Finding your Muse

All artists have a unique way that they create their art. It takes time, however, to find that style and, as a result, every artist starts as a copycat of another artist they admire. Much like an apprentice, they begin learning the techniques and theories of this artist. This can be in the form of classes, or learning directly from their mentor. Others learn by studying their mentor’s work through books, history, or simply admiring their pieces. Learning the basic techniques takes years or study and practice and, eventually, every artist starts branching off, evolving, adopting techniques from other artists, and ultimately establishing their own unique style.

Learning your Strengths and Weaknesses

In my mind’s eye, my drawings are superb. In reality, however, my skill when it comes to drawing leaves something to be desired. As an artist, this is unfortunate. There are, however, things that I can do such as trace, and create beautiful lines. When I started doing pyrography I did simple pictures much akin to those you would find in coloring books. Tracing the lines allowed me to develop techniques for creating straight lines and neat curves. Once I was comfortable with those I began experimenting with different mediums to color them in. This continued on to more complex patterns and further experimentation with coloring mediums until I started to find my niche. Now I continue to challenge myself by trying realistic pieces. My next endeavor is to create works that look like photographs burned into wood.

The Journey of a Thousand Strokes

Throughout my journey I found many things which I loved, particularly shading. There is something satisfying about creating shadows and depth, lines that draw the viewers eye to focal points. Minisa Robinson of Woodburning University (@minisa_robinson) was a muse of mine. She inspired me, through her patterns and her classes, to create a piece with flowers and an owl. 

Having failed before with fine lines and shadow I was reluctant to try again, but something about these patterns called to me. I took the two patterns and made my own design combining them together. The wood, a piece I had been sitting on from Carolina Urban Lumber (@carolinaurbanlumber) for about two years, was undoubtedly the canvas I was going to use for this piece. It was cut on an angle, stands upright, and is itself unique. After putting the pattern on the wood, I’m not going to lie, I was worried.  I worried that I might damage the wood beyond repair. Worried I bit off more than I could chew.  Reluctantly I took a leap of faith, and, what I created is a piece of work that I absolutely love. 

I amazed myself with the patience demonstrated, the lines I drew, and the depth I created. Most of all I found that I love creating flowers evident by the fact that I subsequently created two more floral pieces. Those pieces sold without hesitation and I learned that not only do I love doing florals, but others love them as well.

The Next Endeavor 

So does this mean I found my “style”. Maybe, or maybe I this is a stepping stone to what my style will ultimately be. What I do know is I will continue to push the limits of my work, try things that are outside my comfort zone, continue to learn from those around me, and hopefully create many more beautiful things along the way.

How about you? What are you good at? Who was your muse? Tag us @bz_furfur and tell us about your journey and, as always, stay unique.

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A Dream Not Realized

Little known Zona fact: After doing a testimonial published in a print ad some time ago I got the modeling bug. The lights, cameras, and excitement were intoxicating. It was short-lived, however, as they said I was too short and their ideals of what a model should look like did not align with mine. That’s not to say it wasn’t fun while it lasted. However, the one thing I had wanted to do, an opportunity that never presented itself, was to walk a runway. 

Lending a Hand

Fast forward twenty-odd years later and I am being asked to assist a designer at a show! Truthfully, the tasks I was assigned offered a nice opportunity to sharpen some of my managerial skills that I don’t use so often as a solo business entrepreneur. Jill placed me in charge of inventory, distribution, and collection. Being able to help her in her first-ever fashion show was nice. Imagine the fear, excitement, and anxiety she must have felt. I was happy to be there to support her. It was also nice that it wasn’t “my” show, so I didn’t need to worry about all the details, I only had to focus on certain tasks that needed to be taken care of.  

