Interview with Mallory from My Art of Gold

Name: Mallory Romportl

Burning since: 2016

Location: Minnesota

@myartofgold and etsy

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Favorite piece of advice for new pyrographers? 

Slow and steady will make for a beautiful burn, it requires patience and lots of practice. And SAFETY first, wearing a mask will save you many headaches and of course your lungs too! 

How much time do you spend wood burning versus the rest of your business? 

I probably spend 50/50 on both. To be honest, you’ll probably find me burning more often then taking care of the business side of things. My husband is a wonderful helper when it comes to the financial and logistics part of the business. 

What inspires you?

My faith and nature are huge inspirations for me. When I’m out hiking or at a park, I may find a certain type of flower and think to myself ‘that would make a beautiful piece to burn.’ 

I also love burning bible verses or encouraging quotes especially now because I think everyone could use a little hope. 

Your faith is a big part of who you are and you bring it into your art. Was that always part of the plan?

I knew that I wanted this business to be Christ- centered when I started and my faith is a huge part of my daily life. I believe every artist should include who they are into their work and since my faith is so important to me, I love to share it with others as well. I understand it’s not everyone’s cup of tea and I totally get it, I’m just thankful that it can be a part of my creative journey as well. 

Deserted Island, with power question. You can choose ONE:

Burner: Razertip SK burner 

Nib: Ball point because I love how versatile it is!

Type of wood: Walnut hollow Basswood

Non-essential tool (but basically essential to you): a ruler or straight edge!

What are your favorite nibs to use? 

Ball point tip is my absolute favorite because I can do so much with it and it’s the easiest tip for me to letter with. I also love a good universal shading tip to achieve those shading details on more complicated pieces. 

What is your transfer method of choice? 

If I do transfer, I use graphite paper and an embossing tool to trace my design onto the wood piece. 

What are some of your other favorite tools?

A ruler or some sort of straight edge is always sitting at my side and my Razertip burner is definitely my go-to burner. Also, Walnut Hollow basswood is the best wood for my projects!

Any storage solutions that you have found handy? 

We live in a pretty small place so storage options are pretty limited but we always keep the Walnut Hollow wood in their boxes and try to consolidate them until I’m ready to pull them out to use them. As soon as a piece is finished, I will wrap it in tissue paper for a layer of protection and safely store them into a basket or box. 

Do you have a dream collaboration you would like to do with either a company or another artist? 

I would love to collaborate with Razertip because I believe in their product, I’ve been using their burner for almost 4 years now and I would consider it an honor to work with them! I also have a couple of acrylics/ gouache artists such as Julie Marriot @juliemarriotart because I adore her style, it’s so bright and vibrant! 

Can you give us any lettering advice? How do we get to the point where we can just put burner to wood? 

I have had tons of practice with lettering and I first started with a brush pen on paper. Sounds crazy but I really suck and brush lettering. However I found that the more I practiced with a brush, the easier it was to simply burn it onto wood. There are also many lettering artists and Skillshare classes that helped me find my own style and work on different fonts. 

Lettering artists that I have learned from:

Shelly Kim: @lettersbyshells

Amanda Arneill: @amandaarneill

Riley Stark: @oak.lettering.co

What goals do you have for My Art of Gold? 

As of now, I honestly don’t have too many goals for my business. My family just grew to a family of 4 when we welcomed our second baby boy and they are definitely priority. So my business may have to take a back seat for a bit and I’m completely okay with that. 

What tips do you have for people who are trying to increase their Instagram following? 

Process videos! People love to see real time and time lapse videos of your process. Videos also seem to catch more attention than a photo for some reason. 

Watch the recorded live video:

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Interview with Hannah from Walnut Hollow

Company Name: Walnut Hollow

Name and Role: Hannah Bartelt, Marketing and Social Media Specialist

Location: Dodgeville, Wisconsin

Find us on: Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Website  and Blog

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Can you tell us a brief history of Walnut Hollow? How/when did it start? 

The start of Walnut Hollow is one of my favorite stories to tell - and the details are the best part. My grandpa, Dave Ladd, has always been passionate about nature and woodland conservation. He planted trees all around the family land to track their growth, environment, and health from seedling to mature tree. Once the trees were mature, he would harvest them and begin the process again. He gave his wife, Nancy, my grandma, some of the slices from a mature tree that he had harvested. She has always been a passionate crafter and she used the wood slices as a base for a decoupage project - the rest is history.

My grandpa began to market the idea of Walnut Country Rounds® throughout the community and they were so well received he started to attend trade shows around the country. He did not have the funds to have a booth at the shows, so he would track down the buyers and invite them to come back to his hotel for a meeting. He would serve cheese and crackers...because, well, Wisconsin! He came home from his first trade show with enough orders to jump right into planning, production, and distribution. Walnut Hollow was officially founded in 1972. You can watch this video to see some old photos and get the concise rundown of who we are as a company!

How many family members currently work at Walnut Hollow and how many have worked there over the years? 

There are currently 5 family members working here full-time, including myself. Since my grandpa’s retirement several years ago, my mom is now the President + CEO. My uncle is the CFO and his wife is our Human Resources and Accounting Specialist. My second cousin is the Plant Manager. Every person in my immediate and extended family has worked here at some point! My mom, uncle, second cousin, and many other employees have been here from the beginning - 35+ years.

Walnut Hollow is a company that prides itself on sustainability as well as being made in the USA. Can you tell me a bit about your zero waste processing system?  

Sustainability and conservation is literally how Walnut Hollow started, and it has been a priority ever since then. We implement sustainable practices throughout our entire company, but we do have some major initiatives we pride ourselves on: 

• In 2015, David Ladd was inducted into the Wisconsin Conservation Hall of Fame for contributing to conservation programs, projects, public understanding, and conservation ethics for Wisconsin and the nation. 

• The Ladd family has planted more than 300,000 trees and shrubs on personal property in the surrounding area.

• When possible, raw material is harvested from Midwesst plantation and managed woodlands for the manufacture of wood surfaces.

• Walnut Hollow has a unique sawdust recovery system whereby sawdust and chips from the manufacturing process are vacuumed at each work station to a central silo storage system. As a result, the manufacturing operation is not detrimental to the health of employees or the environment.

• Wood waste and sawdust are recycled and sold as livestock bedding. No wood waste ends up in landfills.

Can you give us a rundown of some WH products? What kinds of wood and tools do you offer? 

We offer 2 main product lines: wood surfaces and wood burning tools. We also sell clock making supplies, crafting tools, and wood carving supplies.  I’ll keep this brief, but you can learn more about our offerings on our website! 

