Where to Start with Norma Coney
Norma Coney is a craft author best known for “The Complete Candlemaker,” a project-driven guide that taught a generation of candle makers how to move beyond basic pillars and tapers into the full creative range of the craft. Her strength is in making ambitious-looking techniques feel approachable, with clear instructions and excellent photography that shows you not just the finished product but every step along the way.
Start here
The Complete Candlemaker: Techniques, Projects & Inspiration
Norma Coney · 128 pages · 1997 · Easy
Themes: candle projects, creative techniques, surface decoration, fragrance and color, advanced candle types
A beautifully photographed guide to making over 40 different kinds of candles. Norma Coney covers everything from hand-dipped tapers to marbleized pillars, carved candles, sand candles, and floating votives.
Why Start Here
This is Coney’s signature work and the best entry point into her approach to candle making as a creative craft. Where many instructional books focus on getting the basics right, Coney assumes a willingness to experiment and rewards it with projects that look impressive but are more achievable than they appear.
The photography is the book’s greatest asset. Every technique is documented visually, making it easy to follow even when the text describes something unfamiliar. Coney also includes guidance on fragrance, color, and surface decoration, treating each candle as a complete creative project rather than a simple functional object.
What to Expect
At 128 pages, this is a focused, efficient book. It moves quickly through techniques and assumes some basic comfort with melting wax. Complete beginners may want to make a few simple candles first before diving in, but anyone who has tried even one basic project will find this book opens up a world of possibilities.
The 1997 publication date is not a concern. Candle making is a craft where the fundamentals have remained stable for decades, and everything Coney teaches is still directly applicable today.