Welcome to our first Muggles Market Too Spotlight! Today, we are delighted to announce that BarzWorks will be an artisan for Muggles Market Too at Con-Tagion. Joshua Steinke took a few minutes to answer some questions about his business and himself
What items are you bringing to the Muggles Market Too?
BarzWorks is dedicated to producing some of the finest hand made wood and acrylic writing instruments, along with traditional shaving gear, bottle stoppers, bottle openers and other heirloom quality handmade goods.
How did you first get started making these things?
I’ve always enjoyed woodworking. I love designing and making something with a few tools and my own hands. I purchased a wood lathe a few years ago with the intention of making some wooden gear shift knobs for my cars and for gifts for fellow motorheads. I eventually started creating items like pens, bottle stoppers, tool handles…basically anything round. I found that people really responded positively to the pens I was making. They really enjoy a small piece of artwork that I created that they can carry around in their shirt pocket or purse. The pens are an expression of my creativity that the owner can then extend to their own creativity, whether that be writing in their journal, poetry or sketching on a doodle pad on their desk.
What has been one of your favorite projects to work on?
I enjoy all of my time in the workshop. I love creating artistic items that people will use everyday. One of my biggest thrills is to give pens away to the patients that come in to the oncology clinic that I work at. I have made many friends there over the years, and each and every pen that I have given away has created a special place on my heart when I see the power of something so simple brightening their day. Each of those pens has been my favorite.
What else can you tell us about yourself?
I enjoy keeping busy in my shop. I love making things by hand, and having something special to show for at the end of several hours worth of work. I recently started playing around with leather, and hopefully by October I will have some nice pen cases to accompany my handmade pens. When not in my shop, my wife and I are usually out travelling, taking pictures, and finding new adventures to get into.
Check out their website at: BarzWorks
And make plans to come visit them on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at this year’s Con-Tagion!