Our wood surfaces are probably what we are most well-known for. Our signature product lines, Basswood Country Rounds and Planks are the same product we brought to market over 40 years ago; however, they are now made of basswood (vs. walnut). Basswood is ideal for wood burning which is how we started our wood burning tools line. My uncle Scott was an extremely talented and creative teenager and started working on design concepts with my grandpa. He started attending trade shows when he was 16 years old and hosted demonstrations at the Walnut Hollow booth. All of the traditional tools and points that we sell today are almost exact replicas of the products that Scott designed years ago - with just a few innovations to match current technology. 

For more information about our wood surfaces - check out this video!

How are your wood surfaces prepared?

All of the wood we use is the highest possible quality and furniture grade lumber. Our wood material arrives to our production plant either in full log form or large planed surfaces. The logs are cut, kiln dried, sanded, and packaged. The planed pieces go through the same drying process, but are usually glued together to create plaques, then sanded and packaged. Every single wood piece is naturally untreated and kiln dried to keep bark intact, lower the risk of cracking, and to remove all moisture.

What is the best storage solution to keep our wood in tip-top shape? 

I always recommend keeping your wood surfaces in a place that will not be prone to collecting moisture and will not be direct sunlight. A closet or closed storage cabinet would be ideal. This will ensure the wood is not exposed to moisture or sunlight, which can cause discolouration.

How do you recommend that pyrographers clean WH wood burning tools? Does it depend on the type of burner? 

It seems like everyone kind of has their own preference when talking about this topic. I usually suggest using a fine grit sandpaper to gently rub off any residue from the points. This is the easiest way, in my opinion! I know a lot of people use a damp sponge to clean their points. This is effective and easy as well. When using the sandpaper method, just be sure to swipe very lightly across the sandpaper. You can use this technique with all of our points, but I would be extra gentle with the delicate wire tip points.

You mentioned there are more nib options coming for the Creative Woodburner! How many, and when can we hope to see them? Any chance we can twist your arm a bit more into telling us more about the shapes/types of nibs?

So excited about this question!! We will be releasing 4 new points that will be compatible with the wire point Creative Woodburner! You will be able to find them at Hobby Lobby and Michaels! I believe they will be available at Hobby Lobby first, but both stores will have them set by mid-September! You’ll have to wait until then for the official announcement and reveal, but think more shading points, a stamping point, and more precision! Stay tuned - we will announce on social when they are available!

Wood Burn Corner has been so lucky to get to do a bunch of different collaborations with Walnut Hollow. The Creative Woodburner packaging, many many challenges, sponsorship at the Burn Club Retreat, scholarships, WH traveling wood piece, and so many other things I am probably forgetting. What do you think has been some of the best things we have worked on together, and why? 

I have loved every project and campaign we have worked on but I think my favourite was the WH Traveling Wood piece. It was so fun seeing that piece evolve and travel around the country. I was the last recipient of the piece and I have it proudly displayed at my desk!

What are some of the most unique or interesting ways you have seen WH products used?

Seeing our products in the wild is one of my favorite things - it never gets old! We have been featured in a lot of craft and DIY magazines over the years which is always fun to see. Martha Stewart Living featured Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s wedding a few years ago and they used some of our plaques as table decorations! We see our barked products a lot on Shark Tank - many of the entrepreneurs use them in their displays. I think the most recent sighting was on Netflix’s Tiger King series. Did you see it?? So random!! I also love seeing new things on Instagram from our community and different techniques that are used during our Burnt Month campaigns!

What can wood burning artists do to increase their chances at getting featured on @walnuthollow? 

We cannot feature you if we don’t see your posts! So make sure your profile is public and use #walnuthollow. You can also tag us in the actual photo (not the comments - those get lost in our notifications!). I have not been posting a lot lately, but I do go through and checkout the posts we are tagged in - love seeing how everyone uses our products!

Do you forsee opening Walnut Hollow for tours in the future? 

We do not have plans to start doing tours. It is really difficult to make this possible due to overall production safety. Keeping our employees safe is very important and bringing in extra traffic to an already busy building would be really tough. We will keep this in mind though, and maybe will be able to share more about production virtually instead!

Will there be another WH Traveling Wood Piece? 

I would love to do another WH Traveling Piece! Let’s do it!

What goals do you have for the future of Walnut Hollow?

Right now we are focused on continuing to provide the highest quality products to our customers. Innovation is also very important to our future. We are always exploring new wood surface developments and new tool concepts. I don’t think I can share any concrete goals without spoiling anything :) 

Watch Hannah’s recorded live interview:

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How to Collaborate Effectively

Let’s talk about collaboration. Collaborating can be an excellent way to grow your audience and get your work in front of fresh eyes. It is an excellent marketing tool and an excellent way to make some great friends too.

Collaboration can look like a unique one-of-a-kind piece that you create with a fellow pyrographer, or a mixed media piece with artists from other fields, or a collaborative effort with companies. I have found success with all three. Click here to check out my collaboration pieces I have completed with other artists as well as companies I have partnered with.

When you get other people and other accounts talking about your work, it will grow your feed much faster than if you are the only one talking about it, and this is why I believe that collaboration is so fantastic, and why I attribute my past collaborations to a lot of my successes.

Collaborations can be scary and difficult to navigate, but I have some suggestions for you.

1. It needs to be a win-win-win situation. Be sure to set it up that way so that it is worth it for the person you are collaborating with for them and for their audience. It needs to make sense for all parties involved. If you are approaching someone with an idea, make sure you are clear on what it is you are asking of them and what it is you will be doing/providing.

2. Lay out all the details and agree to them before you continue forward. How are you dividing up expenses and profits? Where are you posting it? For how long? This should all be discussed before anything is made.

3. Communication is key. Have a backup form of communication if possible. If you are: running behind, have questions or concerns, don’t like something, or have an idea, I encourage you to speak up. Communicate your concerns and ideas with your collaboration partner. It will allow everything to run smoother.

4. Keep their aesthetic in mind when you are deciding if they are a right fit, and when you are coming up with your design/idea.

5. Workout your marketing strategy ahead of time. How many times will you post? How will you talk about it? Will you do a joint LIVE?

6. Follow through. Nothing is more frustrating than working on a group project with someone who is not pulling their weight.

But HOW?

Series/Collection Sale: Sell a collaborative collection on one person’s site, while the both of you promote it. Collaborative collections are fantastic, because you put in all the work for a collaboration and only have to ship one time, but create several pieces.

• Use whoever’s platform is larger to hold the sale whenever possible.

