Ball State Every day

MUNCIE, Ind. — Muncie has skilled excessive climate this winter, and with spring approaching, Muncie locals are making the most of the hotter days that include it. With the hotter seasons approaching, small enterprise homeowners are getting again to work earlier than it begins getting busy. 

For Braiden Robinson, proprietor of Wook’s Workshop, a 9-5 life-style was by no means his finish purpose. 

“I’ve always wanted to do something for myself, work for myself, so that’s what kinda gave me the motivation to like look for things I’m into and to turn into a career,” Robinson mentioned. 

After affected by a life-changing automobile accident, Robinson gathered his inventive skills collectively and introduced his lapidary enterprise to life. During the day, he spends time in his studio carving items of stone all the way down to perfection. 

“Being able to turn what Mother Nature made already into something more beautiful is pretty spectacular,” Robinson defined. 

Those “somethings” are items of polished jewellery and gems. He sells these items at vendor occasions like First Thursdays at Muncie Makers Market year-round. 

When he’s not within the studio, Robinson is as much as one thing extra heated. During the day, he’s a lapidarist, however at evening, he’s a hearth performer. 

“I’ve always been kind of a pyro when I was a kid, I like to look at the campfire and stuff like that,” Robinson mentioned.

 That child grew as much as be knowledgeable hearth tosser, acting at completely different occasions throughout Muncie. To some, hearth is dangerous, however it brings him peace. 

“I kind of get into a meditative state when I’m doing it and zone out and just really focus on just me and the fire. And it really brings me to this calm, serene place and I look cool doing it,” Robinson mentioned. 

Robinson’s been on the fireplace tossing route for over six years, bringing leisure to native occasions throughout hotter seasons. Fire tossing was not straightforward at first, however after attending Kinetic Fire at Flow Fest in 2024, Robinson knew instantly what he needed to do. 

“The first day I lit them on fire and was like ‘that’s intense,’ but after practice and drilling, I’m really not afraid of the fire anymore,” Robinson mentioned. 

Robinson will not be onerous to catch; he practices usually at parks and open areas, all whereas staying secure.

“I decided to pull the trigger on getting insurance for it so I can do it professionally, and it’s been a growing thing since then,” Robinson mentioned. 

Robinson is simply getting began earlier than the summer time. For any info on easy methods to guide a session with Robinson, attain out via his private Facebook account at Braiden Robinson 

Contact Kahmara Munn with feedback at kahmara.munn@bsu.edu.