A Cozy Conversation with Ed & Kelly from Dusty Studios

This month's Candle Club box, Winter Road Trip, was inspired by slow weekends on the road.

The kind where you take the scenic route, stop for a hot coffee and arrive at a cozy cabin just before dark. It's a reminder that sometimes the best part of the journey is slowing down enough to actually enjoy it.

Alongside your candle, you'll find a "Take It Slow" mini pennant, created by New Zealand makers Dusty Studios.

As soon as we came across Dusty's work, we knew it was the perfect fit for this month's collection. Their nostalgic pennants capture everything we wanted this box to represent—adventure, meaningful moments and gentle reminders to slow the pace of everyday life.

We asked Ed and Kelly a few questions about the story behind Dusty Studios, where they find inspiration and what "taking it slow" looks like for them.

From Side Project to Spreading Happiness

Q: For those discovering Dusty Studios for the first time, can you tell us a little about who you are and how Dusty began?

A: We are Ed and Kelly the small but mighty team behind Dusty Studios.

Honestly, it all started when Dusty Studios randomly popped up for sale online in 2024. At the time, we were on the hunt for our ultimate dream side project—something outside of our day jobs that would totally fuel our creative fires and let us build something beautiful together. We already loved working together and knew we made an awesome team, so we jumped in a van, travelled the length of NZ, learnt the business and relocated Dusty to Christchurch.

At the end of the day, we just want to create things that bring genuine joy and huge smiles to people's faces. That's what Dusty is all about for us now: keeping it growing with lots of love, pure creativity, and a massive desire to spread some happiness!

Inspired by Road Trips & Nostalgia

Q: Many of your designs feel nostalgic and adventure-inspired. Where do you find inspiration for the messages and places you create around?

A: We are totally obsessed with that warm, fuzzy feeling of nostalgia.

A lot of it comes from Ed's childhood memories of collecting car aerial pennants on classic family road trips. We also draw a ton of inspiration from vintage Americana—our trusty '83 Bronco company car is a major muse, and it definitely fits since about 90% of our orders actually head out to the USA!

Beyond that, our biggest inspiration is day to day life!

We're always keeping our eyes and ears open for great sayings, witty lines from friends, or song lyrics (we love live music) and some just hit right.

We love crafting custom banners, hearing the back stories to the messages and seeing them in their new, happy homes!

For us, it's all about sparking feelings of encouragement, support, or a bit of nostalgia. We're all about spreading love, so we strictly keep things positive—no hate, no politics, just good vibes!

Dusty is such a happy business ✨

Taking It Slow

Q: What are a few things helping you slow down and enjoy the season at the moment?

A: Finding time to slow down can definitely be a beautiful challenge, but it is so worth it!

While the world around us can feel a bit fast-paced and overwhelming at times, it really just anchors us in deep gratitude.

We are trying to consciously remind ourselves to pause, look around, and appreciate how incredibly lucky we are.

Practicing thankfulness for us is about being consciously aware of the gift of today and celebrating the wonderful people we get to surround ourselves and share this life with!

We are blessed with 4 children between us, our fur baby Buddy and a home and business that we love to spend time in. How lucky are we (that's even on a framed banner hanging in our living room!)

Why We Chose Dusty Studios

One of my favourite parts of Candle Club is introducing you to New Zealand makers whose work complements the feeling behind each month's collection.

For Winter Road Trip, I wanted to include something that would last long after the candle had been burned—a little reminder to carry with you.

The Take It Slow pennant felt like exactly that.

Whether it's hung in your home, office, caravan or tucked into your favourite little corner, I hope it reminds you to slow down, enjoy the journey and find joy in the everyday.

A huge thank you to Ed and Kelly for sharing their story and creating something so special for our Candle Club community.

If you'd like to explore more of Dusty Studios' beautiful pennants, be sure to check them out online.

P.S. Stay tuned! Dusty Studios and Little Batch Wax Co. have something exciting planned together very soon... we'll be announcing a giveaway over on Instagram. 🤎

Closing

Each month brings a new seasonal candle, a thoughtfully chosen cozy extra and an introduction to another New Zealand maker or small business we love.

If you'd like to join us for next month's box, we'd love to have you.

Subscribe to the Candle Club here!

Meet the Maker: Bex of R Ceramics

When planning our February (final summer) collection, Rock Salt & Sage, I knew I wanted to include something locally handmade and special.