Giveaways: These are fantastic. This is a great way to motivate followers to follow the other members of the collaboration. Make sure the item(s), the rules, the photo, and the text are all very clear.

• Have people entering interact beyond tagging friends. Ask them a question, connect with them. It will feel more genuine for everyone, because it will be. Ask them to share about it too, to spread the word.

Auctions/bidding: Doing a blind/silent auction is also a great way to have a successful collaboration. You can also raise money for charity/cause. This raises awareness of the charity, but also of you, your art, and your values as a small business.

• A piece of mine that sold for the highest amount was from a blind auction sale. Don’t discount them, but do know that you need to promote them a lot; well before, and during the auction.

Promoting Products: Collaborating with companies can be a great way to make some extra money, get some great products, and extra exposure.

• Know what is expected of you. Read any contracts, and be carful of exclusivity. Only choose brands that make sense for your brand. Do your research.

I hope you consider bringing collaborations into your business as a regular practice. I think you will find the many benefits that that can come from them.

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Let’s work together!

Are you a business or an artist that would like to collaborate with Wood Burn Corner or with the wood burning community? We would love to hear from you!

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Looking for more creative business tips & tricks?

For more pyrography tips and tricks and to learn wood burning at your own pace from your home consider The Wood Burning + Business Toolkit

Grow with the community: Learn more about Burn Club+, a place where you can ask questions, and get the full answers, a place of fun and learning.

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Interview with Brandy from Mark it with a B Gallery LLC

Name: Brandy Roels

Burning since: 2016

Location: Michigan, US

@markitwithab_gallery, etsy and www.markitwithabgallery.com

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What does your shop specialize in/offer?

This is Brandy Roels, owner and artist of Mark it with a B Gallery LLC. I run my small business out of my in-home studio in Michigan, US. I focus on woodburning custom pet and people portraits, as well as niche fan art, fantasy art, and wildlife art. All my woodburning is done completely by hand, and I print prints of my work straight from my studio.

Have you always been an artist?

I started drawing at age three (always animals) and admired pet portrait artists. Art became my passion, and I continued taking every art class offered up through high school and private art lessons outside of school. In 2015, I graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a BFA in Illustration. My main focus was painting realistic portraits. 

I officially started my business in 2016 by offering portraiture painting, candle-making, sculpting, card-making and woodburning. It was way too much! I narrowed it down to just woodburning a year later, making fun signs, cooking utensils and cutting boards. However, I missed my background in portraiture and found a way to combine portraits and woodburning. 

How did you find your distinct artistic voice?

I stopped making the types of pieces I thought people would buy and started making pieces that truly expressed me. I love creating subject matter of animals, fairies/fantasy and fan art from films/tv. I also wanted to start sharing more of myself in my pieces. Not just making pretty pieces but making emotional pieces - expressing my emotions and evoking emotions for the viewer. 

Style:

My art style just kind of happened one day. This one is hard to explain. I remember creating a realistic bunny illustration, and I did not like the way the fur sort of got lost into the color of the wood. So, I added an outline around the exterior form of the bunny, like how tattoo artists draw outlines. Thus, my classic outline began!

Is it scary to be vulnerable with your art? To put real life into it? Is it therapeutic to create? Does it feel different when you are creating those pieces versus a dog portrait?

I know I’m not the first person to say this, but being vulnerable is hard. It almost feels easier to just keep things inside to yourself. I just got tired of doing that! The only person I had been completely vulnerable with was my husband, but I still felt alone and like I was bothering him by re-bringing things up I had not moved passed. Of course, he was not bothered and is a very understanding, kind man. 

I started sketching what I was feeling and called it “nonjudgmental sketching” (just sketch, don't think and don’t judge myself on what I draw). One day, I created a full, finished woodburning and painting piece ("Mother" - my first pregnancy piece based on one of my miscarriages). From there, I decided I would share it on social media and tell my story. After doing that, I found I was NOT alone, people were NOT judging me based on what happened, and people actually thought my piece was beautiful and powerful. A huge part of me healed that day. 

Now I make personal pieces to express my deep emotions or unsolved past trauma. I found it does help heal me and certainly is therapeutic. My creative process is more mellow and slow, versus my fast hatch-marking fur technique I do for pet portraits. I still have the same focus for pet portraits, but because my attachment is different my process is faster for pet portraits. 

What helps you get into a creative headspace? Certain music? A food or drink? A candle? Is there a routine to it?

Honestly, nothing specific! I usually just automatically start feeling the need to be creating/working or doing SOMETHING with my hands. I set my own schedule but like to start working at around 9 AM every morning and go until my husband gets home at 5 PM. Even after he comes home (and we are trying to relax), that need to keep doing something with my hands continues. I have tried "making" myself work on a hobby in the evening instead of continuing regular work - to keep me sane.

What percentage of time do you spend on actual wood burning versus business running? 

I spend most of my time woodburning/creating for sure. When it comes to business upkeep (like making an email newsletter or updating my website or financial spreadsheet), I dedicate a specific day (or couple of days) in order to give it my full attention and just get it done. It’s definitely not the most fun part, but it is needed and should receive my full attention. 

What things have you implemented that makes your whole business run smoother? What tips or pieces of advice can you give someone who would like to make their business run a little more smoothly?

It was one of those periods of time where I realized I’m trying way too hard. I decided there needs to just be one way for doing each aspect of my business. For example, I kept changing my creative process leading up to creating a custom piece (too much back and forth with the customer) or changing up my shipping/packaging. Now everything I do just has one way of getting it done. For advice, ask yourself if you’re happy with the way you do everything. What are you not enjoying? What can be made simpler/combined AND keep you happy?

One main thing that helped me in “being more official” was keeping track of ALL the money I made and spent. My husband created a spreadsheet for me (he’s a techy engineer), where I can input everything into categories. These include: Online Income, Commission Income, Fees (like processing fees taken from my online shop), Donations (I make), Office/Studio Purchases, Advertising Purchases, Shipping Purchases, etc. It’s exactly like balancing a checkbook! Mine is set to monthly, and I upload each purchase or sale immediately. When tax time comes, I have everything sorted and my sales tax I owe already calculated to pay my state. 

What goals do you have for Mark It with a B Gallery? Any art goals? 

My main goal is to open a gallery and store space where I could set up my studio to create all my work, sell my work/other woodburning artists' work/responsibly sourced pet and baby goods, and have a classroom to teach art classes/private art lessons. I already have the business plan and cost sheet in place!

Any lessons learned the hard way that you want to spare someone the time? 

