The 22nd Friday four of 2024

It’s the last day of May! This week has felt like the winter blues finally melted away in Iowa with spring weather, and I am ready to share the Friday Four! This note is simply a weekly highlight from behind the scenes at Tura Lura Co.

1. Kick off to Summer is next weekend in West Branch! On both Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8 from 11am-6pm you can explore the charming and historic Main Street district while shopping at locally owned boutique shops for gifts, home decor, vintage, antiques, clothing, handmade items + more! And I’ll be open at Tura Lura Co. both days to make candles, reed diffusers, dried florals, and a special summer craft… friendship bracelets! If you need to cool down for a bit in the air, come swing by for a snack and a craft. Plus for our seltzer enthusiasts, on Saturday from 2-6pm there is a seltzer stroll. What fun!

2. I am really excited to bring back Pour + Restore, a version of Candle Pour Bar where we have a gentle yoga class in the National State Park down the block from Tura Lura Co. in West Branch while our candles dry in the studio. When I first moved into the studio space, I connected with the park rangers, and we are going to try it out in June and July! Check the class schedule if you are interested.

3. This week I began work on a custom candle project for an Iowa boutique, and also got to ship a custom candle to one of my favorite Candle Pour Bar guests! The reason I love helping folks create custom blends through classes, is because when you find something that works for you, you can re-create it again and again. People are drawn to scents that evoke positive memories, unique to the individual and their experiences. I had updated the website to include “Make your own Custom Candle” shippable for the clients who had asked… but I never really promoted it. So, if you find yourself in need of a custom made fragrance or candle with custom message to ship, I’ve got you.

4. Hitting the 90 day mark last week, and transitioning to summer hours, has allowed me to feel like I have my feet back under me (and dare I say a little more creative). I’m trying out some new ideas, and daydreaming about all the fun coming in the next few months. And as I push myself to think bigger and outside my own comfort zone, I’d love to hear from you. What kind of experiences are you planning on having still in 2024? What kind of workshops don’t we have yet in Iowa that you want to see here? What big ideas do you wish were implemented locally? Thanks for sharing your thoughts and dreams with me.

Happy Friday!

Erika

July schedule releases on June 1! Yay!

Pour + Restore

What is pour + restore? So glad you asked!

It’s a candle workshop at your favorite West Branch candle studio, plus a gentle restorative yoga class in the National State Park down the street. You’ll gain the basics of candle making and create a custom 9oz candle in the first hour, plus a gentle outdoor yoga session during the second hour. And, it’s all lead by me (Erika) at the same price as a typical Candle Pour Bar!

So if you don’t know my background… Movement had always been an important part of my self expression. I had received my BFA in dance before attending grad school for education. Then in 2012, I trained to become a 200 RYT which stands for 200 hour registered yoga teacher. Those letters are a certification designation meaning you have gone through the proper coaching to teach others. At the time, we were living and working in Missouri and on the side I was teaching ballet at a local performing arts center and had been a certified Barre instructor. I began teaching yoga at the sweetest studio, and continued teaching yoga when we returned to Iowa. I’ve always been a fan of teaching a very simple series of movements for a gentle yoga class. It’s one you can modify if you need some adjustments, or add to and make more challenging for your own practice. It focuses on breathing and calming down your nervous system, while allowing the individual to choose how they want to approach the sequence.

So while I love moving, the last few years have been quite challenging for my body and mind. After an EDS diagnosis in 2017 then two pregnancies, my focus had to go towards pain management. After my youngest was born, I could barely walk up the stairs and I was looking at a hip surgery. I gained strength with physical therapy, but I cut out all yoga for fear of over stretching and tearing. The last year has been a weird road. My movement journey is still just that. A journey. Some days are really good, and others I sublimated and pop a rib out of place because of my hip positioning and core. The physical pain ebbs and flows. The mental limit and fear of injuring myself again has been the more difficult hurdle. But I began to move again. Not like I use to. Modified to what feels good to me at this stage. And I began using my yoga sequence. And I feel ready to share it with you.

I had been talking to our wonderful State Park rangers about trying yoga in the park, and we are going to give it a go! We’ll do one try in June and one try in July. If you like it, maybe we’ll add some more while the weather is beautiful. Or go all in and just do a fall yoga series. I love to experiment and try things out, so let me know what you think.

And as a side note - if the weather stinks during our class, the rain plan is that we will stay in studio and have fun. We can move a bit (I have lead chair yoga) or just enjoy our time together.

What questions do you have about pour + restore? Let me know!

Pour + Restore | Friday, June 28 6-8pm

@turaluraco | 109 N Downey St. in West Branch, IA

Custom Candle

You have great taste.

What you like is different than the next person. Creating your own custom candle allows you to express your creativity and individuality. The process of choosing specific scents, the color jar, and even the label gives you a personalization over the final product that you can’t get in any old box store.

Custom candles can also make meaningful gifts for loved ones, as they can be tailored to match the preferences and personality. And the words can be used to surprise and delight! I got to create a special one to help someone surprise their kids with life changing concert tickets!

I love teaching people how to make their own candles during Candle Pour Bar. And once people find their special formula, I encourage them to write it down. You can re-create it over and over again! If you can’t make it into studio, or made on on a trip to visit Tura Lura Co. you can order your custom candle to be delivered to you.

You can purchase here and select from the current colors and fragrances. Also indicate if you’d like a label, and if so, what words you’d like typed up. Local drop off is available, and shipping to the US.

I love helping people have their custom small batch candles!