An Interview with Kerry Kip of Minot Candles (Creativity Over Coffee)
It’s time for another installment of Creativity Over Coffee – you know what that means! So grab your coffee (or tea) and join us!
Creativity Over Coffee
I am delighted to share my conversation with my friend Kerry, she is the founder of Minot Candles. Her candles truly are beautiful from the simple font, to the pretty glass vessels to the amazing fragrances. I am obsessed with her candles. They make wonderful gifts but also make a lovely gift for yourself! I always love lighting a candle in the morning while sipping coffee, whilst painting watercolors in the sunroom, or while we watch TV at night. I love that they are non-toxic and also long burning. Kerry and I met up for coffee in real life last year and it really was wonderful to hear her story in person and I thought you guys would love to learn more about her and her beautiful candles.
So grab your beverage of choice and join us!
An Interview with Kerry Kip of Minot Candles
Thank you so much for deciding to join me for coffee and chat about your creative process. When I had just graduated from film school in London and couldn’t find work, I found inspiration through the many biographies I read from the library. I used to go there each week and take out more.
Many people believe they are not creative. I hear this all the time. It is my hope with these conversations with my talented friends that I hope to inspire my readers to believe that they truly are creative. That creativity is just sitting inside of them waiting to bubble over.
Hi Kerry, I’m so excited to be chatting with you today. You know your candles are my FAVORITE. Can you tell my readers more about Minot Candle and how it all began?
Kerry – I started Minot when I was looking for a non-toxic clean candle. There wasn’t much on the market that I felt comfortable with so I looked into making my own. Once I shared some of the candles I made with family and friends and they kept coming back for more – I knew I had something that I wanted to share with others.
Our love for the water and nature’s pure beauty inspires the brand and our scents. We believe that water and fire have natural, powerful, calming effects and want to share this bliss with our community. We create safe, high quality, non-toxic products that are thoughtfully sourced. Our candles are free from parabens, phthalates, carcinogens and hormone disruptors. We use domestically sourced soy wax and clean burn cotton wicks that are lead and zinc free. Our small batch, hand-poured production allows for meticulous craftsmanship.
They really are amazing. Do you have a favorite fragrance?
Kerry – This is the number one question I get asked and it is the hardest for me to answer, because I don’t. Scent is so personal and memory triggering that you usually won’t like the same scent as your best friend even if you share similar tastes.
It truly depends on my mood and what I want to experience in that room of my office or house that day. For example, when I want to feel grounded during the day Atmosphere is my favorite. When I need a burst of energy or to focus at the studio I will usually light Cerulean Tide, or when I want to recreate a special time in our home, I will light Voyage. I created Voyage for our wedding scent and it brings me back every time.
When do you feel most creative or happy?
Kerry – Traveling with my husband. I find that when I travel I am completely present and not worried about the million things I need to do at home or work. It allows space for me to think and be inspired by my surroundings.
I 100% agree! Who or what inspires you?
Kerry – The calming effect of the water and nature has had a big influence on our brand as well as the beauty and detail of a uniquely designed interior space.
What was it like starting Minot Candle during a pandemic? Did you find your product provided a zen experience while we were stuck at home?
Kerry – It was actually ideal, as people were stuck home trying to make their homes more peaceful or enjoy little pick me ups in their home and candles seemed to be a big part of that. My one real challenge was getting a trademark during the pandemic, as the office was closed for a while and then they were very backed up.
What’s your favorite colors?
Kerry – Right now I am really into a deep olive green but consistently I love various shades of blue.
What’s on the horizon for you and Minot Candle?
Kerry – We just launched an amazing new scent, called Cove. It is the perfect candle to pair with a bath or night time routine. I can’t wait for our customers to experience the new scent!
As for me, I am pregnant with a baby girl who is due to come in the beginning of May! We are so excited to meet her!
I am so excited for you! The new candle smells amazing (I got a sneak peek) and I can’t wait to meet your baby girl next month! What advice would you give someone who wants to follow in your footsteps or who would like to live a more creative life?
Kerry – Go for it – it doesn’t have to be a business, it can be a passion project to explore your creative side and who knows it may turn into a business if you want it to!
Growing up I was a huge follower of INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO. At the end of the program, they would ask the interviewee these questions:
- What is your favorite word? Persnickety
- What is your least favorite word? Caveat
- What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? A beautiful space
- What turns you off? A chaotic/ messy space
- What is your favorite curse word? F*ck
- What sound or noise do you love? My cat purring as she snuggles with me
- What sound or noise do you hate? When my dog barks
- What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Interior designer
- What profession would you not like to do? Doctor or nurse
- If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Welcome, your loved ones are waiting for you.
A huge thank you to Kerry for joining me today! Didn’t you love hearing more about her and Minot Candles? In addition I’m excited to share Kerry is offering my readers 10% off online use the code: “DANIELLEFINDING” or click here.
Be sure to follow along with Kerry:
If you’d like more Creativity Over Coffee you can read the full series here.
* Photos courtesy of Kerry Kip
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