1. Stop saying yes to everyone! Make sure you can actually create the piece OR that you really want to make the piece. I actually stopped accepting truly custom pieces, meaning things I don’t normally create. I understand needing the money, but I honestly value my happiness more. I usually ended up undervaluing the cost of those custom pieces too!

2. Woodburning art fades NO MATTER the sealant as soon as it’s touched by the sun. This is why I started making prints!

3. Clean the tips!! I’ve damaged quite a few tips from never cleaning the carbon debris or using a sanding block to try to wipe it off. It just sands away your tip shape. I use a leather strop with polishing compounds.

Deserted Island, with power question. You can choose ONE

Burner: Colwood Detailer

Nib: BALL POINT

Type of wood: Basswood

Non-essential tool: Quinn (husband)

Why the ball-point? Do you think you will ever use another nib?

I started out with Walnut Hollow’s basic green woodburning unit, and I would only use the Cone Point and Flow Point. It really was not until I upgraded to Walnut Hollow’s Creative Wood Burner with wire tips that tried the ball point tip. Then I was hooked! I’m able to do everything with it! I actually (truly) don’t know how to use ANY of the other tips for woodburning. Seriously! I might break out someday and actually try other tips for fun. As for now, I only own the ball point tip for my Colwood Detailer machine.

How do you add color to your pieces and do you have a favorite?

I love to use various types of paint! Since I was a portrait painter, I just enjoy the feeling of spreading paint around - especially on smooth wood. I find I end up blending my paint strokes in with my woodburning marks, such as adding short brushstrokes of color in with an animal's fur. I like everything I use to be water soluble, so even the oil paint I get is safe to use with water. My favorite paints I use are:

1. Winsor and Newton Watercolor Paint Tubes

2. Golden Paint Acrylic Paint

3. Holbein Acryla Gouache

4. Holbein Duo Aqua Oil WATER SOLUBLE Oil Paint

5. Winsor and Newton Artisan WATER MIXABLE Oil Paint

What are some of your favorite tools in your toolbox?

For woodburning, I honestly do not use much else other than my woodburner. I like to draw my designs directly on the wood using a graphite pencil and kneaded eraser. While I am woodburning, I will occasionally use a box cutter blade to erase any unwanted woodburning lines or areas that I burned too dark. It can also add some texture! Pretty boring, but that's it!

How do you make prints?

I print them myself at home. I have a Canon Pixma Pro 100. My process is I photograph my pieces, edit the picture and format the piece to fit on 5x7 and 8x10 sizes, and then just print. I like to use matte finish paper so there are no glares on my work. I tried using ink that was compatible with my printer, but I gave in and now use the expensive Canon brand ink. It's just better in the long run, trust me! I also use Canon brand paper (Photo Paper Pro Premium Matte).

If interested, you can order prints from printing companies online instead of buying your own printer. Kinkos definitely has great paper options and is not so bad price-wise. I have also heard great things from this site: finerworks.com

What do you use to finish your pieces? 

Like I said earlier, I love using products that are water-based. The sealant I use is Rust-Oleum Varathane WATER-BASED Spar Urethane Exterior with UV Protection (woodburning will still fade if placed directly in sunlight). It's available in a paint-on can or spray can (I prefer the spray!).

Dream collaboration? Business or person? 

I know that I would love to collaborate with local and national pet rescues or adoptions, using my pet portraits as a way to help raise money for their business/for all those cute pets out there needing a home. If I do open my own gallery/store someday, I plan to have a pet adoption day event in my store often where people can adopt and get one of my pet portraits (where the proceeds would go to the rescue business).

What are you working on now?

Growing a baby! I am currently pregnant with a baby girl, and this time I am seriously taking it easy after my previous miscarriages. I still have custom pet portrait orders I am creating, but I am keeping my environment as mellow as possible. My online store is currently closed, and I plan to open it again around the holiday time with limited edition items. Stay tuned!

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Watch the recorded live video:

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Interview with Chelsea from CGDesigns

Name: Chelsea Gorham

Burning since: December 2017 (but didn't start my business until May of 2018)

Location: Amarillo, TX

@cgdesigns_wear and www.wearcgdesigns.com

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Can you tell us a little about your art and yourself?

I'm Chelsea Gorham, owner and artist of CGDesigns where I make and sell woodburned jewelry and art.  I am a stay-at-home Mom and homeschooler of my 4 children by day, and a woodburning artist/jeweler by night.

How did you find wood burning?

Quite on a whim. Back in the summer if 2017, I was working as a vendor at our local market as a henna artist. As I finished up a design on my customer who also happened to be a musician, he asked if I could put a "henna" design on his guitar.  Knowing I couldn't possibly put henna paste on his guitar, I still accepted his challenge and looked into woodburning as an alternative. The first person I thought to ask was my Mother who has always been an artist, and low and behold, she had a vintage burner (Detail Master IV) that she offered to mail to me. As soon as I got it, I fell in love with the process and began practicing for my first big commission!

Which came first, jewelry making or wood burning, and when did you meld the two together?

They coincided, quite honestly. Because I didn't want to ruin a large, beautiful wood slab, I began by practicing my burn designs on small, affordable pieces. After I had a little collection of them, a good friend of mine commented that they would make cool pieces of jewelry...hence, wearable woodburned art was born!

Have you always done art?

Yes, having been surrounded by art/artists all my life, it feels very much a part of my life.  I would say my first memory of making art was when I was 3 years old. I have so many collections of art - from technical design to watercolor, I've enjoyed them all over the years. But...It wasn't until woodburning, that I finally accepted the title of Artist.

What goals do you have for CGDesigns?

More collaborations and expanding my portfolio in the short-term. My own workshop/jewelry shop/makers space in the long-term.

What inspires you?

Surrounding beauty - in nature, art, seasons, life. I love pattern designs, geometry and symmetry - all which I try to blend with my 'technical' design style. I love linear design and just want to make pretty things that hopefully bring joy.

Let’s talk about the earring of the month club! What is it, how does it work? Where do people go to sign up?

The Earring of the Month Club is a subscription service where my customers can sign-up for a surprise themed earring that shows up on their doorstep every month. I created it as a way to streamline a part of my business that allowed me to focus on a set # of earrings and have some fun while doing it. I have 4 subscription options that are all very affordable; VIP, 12 month, 6 month and 4 month options. VIP being the best value. To sign up, go to www.wearcgdesigns.com and click on the Earring of the Month tab at the top. 

You have now started a junior line, can you tell us a little about that?

