Meet Abby Johnson | Abby Johnson | Chandler (Candle Maker)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Abby Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Abby, what inspires you?
Nature. I enjoy the smells and sounds of the world around me as the seasons change. Spring flowers blooming, citrus trees coming to life, fresh tomatoes in the summer garden, the smell of the ocean breeze, and most of all I love sitting by the campfire and the smell of the leaves during a cool fall hike in the mountains. Cedar, sandalwood, incense, palo santo are a few woody scents I can’t seem to get enough, either. I love bringing the outdoors in.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Growing up craft time was all the time. My mom always had some sort of crafting activity laid out on the dining room table that we would work on together. Keeping myself busy with a hobby has always been centered around some sort of craft. Whether it was making ornaments during the holidays, homemade lotion, scrapbooking and collages, beaded earrings and necklaces, or chocolate chip cookies, my hands are always busy making something.

When the pandemic hit I was working for a wine distributor selling wine to restaurants and wine shops. Business quickly plummeted and my days were now wide open with “nothing to do!”. I was going crazy with boredom. I felt this intense amount of guilt for not “working” but at the same time I didn’t feel like I could do anything that wasn’t work related because I was still getting a paycheck from the company I was working for. Eventually, I came to terms with the guilt and decided I needed to do something and the idea of candlemaking came about. I was inspired by my boyfriend’s father who made candles as a hobby. I ordered everything I needed to make a batch of candles and instantly fell in love with it. I had many friends and family who didn’t mind being my guinea pigs testing out the new scents I was constantly making. This was so much fun! I truly fell in love with my new found hobby. I started designing labels and selling my candles to friends and family and before I knew it I went from a ten pound bag of wax to a 45 pound box of wax. This was a huge step for me. I was a little scared to place that first big order with the candle supply company. It was also a great motivator that showed me there might be more to this hobby and craft than I expected.

At the holidays, I started receiving requests from local businesses to create custom labels and candles for their client gifts. This is when everything started to get “real” for me. I was having to learn how to make larger batches, design labels for other people (eek! I don’t have experience in graphic design), and come up with a new pricing strategy. Everyday then and everyday now I am learning and constantly coming up with new ideas. It becomes overwhelming at times to have so many ideas. It can be challenging to stay grounded and remind myself that I am “left of center” and it doesn’t matter what I do as long as I am hanging fun doing it.

My boyfriend started making soaps not too long after I began the candles…it took a little convincing to get him on board. His soaps are beautiful and I really wanted them to be a part of Left of Center. They are slowly gaining traction and I couldn’t be happier. We have so much to learn and so much space to grow, this is just the beginning.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Charlotte is two hours to the mountains and three hours to the beach so I would definitely take them on a day trip for a nice hike somewhere near Boone or Asheville. We are also home to the U,S. National Whitewater Center so a day spent there rafting, climbing, paddle boarding finished with some craft beverages and live music makes for a great day. This city is known for their breweries and delicious restaurants so an afternoon checking out some of the artsy neighborhoods, a walk on the Greenway finished with dinner and drinks at my favorite restaurant, 300 East. 300 East is nestled in an adorable historic home in the historic neighborhood of Dilworth and has been serving local fare for almost 40 years. It’s a must for anyone visiting town. Another favorite activity is riding bikes along the Greenway so I would plan a day riding bikes down to Ballentyne (the new section just opened up) for live music at the Amp and dinner in the Bowl.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I couldn’t have started this journey without the support of my friends and family. I especially want to shoutout my partner’s father, Pops. When I met Pops he was a making candles for friends and family as a hobby. His candles were gorgeous and smelled sooooo amazing. When the pandemic hit I quickly realized I needed to pick up a hobby/side gig/something to keep me busy using my creative energy so, inspired by Pops, I decided to take my hand at making candles. Thank you, Pops for letting me share your hobby.

Website: https://leftofcentercandles.com

Instagram: @leftofcentercandles

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