Get Out to Beaver to create your own candles and shop local

BEAVER — Create your own candles, and shop for other selections, at Cord + Iron, a local-minded retailer with a new storefront in downtown Beaver.

"We're local makers that have been in the area for a while making candles and cement home goods, and we just opened our first retail location on Insurance Street in Beaver," Kevin Dinello, co-owner with wife, Leslie Dinello, said. "We're proud to have our stuff on showcase, along with a whole bunch of local makers and small businesses from around the country,"

Located around the corner from the former Heirloom restaurant, in a red brick building facing tree-lined Quay Square, Cord + Iron sells its own line of 100 percent soy candles and handmade cement home goods and décor.

"We also carry a lot of local makers; like Billie Jean Denim and Siroh & Ivy, who are local to Beaver, and we have some other places that are around, from Sewickley and Pittsburgh as well," Leslie said.

Tucked in a corner of the fresh-looking, well-lit Cord + Iron interior is the candle bar, a workshop table where people can learn how to create their own custom candle. Think Build-a-Bear, but better smelling.

"Creating your own candle is actually a pretty quick and easy process, and we're here to walk you through it the whole way," Kevin said. "It starts with coming in and picking the vessel you would want, and then we help you start sampling and selecting scents. And you can mix and match however you want. Once you pick the scents you want to use, we show you how to assemble the candle and actually add the oils to the candle and mix it up. And then it's ready for you to take home in like 90 minutes."

"You can pick out a vessel you like that matches your home décor or your personal décor," Leslie said. "You can come back if one day you're feeling sunny and one day you're feeling in a darker mood."

Half the fun of the candle bar might be coming up with a clever name for your custom-made candle.

Cord + Iron scents include S'Mores + Embers, Sweater Weather, Alpine Fir, Leaves + Cider, Pumpkin + Chai, Smoked Apple + Whiskey, Coastline, Fireside, Peppermint + Eucalyptus and Ginger + Teakwood.

"Our candle bar is open from the time we open in the morning, which is 10 a.m., until we close," Leslie said. "We do ask people to come in a little more than an hour before we close so there's adequate time for you to get through. The candle cures in about 90 minutes, so feel free after you mix your candle to go shop at the other local businesses, have lunch and stop on back and your candle will be ready to go. Or if you don't have time, feel free to pick it up on another day."

Business hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

More info is at cordandiron.com

There's a story behind the "+" sign in Cord + Iron.

"Before we started Cord + Iron as it is right now, Leslie and I knew we wanted to start a business that was part of the community and brought people together," Kevin said. "We've always loved entertaining, we believe in the power of community and relationships, and before we even knew what we were going to sell, we knew we wanted to start a business where that was one of its core values. And Cord + Iron is actually a tip of the hat to two Bible verses; 'a cord of three strands is not easily broken,' and 'iron sharpens iron'; it's the two main verses that talk about the power of community and the power of people. And the plus sign rather than an ampersand, we thought that just encompassed it even more, the power of addition and the power of people together."

Beaver Valley gets lit: Light-Up nights to make Beaver Valley towns festive

Shop local in the Beaver Valley: Holiday gift cards that offer Beaver Valley flair

Scott Tady is the local Entertainment Reporter for The Beaver County Times and Ellwood City Ledger. He's easy to reach at stady@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @scotttady

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Make your own candles and buy local gifts at new Beaver storefront