The junior/youth line was inspired by my 10 year old daughter, Allison, who just got her ears pierced this past winter. She has always wanted to try my earrings as she sees me create them, but I told her that we could work on some together, that way she gets them just the way she likes! She sat down, sketched out her ideas and we collaborated on an adorable collection of earrings that all sold at their release. We plan on making it a regular thing now that she got a small taste of entrepreneurship and seeing the benefits of hard work mixed with fun. 

There is a design portion of your services.  Henna and Booth/Brand Styling. Can you tell us a little about these services?

Henna tattooing is a service that is always available to my customers. (It is after all how I got started!) I am available for private sessions, parties and events.

Booth/Brand Styling is a service I offer any creative who wants to up their market presence at in-person selling events. I take a look at their online presence, ie. shops, instagram feed, logo/brand as it is and base a style off of what 'feel' I get. I basically act as a consultant to get your booth that eye-catching look that makes you stand apart when selling in person. There is a unique art to marketing and design and I love bringing that 'a-ha' moment to my clients with this design service.

I have been loving your new portraits. (please include a portrait photo)

Thank you! I have long wanted to try them and quarantine has pushed me to do these things that I've been putting off.

What goals do you have for your art? Any other new techniques you are hoping to try?

Always want to improve and learn new things. I would love to be able to comfortably finish a large wood piece with only using a variety of burn techniques. Shading/gradient work being at the top.

How much time is spent wood burning versus the rest of the business? What percentage would you give each?

I'd say about 30-40% burning, and 60-70% all the other stuff!

Tell us about these super successful LIVE Video Sales you have been doing? Where did the idea come from? How did you set it up? What suggestions do you have for someone wanting to try one?

Instagram LIVE Market is an idea my creative entrepreneur coach, Kristyn Burney, perfected. I would suggest following her and joining her Facebook Group 'Creative as a Mother' for the best info on a successful LIVE Market. She has so many helpful tips on how to creative revenue and run a successful online business @kristynburney

Deserted Island, with power question. You can choose ONE

Burner: 'Old Faithful' Detail Master IV

Nib: Knife tip - I love clean, crisp linework

Type of wood: Birch

Non-essential tool (but basically essential to you): Dental Pick Thingy

What other tools are essential for you?

Watercolor travel set and Tombow Sand Eraser

What apps/programs do you find useful for your business?

Canva - I use it for so many things in my business.

What are the main types of wood that you use for earrings? Do you have a favorite? And where do you source your wood?

Birch Plywood is my go-to for earrings.

I have 2 wood suppliers/laser cutters I work with for custom/premium shapes.

What parts of the business do you absolutely love and what parts feel like a chore?

I love collaborations, networking with other makers and 'a-ha' moments of my own.

My least favorite part would have to be planning content on social media. It is necessary, but can feel like a long, long chore.

Any advice for newbie woodburning artists?

Play to your strengths. Start with what you know, perfect it, embrace it, make it your own. Don't feel like you have to do what anyone else out there is doing to get noticed. We are all individuals who have our own unique voice and something beautiful to offer.

Watch the recorded live video:

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Interview with Basia from fine line pyro

Name: Basia Chmielowiec

Burning since: 2009

Location: Innisfil, Ontario 🇨🇦

@finelinepyro and www.finelinepyro.ca

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Can you tell us a little about your art, your life, and you!

my name is Basia, the wood burning artist behind fine line pyro. One of the craft mediums I enjoy is pyrography and creating sustainable high end art that is inspired by nature!

mandalas are my jam but i also love trying new things and collaborating with other artists.

How did you find wood burning, and when?

in 2009, I got my first wood burning machine as a payment for creating some artwork on a bus!

i lived in Calgary for about 6 years and during that time I met this wonderful group of people who, at that time, started a business called bass bus. their idea was to create a moving platform for artists and musicians that would travel to different music festivals/events and perform. this amazing community grew and grew and I am very happy I was able to see it blossom.

since the bus was always moving, they needed artwork inside the bus that was permanent. they had transformed the entire interior with wood and discovered the art of pyrography. they trusted me enough to burn their bus and i am so honoured they did. i haven’t stopped burning since and am still using the same machine they gave me!

I will always have a special place in my heart for these amazing people, the mountains and the wonderful 6 years spent out west.

How did you find this fine art, fine line style? 

practice, practice, practice. 

doing the same thing you love and varying it and tweaking it over time allows your style and your art to have a character that is organic and your own. it took me a while to realize this. i was often putting myself down for not being as good as others, or not being able to create something amazing the first time i try. being an artist and having your own style is a journey that has to be taken. one of my favorite podcasts by Rich Roll (featuring Chase Jarvis): Creativity Is Our Birthright, sums it up nicely!

Have you always created art? 

art has always been part of my life in one way or another. in high school i took all the art classes that were available. i never had any formal training afterwards but a solid family foundation which supported and encouraged all varieties of creativity. I often draw with pencil and ink, mostly mandalas, as well as play with digital mandalas, i dabbled in scrapbooking, i really got into pastel, and also dove deep into making feather earrings and accessories and so many other random things… I really like to make stuff.

What is it about mandalas that you love so much?

the meaning of the word mandala in Sanskrit is circle. mandala is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the universe. the circular designs symbolizes the idea that life is never ending and everything is connected. mandalas can be simple or intricate, big or small and no two i make are ever exactly the same. creating them is my meditation, no matter the medium. drawing and burning mandala’s make me zone out and escape the clutter in my mind.

Any new techniques you are hoping to try?

I can’t wait to add some gold leafing onto my work but I want to work with adding colours, aiming for sustainable paints and natural elements to keep my work earth friendly.

How much time is spent wood burning versus the rest of the business? 

the ratio is about 80-20. i spend about 80% of my time wood burning and 20% on my business. I would like to invest more time onto the business end of things but have to juggle a full time job and a family. perhaps one day…

If people want to teach classes, what do you suggest they look for? Any pieces of advice? 

teaching classes brings me so much joy. i really enjoy when i can show people something new that can provide some peace and calmness in their lives. the best way to start, especially if you are short on time, is with a company.

i started teaching at Lee Valley Tools. they did all the work gathering students, providing materials and tools, and receiving payments. all i had to do was show up. this was huge since i didn’t have time or money for advertising and looking for students. now that i have more followers and know more people interested in learning, i invested in a few extra machines and am able to host small classes from my home!

Deserted Island, with power question. You can choose ONE:

Burner: any razertip brand burner. I have the SS-D10

Nib: the chisel tip (a.k.a. the sexy tip!)

Type of wood: cedar 🤤

Non-essential tool (but basically essential to you): sandpaper - i very gently sand most of my pieces when i am finished burning them to get the very fine lines i love 

What other tools are essential for you? 

