Jo-Baby Candle Company has been owned and operated by Joni Lee Self since 2002. When Joni Lee was just a little girl, her parents and sister nicknamed her "Jo-Baby".

The name stuck and her friends and family still call her "Jo-Baby" today.

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In 2001, Joni Lee was living in Corpus Christi, Texas, and was greatly displeased with the quality of candles that were on the market and set out to create candles that not only were HIGHLY fragrant, but were long-burning with little to no soot at all. After a year of extensive testing, she nailed it and shortly after, Jo-Baby Candle Company was born. The popularity and demand for Jo-Baby Candles skyrocketed almost overnight. A couple of years later, this led to the opening of a Jo-Baby Candles retail store that was located in Forsyth, MO just minutes away from Branson, MO.

Customers could come in and see Jo-Baby at work hand-pouring each and every candle while they browsed and shopped for their favorite fragrances.

 

Joni Lee has always had a love for all things country. You can see that vibe spilled over into the simple, vintage, farmhouse country charm of her products.

 

Jo-Baby Pantry Jar Candles & TartBreakers are all 100% dye free. Dye is used in the Bakery Candles that are made to look and smell like the real thing.

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It's now been 20 years since the birth of "Jo-Baby Candle Company" and Joni Lee and her husband, Robert Self, now live on a ranch in Vivian, Louisiana called SELF-ISH RANCH. Together, they have a total of 9 children - five adult grown children who are living happy and productive lives on their own, and four "littles" who still live at home and are homeschooled right on the ranch. Also living on the ranch: 2 dogs, 2 cats, 5 kittens, and 10 pregnant mama beef cows that are expected to have their calves in September 2024.

 

Both Robert and Joni Lee are active in the local music scene and can be found on a stage anywhere from East Texas, North Louisiana, to Oklahoma most weekends. Robert is an award winning lead guitarist (2017 Ark-La-Tex Guitarist of the Year) and currently plays lead guitar for CODY COOKE & THE BAYOU OUTLAWS as well as for JAKE WILLIAMS BAND. Joni Lee is an accomplished country vocalist and currently sings for the popular country band, JAKE WILLIAMS BAND.

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The SELF family's faith is deeply rooted in Jesus and both Robert and Joni Lee, along with some of their children, lead worship at their church,

Grace Family Worship Center, in Shreveport, Louisiana.