Now, those of you who know me, know there are two Zonas; Work Zona and Fun Zona. Work Zona is driven to complete tasks efficiently, completely, and correctly. I was there to do a job and, damnit, I was going to do it right. That doesn’t mean that Fun Zona wasn’t invited at all. I dressed in my favorite outfit; an all-black corset and leggings. Unbeknownst to me this was actually the theme of Jill’s show; victorian lace and badassery. 

You Better Work, Girl

Of course, no event can go by without a hitch.  It turns out one of her models was a no-show and, of course, the pieces she was intended to wear were pieces Jill absolutely wanted to show. Surveying the outfits of all the models none of them quite fit the theme for this particular piece. When her gaze came around to me her immediate thought was “Zona, you could do it”. I didn’t hesitate and I told her I would do it. Not only did I walk out there with confidence (save for some nervousness as I waited at the entrance to the runway), but I was the first to represent her.

It was a bit of a crash course for me. Terms like “flood walk” – the walk all the models do together after everyone has walked and with the designer – were new to me. What I also learned was that I could still do the things that scare me, but that secretly I always wished I could. It was a bit of a Cinderella moment for me, albeit a bit more badass given the black corset with chains and buttons, black shiny leggings and heeled boots.

Dreams Fulfilled

What I learned after all this is my experiences have value.  Over the years I’ve acquired life skills that have benefitted me in many different settings. Being a manager taught me how to handle a team, identify tasks and prioritize.  It taught me how to devise and execute a process quickly. My creativity helped me quickly see her vision and help her make it a reality. My experience as a small business owner, operating in 10’x10’ spaces in pop-ups, taught me how to operate in small spaces efficiently. All those hours playing Tetris helped me manage all those pieces in a small container. Knowing how to be a friend helped me make her show a success. It was amazing to be able to sit back and watch her shine. 

If you know me you have heard me talk about karma. You do good things, and good things happen. Maybe, by putting aside everything to help out a friend, karma was allowing me to accomplish something I never thought I would have the opportunity to achieve. On top of that, maybe this new experience will be something that I will carry forward to help me succeed in other future endeavors. Do you have a dream that you were able to fulfill that eluded you for years. Tell us about it and tag us @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.

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1. Think about transportation: When heading off to a market you have a lot of valuable cargo. You must protect your work.  Think about how you are going to wrap/store your items. We use cardboard for some items, and moving blankets for others. Also, think about how it’ll fit in your vehicle. Do you have a minivan that you can load up with merchandise or a sedan where you’ll need to pick and choose carefully what to bring? Make sure, whatever vehicle you choose, you pack carefully. You don’t want things so cramped that they end up breaking due to pressure but you also don’t want them so spaced out that accelerating and breaking causes items to jolt and jostle around the back of your car.
2. Ask about themes: Some themes are obvious (for example, the holidays) while others may not be so obvious. Many organizers do, however, like to theme their markets. They will sometimes go as far as to invite special guests that align with the theme. Think about this before you decide what product to bring. Try to bring items that will cater to the individual market and convert those into sales.
3. Presentation is key: Make sure you have packed displays to properly showcase your items. These can be stands, grids with hooks, easels, shelves, or any combination. Try to be consistent. If you can pack some decorations to accent your tent. Think about the theme or bring seasonal decorations to create a more welcoming environment. Make sure you have signage, price tags, QR codes for customers to scan, and anything else that may help draw customers into your booth.
4. Resting your weary head: Is the show you are doing a good deal further than you usually travel? Is it going to be two or more days? If so you may want to consider lodging. Doing a market can be exhausting and a long trip there and back can make an already tiring ordeal all that much more so. Think about booking a hotel stay if you don’t think you’ll be up to the return trip. Book early so you can get a good rate and consider how much the hotel is going to cost when you are thinking about how much you’ll need to sell and still make a profit.
5. Self-care: We spend so much time thinking about our product, but we can’t forget to think about ourselves. Get yourself a cooler and pack some water, some snacks (maybe some fruits and veggies), some caffeinated beverages, and more water. Make sure you have essentials like sunscreen, a first-aid kit, medicines you take (even if you think you’ll be home in time to take them, it’s good to have them on hand), and backup chargers. The last thing you want to do while you’re at a market is stressing about your well-being and personal care so make sure you have everything you need with you.
6. Keep it clean: If you are doing markets every weekend things are bound to show a little wear and tear. Remember that your booth is a reflection of your business.  If your tablecloths are dirty or your tent canvas is ripped that will be reflected in how people perceive your business. Repair or replace things when they break, regularly wash any of your linens, and bring cleaning supplies with you to clean up messes when they happen.

Life is busy and time can easily escape you when you are preparing for a market. Just remember that having a tight, clean, welcoming environment for your customers is going to encourage them to come inside, stay longer, and buy things. What do you think is the most important part of prepping for your markets? Tag us with your ideas @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.

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If you are interested in helping here are some  ​charities you can donate to:

• Beloved Asheville (https://www.instagram.com/belovedasheville)
• Rural Organizing and Resilience (https://www.instagram.com/_roar_wnc)
• Brother Wolf Animal Rescue (https://www.instagram.com/brotherwolfanimalrescue)
• MANNA Foodbank (https://www.instagram.com/manna_foodbank)

Keep all our friends and neighbors in Western North Carolina in your thoughts and prayers.

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As an artist, social media is both a help and a hindrance. It is both time-consuming but mandatory in today’s market. The struggle many artists have is finding a balance between personal and professional. How much of yourself do you put on display for the masses? Many artists show off only their professional side and their work. Others fully integrate their personal lives alongside their art. I’ve tried to sprinkle in bits of my personal life here and that, of what makes me who I am, but tow the line between too much and not enough.

My life outside the social media and markets

Earlier this year I was pregnant. Brian and I were ecstatic after having been told that, due to medical reasons, we would not be able to conceive. We had previously lost two babies due to miscarriages and were very pessimistic that we would get pregnant again. So we hoped and prayed until the seventh week. Our previous babies were both lost at week six, therefore, week seven was a victory for us allowing us to grow less wary and more hopeful. 

I had decided this pregnancy would be the one where I simply enjoy being pregnant. Foregoing the stress over what might happen in favor of enjoying the moments of knowing I was growing our little bean. Rather than plan too far in advance I approached it with a degree of cautious optimism. Despite wanting to dive into being pregnant, being a Mom finally, I knew that I needed to be realistic.

Complications

In April I was admitted into the hospital for shortness of breath which had gotten progressively worse over the last several weeks.  Assuming it was due to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle I attributed it to me being out of shape. That was until the day that I almost passed out walking a mere ten feet. It turned out I had developed a serious and potentially deadly saddle pulmonary embolism (blood clot) in both my lungs.

As a precaution, I was told to go see my OB for a post-hospital check-up. It was then that we received the heartbreaking news; our baby had stopped growing at nine weeks. To say we were devastated fails to capture how hurt and saddened we were, are, and probably always will be. The tiniest bit of solace came from the fact they were able to get a sample which allowed us to test for the gender of the baby and the cause of the miscarriage. With that information she was granted her name, one we had carefully chosen, Felicity Emma. 

Loss, honoring a life, and friends

When we first found out we were pregnant, I asked David and Renee (of Its David and Renee) to make a memory box. A place to store “All The Things” that come with being pregnant: baby books, sonograms, letters, post-it notes, hospital knick-knacks, and such. Knowing how amazing they are I gave them full creative freedom to create it however they saw fit. My only criteria was size and that it be able to close. It would be like receiving a surprise gift even though it was something I commissioned.

When we lost Felicity, her memory box became her memorial box. It still holds her baby books, her first and last pictures, letters, and notes. The box itself is truly a work of art. David crafted it using Curly Maple and Walnut. The chatoyance in the maple is truly beautiful and mesmerizing and I love moving it so I can watch the light dance on the grains. The walnut trim adds a beautiful contrast to the maple’s creamy light color. It was so beautiful I almost didn’t want to burn on it.  I knew, however, that to help me heal and to grieve I needed to complete it. We treated this piece as if it was a commission from a customer. I put us first and created a pattern that paid homage to us and her by creating bouquets of our birth flowers according to our month of birth. I lost myself in the burn, seeking solace as I created as I always do.

Felicity’s box is so much more than a box. It is a hug from afar, a simple comfort in a time of great sorrow. You can tell when the artist has become a part of the piece. I am blessed to have them as friends.

Facts about Miscarriages:

Miscarriage is the sudden loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week. About 10% to 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. But the actual number is likely higher. This is because many miscarriages happen early on before people realize they’re pregnant. And because of the stigma of having a miscarriage.

Most miscarriages happen because the unborn baby doesn’t develop properly. About half to two-thirds of miscarriages in the first trimester are linked to extra or missing chromosomes. 

Things that don’t cause a miscarriage

• Exercise, as long as you’re healthy. 
• Sex.
• Arguments.
• Use of birth control pills before getting pregnant.
• Working, 

Things that may cause a miscarriage

• Uncontrolled diabetes.
• Infections.
• Hormonal problems.
• Uterus or cervix problems.
• Thyroid disease.
• Obesity.

If you or someone you know is in need of counseling, please do not hesitate to seek help. Loss and grief can be overwhelming. There are groups that specialize in infant and pregnancy loss. There are many groups and counselors available for support.

October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. I may be early, but I am honoring my girl.

If you read this far, I love you, and you mean the world to me for hearing our story. Stay unique my friends.

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The Shape of Wood

I am a big fan of creating wall art on beautiful, reclaimed slabs of wood or artisan cutting boards. Unfortunately, the cost of materials and time drives the cost of my products up significantly. Don’t get me wrong, there is a market for these high-end products and I make sure that at every market I go to I have plenty of these gorgeous pieces on display.  These are the pieces that drive customers into my booth, these are the pieces that, one sale, can make your total profit for the day.  That being said: I run a business and I cannot limit myself to just these big sales. Posting up at my local farmers market or putting items up in my local boutique shop I am not getting customers who have hundreds of dollars burning a hole in their pocket.

So, how do you market your beautiful, hand-burned products to these folks? Well, sometimes you have to make compromises. I have started using my laser engraver as a tool to cut thin pieces of wood into earrings, bookmarks, dog tags, and other “tchotchkes” so that I can make some smaller items at lower price points. By using higher quality blanks at a cheaper price point, hand-burning original images, and using quality paints to adorn them I am able to create something that has the same look and quality as my larger pieces at a more affordable price point.

Tricks of the Trade

One of the other clever little shortcuts that I like to do to help keep costs low without compromising quality is to do a light etching of the imagery to use as a starting point when I burn. I often like to create my designs digitally using an image manipulation tool such as Procreate and then transfer that onto the wood as a sort of jumping-off point for my burn. I’ll usually do this with heat transfer but, given I am already using the engraver to cut out the designs, I can add the digital design and have the laser engraver “draw” my pattern as an outline to work with.

There are a lot of ways to use tools to our advantage and still make beautiful, hand-burned artwork. It doesn’t need to be us versus them. If we can learn to use tools and talent together we can learn to make a range of products to suit everyone’s style and budget. Do you use laser engravers to assist in your workflow? Let us know and tag us @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.

The post Using a laser engraving machine to assist in pyrography  appeared first on Burning with Purpose.

Getting to Know You

During my first couple of years working on products for BZ FurFur I did work mostly independently. My husband, Brian, would help with the business, the marketing, and the markets but, the process of creating was me, my Razortip, and a blank piece of wood. That was, until, I met a few of my now dear friends. Renee and David of It’s David and Renee and Jessica and Drew of Crowley’s Crafty Creations that I realized how much collaborating on pieces can enrich the things you create.

