My Journey

Have you ever loved doing something so much that you couldn't imagine life without it... only to slowly realize you haven't done it in months—or even years?

That was me.

Life has a way of filling every empty space. Work, responsibilities, family, endless to-do lists—they all seemed to come first. Somewhere along the way, creating became something I would do "when I had time."

The problem was, that time never seemed to come.

My Journey began like many others, I had a love for art in school and started with graphite and colored pencil work. For years I focused on learning and improving my drawing skills. I finally went to my first art festival with my husband in the early 2010's. Seeing people actually selling their art got me so excited and lit a fire in me.

The next year with a home built rack my grandfather made me and a cheap tent from Walmart we set up at my first, and the biggest disaster, of a festival. I had with me a little over a dozen paintings and drawings, some postcards and a few small items I painted. Needless to say I sold a few small items and the tent was destroyed by the wind.

I didn't give up though, I noticed at that moment the only things people were interested in was my small and usable wood items I had painted. Around this time I also got my first taste of woodburning about this time. By the time I opened up at my next event I had a better set up, more items including a new line of wood items. That time I sold out of all my wood burning items.

Realizing the potential I started posting online and in 2021 I received a message from a store in Canada looking for a wood burning to do livestreams in exchange for equipment and a little pay. Needless to say I jumped on it. Doing so I got my workhorse machines and most of the tips I use today. I worked with them for about a year before moving on my own and doing more local events.

I found myself moving into basic wood carving about this time as well and while I still drew and painted I found myself more involved with wood art. I began experimenting and using other items to burn on especially gourds. Sales kept increasing and I was beginning to have return customers to my booth.

It was in 2023 I found myself beginning to struggle in creating and about this time was when my mental health starting suffering. I stopped going to events and slowly began having longer periods between making things. The less I created the more depressed I got.

Things took a break in 2024 when my family moved temporarily to Connecticut. The change and excitement improved my mindset and being in the Northeast I started to get excited about creating again.

We returned to Oklahoma and settled into our home in 2025. With a new home and finally a diagnosis as to what was plaguing me mentally things started improving.

Here we are in 2026 and I am back to burning and getting more excited in the creative process. The first time I picked up my wood burner again, I wasn't trying to make something perfect. I wasn't thinking about selling it or sharing it online. I simply wanted to create something that made me happy.

That single project reminded me why I fell in love with making things in the first place.

Creating slows me down. It challenges me. It teaches me patience. It gives me a chance to step away from the noise and focus on something meaningful.

Coming back to creativity hasn't been about becoming an expert or keeping up with anyone else. It's been about reconnecting with a part of myself that I'd unintentionally set aside.

That's one of the reasons I started Beyond the Burn.

I wanted a place to share not just finished projects, but the journey behind them—the successes, the mistakes, the lessons, and the simple joy of making something with my own hands.

If you've stepped away from a hobby you once loved, I hope this encourages you to pick it back up. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to create masterpieces. You just have to begin.

Sometimes the hardest part isn't learning something new.

It's remembering what once made you feel alive.

I'm grateful I found my way back.

And I'm excited to see where this journey leads next.