The new Bermuda Candle Factory shop has opened its doors for business.

Located downstairs from the Loft Restaurant in Somerset, the shop carries a variety of items by various individuals made in Bermuda. Candles and lanterns made on the premises by owner Gina Martin can be seen and smelt as you walk through the door. Inspired by nature, her lanterns are accentuated with a variety of leaves and ferns. In addition to traditional shaped candles, Mrs. Martin makes candles in the shape of sea shells, starfish and tree frogs.

Mrs. Martin says after she left the Bermuda Craft Market where she worked for a decade, an opportunity was presented to her to purchase a candle making business. She said: ?When the opportunity came up I said to my self ?I would like to do that?.? She said she has been looking for a suitable location for the business since 1999 until she found the location in January of this year.

Mrs. Martin says that her nephew, niece and herself built her workshop and redecorated the shop.

Apart from her variety design candles, crocheted accessories by her mother, Bermuda cedar fire starters, body oils, postcards by various artists, hand made soaps, herbal teas and home incense sticks by BermiScent are among the items the store has for sale. The shop also has bees wax candles made by summer student Losha?e Bean.

Mrs. Martin says she plans to have more young students as well as carry more art work from schools in the future .She said: ?There is a lot of amazing art work within the schools and I plan to make arrangements to be able to display much as possible when the schools open in September.?

The shop is open six days a week, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.