MMoCA Holiday Art Fair

We love the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art's Holiday Art Fair. Sure, we'll be displaying our candles there this year for the first time, but our appreciation for the museum runs deeper than a sales opportunity.

We've both spent the majority of our professional careers helping artists. We've worked at two online art companies together helping artists market their work and share it with the world. We've dabbled in our own creations, including candles, and believe that art and the opportunity for all people to enjoy, contemplate, and interact with it--no matter how big or small--makes the world a better place. MMoCA provides Madison residents and visitors with a unique opportunity to experience the best in contemporary art.

Since 1901, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art has provided free exhibitions and education programs for city residents and visitors. The museum provides an exhilarating setting for the presentation and conservation of modern and contemporary art. Programs like MMoCA Nights and Rooftop Cinema, special events like Design MMoCA and Hair Affair, and exhibitions featuring esteemed modern and contemporary artists, have made MMoCA a favorite downtown destination.

The Holiday Art Fair is particularly important because it helps ensure that everyone has access to great art. "Events like the Holiday Art Fair allow MMoCA to be an admission-free museum. With the funds raised at the fair, MMoCA can offer the Madison community free exhibitions and education programs that engage people in modern and contemporary art," says Annik Dupaty, Director of Events and Volunteers.

So we hope you'll come on down to the fair this weekend and check out the Reek Havoc booth, and support the 70+ artists and craftspeople who will have work there for purchase. But don't forget to check out the year-round offerings of MMoCA--it's a great place to experience art!

2015 Holiday Happenings: MMoCA's Holiday Art Fair, Ale Asylum's Shop Hop

Feliz Naughty-dog! We've been busy making our eco-friendly soy candles for the 2015 holiday season, and can't wait to show them to you! 

Find us at one of these upcoming events where we're debuting some fun new candles just in time for the Holidaze (Dysfunctional Family Fumigator, anyone?), and will have plenty of our best selling Dog Fart Fixer and Cat Crap Corrective candles on-hand.

First up, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art's Holiday Art Fair. Friday, November 20th - Sunday, November 22nd. 227 State Street, Madison.

Then, if you're lucky you'll score a Kink(y) Cover-Up at Ale Asylum's Holiday Shop Hop! Saturday, December 5th from 1-5 pm in the upstairs lounge. No cover, $1 off pints. 2002 Pankratz St, Madison.

All purchases include a classy Reek Havoc gift bag for easy gift-giving.

BONUS: We love our pets, and $1 from each candle sold goes directly to our friends at Underdog Pet Rescue of Wisconsin.

Any questions? Feel free to reach us through our contact page. We hope to see you soon!

Amy and Jill
Reek Havoc

Reek Havoc Tips: Safely burn and prolong the life of your candles

 Tips for safely prolonging the life of your candles

Burn Time

The first time you burn your Reek Havoc candle, allow it to burn for at least two hours, until the whole top is liquid with wax. This will help your candle burn more evenly the next time.

Trim the Wick

Each time before you burn your candle, trim the wick to 1/4 inch. Trimming the wick allows it to burn more slowly and evenly.

Realign the Wick

After blowing out your candle, re-center and straighten the wick.

Safety

Never leave a lit candle unattended. This could be a fire risk. Always place your candle on a level, heat resistant, non-flammable surface away from fabric or drapes. Choose an area free from drafts to avoid uneven burning.

Every Reek Havoc candle is individually made by hand using eco-friendly soy, sourced from U.S. Farmers.They are made to burn longer than most traditional candles, lasting from 30 to 36 hours with a proper burn.

Reek Havoc Beginnings

One evening in the Fall of 2012 while sharing a bottle of wine (or two!), philosophizing on what we want to be when we grow up, we were silently ambushed into an olfactory uproar by Amy's sweet Yellow Lab, Otis. Amid the match lighting and magazine waving, we joked that there must be a better way for pets and their owners to live in fragrant harmony. That was the beginning of Reek Havoc.

Jill & Amy, co-owners, Reek Havoc

We're Amy and Jill, two Midwestern gals who love pets and the relationships they share with their humans. We enjoy creating, sharing some laughs, and having fun in our work. We have worked together on and off since 2001 at two online art companies and decided to give our own business a go. We're both Jacks (or Jills) of all trades; Amy brings a diverse background in the arts, merchandising, and marketing, while Jill brings her knowledge of writing, marketing, and design. 

