Did you catch all the changes at diy beautify? There's a new logo, new blog design, a new image of yours truly! To celebrate all thes...

Learn to Burn-excerpt

Tumblr Blog

Learn the art of pyrography by making these simple wood-burned coasters with decorative floral designs.

By Chris Wallace for Walnut Hollow I’ve seen some wood burned spoons on Pinterest and thought it would be fun to make them for Christmas gifts this year. There are so many ideas for wood burning on…

Is there a way to color your woodburning project without raising the grain of the wood? This article reveals the secret.

Bring your favorite stamp topic into your love of wood burning with this beginner’s level pointillism-styled project. Pointillism is the art style of creating designs, with graduated shading, through the use of a simple dot pattern.

Although we are in the midst of a heat wave, we are gearing up for the holidays at A Remark You Made! 5 Rustic Wood Burned Pine Tree Branch Gift Tags/Ornaments http://www.etsy.com/listing/78354705/5-rustic-wood-burned-pine-tree-branch Today we were in the workshop sanding blank slices of a pine tree branch to make gift tags/ornaments as embellishments for the perfect 'green' packaging. Natural Blank Pine Wood Tree Branch Tags with Bark http://www.etsy.com/listing/78348976/natural-blank-pine-wood-tree-branch-tags First, we started with a pine tree branch and cut slices. After sanding each wood slice super smooth, we broke out the wood burning tool to hand burn a hemlock tree design on each tag. Each tag is drilled with a single hole, and hemp twine is used to keep with the rustic charm. Write the name of a lucky recipient using a felt tip pen. If you would like to try this project, please visit our shop for a selection of blank tags for your own creations. Not a DIYer? No worries. We sell the finished tags, too. These tags are a perfect embellishment for gift bags and boxes, baked goods, and more. They are also terrific for hand stamping projects.

I love wood burning projects and when I recently found a round piece of wood in our shed I thought it would be the perfect surface to b...

Curious about wood burning but not sure where to begin? This ultimate guide to wood burning for beginners will tell you everything you need to know!

Learn about wood burning tools, wood burning tool tips as Lora Irish teaches you how to shade your wood burning pattern using sepia tones, textures, and fine line detailing, tracing your pattern, prepare your wood surface, finish a wood burning designs and the different medias you can use in your pyrography as leather, paper, gourds, cotton cloth, and chipboard.

birch plywood

Megan of @happicamperkc is such a fabulous pyrographer and person. I had the good fortune to get to meet her in person, where we talked about pyrography and small business for hours! Her pyrography is BOLD! Her color choices alone speak for themselves. She has learned a thing or two in her years a

If you follow my blog you will know how much I LOVE WOOD BURNING! It is such a creative and unique process that transforms a piece of wood into art. Every Christmas I end up making wood burned projects for gifts and this year I wanted to make ornaments that could double as a present topper. Most craft stores like Michaels and Jo-Ann Fabric have all kinds of balsa wood shapes and forms (typically made for simple craft projects) but I love using these shapes for wood burning- they are thin and the wood is soft which make burning easy. I drilled a hole in the top and added a string The perfect little handmade holiday gift! Wood burning projects make wonderful handmade gifts! Check out all of my wood burning projects below. 1. wood burned blocks 2. wood burned bangles 3. wood burned buttons 4. wood burned earrings 5. wood burned spoons 6. wood rings 7. popsicle stick bracelets 8. wood burned frame 9. wood burned boxes

Free wood carving, pyrography, and craft step by step projects and line art patterns by Lora S. Irish, author of The Great Book of Wood Burning.

So I posted a couple of wood eggs a little while back and I finally made a few more this week. I have not painted them yet. I am still und...

Super simple and easy to follow steps to create your own one-of-a-kind piece of wood burned art!

Pyrography isn't just for wood! Often compared to burning on butter, leather burning offers freedom from the wood grain.

Wood is an extraordinarily material as it speaks of naturalness, coziness and warmth. Here's our 21 Elegantly Beautiful Wood Slices Crafts to Pursue

Free wood carving, pyrography, and craft step by step projects and line art patterns by Lora S. Irish, author of The Great Book of Wood Burning. Learn the six steps that create a pyrography texture stroke or fill pattern, including burning tip profiles, temperature settings, texture stroke patterns, layers of burned patterns, speed of your hand motion, and the media that you are burning.

Feeling fiery?

Curious about wood burning but not sure where to begin? This ultimate guide to wood burning for beginners will tell you everything you need to know!

