For many centuries, the world has looked at creativity as a process of torture and a magical process. To some, creativity was a part of geniuses, artists, designers and eccentrics. To date, this view has changed. However, creativity is more encouraged today in our society than before. Creativity is now a practical skill that some think can be taught and which everyone can achieve. For persons who are naturally creative, it wasn’t something they were taught in a school or institution but rather an innate ability. World leaders look at creativity as an important factor for national and global economic growth and development. To some creatives’ it is a hobby and a way of earning an honest living while expressing their love for the arts.
Natasha and Desiree in Queens Park Savannah
For the creative behind the brand, NS CANDLES; Natasha Assee and Desiree Felix, creativity is their life. They live each moment thinking of new ideas and scents to promote and push their brand of local candles in Trinidad and Tobago. The Two creatives are very friendly and charismatic, most importantly in my opinion; they are very-very creative with the brand of product they produce.
I first discovered Natasha and Desiree’s products one faithful Saturday morning after I decided to adventure for the first time to the Santa Cruz Green market. While browsing through the market, shopping for plants, vegetables and fruits, I was distracted by a lovely scent that was irresistible. Now, because I’m a true trini, my local “nosey” vibes kicked in and I had to find out what smelled so good. Besides the two ladies with very large personalities, their work of art spoke louder. It was like I died and went to scent heaven. I enjoyed smelling the candles.
There were about six different scents in different sizes. Each was a different local scent. I smelled every one of them, but before I could finish I had to smell the coffee beans as well. By the end of the smelling test, I bought two different candles for my home; “Jones and Bora Bora”. The two candles became ornaments in my home, but with scents. I am one of those people that purchase candles and don’t light them, so these candles weren’t going to be lite. But eventually I was dare by Natasha and Desiree. I did light the candles and they were even more divine.
I made the Green market my Saturday morning treat and an early morning getaway, I would always stop at the NS Candles booth. The two ladies were very engaging and very outgoing each time I stopped. After a few encounters, I know I wanted them to be apart of the blog. So I invited them both, and they never hesitated to accept the invitation. Because I am always busy with a hectic schedule, we had the interview a few months later. The interview was so much fun with three exciting personalities including my own, that we shoot twice in the Queens Park Savannah. The first time we sat in the grass and watched the sun set. The next time we sat on beach chairs in the same Queens Park Savannah, next to the zoo, in the rain. Lol!
As we started the interview, I was intrigued to know more and more about the creatives behind the Brand NS Candles. So again, my trini antennas went up.
Desiree Felix well known as “Desi” by her close friend and family and Natasha Assee, are the master heads behind the NS Candles brand. The whole idea started some years ago with Natasha Assee. After living approximately 17 year in the United States of America, she attained both a Bachelors and a Masters Degree respectively and then she moved back to Trinidad and Tobago. Coming back home for employment was rough. So being a creative and a qualified individual, she started making scented candles, but with a trini flavor, something that was never introduced to the trini culture. As she started building her empire in the scented candle business, she became friends with Desi through mutual friendship. Both Desi and Natasha have great creative skills and ideas, so eventually Natasha invited Desi to be apart of her empire as a partner. They both became the faces of NS Candles promoting and making the brand much stronger.
Photography of Natasha Assee
Both of these ladies are very humble, as I have noticed over the months as we encounter, but they are very humble in the creative field. They both respect all creatives in every form and are very open to learning everyday. They have expressed in the interview that they strive to one day be an artist that many can look to as a role model. In their own words, “we hesitate to say we are artists, because we feel like more of creatives.”
Photography of Desiree
Like all creative, Ideas come at anytime, for the NS Candle Makers this is no different! According to Natasha, Ideas come all different hours of the night. When those ideas arise, it is important for them to build on the ideas, so they both are awaken and get together to build on it. The ideas are bounced around and the spark of the idea takes on a life of its own. To date all of their ideas have been great and successful, however, some ideas bear fruits before others.
In the interview, Desiree expressed that all the pieces they have both created are considered masterpieces and great achievement in their lives. “When I am in the moment, it is the best moment of my life. It is my way of being grateful for what I am given and for what I am able to share. It gets annoying at times to some people, but when I look back on my life, I really don’t want to wish I had celebrated more!”
Natasha Assee and Desiree Felix are no different from other creatives! Like all creatives, Natasha and Desi also faced creative blocks. To both of these young women, creative blocks can be the most frustrating and “maddening” feeling. Natasha expressed that the frustration lies when she can see and feel the idea, but it aggravates her when the idea escapes. However, over the years she have learned that panicking is never wise, because it doesn’t bring back the idea or does it help in any way possible. Panicking makes the situation worst. In her opinion it is better to relax and allow the creativity to flow, but being a human that sometimes is always easier said than actually done.
These two courageous creatives expressed that creativity is everything for them. It is life, love, happiness and most importantly their pride and joy. To them, creativity is something that we are born with and that hungers to be expressed in different forms and fashion, but creativity must always be shared. As mediums of a form of creativity, they are always amazed of their own strengths as they continue to share their creativity. They believe strongly that sharing their talent is very important because that is the only way the younger generation can learn and grow. Sharing also means they also grow as creatives and learn more from their mistakes while building on their strengths. Over the years they have shared their experiences with many persons, and by doing so it have allowed them to grown and find new ways to create. But one of the things that excite them the most in sharing their creativity, are the many persons they help along the journey to make those persons life better or to boost someone else creativity.
Their advise to other young and emerging cretaives is to; “Love what you do- There is no point other wise! Each day brings its own challenges and there will be times when you will feel like walking away, but love covers a multitude of ills”. Natasha and Desiree.
An Interview with the Candle Makers
To Contact NS Candles please follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ns.candles13?fref=ts
or you can call email them; ns.candles13@gmail.com
or you can call them at +1-868-752-2203
Thank you for reading! It is is a pleasure as usual for writing this blog. Sharing artist and designers story with you my readers. Thank you to all those that are constantly reading, and enjoying the blog.My international readers, thank you. USA, UK, RUSSIA, IRELAND, EUROPE, LATIN AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN, Thank you all. Most of all, thank you Trinidad and Tobago for reading!
Please continue to like it, share it, and leave a comment on it. I would love to hear from each of you.
Leston Paul
creativediversitytt 