And we both count our pets among our family members. Amy's fur babies include Oonagh, the 18-year-old Muppet mix and grand patriarch of the pack. Found in a dumpster (!) at only a few weeks old, she is living proof of the power of love, laughter, and second chances. Otis, the 13-year-old yellow lab, goes big in everything he does--affection, play, sympathy, and, um. . . flatulence. Pixie, the 3-year-old Yorkie/Schnauzer/Poodle mix, brings up the rear, although always from the front! Another rescue from a tough situation, she has firmly settled into her role as the pampered princess.

Jill's family includes 13-year-old yellow Lab Ferris, aptly named after the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off because she's just a little bit naughty and would totally ditch school for a day, but is ultimately a lovable sweetheart. Icarus, the social black cat, came to Jill's family as a rescue a few years back. He's missing half an ear due to frostbite when he was out on the mean streets of Madison, but we think it makes him look handsome and distinguished.

We believe the world is a better place with pets, and wholeheartedly support the work and mission of pet rescue organizations. That's why we're pleased to donate money from sales of our candles to Underdog Pet Rescue of Wisconsin. Check 'em out--and thanks for your interest in Reek Havoc!

Why We Love & Support Underdog Pet Rescue

Many of you know that Reek Havoc donates $1 from the sale of each candle to Underdog Pet Rescue of Wisconsin, and here's why: They're an awesome nonprofit pet rescue organization located on Madison's east side, with a core of volunteers and foster families that are truly devoted to improving the lives of pets, many of whom might otherwise be put to sleep at kill shelters because they're deemed "not perfect." Their mission is to find permanent homes for these pets.

This past Saturday, my youngest daughter and I had the pleasure of attending Underdog's monthly Coffee and Canines event. For those interested, Coffee and Canines happens at Underdog's storefront, 231 South Fair Oaks Avenue in Madison, the first Saturday of every month from 9 am-Noon. Foster families bring many of Underdog's adoptable dogs and cats for you to meet in person, plus you can enjoy coffee and Batch Bakehouse treats.

While we were there, we chatted with a number of foster families, petted lots of sweet dogs and cats looking for their forever home, and witnessed the best of Underdog in action. During our time there, one of the volunteers brought in two dogs who had been transported from Alabama. One was a mama Bassett and there was another small black-and-white dog. Lauren, Underdog's Executive Director, explained to me that they used to only take dogs from Wisconsin, but soon shelters outside the state learned about Underdog and started transporting dogs there as space is available. Underdog works with various transporting services to get the animals to them, where they're then checked out by a veterinarian, and placed with foster families while they wait for their "furever" home.

We're thrilled to support Underdog through the sales of our candles -- but they're always looking for direct donations and foster families to help rescue more animals. If you're interested, check out their website, where you can make a donation online, inquire about fostering, or see information about the animals awaiting adoption. Or stop by the next Coffee & Canines event--you won't be sorry you made the trip!

Reek Havoc at Willy Street Fair 2015

Reek Havoc had soooooo much fun at the Willy Street Fair yesterday! The weather was absolutely perfect, and we raised $$$ for Underdog Pet Rescue of Madison. Thank you to everyone who came, saw, said hello, purchased candles, gave positive feedback, and are helping to support our mission! We'll be back next year!

In the meantime, you can shop our Etsy store, and please mark your calendar for MMoCA's annual Holiday Art Fair November 20-22. Reek Havoc has a booth reserved, and we're already busy working on wintery scented soy and beewax candles for your olfactory pleasure!

Reek Havoc candles.

Can't resist a bearded dog.

Classic Willy Street Fair. Bubbles!

Forward Marching Band.

Pixie and pal at our Smooch a Pooch Booth!

Reek Havoc September 2015 Events and Updates

We met some great pups and people at Paws to Celebrate

Reek Havoc's online shop is temporarily "on vacation" as we just wrapped up participating in Camp K9's amazing "Paws to Celebrate" event in Madison, Wisconsin last Saturday, September 12th. A huge, sincere THANK YOU to the Camp K9 crew, and all who came out and supported our mission to aid pet rescue groups. Reek Havoc currently supports Underdog Pet Rescue of Madison, Wisconsin.

This coming Sunday, September 20th, you'll find us on the 900 block of the Willy Street Fair in Madison -- Set up right in front of
Cha Cha Beauty and Barber at 912 Willy St.

We'll be raising moola for Underdog Pet Rescue through sales of our exquisite soy/beeswax blend candles, and "Smooch A Pooch" booth. See you there!

Reek Havoc's First Blog Post

This is where we'll post current events, news, cool things, good dogs, and more, more, more! In the meantime, thanks for visiting Reek Havoc!