Dream Spa Medical Featured Artist of January: Luyao Qiu

Some artists paint, some sculpt, and others discover their creativity later in life, often in the quiet pockets of a busy day. For Westwood resident Luyao Qiu, originally from a small city about an hour outside Beijing, her journey into candle making began as a way to unwind at the end of long days caring for her young children.
 
“I love crafts,” she said. “Life with kids can be chaotic, so sometimes I need my own time to reset. Crafting is very relaxing.”
 
Luyao’s love for candles began long before she started her small business, Q Light Candle, LLC.
 
“I’ve always loved burning candles in my home,” she shared.
 
In 2022, during the pandemic, Luyao and her family returned to China for a year. At the time, candle making was soaring in popularity, so Luyao decided to take a class to learn how to make candles of her own. The program she enrolled in drew heavily from Korean candle artistry. Upon completing the class, she earned a certificate in candle-making, and continued to explore her newfound passion when she returned home. The more she experimented, the more she discovered a new outlet for expression.
 
“When I came back home, I started experimenting on my own,” Luyao said. “I wanted to make stylish candles, not just the regular container ones.”
 
She began crafting for her home and as gifts for friends, who encouraged her to test the market.
 
“They said, ‘You should go to a market sale and see how people like it,’” she recalled.
 
The response was positive, and by the end of 2023, her small business, Q Light Candle, LLC, was officially born.
 
Luyao sells her candles seasonally, especially during holidays such as Christmas, Lunar New Year, and Valentine’s Day. She also hosts workshops, many at Wyllo, a boutique in Boston’s SoWa district.
 
“It’s a great space, and people come ready to make something fun,” she said.
 
During the holiday season, private home workshops are especially popular.
 
“Ladies’ groups, families, they want to make handmade candles as Christmas presents,” she explained.
 
Teaching is just as meaningful to her as making candles.
 
“My goal is to share candle-making ideas and knowledge about the wax,” Luyao said. “I explain why we use a certain wax, the ideal temperatures, and small details that make a difference. People really enjoy learning.”
 
She enjoys showing attendees that candle-making can be imaginative and unexpected.
 
“I don’t want to just do standard soy candles. I like the stylish ones, the shaped ones. It’s a different experience.”
 
Her candles vary in size, style, and scent, with popular choices changing by season; cedarwood and rosemary in winter, fresh florals in spring and summer.
 
In 2025, Luyao joined the Westwood Artists group after attending their holiday sale the previous year.
 
“The people in the group are so nice and supportive. They really appreciate handmade things. It feels good to be part of it,” she said.
 
While Luyao balances candle making with her role as a stay-at-home mom, she approaches it with the same care and creativity as any full-time endeavor.
 
“When the kids are at school, I make candles,” she said. “It’s flexible and really depends on my schedule.”
 
Whether through her seasonal markets, workshops, or private events, Luyao hopes that those who encounter her candles feel the same joy she did the first time she poured melted wax into a mold and watched it glow.
 
Congratulations Luyao for being our January Featured Artist! If you’d like to nominate an artist of any sort to be featured – music, acting, painting, drawing, sculpture, etc. – please email dbezdedeanu@bestversionmedia.com