I can do without (if i really had too) but i do take my compass everywhere i go. this helps me get the perfect circles and general shapes for my mandalas.

What apps, and programs do you find yourself using? 

planoly is great for organizing instagram photos and the order i post them. i am able to see my feed and insert new photos and move them around. this really helps plan ahead of time. i also use the mobile version of adobe lightroom for editing before they go into planoly. Canva is a game changer for all things digital! and of course, Pinterest is always my favourite to get inspired as well as market myself for free.

How do you stay organized? 

i really love using google keep. its basically like a digital sticky note hub that i can colour coordinate, tag (level of importance), label (business or personal), add photos too, make into checklists and share (ie. grocery store list) and edit with others. I always have it in my phone and its connected to gmail so setting alarms or scheduling e-mails is really easy! This is great because even those looooong term ideas can be stored away but also can be easily found anytime i want.

What wood do you use, and what suppliers do you prefer in Canada?

i often go dumpster diving in nearby wood shops. many companies who make kitchens or generally work with wood cannot use little pieces so their scrap wood and cut off’s go into the landfill. i divert as many pieces as i can and make them into art! I recently scored on a whole lot of cherry, which i love using and it has a gorgeous warm color with beautiful grains throughout. if i need to purchase a specific kind or shape, I go to Exotic Woods in burlington or look online.

What parts of the business do you absolutely love and what parts are hard? 

of course i love the actual art process, trying new things with wood burning and evolving my style. the part that is difficult for me is the whole selling process. i have a hard time pricing my art… i just started selling and am hoping to improve on this as i grow.

Any advice for newbie wood burning artists?

keep on creating. as i mentioned earlier, make it till you make it. the more you do the more you know what and how to do it. also, understanding that we all have a journey to go through is important. don’t compare yourself to others and their work. compare yourself to who you were yesterday and just keep moving forward.

Where do you find inspiration? 

nature! i love nature and everything it has to offer. i go portaging as often as i can and during those times, and also when i am taking care of my own plants in my home and backyard, i get a wealth of new ideas and inspiration. being in the forest grounds me.

What goals do you have for Fine Line Pyro?

i have something very exciting in the pipelines. i want to take nature and being in the forest and mix it in with mandalas so i am creating a sketchbook fit for traveling, guiding people of all artistic levels to make their own mandalas. stay tuned in my fine line pyro instagram feed for an announcement coming soon!  

Watch the recorded live video:

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Interview with Megan from HappiCamperKC

Name:  Megan Colwell

Burning since:  2012

Location: Kansas City (based)

@happicamperkc on Instagram and Facebook or Shop Etsy

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You have a unique living/working situation, can you tell us about that? 

Sure! I live in a 2018 Travel Trailer (camper). We are going on 2 years living in it full time. When we can, we travel the country. So far we have been out West and loved it!

Tell us a little about your business and what you make.

I am a self-taught wood burning artists. I love to make bold and colorful works of art of all types, however, my specialty is line art and texture. 

You have another business, Happidesk. Can you tell us a little about that?  

Of course! @Happidesk is where I conduct my business as a virtual assistant. Although my main focus is Real Estate, I also help many small business with things like: Social Media Management, Branding, Design, and Engagement. I help accounts authentically connect and grow with their target audience. 

What percentage of your time do you spend wood burning versus business? How much of your time is devoted to Happicamper vs Happidesk? 

Great question! Typically Monday thru Friday I spend on Happi Desk, using my evenings to engage on Happi Camper when I can. I do my best to dedicate Friday night thru Sunday night to making art and content for Happi Camper. 

What other hobbies/crafts do you enjoy? 

I also enjoy watercolor and illustration. I can't forget travel! I love exploring new areas, especially anything flora/fauna related. 

Where do you draw inspiration? 

Definitely from our surroundings. I love nature and find lots of new plants/places to research then apply to my art. I also draw a lot of inspiration from vintage styles. 

What piece of advice can you offer to anyone who is new to wood burning or new to the community? 

Do not "compare and despair". At the end of the day, social media can go away. Only compare yourself to your growth path, and not others. You are so unqiue; no one in the world is like YOU. So the more you lean into your own authenticity and forget about all the like/followers noise, the better you'll be in the end. 

Any quick tips for growing your Instagram following? What has worked for you? 

Sure! I follow the 10-10-10 on a daily basis. Ten minutes liking and commenting on my current followings' posts. Ten minutes connecting with my current followings' stories through genuine DMs. And ten minutes connecting with my target audience through recent posts in niche hashtags.

What other platforms do you use and enjoy besides Instagram? Any that you have found success with when it comes to reach and exposure?

I have used Pinterest with some success. I also use Etsy as a connection platform, especially for networking. Liking and favoriting others shops is a great gateway to collaborations. 

If you could give advice to yourself when you first started out, what would that be? 

Get more back-up pens! Since I burn so hot and heavy, I go thru pens very quickly!

Are there any apps that you can’t live without when it comes to your business? 

A scheduler. I love Apphi, and have also used the Later app. This helps me keep my posts up at peak times, plan ahead, and maintain a brand presence. 

Deserted Island, with power question. You can choose ONE

Burner: Colwood Super Pro II

Nib: Spade Tip

Type of wood: Poplar

Non-essential tool (but basically essential to you): Tombow sand eraser

Choosing what tools you keep on hand has to be a thoughtful process because of space limitations, so I am curious what are some of your other favorite tools you have in your toolbox? 

Acrylic paint pens have been a lifesaver for me. They take up SUCH little space and are so easy to use!

How do you finish your pieces? 

I use an aerosol polycrylic gloss finish. It really make the texture pop!

What are your favorite ways to add color? 

Lately, it is def the paint pens. But I also favorite other types of mediums like milk paint and watercolors.

What goals do you have for Happi Camper? What art goals do you have? 

One day, I would love to have some land, build a cabin, and renovate a handful of vintage campers. It would be an Air B-n-B where I could also host wood burning workshops. Short term goals def include teaching wood burning workshops in the Kansas City area!

What are your favorite podcasts and inspirational books? 

I listen to the Joe Rogan podcast, as well as Russell Brand. But honestly, I'm not much of a podcast listener. My favorite inspirational book is, "You Can Heal Your Life" by Louise Hays. 

I think we are all very curious as to how you can fit all of your wood burning supplies into the camper. Can you show us some of your storage solutions?

