A Little Woodland Inspiration: My First Morel Mushroom Pendant

10/11/20261 min read

October 10, 2026

I’ve been wanting to experiment with making some nature-inspired wooden pendants, and I decided to start with something I’ve always enjoyed finding in the woods—a morel mushroom.

For this first pendant, I used basswood, which is a wonderful material for carving and woodburning. I wanted to create something that had more dimension than a simple engraved design, so I used my Dremel to carve additional details into the mushrooms, particularly the textured caps.

Once I was happy with the carving, I moved on to pyrography. This is where the mushrooms really started to come to life. By darkening the recessed areas and leaving the raised portions of the wood lighter, I was able to bring out that distinctive honeycomb texture that makes morels so recognizable.

I also added some subtle shading to the stems and surrounding vegetation while allowing much of the natural basswood to remain untouched.

To finish the piece, I attached a simple brown leather cord, turning it into a rustic woodland necklace.

Combining Different Techniques

One of the things I enjoy most about creating artwork is finding ways to combine different techniques. Carving adds physical depth, while pyrography allows me to introduce fine details, shadows, and contrast that would be difficult to achieve through carving alone.

I particularly enjoy working with natural materials and creating pieces inspired by the wildlife, plants, and landscapes around me.

More Woodland Pendants to Come

I’m pleased with how this first morel mushroom pendant turned out, and it’s given me quite a few ideas for future designs.

I’m looking forward to experimenting with different woodland subjects, incorporating more carving and woodburning techniques, and seeing where this new creative direction takes me.

Sometimes the simplest things found in nature provide the best inspiration.

— Nathaniel Maloney