Something that would live in your home long after the candle had finished — holding rings by the sink, a tea light on the coffee table or those tiny treasures that gather beside your bed.

That’s when I thought of Bex.

How I First Met Bex

I first met Bex, the maker behind R Ceramics, years ago at a “Your Local” Christmas market. I was right next to her table and was impressed by how beautiful her pieces were, and how quickly they sold. I was immediately drawn in by the soft neutral tones, the unique designs and the little details.

I since purchased two of her signature dimple mugs and I use them every single morning.

There’s something so cozy about starting your day with home brew coffee in a handmade mug, candle lit.

So when I began dreaming up this month’s box, it felt right to reach out.

Bex now creates from her studio on her family farm in the Hunua Ranges, just southeast of Auckland.

The ceramic trinket dishes tucked inside this month’s Candle Club boxes were made by Bex — each one slightly unique, each one formed and finished by hand.

A small place to land your rings, earrings, tea light samples or everyday treasures.

An Interview with Bex of R Ceramics

I wanted you to meet the hands behind the clay, so I asked Bex a few questions about her journey.

Beth: Hi Bex! To begin, how did your journey with clay begin?

Bex: The first time I sat at a potter’s wheel, I was completely hooked. Not long after, I was gifted an old wheel that had been tucked away in someone’s garage — and that really set things in motion.

Beth: You left your job as a magazine designer to pursue ceramics — how did that leap feel?

Bex: Equal parts terrifying and exciting. Design has always been part of who I am, but clay offered something more tactile. I wanted to explore where that feeling could take me — and I’m so glad I listened to that nudge.

Beth: Your work is beautifully functional and your design eye really shines through. What draws you to creating pieces meant to be used every day?

Bex: I love the idea that something handmade can become part of someone’s everyday. A small dish, a mug, a bowl — these are the pieces we reach for again and again. There’s something really special about that.

Beth: I completely agree — your mugs make me smile every time I reach for them. Tell us about your studio space where you create these pieces.

Bex: Thanks to my very handy husband, I now work from a small but beautiful studio on our family farm in the Hunua Ranges, southeast of Auckland. It’s quiet, surrounded by nature, and feels like the perfect place to create.

Beth: When you’re not in the studio, what fills your days?

Bex: I spend a lot of time with our two sons, waiting for pots to dry or cracking open the kiln. I still design for a few clients, grow flowers and vegetables in our garden, and love hiking in the ranges whenever I can.

Beth: What do you hope people feel when they use one of your pieces?

Bex: I hope they feel a sense of calm and connection — and maybe a small moment of joy. That’s always the goal.

Why We Included Her Work in Rock Salt & Sage

This month’s scent is windswept coastlines, mineral air and earthy sage carried on a cool breeze. It’s clean, beachy but grounding — our gentle goodbye to summer before cooler days arrive.

Pairing that with a handmade ceramic piece just felt right. Clay is grounding, earthy, tactile. Reaching for a handmade object signals something to your nervous system — you can relax, you're looked after, you deserve a moment. And that’s what Candle Club has always been about.

A Gift for Our Community

Bex has generously offered our community 10% off her online store until March 31, 2026.

Use code:

LITTLEBATCH10

If you’ve been eyeing her dimple mugs (highly recommend), a serving bowl or another trinket dish — now is the perfect time.

You can explore her work at rceramics.co.nz or follow along on Instagram at @r__ceramics.

Closing

I’m so grateful to collaborate with makers like Bex — women building beautiful things slowly, thoughtfully and with intention.

If you’re a February subscriber, I’d love to know — how are you using your trinket dish? Beside the sink? On your bedside table? Holding your tea light sample?

And if you’re not yet part of Candle Club, we’d love to welcome you.

Autumn Traditions: A Cosy Conversation with Jodi from Auntie Jodi's Baking Co.

There's something wonderfully nostalgic about the scent of pumpkin and cinnamon wafting through your home on a cool autumn day. That unmistakable aroma instantly conjures images of fallen leaves, chunky sweaters, and steaming mugs held between chilled hands.

This month, we had the pleasure of chatting with Jodi, the creative force behind Auntie Jodi's Baking Co., who has brought the beloved North American pumpkin spice tradition to New Zealand shores. Her story is one of homesickness, creativity, and finding comfort in familiar flavours – halfway across the world.

From Homesickness to Hāngī: How Auntie Jodi's Was Born

As a fellow North American living in New Zealand, Jodi's business journey began with a deep longing for home during the isolation of the pandemic.

