Category: Functional Art

Art can be useful in many ways. Much of ours is created to enhance your homes with their use.

  • Thirteen Years in the Making: My Collection of Custom Wooden Spoons

    Thirteen Years in the Making: My Collection of Custom Wooden Spoons

    After thirteen years of marriage, I finally have three custom wooden spoons from Rex—and let me tell you, they were worth the wait.

    It all started with one spoon about a year ago. Rex crafted it with his typical attention to detail: a thin, long handle and a flat lip that’s become my secret weapon for breaking up ground meats. At 12¾ inches long, it’s shaped more like a spatula with a gentle dip, giving me both a rounded edge for stirring and a straight edge for scraping bowls and pans clean.

    This workhorse has survived everything our kitchen (and our kids) could throw at it—multiple dishwasher cycles and even an overnight soak when someone forgot to wash it. Those weathered marks you see? That’s just the character of the wood shining through, not damage. Rex always says the wood tells its own story.

    Two New Additions to the Family

    But Rex noticed I preferred a thicker handle for comfort, so he designed two new spoons just for me. The first is my new favorite tasting spoon—truly round with a bit more depth than a typical taster, and a flat bottom that won’t roll around. At 10½ inches long, it has a clever little lip that rests perfectly on the edge of pots and pans. No more fishing spoons out of simmering sauces.

    The third spoon is my cookie-making companion, also 10½ inches long. Rex designed this one specifically because I was constantly complaining about butter that was only “mostly” softened when I wanted to bake. This spoon handles stubborn butter like a dream, though I suspect it’ll become useful for much more than cookies.

    The Magic of Custom Pieces

    What I love most about these spoons is that they’re not just beautiful—they’re designed for real life, real cooking, real moments in the kitchen. Each one solves a specific problem while bringing that handcrafted warmth that only comes from wood shaped by experienced hands.

    Rex spent over 40 years perfecting his craft, and it shows in every curve and angle. These aren’t just kitchen tools; they’re functional art pieces that make cooking more enjoyable.

    More Beautiful Work Coming Soon

    Speaking of functional art, I’ve been busy photographing our latest creations, and they’ll be available on the website over the weekend. From those stunning resin pens you see here to new serving pieces, each item tells its own story of reclaimed materials transformed into something special.

    If you’re ready for your own custom wooden spoons—or any handcrafted piece that brings both beauty and function to your daily life—we’d love to create something just for you. Every piece we make is one-of-a-kind, designed to become part of your family’s story.

    Because the best kitchen tools aren’t just functional—they’re the ones that make you smile every time you reach for them.

    Ready for your own custom wooden spoons or other handcrafted pieces? Contact us to start creating something special, or browse our collection of beautiful hand-carved items.

  • We’re Staying Home for the Holidays (And Bringing Something Special)

    We’re Staying Home for the Holidays (And Bringing Something Special)

    This week in the workshop, Rex discovered something we’d almost forgotten – the joy of sleeping in our own bed while still sharing our craft with an incredible community of art lovers.

    After a year that has tested us in ways we never expected, we’re beyond excited to announce that Sarkanys Rising will be part of Tucson’s Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair at Reid Park this Thanksgiving weekend. For the first time in what feels like forever, we get to be part of something magical right here in our hometown.

    A Fair with Four Decades of Heart

    This isn’t just any craft fair – it’s a Tucson tradition that’s been bringing together artisans and art lovers for more than 40 years. Over 140 vendors from across the Southwest gather at Gene C. Reid Park, creating a marketplace where every single item is handmade, unique, and crafted with the kind of care that’s becoming harder to find in our world.

    When we read that requirement – “all items must be unique, handmade goods” – we knew we’d found our people. This is exactly the kind of event where stories matter as much as the pieces themselves, where customers appreciate the difference between mass-produced and carefully crafted.

    Why This Feels Like Coming Home

    After months of cancelled events due to health challenges and financial pressures that seemed determined to test our resolve, the simple pleasure of driving across town instead of across state lines feels like a gift in itself. No over-packing the van & trailer, no wondering if we’ll have everything we need, no sleeping in unfamiliar places while fighting to feel our best.

