Join Jess Kaufman for this fourth annual beloved Solstice tradition and gather with friends—old and new—to taper, shape, and shine with hand-dipped beeswax candles on these, the longest nights of the year!
In this cozy, hands-on workshop, you’ll circle around the “fire” (our stovetop cauldrons of golden beeswax) and practice the soothing rhythm of dipping and cooling, as your candles slowly grow before your eyes. Jess, local batik artist and founder of WAXON, will guide you not only in the craft of candle making but also in the deeper story of beeswax—an increasingly rare and precious gift from our pollinator kin. You’ll discover how WAXON’s zero-waste batik studio reclaims and recycles every drop of wax, giving new life to this sacred resource.
Participants will leave with:
As Jess says, her favorite part is “how joyful everyone is when they see their candles grow!” Come celebrate the Solstice, kindle your own light, and take part in a tradition that’s as much about community and conservation as it is about craft.
This class will be held indoors on Saturday, December 20, 2025, from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm near Asheville, NC.
This class is suitable both for experienced crafters and beginners alike! The minimum age is 10 accompanied by an adult or 16 unaccompanied. Please be prepared for long periods of standing.
Jessica Kaufman (she/her) has an MA in crafts education and is the owner of WAXON Batik & Dye Studio in Asheville, NC. With over 22 years of teaching experience, Jess has taught a wide variety of fiber and textile arts to summer campers, school children, high schoolers, and adult workshops up and down the East Coast. Her enthusiasm for teaching is apparent in every class she leads. Jess maintains over 80 free knitting videos at HappyGoCrafty.com.
In order to make our workshops more accessible, we offer two price options for each class, with an additional Equity Discount for qualifying individuals. Please consider these options and select your price at checkout.
Thank you for helping transform the world into a culture of abundance, resilience, and opportunity for all.
*Please check your pricing options before you register for your first Perennial Workshop. The pricing options are the same for all events, so you only need to do it once!
Registration closes at 12pm on December 20th
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Lily is an artist, creator, and dreamer. Since a very young age, she has been immersed in the natural world and draws heavy inspiration from the wild. Though her medium changes frequently, Lily’s art and expression always incorporate an element of the organic and unpredictable. She got her associate in fine arts in 2023, and now volunteers at her school as a ceramic studio monitor. She hopes to open a studio of her own one day to have a place to teach and inspire others. In addition to doing commission work, Lily has been creating many graphics for The Firefly Gathering since 2019. Lily grew up in the Earthskills community from the time she was eight years old, so having the opportunity to grow and give back in so many ways has been incredibly fulfilling. No matter where she ends up, this group of people and ideas will always hold a special place in her heart.
