Today's featured artisan is
Breath of the Dragon - unique and custom wood burning by Sunfire
http://www.breathofthedragon.etsy.comSunfire is one of my Pagans of Etsy teammates. She is also having a 50% off moving sale in both of her shops
What do you make?- Pyrography means "writing with fire", but what I do is more like "drawing with heat", creating art on wood rather than canvas. I love the fact that there are so many things that can be made with wood. In my shop, I have a variety of things, from key chains and cell charms with small wooden disks that I've burned on, to boxes and altar tiles that serve a purpose, to magnets and larger wall art that are simply decorative. Every day, it seems, I have another idea of something that I could burn, create and sell.
What drew you to your craft and why did you start selling your items?
- Being around my mom and other crafters that were selling their art really got me started. I wanted to find something that I enjoyed making that could be profitable as well. After trying other crafts, from painting and sewing to candle-making, I finally came across wood burning. Back in 2006, a friend bought me a pen and a piece of wood from the craft store, and I was hooked. By late 2007, I was having a great time with it, and had lots of positive feedback on the things I had made. It was that energy that told me I was ready to give it a go as a money-making adventure, so I set up shop on Etsy.
What is your favorite part of creating your items?- The smell of the burning wood, for sure! It gets in my hair, and for days I feel like I was at a campfire... :) Cheesy, I know, but so true. Besides that, I love creating custom pieces, because I know that someone is willing to pay me for my work. I love creating something, knowing that it is exactly what they want. The variety of projects is probably my absolute favorite part, though. It's great to know I can spend 1/2 hr on one piece, and 4 hours on another, and both are wonderful.
Is your craft a full time endeavor or a hobby?- I'm hoping to make it full time ASAP, but until then, I work overnight throwing freight at a local grocery store. It's tough balancing both, as well as school and trying to have family time, but I know if I can make it through this, I will have what I want in the end - making enough money doing what I love that I can quit working for someone else and still have the lifestyle I want. It's this image of the end goal that keeps me moving forward, that makes the sacrifices worth it.
When you aren't working on your craft what do you enjoy doing?- Watching movies or playing games with my boyfriend on the chilly winter evenings. Since I'm going to school for Web Development, it would be silly if I didn't enjoy working on websites... I love the idea of making simple sites for small-biz folks like myself (I created and currently maintain 2 others besides my own). I also love to get out in nature when its warmer, so we do a lot of biking, hiking and exploring the rest of the year.
Is there anything else about your craft or yourself you would like to share?
- While pyrography is my number one crafting adventure, I've also taken on a mission to spread the message of a Pro-Peace symbol. My mom and I started an Etsy shop to sell hand-crafted
Turn Peace Around items (http://turnpeacearound.etsy.com). This second shop gives me a chance to explore other crafting methods between wood burning projects. Or, as in recent weeks, to combine the two.
This is a small selection of the items that Sunfire makes, you can see more in both shops:
Breath of the Dragon &
Turn Peace AroundBoth stores are running a 50% off moving sale! Now is the time to get some great deals on Sunfires handmade works!
Items in this post:
1.
Dream Cherish Live plaque2. original yin yang
3.
Smiley Clean/Dirty Magnet4.
Hemp Choker w/ Pyrographed Charm
Made by Mom N Mia Quilts
Made by JustJaynes
What do you make?
What is your favorite part of creating your items?
When you aren't working on your craft what do you enjoy doing?
HAVE A HEART - Genuine Drilled Beach Stones - Slag Glass Set - focal jewelry beads
Exotic Coconut Body Butter with Cocoa and Shea - 4 ounces - Vegan
Wine Bottle Bling
What do you make?
Recycled Handmade Journal - Golden Keys to the Joys of Music
heather and moss - hand embroidered thread ball - japanese temari
Espresso Cup
Aqua and Blue Zircon Multistrand Necklace with Sunflower Pendant
Vegan Olive Oil Soap- Simply Unscented
Asian Inspired Floral Toddler Kid Bib
Garnet Red Valentine Heart Cubic Zirconia Drop Wire-Wrapped Earrings
I make one-of-a-kind pieces of precious metal, gemstone and vintage glass jewelry that are influenced by my attraction to the feminine fluidity of the art nouveau period and the whimsical inquisitive nature of the Steampunk movement.
I was inspired to design jewelry by my “slight obsession” with crystals and minerals. I have been stuffing them in my pockets since I was a wee lass running away from home to find them in the hills around my house.
There are times when I will come across a phenomenal stone and I just immediately know how it will develop into a piece of jewelry. I experience a sense of wonder when something I’m making just manifests itself into being. At times like that it seems the Muses are guiding my hands and I can feel the energy raising my joy vibration.
When I’m not working or playing at crafting I can be found tooling around on my penny farthing hi-wheel or my vintage 70lb tricycle. I also spend every free moment hiking with my dogs searching for Faeries and mushrooms. I save every penny in order to have travel adventures and make new friends around the world.
My name is Anne and I make concrete leaves ;)
Actually the story is just a bit different, I bought the bag of mortar to fix the chimney and before I even got up on the roof I had made several leaves and had to go buy more mortar to do the chimney before I made more leaves. . . . . lots more leaves.
When I am not making leaves I love to read and research, both online and in the library, as I am insatiably curious. I am an avid water gardener playing with both miniature lillys and filtration systems. I have 2 rescued dogs, 14yo Libby the Aussie and 3yo Rascal the Std. Poodle, and we love to run, walk and ski the trails I cut on my 15 acres of land. I love to try and fix almost anything mechanical having rebuilt my 30yo John Deere Lawn & Garden tractor and fixing just about everything that needs it around the house. I also love to sew, knit and make chocolate candy.....I am a renaissance woman and a tomboygirlforeever :)
These are the first Ogham pendants I have made with gemstones. They were made for a custom request of Ogham necklaces with birthstones.
The bezels for these pendants were made by forming sheet bezel (thin sterling sheet) into rings that fit around the stone. Once the bezel was formed into rings they were sanded to the proper height and soldered onto the Ogham pendants. After cleaning the fire scale from the soldering process off the pieces the stones were set by placing them in the bezels and pushing the metal down around the cabochon stone to hold it in place.
This ring is sterling silver with the word 'sonas' (Gaelic for happiness) pierced through the ring in the ancient Ogham alphabet. The band is about 5/16" wide.
It was created as a custom design. This was the first Ogham ring I tried making. I enjoyed making it because the process reminded me of the first rings I made in jewelry class. Were we started with a sheet of metal then cut and formed a ring out of it. Filing the joint so it lines up before soldering.
What do you make? 
I began selling my work because a few people said to me, "you ought to sell that." Also, my Real Job doesn't pay much, and every little bit helps tremendously!
When you aren't working on your craft what do you enjoy doing?
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