    Instead, we get to wake up in our own home, make sure every piece is perfect, and drive just a few miles to share what we love with a community that gets it. Sometimes the best adventures happen closest to home.

    What We’re Bringing (And What We’re Not Telling You… Yet)

    You’ll find our full range of handcrafted treasures – those chatoyant mahogany boxes that shift and shimmer in the light, cutting boards with stories that span decades, pens that turn everyday writing into something special, and pieces that defy easy categorization but somehow find their perfect homes.

    But here’s where we get a little mysterious: we’re also bringing something extra special that we haven’t talked about before. Starting November 1st, we’ll be launching a gift with purchase program that we’re honestly more excited about than we probably should be. Rex has been working on these pieces in between everything else, and seeing them come together has been one of those bright spots that reminds us why we do this work.

    We can’t spill all the details yet (October has its own surprises we want you to focus on first), but let’s just say that anyone who finds us at Reid Park will discover there’s more to the story than what meets the eye.

    The Details That Matter

    When: Saturday, November 29th (9 AM – 4 PM) and Sunday, November 30th (9 AM – 3 PM)
    Where: Gene C. Reid Park, 920 S. Concert Place (west side of the park off Country Club Road)
    What to Expect: Over 140 Southwest artisans, all handmade goods, and the kind of community gathering that makes the holidays feel magical

    We’ll have our full range of pieces, from affordable treasures to investment heirlooms, plus those special surprises we keep hinting at. And as always, every purchase comes with the stories, the lifetime guarantees, and the kind of personal connection that turns customers into community.

    A Thanksgiving Weekend to Remember

    There’s something perfect about spending Thanksgiving weekend surrounded by the work of makers and creators, celebrating what it means to build beauty with your hands and share it with people who appreciate the difference. After a year that challenged us in every possible way, being part of this community tradition feels like exactly where we need to be.

    Come find us at Reid Park. We’ll have coffee, stories, and pieces that are just waiting to become part of your holiday celebrations. Plus, if you’ve been curious about that gift with purchase program we keep mentioning, well… let’s just say good things come to those who show up.

    Mark Your Calendars

    This is our first local event in longer than we care to admit, and we’re ready to make it count. Whether you’re starting your holiday shopping early, looking for something truly unique, or just want to support local artisans doing what they love, we’ll be there with bells on (and probably with Rex demonstrating his craft because he can never resist a good audience).

    Thanks for being part of our story, Tucson. We can’t wait to be part of yours.

    See you at Reid Park, November 29th and 30th. Come early, stay late, and get ready for some surprises.

  • The Magic Jupiter Pen Finds Its Perfect Match: A Review That Made Our Day

    The Magic Jupiter Pen Finds Its Perfect Match: A Review That Made Our Day

    You know that feeling when you create something with your hands, pour your heart into every detail, and then wonder if it’ll find the right person? Well, folks, we just got one of those moments that reminds us why we do what we do.

    Meet Daniel Alexander: Storyteller, Creator, and Now Part of Our Community

    Before we dive into his wonderful review, let’s introduce you to Daniel Alexander—though you might already know him as @dalecsander across social media. Daniel is a storyteller with an impressive following of nearly 380K on TikTok and over 223K followers on Instagram, where he shares his adventures in the literary world.

    But here’s what makes Daniel especially fascinating: he’s the creator of the Valthakaverse, where “an ancient entity that has since stumbled her way into Daniel’s mortal coil, the Crone is notorious for her adventures, advice, and general disdain for capable young women getting fridged by the Pregnancy Trope.” Talk about creative storytelling!

    Daniel also publishes The Valthakan Times, a newsletter where the Crone shares her wisdom while “Daniel acting as a transcriber and enjoys outsmarting her various enemies both magical and tax collector.” We love a good story about outsmarting tax collectors—that’s the kind of creativity that speaks to our hearts.

    A Review That Made Rex Grin (And That’s Saying Something)

    When Daniel’s written review arrived, we knew we had to share it with you:

    “5 stars, the Magic Jupiter pen is a beautiful blend of metalwork and wood carving. Writes perfectly even as a lefty! I was also lucky enough to receive a custom travel case and pen holder. It’s a perfect addition to my desk space, and I love knowing everything is handmade!”

