Kim Gordon of Long Beach shed light during the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic. After she had to close her local art gallery, she started a new hobby - making coconut soy wax candles and other home fragrances.

She learned the candle-making process through books and had lots of trial and error. She never thought this hobby would turn into 'Gordon Craftworks' - her full-time job.

"I have worked in getting that gallery together for years — it was such a big deal when it opened, but it was a chapter. And I felt transitioning into this next creative practice really filled the gap," said Kim.

Once Kim's art gallery opened, she sold her coconut soy wax candles and home fragrances. The candles were flying off the shelves, and she is now selling them in stores nationwide.

"I said I think I am on to something here, and I decided to expand on that, and when I did, it started to take over the gallery space, so I decided to close the gallery, open Gordon Craftworks, and then start working out of my studio."

She makes her blends, labels, and packaging. She enjoys every step of the process. "I am a spiritualist in nature, and I wanted to bring not only that but also my artistic ideas into the branding."

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