I have to thank my hubby here. He is the organization GURU. We keep my art supplies in baskets separated by type. We even label everything so it's easy to grab. I also bundle supplies in re-purposed Ipsy bags. One bag has everything I need to start sketching a new piece, and houses some of my main nibs. 

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What are you working on now? 

I am currently working on a few geometric shelves as I shift to making more functional art. I also have a new wood sign commissions in the pipeline. 

Watch the recorded live video:

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Interview with Aney from Pyrocrafters

Name: Aney Carver

Burning Since: 2016

Location: Prattville, AL

www.pyrocrafters.com and @pyrocrafters

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How did you start your pyrography journey?

In 2016. I started burning just for fun, then we started making things for friends and family and the next thing you know we’re taking orders. Then I started posting on social media and it just kind of took off in unexpected ways, which continues to this day. 

Do you do any other art forms/crafts/hobbies?

I love to make everything. Just making in general lights my fire. But specifically, I love to make things with cardboard. I’m not necessarily good at it especially when you see what other people are able to make. But I just love the idea of reusing a material in a completely different way in which it was intended and turning it into something functional.

Best piece of advice when it comes to owning your own wood burning business?

I really thought about this question a lot and it’s hard to choose just one piece of advice. This could apply to wood burners or any business at all. Learn. Learn as much as you can about what your business is, how to improve it, how to improve yourself, how can you help others, how can you can you be consistent, courageous, creative, inspirational, what you want to accomplish, why you’re in business. It all comes back to learning and taking in as much info you can on how to be better for yourself and for others. You can listen to podcasts, follow people that will teach you, read or listen to books, or just plain ole google searches. A lot of what you want to learn can be found for free if you do the work to find it.

Tell us about your book, Drawing with Fire, it such a beautiful book! Where can we find in it?

My book process took place from early 2019 to mid late summer. It’s a wood burning project book that focuses more on the projects themselves. The publishers and I brainstormed about what the book should be about from complex detailed portraits to lettering only to beginner projects. We ended up creating a lot of lettering projects for beginners, a few crafty projects and then a few more detailed intermediate projects with shading techniques.  

The goal was to get right to the projects and have the book focus on giving the reader a book full of projects they could make. In the early stages, we had a lot of setup stuff about tools, but we decided to narrow that down and make it more about projects. I wanted to create projects based on supplies that were easy to find. So I tailored the projects around what materials I could easily get my hands on, so that the reader (a beginning wood burner) would be able to easily find what they needed. I wanted them to be able to focus on the projects, learning wood burning and creativity instead of trying to figure all the tools. That was the fun part.

The process was fast and a bit stressful. From the time the publisher approached me until it was written was about five months. So if I had to change something about the process it would have been having more time to put into the creation of it. Overall, it was an amazing experience. 

Check out the book Drawing With Fire!

You are going on a deserted island with power. You can only bring one of the following:

Burner: Colwood.

Wood type: Poplar

Nib: Straight Edge/Skew tip

Favorite non-essential tool, but one you love to have: My shop. When we first moved into this house, I didn’t have a work space, i was constantly moving around and working where I could. I wrote my book and worked through all the projects on our dinging room table because I didn’t have a space to do it. We had to do a lot of work on this shop and I am so incredibly grateful for this space, I don’t have words to express it. I come in here every workday morning and meditate to the gratefulness of having this space. 

What do you love about doing Youtube videos? What have you found difficult?

I love being able to show people how to do this art. I love connecting with people and reading the comments about how they are learning this new craft and that the videos I’m putting out are helping them. That’s the best feeling. 

The hardest part is being in front of the camera. I just get nervous and forget how to talk. But I think I’m doing better. Again it comes back to learning and doing things that make you uncomfortable at first, but pushing through until you get better. Einstein said, “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new”.  

What percentage of your time and energy goes into YouTube, Instagram, facebook, woodburning, and computer office stuff? How much does each piece of the pie get?

Oh gosh, I don’t really have a percentage, but I would say the large majority and then I weave in my wood burning into it. So when I have a new wood burning piece idea, I film it along the way so that I’m creating content for all those spaces while I’m creating my art. It’s all woven together into one collective effort. 

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who is brand new and starting out, what would that be?

Don’t be afraid to mess up. You’re brand new, so spoiler alert, you’re going to mess up. You just need to know that up front and be okay with it. I’ve been doing this for a while and I make mistakes all the time. A lot of mistakes can be corrected and if they can’t, just sand it down and start over. Just try stuff and see what happens.

What are you working on now?

Right now, I’m working on new art pieces, and switching those over to my website instead of the Etsy site. I have a lengthy course planned that I have been planning forever and it’s been delayed a bit because I was going to have a videographer come and film it, but we’ve pushed that back because of all this virus stuff. 

I have a new Pyrocrafters Membership service coming out soon! There will be LIVE courses, pre-recorded courses, and more content exclusively for members.

And I’m also working with Chandler tools to build a course around using their tools, so that’s super exciting too. That’s also been pushed back because of the virus. It’s coming eventually, just delayed a bit.

Favorite thing to watch or listen to while you burn?

Sooo many things. Schitt’s Creek, The good Place, How Did this get made podcast, Don’t keep your day job podcast by Cathy Heller, Rachel Hollis’s everything, Brendan Burchard’s anything and everything. I’m listening to his book High Performance Habits right now. 

What are your favorite tools?

So, I’ve been working with an array of tools lately and there are so many great burner tools out there. Here are a few of my favorites.

Chandler Tool

Walnut Hollow Creative Wood Burner

Colwood

TRUart

Burnmaster

*Some are Amazon Affiliate links for easy shopping. Hope they help.

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Interview with Brad from Razertip

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Company Name: Razertip Industries Inc.

Name and Role: Brad Merkle - Operations Manager

Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

www.razertip.com or @razertip

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Can you tell us a brief history of Razertip? How/when did it start? 

Razertip started in 1984 when Cam Merkle was burning feather detail onto a decorative decoy woodcarving. The tool he was using wasn’t cutting it so he made his own. Through requests from friends and students it grew from there. Since then Razertip has been innovating and improving how pyrography tools and tips are made.

How many people are on the Razertip team? How many Are family members?

We have about 20 people on our team along with some additional contractors that we have established great relationships with. There are 5 family members on the team.

Can you share with us about the different machines you offer? How do they differ?

SK, SSD-10 and the P80 (and P80x expansion modules) The SK and SSD-10 are very similar units operating at 10 amps and provide great heat recovery and results. The P80 is the newest machine, it features a universal power supply, touch screen interface for unprecedented control and tip heat consistency.

What is the temperature range of your tools? 

