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/



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9 comments:

Allison's Creations Terms of Service & Ordering Process said...

Very nice. I enjoyed reading your story and taking in great selling advice. Thanks for sharing. Allison

foxfragaria said...

Such an interesting interview! And I adore your butterflies!

Wendy said...

Lovely Shop! Your work is beautiful!!

Sandra's Card Shop said...

Great feature! I can attest to Maya's work after purchasing several items including a custom order. Her work is amazing!

2justByou said...

Wonderful feature! Great interview. =) It's a beautiful shop.
~ Kim

Creations By Janet said...

Love your feature, thanks for the advice, and your work is beautiful.

Toppy Toppy said...

Love your work. In my country it is much appreciated.
Thank you for the advice and for letting us know a little about yourself.

True Treats Pet Bakery said...

Like what youre doing! Happy to have found you and read your bio!

Unknown said...

Maya's work is truly beautiful. I was fortunate enough to win a prize from her shop. The cards were just lovely and amazingly detailed. She has a true gift.