Meet Maya Barbery | Owner & CEO of Angel’s Mystical Artifacts

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

Hi Maya, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Candles have always fascinated me. I would collect them when I was younger. I was curious and wanted to learn to make them for myself. I started by making them them as gifts for family and friends. When wanting to start my own business they encouraged me to take my passion for candles and turn that into my own enterprise.

With the success with my initial endeavor, I began to expand my business plan to include handmade crystal and herb infused items. After going back visiting my home country of Bolivia in 2022, I decided to incorporate metaphysical items that represented both my culture and spiritual beliefs.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets me apart are my candles. A lot of thought went into each of the 14 variations. I use 100% organic soy wax, and carefully choose the all natural herbs and crystals placed in each one to correspond with the intentions set. All the metaphysical items I sell in my shop have been personally curated by myself.

I am always looking to make improvements to my products, as well as, produce new and innovative handmade items to offer in the shop. I do market research to do my best to produce things that are unique and representative of my business and culture.

It can be difficult to balance a full time job, caring for an elderly parent, and having my own business sometimes. However, since my business is my creative outlet, it helps me relieve stress and it brings me joy. Truly a win- win in the end.

Through this journey I have learned to ask for feedback and support from friends and clients. This has allowed me to offer better products and a better customer experience.

My brand is an extension of me. It is representative of my Bolivian/ American upbringing, the many experiences living in various countries, and my daily spiritual practice.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Recently, My aunt visited me. We are very close, more like my second mom

Day one was spent visiting Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens. It is such a beautiful and calming place. Their Butterfly Habitat is truly magical. For lunch we went to my favorite Asian fusion restaurant, JPs House.

Day two we visited Hippity Hop Novelty Shop, a local store in Belmont which showcases various local artisans – including yours truly.

Over the weekend we went to Asheville. I have always found it to be such an eclectic town. We had lunch at Strada Italiano, a local family owned restaurant that makes their sauces and pasta from scratch in house. We then spent time at the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge enjoying all the beauty nature has to offer.

We ended the visit with a trip to a my favorite winery, Tree House Vineyards. Their Tack Red is delicious.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband, Bobby, is my biggest cheerleader in encouraging me to look at my candles in a different light. From the start, no matter what my needs are, whether hard labor or emotional support he is there to the heave lifting

I also want to give shout out my close friends who recommended I introduce my candles by selling them at local artisan pop up events.

Website: https://www.angelsmysticalartifacts.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelsmysticalartifacts/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelsMysticalArtifacts

Image Credits
All pictures were taken by me.