questions, answered
Why Did You Start Hidden Smile Market?
I started Hidden Smile Market in a season where everything felt uncertain except my need to create. This brand is my reminder that even on the bad days, there is beauty and gentleness waiting.
What Does "Hidden Smile" mean to you?
Hidden Smile is about the quiet joy that exists even in the hard seasons. It's the small, almost secret comfort of lighting a candle at night alone. The softness you keep for yourself. The tiny moments of calm in the chaos. As someone living with disability and chronic illness, not every day is loud or bright. It doesn't mean you can't find a hidden smile, somewhere.
Why soy wax?
Soy wax is renewable and plant based! Choosing soy wax means a cleaner burn with longer burn times. This also means better home fragrance with maximum coziness!
Why is it important to see disabled creators in small business?
Seeing disabled creators in small business matters because representation changes what people believe is possible. When disabled makers share their work, they challenge the idea that productivity, creativity and entrepreneurship only belong to able-bodied people. It reminds others that living with illness or disability that their pace, their adaptations, and their way of creating are still valid and valuable. Visibility also reduces shame and isolation. Your life and your art don't need to wait until you're "better" to matter.
What makes your pieces one of a kind?
Every piece is created slowly and intentionally, often in small batches or completely unique items. From handcrafted soy candls to cyanotype pieces made with original photography and mixed media, each product carries my mark as a real human process rather than mass production. Hidden Smile Market is deeply rooted in creativity, healing and the lived experience of navigating chronic illness. This shapes the gentle and thoughtful energy behind every item. My candles will be the most consistent artisan item I have, as I've worked out a formula in 2019 to assure quality and clean fragrances. Each scent will have 3 of it's kind as I try not to overmake to reduce product waste and keep candles fresh.
How would you describe your fragrance style?
I create my candles with the intention of creating a memory, or bringing you back to a previous one. My fragrance style is soft, grounding and quietly atmospheric. I'm drawn to scents that have a life of their own, mysterious and charismatic. Each scent comes in a limited batch, intented to bring you coziness for hours to come. I love blending comforting, familiar notes with a slightly dreamy feeling.
How should I care for my candle?
To get the best burn from your candle, trim the wick to about 1/4 of an inch before each use to keep the flame steady and prevent excess soot. Let the candle melt all the way to the edges during the first burn (usually 2-3 hours) to avoid tunneling and help the wax burn evenly. It sounds funny, but soy wax has a "memory" and when you don't allow for that first burn to make a nice pool, you could risk wasting a lot of your candle with tunneling.
Keep the candle away from drafts, flammable items, and never leave it burning unattended. For safety and longevity, stop burning when around 1/2 inch of wax remains at the bottom. With a little care, your candle will burn cleaner, last longer, and keep its scent soft and beautiful.
How should I care for my art tee?
To keep your one of a kind t-shirt looking its best, wash it gently in cold water with a mild detergent and similar colors. Avoid bleach, stain removers, or harsh chemicals as they can fade the natural blue tones of the shirt. Air drying is best to preserve the design, though you can tumble dry on low if needed. Because cyanotypes are made through a sun-printing process, slight fading and soft variations over time are normal and part of the beauty of a hand dyed piece.