    Thank you so much Daniel! We are so glad you enjoy your pen and the custom box we included!

    But Wait, There’s More (And It’s on Video!)

    Daniel didn’t stop at a written review—he featured our Jupiter pen in a video that perfectly captures what we love about our customers. You can catch his segment right here at the 3:02 mark.

    Watching someone genuinely excited about a piece you’ve crafted? That’s the kind of moment that makes every hour spent in the workshop worth it.

    The Magic Jupiter Pen: Where Function Meets Fantasy

    For those who haven’t met our Jupiter pen yet, Daniel’s review captures exactly what makes it special. This isn’t just a writing instrument—it’s a conversation starter, a daily reminder that beautiful things can also be perfectly functional. Each Jupiter pen features Rex’s signature woodturning combined with carefully selected materials that make every piece genuinely unique.

    The fact that it writes beautifully for a lefty? That’s no accident. Rex is left-handed himself, and after 40+ years of struggling with pens that weren’t made with lefties in mind, he makes sure every pen he turns works perfectly for both righties and lefties. It’s just good engineering meeting good design—and a little personal experience. Rex always says that a pen that doesn’t write smoothly isn’t worth the wood it’s made from, especially when you understand the frustration of fighting with your writing instrument every day.

    Custom Cases: Because Beautiful Things Deserve Beautiful Homes

    Daniel mentioned the custom travel case and pen holder, and we’re especially proud of those pieces. When you invest in a handcrafted pen, it deserves protection that’s just as thoughtful as its creation. These aren’t afterthoughts—they’re designed to keep your pen safe while looking right at home on any desk or in any travel bag.

    What This Means to Us

    Reviews like Daniel’s remind us why we chose this path. We’re not just making pens (or cutting boards, or any of our other pieces)—we’re creating tools for storytellers, instruments for important moments, and objects that become part of people’s daily rituals.

    When a professional storyteller like Daniel takes the time to share his experience with our work, it tells us we’re doing something right. His appreciation for the handmade aspect, the functionality, and the beauty of the piece together? That’s exactly what we hope for every time someone picks up one of our creations.

    Ready to Find Your Own Magic?

    If Daniel’s review has you curious about our Jupiter pens, you can explore our current collection here. Each one is individual—just like the stories they’ll help you tell.

    And if you’re thinking about a custom pen box or need something specific for one of our larger pens, we’d love to work with you on a custom order.

    Join the Conversation

    Do you have a Sarkanys Rising piece that’s become part of your daily life? We’d love to hear about it! Share your story with us at info@sarkanysrising.com—because every piece has a story, and we love being part of yours.

    Thanks for letting us share Daniel’s wonderful review with you, and as always, we’re here if you have questions or just want to chat about wood, stories, or the magic that happens when functional art finds the right hands.

    Until next time, keep making beautiful moments in your everyday life.

    Rex & Dawn

  • Why Our Kitchen Tools Outlast Everything Else

    Why Our Kitchen Tools Outlast Everything Else

    There’s an uncomfortable truth about most kitchen tools: they’re designed to break. Not immediately, but eventually, so you’ll buy replacements. Planned obsolescence isn’t just for electronics — it’s built into almost everything we buy, including the tools we use to feed our families.

    We’re not about that.

    When Rex crafts a Maple & Walnut French Rolling Pin, he’s thinking about how it will feel in your hands not just today, but twenty years from now. He chooses wood with tight, stable grain patterns from trusted sources like Cook Woods. He turns each piece to precise tolerances that account for how the wood will move over time. He applies finishes that will protect and nourish the wood through thousands of uses.

    This isn’t just craftsmanship — it’s a philosophy. We believe kitchen tools should be companions, not consumables. That rolling pin should be something you pass down to your children, along with your grandmother’s pie recipe and the story of where you got it. These useful pieces are an heirloom they will not only love, but continue using.

    The materials matter enormously. Mass-produced tools often use whatever wood is cheapest, regardless of its suitability for kitchen use. We select species based on their working properties: maple for its tight grain and natural antimicrobial properties, walnut for its stability and resistance to moisture, cherry for its beauty and durability. When a piece needs extra stability, we use Cactus Juice penetrating stabilizer, which hardens the wood fibers from the inside out.