David and Renee produce wood canvases specifically for pyrographers. They are not the only producers of these. Companies like Walnut Hallow sell blank slabs specifically for artists such as myself. Products from a distributor like WH, however, are standardized and produced in volume. This leaves very little in the way of customization. Having a small, independent shop like It’s David and Renee allows me to discuss with the specific individual who is creating the canvas and explain to them what I am trying to create. We can bounce ideas off each other and come up with truly unique designs.

Jessica, who does Lichtenberg, collaborates with me by creating designs in the wood using high voltage electricity. (warning: Creating fractals using electricity is a dangerous technique. If you do not know how to safely perform this technique I strongly recommend you avoid this and leave it to those who know how to do it safely). By collaborating with Jessica I am able to pitch ideas to her for etching that will blend in with her fractals and she can create designs that integrate seamlessly with my patterns.

Better Together

Over the course of the last several years I have worked extensively with both It’s David and Renee and Crowley’s Crafty Creations. We have created dozens of collaborative pieces. This provides a few unique benefits that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to provide if I simply worked independently on my pieces:

1. Uniqueness: Unlike my earlier pieces that I designed using the standard blanks you would get from Hobby Lobby or Michaels, the foundation of my work are truly one-of-a-kind. Every piece has a specific look to it that can only come from a hand-made canvas.
2. Intrigue: Nothing draws a customer into my booth at a market better than a piece that is on a hand-crafted cherry wood slab or an etching that is centered around a Lichtenberg fractal. It starts conversation, people take time to look at all the different pieces, and, as they say, nothing draws a crowd like a crowd. The more people in my booth appreciating my work the more people who want to come see what the excitement is
3. Value: Any piece that is created collaboratively with other artists is going to be inherently more valuable. Each individuals contribution to the piece adds something extra that makes the piece more desirable and distinct. As such these pieces can be more profitable to you and the artist you worked with and more valuable to the person buying it.

Next time you are at a market, look around at the other vendors around you. Think about how your work can enhance their work and vice-versa. Consider ways to create things together and make something new that people may never has seen before. What is your favorite story of collaborating with another artist? Tag us with your story @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.

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For the uninitiated, Pride is an annual celebration of diversity and inclusion. It started back in the 70s as a way for gay men and women to express themselves and has grown to include anyone who identifies as LGBTQ, people of color, and allies. If you support equal rights, even if you are not one of the aforementioned LGBTQ or POC, you can still be an ally and participate in these spectacular events.

Pride parades and festivals take place in cities all across the country and around the world. When I lived in NY attending Pride was an event. There was so much excitement and energy from the performers, the crowd, and the passersby. Now that I am a transplant to Charlotte I have grown to embrace the community here by setting up a booth every year along with our friends Jessica and Drew of Crowley’s Crafty Creations. We’ll be prominently displaying some of our collaborative work that combines their super cool fractals with my etchings and painting. We are hoping that the folks attending Pride will be as excited about our work as we are.

If you are going to be in Charlotte this weekend, Aug 17-18, and you want to be a part of the festivities come by Tryon Street in Uptown. We’ll be between W 3 and W 4th Street. Come check us out, and enjoy the music, the activities, the drag shows, the parade, and all the stuff that makes Pride so wonderful. Happy Pride and, as always, stay unique.

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I spent years in retail selling other people’s products in big box stores and, to be honest, I was pretty good at it. Promoting the things other people create was “easy” for me. This was especially true if I knew about the item and felt strongly enough about it that I could back it.

The one thing I am not comfortable promoting or selling, however, is my own creations. 

“Impostor syndrome, also known as impostor phenomenon or impostorism, is a psychological experience of intellectual and professional infraudulence.”

