Pyrography by Maya

*Where are you from? Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Maya and I am a small town girl, born and raised in a community north of Toronto, Ontario. I moved to the Toronto area for post secondary education then traveled across Canada to Vancouver, British Columbia where I lived for 11 years. That’s where I got married and had two kids before returning back to my home province of Ontario.

*How did you decide on your shop name? Why did you start your business?

My shop name comes from two of the most creative, entertaining and inspiring people I know. My two sons, B & K!

I have always had some sort of arts or crafts in my life. It’s a part of who I am and I would be miserable if I wasn’t creating something. I’ve been out of the workforce for a few years while doing the toughest job on Earth, being a stay-at-home Mom. I love it but I also need a creative outlet to keep me sane. I have made many pyrographed gifts for family and friends over the years and since I’d always received wonderful compliments from the recipients of these gifts I thought it was a natural choice to open a small business and share my talent with the rest of the world.

*What are 5 things you want people to think when they see your product?

I would like people to look at my items and think of it as fun, creative, interesting, and affordable art, which they could proudly display in their homes.

*What's your supply addiction; is there a specific color or type of supply you just can't pass up?

My husband would say everything arts and crafts is my addiction. Every time I enter a craft or art store I come out with something for me or my kids to create and play with. It's fun!

*What do you do when you're not being an artist? What activities do you enjoy?

When I am not burning I enjoy playing soccer, walking through nature, reading books and relaxing with a good movie.

*Which item in your shop did you enjoy making the most and why?

This is a hard question. Every time I create something new it becomes my favourite. I am continuously learning the craft of pyrography and when I learn a new technique or try burning a new piece of wood and I’m successful, it makes me smile for days.

*What keeps you motivated?

I am motivated by the next challenge and the next inspiration. I look for inspiration all the time where ever I am. When I discover a new idea I can’t wait to get started! Custom orders are also very motivating. I love working with the customer to come up with the perfect item just for them and then to hear their reaction when they receive the finished product.

*If you could give a piece of advice to a new shop - what would it be?

Study the market, know what other products/shops are out there that are similar to yours. Don’t copy them but see what is working for them. Network. Meet people and get your name out there. It takes a lot of work and time but it’s worth it. And really be careful on shipping costs. I have made a few mistakes where the shipping ended up costing more than the item I made and I lost some money. It has really been a learn-as-I-go experience for me. Most importantly, customer service! I learned this a long time ago when I worked in retail and it applies even more online. When you can’t see or talk to your customer face-to-face you must make sure that you give them the best costumer service possible. Think about how you’d like to be treated and then treat them even better!

*Are there other places on the net we can find you?

I can be found here:
Etsy: www.bkinspired.etsy.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bkinspired
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mayabki
Blog: www.bkinspired.blogspot.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/mayabki
Google+: Maya Wade
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/9059308@N03/