When I first came across these, I found it so hard to believe they were actually wood burnings. The intricate rendering of texture, the detail and the overall appearance seems as though it'd be virtually impossible to create with a pyrographic tool. Julie Bender has shown me otherwise. NOTE: all the images in this post are copyrighted by the artist and may not be reproduced or used without express written permission from Julie Bender. Wood burning (aka Pyrography) is an old-fashioned art and nowadays often reserved for camp arts and crafts projects. Artist Julie Bender elevates the centuries old tradition and depicts animals and birds with an incredibly deft hand - bringing hair, fur and feathers to life on a piece of maple wood. Inspired by animals and nature – and her Canon EOS Rebel T1i digital camera – Bender's process begins by compiling inspiring photographs and penciling in her subjects on a well-sanded maple surface with a keen sense of composition and attention to wood grain. Light-handed strokes and smooth, subtle shading using very tiny tips characterizes her technique. She finds her personality well-suited for the challenge of this exigent art form as well as the extreme patience and considerable time that is required of her work. Julie, pictured above, states: “This unusual medium still has me marveling over the fact that my subjects may be brought to life solely by applying heat to wood.” Below are a selection of some of my favorite pieces of hers. Many still available for purchase. Wild Animals: Her work consists of pyrographic renderings of wild animals, birds, dogs and horses. Each work is produced on grade A northern maple veneer, sealed with protective finish, signed on front and back and individually numbered and dated on back. Equine / Horses: Avian / Birds: Canine / Dogs: A background of Pyrography from Julie: Pyrography, the art of burning or scorching on a natural surface was an art form practiced since the dawn of recorded time by Egyptian and African tribesmen fascinated by the mysterious beauty and power of fire. Defined in traditional terms, pyrography is the art of drawing with fire; using a heated tip or wire to burn or scorch designs onto natural surfaces such as wood and leather. In the late 19th Century, Melbourne architect Alfred Smart discovered a way to pump benzoline fumes through a heated hollow platinum pencil in order to improve upon the pokerwork process and allowing the addition of tinting and shading that previously were impossible. In the early 20th century, the development of the electric pyrographic hot wire wood etching machine further automated the pokerwork process. Modern day pyrography is typically done with solid-point tools, which resemble but are more sophisticated than soldering irons or hot wire tools. These tools are electrically heated by equipment that may allow temperatures to be adjusted, thereby producing a great range of natural tones and shades. Subtle or bold effects may be achieved, depending on many factors, including heat, pressure, type of wood or surface, and tool tips used. Julie's technique is to use tools that allow her flexibility to develop her unique style. Light, gradual strokes and smooth, subtle shading are her hallmark in attaining fine detail in each work of art. When it comes to pyrography, Julie considers herself a purist. The wood and grain she uses is selected carefully for best composition and aesthetics. "Borrowing from the ancient craft of wood-burning, I attempt to portray the natural world in fresh ways to express my profound appreciation of animals and nature. I am moved by the graceful synthesis of a smooth wooden surface and the heat infused within to create rich sepia. As I ‘paint with heat,’ I feel a certain parallel between the wild and natural spirits that embody my subjects and the organic and distinctively unforgiving nature of my medium." - Julie Bender NOTE: all the images in this post are copyrighted by the artist and may not be reproduced or used without express written permission from Julie Bender. See (and purchase) all of Julie Bender's beautiful work here.

Getting started with wood burning is easier than you might think. A basic wood burning tool, wood and different tips are all you need.

In Pyrography landscape burnings your background determines the time of year, the time of day, and the weather conditions of your scene. Landscapes are worked from the farthest element in the scene to…

Lost opportunities, lost possibilities, feelings we can never get back. That’s part of what it means to be alive. But inside our heads - at least that’s where I imagine it - there’s a little room where we store those memories. A room like the stacks in this library. And to understand the workings of our own heart we have to keep on making new reference cards. We have to dust things off every once in awhile, let in fresh air, change the water in the flower vases. In other words, you’ll live forever in your own private library. (Haruki Murakami) Welcome to my own private library... xo.