Imposter syndrome is “the subjective experience of perceived self-doubt in one’s abilities and accomplishments compared with others, despite evidence to suggest the contrary.” Truth be told, I know I am good at what I do. My pieces are beautiful, the lines crisp (so much so that it is often mistaken for machine-made), and the painting is clean and vibrant. There are some pieces I am more proud of than others, especially on my more intricate works, but somehow when talking about myself something gets lost. Promoting my work feels so much like boasting and bragging. I subconsciously fight with the voice in my head telling me that being proud of my work is “wrong” and that humility is what I should be striving for. 

Unfortunately, being unable to promote myself is not conducive to a profitable business. Being able to promote yourself in order to attract buyers or customers or patrons is critical to success. Fortunately, I have Brian. He truly is my biggest supporter, advocator, cheerleader, and partner. We work very well together at markets because I can sit on the side and quietly burn, while he engages people. Networking events are a different story. I can’t go hide in a corner and wait for someone to approach me. I have to leave my comfort zone and engage with people myself. This is definitely a work in progress.

I met a metal worker, Jill (@JillMelyssa) at a coffee networking event hosted by The Guild Of Charlotte Arts (@guildofcharlotteartists). She makes unique, beautiful jewelry pieces. She asked me to attend a fashion show with her recently. As I work mainly with wood, it isn’t really in my scene, but I had never been to an art fashion show. The artist Jonay Di Ragno (@jonay_di_ragno) is a mixed-media artist, who works with canvas, acrylics, glass, clothing, and other media. It was a fun night, the art was beautiful and the fashion so unique. It was out of my normal networking circles, but I spoke to a few people and made some connections. I did not think I would be able to do that, because to me fashion and pyrography are in two different worlds. But I soon realized by talking with attendees that I was wrong. I burn on cotton and leather, which is wearable. Bags and purses can be made of wood which, also, I can burn into. I realized that there could be opportunities for collaboration. If I had allowed my self-doubt and fears to be dominant I would not have had the opportunity to expand my horizons and think about where that could take me.

Do you struggle to get out of your comfort zone? What is your success story. Tag us @bz_furfur and share it with us and, as always, stay unique.

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As a crafter, I have taught myself many different skills. Various forms of fiber crafts: knitting, crochet, embroidery, Tatting (creating lace), and macrame. Jewelry making, watercolor painting (I am not so good at this one), diamond painting, and of course Pyrography just to name a few.

When I started the business in 2021, I knew I couldn’t do all the things I knew because it would be way too much, plus many of those crafts take time to make. Realistically, I also knew that the market was over-saturated with many of those crafts. So I had to think about what I wanted to focus on, what did I want to do? What would be my focus. I have always been someone who immerses themselves in whatever craft/art I have decided to teach myself. I had been wanting to try wood burning for a while. I had a pyrography pen for years and never really tried it. I knew if I wanted to give it a go, I needed to leave my comfort zone and try a new medium. I would have to step out of my comfort zone. Never one to back down from learning a new craft, I did some research, watched some YouTube, bought a book, and some wood blanks, and dove in!

3 years later, it’s 2024 and I know I have grown so much. In my art. So much so that I am trying to move into a fine art realm. I started with SVGs, and simple pictures – essentially coloring books/pictures on wood. I sold many pieces this way at markets, many of which prompted people to want custom orders. My goal, though, is I want to do fine art. I see the work of people I look up to and I strive for the realism, crispness, and emotions it evokes as well as the prices they command. So I have been practicing with more realistic pictures, practicing the patience and techniques required for a piece that will take hours if not days rather than a few hours. It’s uncomfortable for me as I like to “be done” with a project. I have in my head that I want to be done in 20 hours or fewer. It’s a conscious practice to focus on the current project, each line, and think about THIS project and how it needs to be created rather than the next one after this project. But I have started the transition and it feels less and less uncomfortable each time. I am confident at some point it will stop being uncomfortable altogether.

What have you taken on that was uncomfortable at first? Tag us @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.

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