Our tips can operate at room temperature and many can exceed 800 degrees celsius. Depends on the shape and size of the tip. Tip temperature is only a part of the equation...Tip heat recovery is equally important to maintain a consistent and even burn.

What countries are your burners available in, and where can they purchase them?

We ship orders worldwide. Our burners are available from dealers widely throughout the US and Canada and also in many European countries as well as Australia and New Zealand.

Where are the machines and nibs made?

Our tips and machines are made in our facility here in Canada. We try to make as much as we can here and to deal as much as possible with local suppliers.

You offer both fixed tip and interchangeable tip options, which is more popular?

The interchangeable tips are very popular for beginners and those who want a variety of tips or to try them out with less cost. Where the fixed tip pens are popular for those who want the ease of switching pens or those who only want a select few options and know what tips they like.

What are the three most popular nib options you have available? And how many nib options do you offer?

We have a 5 piece pyrography tip set that is very popular as it offers much of what people are looking for to start out.

You shared an exclusive with us, TWO NEW PRODUCTS that are in the works. What are they and when can we expect to be able to purchase them?

We previewed our new Standard Pen and the P88 - an advanced version of the P80, which features 8 customizable memory heat settings as well as some other new features.

How do you recommend that pyrographers clean your wood burning tools? Does it depend on the type of nib?

Sharp, straight or flat tips can be cleaned with ease (hot or cold) using the Razertip Tip Cleaner. Rounded, curved or ball tips are better cleaned with a dense brass brush. We suggest avoiding anything abrasive, which can cause wear on the tip.

What goals do you have for Razertip? 

To never sit still… We continue to look for ways to inspire our customers and meet their needs with our tools, offerings and customer service. 

Watch the recorded live interview:

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Interview with Kayla from Rustic Wood Supply

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Company Name: Rustic Wood Supply
Name and Role: Kayla & Seth Stallard- Owners
Location: Murphy, North Carolina
www.rusticwoodsupply.net and @rusticwoodsupply

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When and how did you start Rustic Wood Supply?

We started Rustic Wood Supply in 2012. We were planning our wedding and I was trying to get ideas for decorations that we both liked. Being from the mountains, we both like the "rustic, country" look. I found some wood slices on Pinterest and began to show them to my husband. He said, "I am not buying those when I can make them."  After researching some on Etsy, we realized that there was not many people selling them so he decided to give it a go. His idea was to just make $50 or so here and there just for a little gas money to get back and forth from college. Soon after, I was quitting my job at a hospital to help him. Little did we know just how much God would bless us!

How many people are on the team at Rustic Wood Supply?

It is just me and my husband. He gets all the trees and cuts all of the wood. I do all of the computer work, packing, shipping, and grinding/sanding all the wood.

How and where is the wood sourced?

All of our wood is locally sourced. We work directly with a couple of loggers and sawmills. Sourwood is a small tree that has no benefit for the logging industry. So we go ahead of their crew and get what trees they are just going to run over. We try to do this so we can make use of something that will simply be left to just rot. We live in an area with vast amounts of mature standing timber. In order to directly help wildlife and keep the mountains healthy, certain portions are strategically logged to promote new growth and vegetation to help suply an abundance of wildlife and mountain species. Logging is often looked down upon, but it is actually very beneficial to give back to earth. We also do storm work. We do not get many strong storms because of the mountains around us, but when we do, we use downed trees from these events.

What kinds of wood varieties do you offer?

Our main two wood species are sourwood and poplar. We do work with pine and can access other woods if preferred. However, most of our customers prefer the sourwood as it so easy and good to work with.

Can you show us some of your products?

How do you prep the wood? Is it dried? Is it sanded?

Everything that we cut is cut green and then air dried. We do not have a kiln. This is a process used by large companies to mass dry more wood at a faster rate. Everything we do is cut to order and air dried. It might be a little slower than a kiln, but still very accurate.  Acceptable percentage in kiln dry wood is 8-10% and air dry percentage is 1-6%. We do not have a very large inventory as we like to stay personal with our customers and take on a large amount of custom orders.  All of our wood is sanded smooth. The small slices we offer are cut smooth, and the larger live edge pieces are sanded down before sending out.

What are your recommendations for wood storage?

We recommend just keeping the wood stacked and out of the direct sunlight. Also, extremely hot areas can cause some of the wood to crack so stored in a cool, dry area is preferred.

When did you discover that wood burning artists loved your wood?

Not long ago, we started trying to expand our social media. We quickly realized that there was a large wood burning community on instagram. It was about 7 months ago when most of our activity on instagram showed us that wood burners really loved our products. We have had a lot of great feedback from the wood burning artists on our sourwood slices. A lot of people had never heard of sourwood, but customers are saying that it burns beautifully.

What percentage of wood would you say goes to wood burning artists?

I would say about 30%.

What other things do you see your wood slices being used for?

A lot of our slices are used for weddings. They use the round live edge pieces for centerpieces, cake stands, or food decor. In the fall, we sell thousands of our small coaster size slices for companies to turn into ornaments. We have had several customers create a large wood slice wall. They have all turned out beautiful! A lot of our slices are used by engraving companies. The slabs have been used for home decor signs, serving trays, and even interior design.

Are you shipping now and where do you ship?

We are shipping now. We are just limiting how many days that we do ship. We have cut down to only shipping about 1 day a week. We do offer shipping everywhere in the world. International shipping can be expensive, but if the customer is willing to pay for it, we are happy to do so! The only country we have had problems shipping to is Australia. They do not seem to let the wood through customs and it ends up getting sent back to us.

Any new products in the works?

We are working on offer some free standing slices. We already make them for customers, but they are just not on our website yet. We are also going to launch new sourwood mini slabs. They will be live edge on both sides ranging between 3 and 5" wide and around 1 ft long. 

What goals do you have for Rustic Wood Supply?

To us, being personal with our customers is huge and means a lot to us. As just a husband and wife team, we like to know our customers and engage in the community. We like to personally see what happens with the wood we cut and really enjoy seeing what people turn it in to. We pride ourselves in having the best quality small wood slices as well as the most affordable prices and we always want that for our customers. We also would just like to get our products out there and make people aware of the quality of our wood even though it is not as common as others.  Our goals are to just stay personal with our customers and put our best work in for them to ensure the best quality in our products.  We are at a point where we have grown some and people do know about our company, but at the same time, we enjoy being the small business that we have become and just hope that we can simply support our little family of three!

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Check out these other awesome pyrography interviews:

Walnut Hollow’s Hannah Bartelt

Razertip’s Brad Merkle

Pyrocrafter’s Aney Carver Interview