(PITTSBURGH) — As the 2020 ice hockey season winds down for many junior, college and professional athletes, candle maker Jenni Ingram is paying tribute to those hard-fought hours on the ice with a warm burning, good-smelling candle, of course.
Her just-released soy candle, called “Leather + Ice,” is not only a scented candle but also a commemorative keepsake.
“Hockey is one of the things we love about winter here,” said Ingram, who is the founder of Pittsburgh Candle Works and also a diy blogger, furniture painter and big-time hockey fan. “There’s nothing better to do in winter and early spring then cheer on our NHL team and local teams.”
The candle jar has original artwork, sketched by Pittsburgh artist Luke Hillegas, that features five penguins strapping on their vintage hockey gear, waiting for their sixth teammate to show up at a local iced pond. In the snow-covered background, stands the skyline and iconic yellow bridges of Pittsburgh.
“Our Leather + Ice candle is inspired by our professional hockey team, their winning season and run at the playoffs,” said Ingram. “I wanted to create something that would support and cheer on our team, and celebrate a sport and all the athletes that are so meaningful to our city.”
Hillegas’ hand-drawn and watercolor design is a nod to the five Stanley Cup trophies won by the Pittsburgh Penguins and the search for their sixth.
To local artist Hillegas, being a supportive member of the community is important.
“Like any area with a rich history, I see Pittsburgh as a community proud of its past and searching for ways to echo those achievements into future generations. We are still motivated by hard work, determination, and maybe just a little bit of elbow grease,” said Hilleags, owner of Rusty Dog Studio, a design, digital marketing and print shop in Pittsburgh, and Studio Make, a children’s creative center in Peters Township.
The 8.5 oz candle is specially infused with natural essential oils including eucalyptus, fir needle, lemon, cedar leaf, clove leaf, galbanum, cedarwood, and patchouli oil. It smells like the perfect combination of old leather and clean, fresh ice.
Pittsburgh Candle Works candles are available in nine gift shops around the metro, and online at www.pittsburghcandleworks.com.
Ingram takes pride in giving back to the Pittsburgh community. For every candle sale, Pittsburgh Candle Works donates $1 to the Light of Life Rescue Mission, a Christian nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides life-changing recovery programs, food and shelter for Pittsburgh’s poor and homeless.
“I think it’s important that as a business, we reinvest in and support our community,” said Ingram. “It’s a ‘rising tide raises all boats’ mentality. And our mission of creating warm atmospheres just went so well with the Light of Life’s mission.”
About Pittsburgh Candle Works
Founded in 2019, Pittsburgh Candle Works brings creativity, mood and Pittsburgh-pride through it’s simple, good-smelling artistic soy candles. The candles are hand-poured and hand-made in Pittsburgh. There are currently seasonal collections and the Pittsburgh Collection with 5 scents in each featuring local artist collaborations. Founder and candlemaker Jenni Ingram shares her passion of DIY on her blog rootsandwingsfurniture.com. More information at pittsburghcandleworks.com
# # #
[[Photo: https://rwcandles.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/penguin-hockey-candle-pittsburgh-candle-works-9.jpg
https://rwcandles.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/penguin-hockey-candle-pittsburgh-candle-works-1.jpg
Cutline: Locally-owned Pittsburgh Candle Works released a new scented candle to honor local hockey teams with original artwork of ice hockey playing penguins. The soy candles are hand-poured and made in Pittsburgh by founder Jenni Ingram. Local artists collaborate with designs that are iconic and meaningful to Pittsburghers .]]