familiar with her work and products so here we go.

Q1: Hi Danielle, thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. Firstly, can you tell us a little bit about what inspired you to start making handmade items for book lovers like ourselves? 

What inspired me to start this venture initially wasn't actually books, well I guess it was a little. I've worked in the perfumery industry for nearly 20 years and was doing a course in London and was traveling two hours so it gave me the chance to read, at the time I was re-reading Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas for the hundredth time! I went into my course with my head full of the story and we had to smell over 200 raw fragrance ingredients and I smelt pine wood and thought so this is what Rowan would smell like! And it kind of went from there. I've always been artsy and did jewellery design at college. I also did a course on creating natural body products and soaps and an aromatherapy course, so combining all these elements and of course my book obsession bookworm candles and crafts was born. 

Q2: How long has your store been open? 

My store has only been opened since July this year so we are still very new. 

Q3: What’s your favourite product to make? 

Oh gosh I love making them all. I would probably say our soaps though. I love creating the bases and adding in all the things that make the soap beautiful like our Gryffindor soap. We have added in coconut and Argan oil and poppy seed so using our soaps are a pleasure. 

Q4: Can you recommend a first time customer an item to purchase?

I would recommend our candle tins. They are slightly cheaper so for a first time purchase they are great, and they are super cute too. 

Q5: Are there any benefits for customers who purchase homemade items rather than store bought items?

I think it's essential, but I may be a bit bias. My few is when you buy handmade you are buying something individual and you are supporting a small, possibly local, business too. Take our character candle jars, each piece is handmade from the painted lid and artwork to the charm and the crochet band and book button. All our scents are chosen by me and put together individually too.

Q6: Are all your products from your favourite books? 

Yes they are and I've got so many too, I love Sarah J Maas, Suzanne Collins, Cassandra Clare and of course JK Rowling just to mention a few. 

Q7: Do you take custom requests from customers? 

 Yes we are happy to take custom orders, obviously it would be our interpretation of character, location or event. 

Q8: Can you tell us about your newest addition to your store? 

Oh our newest product is fab and so much fun it's a selection of mini candles tins, like a pick a mix! Basically it's a choice between a individual tin, 3 tins and 6 tins in a certain book and you can pick and choose from characters, locations and events. So for instance, we have a selection in A Court of Mist and Fury and there are 18 scents you can choose from so, you can pick just 1 tin or 3 tins or 6 tins. Or you could be really daring and let us pick them for you and surprise you. 

Q9: Can you give us a clue to what other products might be coming our way soon? 

We have so much in the pipeline and I'm so excited, we have more characters coming from different books. We are also expending our body line with a few new products and our badges are growing all the time.

That's amazing! Thank you for stopping by today Danielle. And you guys aren't already won but I know you are, but still just take a peak at Danielle's Etsy store (link below). She had so many amazing products to offer and her new A Court of Mist and Fury tins start from as little as £3.00! So go and show your support to a this UK seller. 

💗Free Worldwide Shipping for the month of October when you spend over £35.00💗

Bookworm Candles & Crafts Contact details: 

Email: www.bookwormcandlesandcrafts@gmail.com

Etsy Store: www.bookwormcandlescraft.etsy.com
Instagram: Bookwormcandles