    But it’s not just about the wood. It’s about understanding how these tools will be used. A cutting board needs to be hard enough to protect your knives but soft enough not to dull them. A rolling pin needs perfect balance so it rolls smoothly without requiring excessive pressure. A knife handle needs to feel secure even when your hands are wet or flour-dusted.

    Rex has been perfecting these details for over four decades. He understands how different woods behave in various climates, how grain orientation affects strength, how the smallest variation in thickness can change a tool’s performance. This isn’t knowledge you can download or inherit — it’s earned through years of making, testing, adjusting, and making again.

    We hear from customers all the time who still have kitchen tools their grandparents used daily. Not museum pieces, but working tools that show their age gracefully, developing the kind of patina and character that only comes from decades of use. That’s what we are working to make — not just for this generation, but for the next.

    The economics work out too. A cheap rolling pin might cost $15, but if you have to replace it every few years, you’ll spend more over time than if you’d bought one quality piece that lasts forever. Our tools cost more upfront because we’re not cutting corners on materials, time, or craftsmanship.

    More importantly, there’s something deeply satisfying about using tools that improve with age instead of degrading. Wood develops character as it’s used. It learns your hands, your kitchen, your cooking style. A well-made tool becomes an extension of yourself in ways that plastic never can.

    In a throwaway world, making things to last is almost a radical act. But every time you reach for that perfectly balanced rolling pin or that cutting board that still looks beautiful after years of daily use, you’re reminded that quality endures — and that some things are worth doing right the first time.

  • Handcrafted Kitchen Tools That Make Cooking Feel Special

    There’s something magical that happens when you cook with tools that were made with intention. It’s the difference between grabbing whatever’s handy and reaching for something that makes the whole process feel like a ritual — a moment of beauty in the middle of an ordinary day.

    Take our Maple & Walnut French Rolling Pins. When you lift it, the first thing you notice is the weight. This isn’t some lightweight, hollow thing that’ll crack after a few uses. This pin has substance, balance, the kind of heft that makes rolling pie dough feel almost meditative. The wood comes alive in your hands, and suddenly you’re not just making dinner — you’re creating something special.

    Or consider the way a well-made bow knife moves through a fresh loaf of bread. Rex crafts each blade handle to fit comfortably in your grip, balancing the steel with wood that’s been carefully selected for both beauty and durability. We often use cherry or walnut from Cook Woods, sometimes adding stabilization with Cactus Juice for pieces that’ll see heavy use. The result? Clean cuts that don’t compress the bread, leaving you with perfect slices instead of mangled chunks.

    These aren’t just tools — they’re invitations to slow down, to pay attention, to find joy in the process rather than just rushing to the result.

    We design our kitchen pieces to last generations. That Romeo & Juliet Cutting Board isn’t going to warp or crack after a few months of use. The hardwood construction, carefully selected grain patterns, and food-safe finishes mean this is something you’ll use for decades, then pass down to your children.

    Functional art isn’t meant to sit on a shelf looking pretty — though our pieces certainly do that too. It’s meant to be part of your daily life, elevating ordinary moments into something memorable. When you’re rolling out sugar cookies with your grandkids or slicing homemade bread for Sunday breakfast, you want tools that honor those moments.

    Your kitchen is where memories are made. Shouldn’t it be filled with things that inspire you to create them?

  • Handcrafted Kitchen Tools: Why Your Cooking Essentials Should Feel Like Keepsakes

    Transform your kitchen with handmade wooden utensils and cutting boards that tell a story while they work

    Welcome to the heart of your home. (And no, we’re not talking about your fridge, though we fully support that snack life. 😉)

    We’re talking about your kitchen — the place where memories simmer, conversations sizzle, and your counter tops become the unofficial family hangout spot in Tucson and beyond.

    So why do so many of us settle for mass-produced kitchen tools that are, well… kinda meh?