"I was feeling really homesick when I first moved to New Zealand," Jodi explains. "I moved here during the pandemic, which was already a strange time, and was just trying to find some feeling of familiarity and comfort here."

Like many of us during lockdown, Jodi turned to baking. She asked her family to send over cherished family recipes, hoping to create a sense of connection through food. Pumpkin spice represented a taste of home, but she quickly discovered it wasn't readily available in New Zealand the way it is in North America.

When borders finally reopened and her mother came to visit, they were invited to a hāngī. Wanting to share a piece of her Canadian heritage, Jodi decided to make her great-grandmother's pumpkin pie. What followed was an all-day kitchen adventure – roasting and pureeing a fresh pumpkin from scratch (a far cry from the convenient canned puree available back home).

"The pie was a big hit," Jodi recalls, "but there was no way I wanted to waste an entire day in the kitchen again for a single pie." Her partner suggested trying dehydrated pumpkin instead, an idea she initially rejected as sacrilege to her family recipe.

But fate (and a cyclone) intervened.

"After being stuck inside one wet summer weekend during a cyclone… we had nothing else to do but bake and experiment," she says with a laugh. "Guess what... It worked!"

Realising there were many homesick expats craving pumpkin spice everything, Jodi transformed these recipes into ready-to-go kits, and Auntie Jodi's Baking Co. was born.

The Nostalgia of Pumpkin Spice

For Jodi, pumpkin spice is more than just a seasonal trend – it's a sensory experience deeply connected to memories of home.

"It reminds me of summer wrapping up and the days quickly blending into autumn, you are trying to get your last summer fill before heading back to school, then it comes in the blink of an eye and you are embraced by crisp air and crunchy leaves."

She admits to burning pumpkin spice candles year-round and loading up on pumpkin spice everything when visiting home. "To me this blend means home, it feels like home, tastes of home. I have had customers describe our Pumpkin Spice Latte as 'a hug in a mug' and I think that's exactly it."

Autumn in the Antipodes

Adjusting to New Zealand's reversed seasons was initially disorienting for Jodi. "My mind literally just couldn't compute 'what do you mean it's December and we are in our bathing suits?'" she jokes. Living in Northland by the beach means she doesn't experience the dramatic seasonal changes of her childhood, with palm trees that remain unchanged throughout the year.

To capture that autumn feeling, Jodi loves taking day trips to Matakana or the Auckland countryside. "I also love the South Island this time of year, Christchurch, Queenstown and Arrowtown - you are all so beautiful!"

Bridging Culinary Cultures

One fascinating discovery for Jodi has been the cultural difference in how pumpkin is perceived. "In North America we see pumpkin as a sweet dessert flavouring, but here it's more of a savoury item you would have with a roast dinner."

She's enjoyed educating Kiwis about different ways to enjoy pumpkin spice, noting that "having a 'vegetable' in a dessert really isn't strange, just look at carrot cake!"

First-Time Recommendations

For pumpkin spice newcomers, Jodi has tailored suggestions:

"If you are someone who is hesitant about pumpkin, I would encourage you to try a pumpkin loaf or cake. I promise if you are a fan of carrot cake you would enjoy this as well."

For those curious about the famous PSL trend, she recommends starting with a pumpkin spice latte, "topped with whipped cream and cinnamon for that cafe experience right at home!"

Beyond the Latte

Auntie Jodi's offers more than just their signature PSL blend. Their pumpkin loaf kit makes for an easy introduction to the flavour, while the pumpkin pie kit holds special significance for Jodi.

"The pumpkin pie was our first product and is inspired by my great-grandma's recipe, so it's really special to me that it has gone from England to Canada and now across New Zealand and Australia."

Creating Cosy Moments

When asked how she creates cosy moments as the weather turns cooler, Jodi's answer comes quickly: "Candles! I love love love burning candles, but it feels extra special this time of year. It's just an instant mood changer and brightens up the room as the weather outside gets more moody."

Where to Find Auntie Jodi's

You can explore Auntie Jodi's products online at auntiejodisbaking.com and use the discount code **LBWC** for free shipping across New Zealand until May 1st.

If you prefer to see the products in person, Auntie Jodi's will be at the Auckland Food Show this July.

Follow @auntiejodisbaking on Instagram for seasonal recipes, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and upcoming trade show appearances.

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Keep an eye on your April Candle Club box—there might just be a special pumpkin-inspired surprise waiting inside! 🤫