How I went from hobby to stall.
It became apparent quite quickly that I really enjoyed my new hobby. I started looking at all wooden items as an opportunity to practise, I joined all the pyrography related Facebook groups, I scoured YouTube for all the tutorials, I absorbed as much information as possible.
The advice given in the groups is outstanding and my absolute favourite takeaway from them is; 'Take pictures of every piece of work you do, even if you choose not to show them to anyone. That way you will always have a record to look back on and see how far you have progressed.' It is advice I still follow, and my Instagram account is testament to this, take a peek at my grid and scroll down to the early days. Eeek!
Anyway, I digress.
It wasn't long before I broke my cheap pen due to overuse. I did the same to the next cheap replacement.
I did my research and purchased a mid-range burner, the Pyromaster from Antex. It is a solid tip, dual temperature burner with interchangeable tips, a beautiful piece of kit which I still use on a regular basis and would recommend to others who wish to try this art form. - I should point out that other brands are available.
I did find waiting for the pen to cool before changing the tip quite frustrating, but it is the best way to ensure the equipment stays in good condition. However, after a couple of months my frustration got the better of me and I invested in another Pyromaster burner. Total game changer.
I tried different types of wood in different shapes from many different places, favouring the smaller items as they didn't take long to create. After a while I found I had a lot of little burning and turned them into key-rings, corded necklaces and bag charms which I started gifting to friends and family - all of which were incredibly supportive of my past time.
During the summer of 2014 my sister visited a local village pub in Northamptonshire for lunch when she saw a poster advertising a weekend of music to raise money for Cransley Hospice, a local charity. They also happened to be looking for stalls to sell their wares over the course of the weekend. She took the contact details of the organiser and convinced me to speak to them.
The next couple of months were a bit frantic as I tried to create enough stock to justify a stall at a local festival, especially as I had no idea about sales. Luckily, it was a fantastic event, everyone was very supportive, the atmosphere was great. My pyrography seemed to interest a lot of people and I was fortunate enough to be allocated an area where I could safely demonstrate my skills for all who were interested to see. It is an event I am grateful to have the opportunity to take part in and do so every year.
And through this opportunity the stall was born.
My Pyrography Path
My very first encounter with pyrography was pre-millennium in Exeter, Devon. In the city center there was a gentleman who had a stall with wooden key rings and would burn what ever name you desired into the key ring of your choice. I thought it was brilliant - I mean, what a skill to have, never mind standing in a street and making a living from it as well. I purchased a key ring and watched with fascination as he wrote the name and it is something which is very worn but I have still kept to this day and it now resides in my draw of pyro equipment as a reminder.
Fast forward 15 years and I actually get the opportunity to try out the technique for myself at a Girl Guiding activity day at Alexandra Palace. I was able to speak to the lady running the activity and ask her how it would work with a group of young teenagers. After listening to her advice and a bit of discussion I reached the conclusion that the best way would be to purchase a pyrography machine and give it a go myself.
I loved it!
I purchased the cheapest machine possible, because, who wants to overspend on a hobby which you may get sick of in a week? The very first piece of wood I burnt was a bit of pine skirting board that had been knocking around the house for months and a celtic knot design was my challenge...
It is a piece I regularly refer back to so I can see the progress I have made over the past few years. The progress inspires me to push forward and keep accepting new challenges.
Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoy running activity sessions for my unit and watching their progress as they get more confident using the tools.
What is 'Pyrography'?
When describing my products I generally use the phrase 'decorated using pyrography techniques', but what does that actually mean?
The word pyrography originates from the greek terms for fire 'pur' and writing 'graphos' and is defined in the Collins English Dictionary as the process of burning designs on wood or leather using heat and/or flame.
Historically, hot pokers were heated in a fire and used to imprint scorch marks on wood. This is known as 'Poker work'. And one of the most impressive forms of pyrography I have ever come across uses the rays from the Sun focused through a magnifying glass to create stunning works of art. - No mean feat if carried out in the grey overcast climate of the UK!
Fortunately technology has enabled specific tools to be developed making it safer, more controllable and less weather dependent. For me, these come in the form of a solid tip and wire tip tools. I use both, depending on the effect I am trying to achieve.
Wood is my medium of choice, although you can burn on vegetable tanned leather and paper, I do prefer the smell of wood when I work with it. With so many different varieties of wood available, and in so many different forms, the possibilities are endless.
So now you know what pyrography is why not take a look at the shop and see the many effects you can achieve using this beautiful and historic technique.
Stalls & Workshops
The stall has evolved over the past few years, going from a single table to a decorated gazebo which hopefully offers an immersive experience, where it is possile to demonstrate the skill and offer a unique gifts in a single space. For those who would like to have a go themselves, I am currently running workshops through The Galleria at Burton Latimer, all classes are advertised and can be booked through their Facebook page 'The Galleria at Burton Latimer'
If you have any questions or would like to know more then please get in touch via the site, email, Facebook or Instagram.