[Event Report] Ice-Like Candle Making Workshop

On February 24, 2026, we hosted an ice-like candle-making workshop at our coworking space!

We welcomed three returning participants and one newcomer.

It was a packed 90 minutes — from crafting candles to a slightly surprising photo session at the end. After lighting their finished candles, there were even moments where everyone simply relaxed and enjoyed the quiet glow.

Today, we’re sharing a glimpse of this refined, grown-up evening art experience ^^

It Looks Like Ice… But It’s Not! A Surprisingly Squishy Material

After introductions, we began by shaping the candles. For this workshop, we used transparent gel candles that resemble ice.

They looked so real that one participant asked, “Wait, these don’t melt?”

First, everyone cut the material freely with scissors.
Should it look like real ice? A crystal? Maybe an iceberg?

Each person became absorbed in the process, searching for their ideal shape.

Once cutting was done, it was time for the next step: heat shaping.

We gently melted the rough edges with a flame to create soft, curved surfaces.

As the candles were warmed, they became even more transparent — and even more convincingly icy!

Now for the final step — the most important and most difficult part: inserting the wick.

Using a bamboo skewer, we made a hole in the candle and carefully inserted the wax wick.

Because the wick is soft, it can bend easily if you’re not careful. The staff had struggled during trial runs, so we were a bit nervous — but everyone handled it beautifully.

What started as a clear, squishy block transformed into a stylish candle!

(A bold, iceberg-like candle! A unique piece featuring two wicks.) (Incredibly realistic — it really looked like ice! Everyone around couldn’t help but cheer.)

Before You Know It, You’re Hooked on the Art Experience

In this workshop, each person made two candles.

After finishing the first one, ideas began bubbling up —
“I want to try this shape next.”
“I wonder if I can make it like this.”

Those ideas came to life in the second candle.

Letting go of everyday life for a moment and simply shaping candles however you like.
Even as we chatted warmly together, there were waves of comfortable silence where everyone quietly focused — a truly luxurious evening.

Surprise! A Mini Photo Session

Once the candles were complete, it was time for a surprise photo session.

“Please wait a moment while we prepare something…”
What the staff brought back was—

A handmade mini snow hut (kamakura)!
(We gathered snow from behind the coworking space and built it a few hours earlier.)

Everyone’s reactions were amazing, and it made us so happy.

We placed the lit candles inside the snow hut and turned off the lights…

“Woooow!!”

The entire snow hut glowed with a soft orange light, creating a magical lantern.

Inside the snow, the candles looked even icier — yet the warm flame flickered gently, something you could gaze at forever.

(This is how it looked from the front — a soft, adorable flame glowing inside.)

After plenty of photos, it was time to wrap up the event.

“I had so much fun — it was moving!”
“It was easy to make something that looked so nice. And the snow hut surprise was wonderful!”
“If you shaped it like a volcano crater, watching the candle melt might be even more fun!”

We received so many lovely comments, and once again we felt glad we held this event.
If connections in Kusatsu continue to grow from this place and add a little color to everyone’s daily lives, we would be truly honored.

We’ll continue hosting a variety of events at the coworking space, so stay tuned for the next one!

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us!

(After the event, we briefly displayed the finished pieces outside.)