Meet Stephanie Burrows - creator of the absolutely adorable and whimsical Oak, Ash & Thorn deck.
This deck has now been fully funded and is in production!!!
You can pre-order your deck here:
Where in the world do you call home?
Even though I grew up in the States, I consider my home to be in the UK now. Home is my wonderful, supportive husband, my two adorable, unruly dogs, my close- knit circle of friends and my house (that I no longer consider to be just a house, but the house we’ve fixed up and made into a home).
What was your first experience with Tarot, and when did you fall in love with it?
I grew up with my mother reading Tarot cards. I was always a bit interested in them, but it wasn’t until years later (when I was helping my mother organise her house a bit), that I stumbled across an Edward Gorey deck that she planned on using for a Halloween craft project. I was so intrigued by the cards that I bought my first deck (the Crystal Unicorn Tarot), and to this day, it’s still one my favourites (C’mon...unicorns? You can’t get much cuter than that). From there, my interest kept growing, and I dived right into learning as much as I could.
What made you want to create this deck? What was your inspiration?
I wanted cards that I could call my own. Living in the West Yorkshire countryside really inspired me to create this Tarot deck. Walking through the woods near my home is something magical (like something out of a Disney film). I’m still trying to convince my husband that a cottage in the forest is where we need to be.
Aside from your own deck, do you have a favourite deck? If so, which one?
I love decks that have a whimsical theme, so I would say ‘The Crystal Unicorn Tarot’ by Pamela Chen is my absolute favourite. It was the first deck I purchased for myself, and it always makes me smile. It’s my go-to deck.
On the other hand, I also love, love, LOVE the Oculi Occultati Tarot by Radomił Bogusławski (published by Scarlet Imprint). It’s just a GORGEOUS deck. The Queen of Swords (well, this particular Queen of Swords) is my all-time favourite queen. The deck as a whole is, simply put, enchanting. There’s no guidebook and no text on the cards, but it makes no difference for me. It’s lovely!
Do you have a favourite card (either from your deck or just a card in general)? If so, why is it your favourite?
Oh my goodness, that’s a difficult one because all of the cards in Oak, Ash & Thorn are so special. I would have to say the Eight of Swords. It’s a beautiful card. Since I always tend to be in my head and doubt myself, she is such a reflection of me.
What have been your challenges in creating this deck?
I consider myself to be a Tarot newbie, so overcoming my self-doubt about the process was a huge thing for me. Besides actually creating 78 artist descriptions in a way that reflect the traditional RWS meanings, it would be finding the perfect artist. Just like creating 78 artist descriptions, illustrating all 78 of them is challenging. Luckily, I found the perfect artist who was equally excited about illustrating the deck as I was in creating it.
What is one thing you really want people to know about this deck?
I want people to know that it’s an utterly joyful little Tarot deck. Every card makes me smile (even the darker ones), and I hope it does the same for you.
How will you celebrate when your deck is finally published?
Since this is an indie deck, I think the celebrations will come when our Kickstarter campaign officially comes to a close. I think, in normal circumstances, a big celebratory meal would be in order. Still, since this won’t be possible (the UK is in lockdown for another three weeks), it’ll have to be a takeaway meal from my favourite restaurant.
What is on offer for people who back your deck?
Not only will you help get our beautiful deck into print, but backers will get Oak, Ash & Thorn at a special ‘crowdfunding-only’ price.
Since launching, we’ve unlocked all sorts of stretch goals. Currently, decks will include art prints and extra art cards. We’ve nearly unlocked a stretch goal where each will include a beautiful, eco-friendly Tarot cloth (hand-made right here in the UK), dyed using plants and toxin-free processes, with only organic, reclaimed or remnant pieces. These cloths will be custom dyed in colours that coordinate with our deck.
Pre-order your deck here: