About Us
Alice
Marquardt started crafting as a way to use her creative skills and to
relax after a day in the high school classroom, where she taught Home
Economics for 30 year. She started with candle-making, after seeing a
demonstration at the Iowa State Fair in the early 70s. She then would
show and sell her candles at craft shows.
In the late 70s she decided to use her maiden name, Wicks, in her business
name, and had expanded her business to include Tots Tents. So her business
became known as Wicks N Things. The tents being the “Things”. She has
tried other crafts over the years but candles and tents have continued to
be most popular.
Alice has been a member of the International Guild of Candle Artisans (IGCA) for about 35 years where she has learned to produce quality candles by attending Workshops and Conventions. She now shares her knowledge of candle with other IGCA members at these events. She is presently editor of their publicatiion, The Candlelighter.
For many years all of the candles were made in the kitchen of her home. In 2001 she moved to a new house where she has a room just for making candles. It is packed full of candle equipment and supplies to use in creating new candle designs.
home : tots tents : candles : about us : contact : candle safety : checkout