    The Case for Handcrafted Kitchen Tools That Last

    Here’s the deal: your wooden kitchen utensils shouldn’t be the afterthought of your home. They’re not just there to flip pancakes or slice tomatoes — they’re the silent co-stars of birthday brunches, impromptu late-night snacks, and the “famous” recipes you’ll one day hand down to the kids (or at least proudly recite to your dog).

    Think about it.

    These moments deserve more than a mass-produced, big-box-store special. They deserve artisan-made kitchen tools that hold memories right alongside them.

    Functional Art for the Southwest Kitchen

    When your kitchen tools are handcrafted by a veteran — with intention, artistry, and maybe a few good maker jokes along the way — they become instant conversation starters.

    “Oh wow, where’d you get this handmade wooden board?” is a way better dinner party opener than “Cool… plastic.”

    And when they’re made from sustainably sourced reclaimed wood or designed by a disabled veteran artist with a story worth sharing, they’re more than utensils. They’re pieces of functional art that connect your daily life to bigger, richer stories. (The kind your guests actually lean in to hear.)

    Why Choose Veteran-Made Kitchen Tools?

    • Sustainability: Many pieces re-purpose reclaimed wood that would otherwise go to waste
    • Authenticity: Crafted by hand with military precision and attention to detail
    • Uniqueness: No two pieces are exactly alike — true one-of-a-kind artisan kitchen tools
    • Durability: Built to last with the same standards that define military craftsmanship

    Keepsakes You Actually Use Every Day

    Let’s be real: keepsakes are usually things we tuck away on shelves, dust once a year, and promise we’ll “pass down someday.” (We see you, random fancy plate.)

    But what if your keepsakes were the very things you reach for every morning? What if they were sturdy enough for Tuesday’s sandwich prep and special enough for Friday’s charcuterie board?

    That’s the beauty of functional wooden art. It doesn’t just sit pretty — it works pretty hard too.

    Popular Handcrafted Kitchen Items:

    • Custom cutting boards made from desert mesquite or reclaimed hardwoods
    • Wooden serving trays perfect for entertaining
    • Handmade kitchen utensils that feel good in your hands
    • Artisan bar tools for the home mixologist
    • Decorative bowls that double as serving pieces

    A Little Soul in Your Stirring

    Here’s our philosophy in one line: Your kitchen tools should feel like keepsakes because they keep your stories.

    They’re there for your quiet mornings and your loud, bustling holidays. They hold the accidental knife marks and the shine of well-loved surfaces. They age with you. And just like our loyal shop & resin dogs (and cat), they’re always up for one more memory.

    Supporting Local Artisans in Tucson

    When you choose handcrafted wooden kitchen tools from local Southwest artisans, you’re not just buying a product — you’re supporting:

    • Veteran-owned, woman-owned, disability-owned & LGBTQ+ small business right here in Arizona
    • Sustainable woodworking practices that reduce waste
    • Traditional craftsmanship that’s becoming increasingly rare
    • Local artisans who pour their hearts into every piece

    Ready to Turn Everyday Into Heirloom?

    So next time you’re rummaging through that drawer of mismatched, mass-produced utensils that make you shrug… pause.

    Picture handmade kitchen tools that make you smile instead — that feel like a hug from your home, that start stories before you’ve even finished your coffee.

    We happen to know a place where you can find a few. (Hint: it’s right here with us. 😉)

    Shop Our Collection of Handcrafted Kitchen Tools

    Browse our selection of veteran-made wooden kitchen essentials:

    • Custom cutting boards starting at $50
    • Handcrafted utensil sets perfect for gifts
    • One-of-a-kind serving pieces for entertaining
    • Seasonal collections inspired by the Southwest

    Free shipping on ALL orders within the US

    About Sarkanys Rising: We’re a Veteran-owned, woman-owned, disability-owned & LGBTQ+ small business specializing in handcrafted wooden kitchen tools and functional art. Each piece is made from reclaimed wood by disabled veteran Rex, right here in Tucson, Arizona. Every purchase supports sustainable practices and veteran entrepreneurship.

    ✨ Thanks for hanging out in our corner of the internet. If you’ve got a favorite kitchen memory or a piece you’d never part with, we’d love to hear about it. Drop it in the comments or tag us on Instagram [@sarkanysrising] — we’re all about those warm fuzzies.