'Forest Dance' Pyrography on Apple 'Jackalope' pyrography on Sycamore Five centimetre Birchwood Square ''Wanderers' Five centimetre Birchwood square 'Family Tree' was a commissioned piece designed to represent the commissioners family. More pictures of this piece can be found at the original post dated 20th July 2015. Sleeping Fawn on Apple ''Nine Glory Twigs' Pyrography on Sycamore Small pyracantha Art-piece - 'News at Midnight'. A lot of my pieces tell a story..this one is no exception. Fox has been awakened from his slumber by Crow, who brings important news..what can that be..? This Yew piece, which I named 'Fantasia' has designs across all sides plus each end. This is the view when the piece is held horizontally... The other two sides feature this this totem tree design, viewed vertically. For more pictures of this piece please see the original post from 1st July 2015 My 'Winter Flight' design was inspired by the markings of the grain on this little piece of fruitwood. The grey markings sweep across the wood in such a way as to suggest clouds in a winter sky, so I took this as the basis and inspiration for my design. I used this wedge shaped Yew slice to create 'Willow Woman' an old bent tree design... 'Lean on Me' Pyrography on Pyracantha 'Lean on Me' retains beatiful bark texture on the reverse 'The Sorcerer' pyrography on Sycamore. This is my rendering of a well known figure painted on a cavern wall in France in pre-historic times. Thought to be some kind of shamanic figure by some, although mystery surrounds the figure. I have always found it captivating..indeed I am enthralled and inspired by all ancient artworks, carvings and megaliths.. 'While Fox did sleep' Pyrography on Sycamore 'Flower Fox' Pyrography on Sycamore The tip of my Peter Childs Pyrography Tool is very fine. This is a piece of Pyracantha wood ready for use. I may handle and look at it for a long time before the design becomes apparent..Where possible I will incorporate the patterns of the grain into the design and also take into consideration the overall shape of the piece..whether it is to hang or stand..and whether it is to be pyrographed on more than one side.. 'Root and Jet-the-Crow' Pyrography on Yew. Working with the colouring already present on this Yew Piece I created my little character..a kind of sprite or tree spirit, sitting in conversation with his pal Jet ( the crow) who always brings news of the latest goings on in the forest...So fond of Root did I become, that I later allowed him to reappear in an illustration.. 'Midnight Owl' pyrography on Pyracantha 'Follow the Magic' is a very small Birchwood 'Tile' measuring just 7.5 x 3 cm This birch tile measures just 7.5 x 3 cm Very small Birchwood tile measuring just 7.5 x 3cm 'Seedmore' pyrography on Pyracantha. Here we have a warrior tree spirit, who wandets the world spreading tree blessings... 'Forest Dancer' pyrography on Birch 'Bears Vow' pyrography on Sycamore Pictish Symbols on Yew 'Glastonbury Thorn' on Pear Double sided Fox Spirit on Yew Double sided Fox Spirit on Yew 'Moonwind' Pyrography on Holly 'Totem Tree Spirit' 'Moonshadow' 'Waiting for Supper' Pyrography on Pyracantha 'Moonshadow' Pyrography on Applewood Pyrography on Sycamore 'Green Man' Pyracantha and Yew 'Wyrd' Pyrography on Pyracantha with Watercolour Paper 'Birch Magic' Pyrography on Birch 'Ancient Days' Pyrography on Pyracantha Four sided 'Story' Block Four sided 'Story' Block Four sided 'Story' Block Four sided 'story' Block Double sided design on Pear wood Double sided design on Pear wood' pyrography on Sycamore Three Sycamore Tiles Pyrography on Apple 'Honouring Odin' pyrography on Apple These pictures show a selection of my 'Pyro-art' pieces created using a variety of wood types. After a good deal of experimentation I've found the kinds of wood which best suit my desire to create detailed designs. These are mainly the slower growing varieties such as fruit woods, although suitable pieces are not always easy to come by. I use a good deal of Apple, and have also found Birch to be nice to work with..however my favourite wood is Pyracantha ( Firethorn) with its lovely textured bark and smooth, fine grained heartwood. Whenever possible I prefer to use interesting and unusual wood shapes, rather than pre-bought blank 'plaques' which are sold for pyrography, and always try to allow the wood itself to dictate the design. There are many recurring themes of course, which reflect my particular passions..such as gnarly trees, 'standing stones'..owls and foxes! Some of my pieces are fitted with chains for hanging, but more often I leave them as stand alone curios so that they can be handled and turned over, especially as a lot are multi sided and often include short verses to accompany the artwork. Runes of the Elder Futhark are another of my passsions, very well suited for inclusion in wood art, as they help to express the magical essence of tree and wood. A selection of decorative pieces and jewellery Here is a very small piece of Box wood- perfect for my spreading tree design Pyrography on 7cm applewood disc This Applewood slice was just right for my 'Meditation on Harmony' design, featuring Fox at one with the Universe...