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Category: Behind the Grain
This is where you will learn about us, our products, festivals and fairs, and more!
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Eco-Friendly Wood Art That’s Actually Beautiful – Sustainable Crafting
When people hear “sustainable” or “eco-friendly,” they often picture rough, unfinished pieces, that look more like they belong in a camping store than your dining room. We’re here to prove that caring about the planet doesn’t mean sacrificing beauty.
Take that stunning Scrap Cabochon Pendant shimmering with P-Town Subbie mica colors that Rex just finished shaping! It started as cutoffs from a larger project; resin that many would throw in the trash. Instead, Dawn saw potential in those scraps, and Rex is now transforming them into wearable art that catches light like captured sunlight.
Our approach to sustainability isn’t about making grand environmental statements. It’s about seeing value where others see waste. Rex has always been that way — he’ll spot a piece of mesquite that was cleared for a construction project and see a future bowl or pen. We work with cutoffs from Cook Woods and Woodworkers Source, and even the side of the road, materials that might otherwise become waste, giving them new life as functional art.
This philosophy extends to everything we make. That gorgeous cherry and walnut cutting board? The cherry might be from offcuts too small for furniture makers, while the walnut could be from a tree that fell in someone’s yard. We stabilize when needed with Cactus Juice, ensuring these rescued materials will last for generations.
Dawn’s resin work is where sustainability meets spectacular beauty. Using Alumilite products, she creates swirls of color that transform what might have been scrapped wood into pieces that make people gasp. We’ve had customers tell us they’ve never seen anything like our resin and wood combinations — and they’re right. When you’re working with unique cutoffs and one-of-a-kind wood pieces, no two creations are ever the same.
The environmental impact is real, but it’s not why people buy our pieces. They buy them because they’re beautiful, functional, and completely unique. The sustainability aspect is a bonus that lets them feel good about their purchase long after they’ve brought it home.
We’ve noticed something interesting about customers who choose our work specifically for its sustainable approach. They tend to become some of our most passionate advocates, sharing photos of their pieces and talking about the story behind the materials. There’s something powerful about owning something beautiful that also represents rescued materials getting a second chance.
It’s funny — in trying to be more environmentally conscious, we’ve actually pushed ourselves to be more creative. When you’re working with whatever interesting scraps come your way instead of ordering fresh lumber, you have to think differently, problem-solve, let the materials guide the design.
Sustainable can be elegant. Sustainable can be bold. And sustainable can absolutely be the most beautiful thing in your home. You don’t have to tell your friends it started as someone else’s trash — let them just think you have impossibly good taste.
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Travel Light Shop Heavy – Ship Artisan Purchases Home
We’ve all been there. You’re browsing an artisan fair, maybe the Tucson Celtic Festival or the Tucson Museum of Art’s Artisan Market, and you find the perfect piece. But then reality hits — there’s no way that gorgeous bowl or substantial cutting board is fitting in your carry-on, and you’re already pushing the weight limit on your checked bag.
Here’s the secret that savvy travelers have figured out: buy here, ship home.
At every festival and market we attend, we come prepared with shipping materials and a partnership with reliable carriers. That beautiful Australian Red Gum Burl Bowl that caught your eye? We can have it carefully packaged and on its way to your door while you’re still enjoying your trip.
That’s the magic of shipping festival finds. When your package arrives at home, it brings back all those good memories of discovery, of the conversation you had with the artist, of that moment when you knew something was meant to be yours.
We’ve shipped everywhere (in the US) — from Alaska to Florida, from tiny mountain towns to major cities. Each package is carefully wrapped, with extra attention paid to protecting delicate resin work and preserving the wood’s finish. We want your piece to arrive in the same condition as when you first fell in love with it.
The practical benefits are obvious: no airline baggage fees, no worrying about TSA restrictions, no trying to fit a round bowl into a square suitcase. But there’s an unexpected bonus too — the anticipation. There’s something wonderful about coming home from a trip and knowing that in a few days, a little piece of that adventure will arrive at your door.
So next time you’re traveling and find yourself at an artisan market, don’t let logistics stop you from bringing home something special. Travel light, shop with your heart, and let us handle the rest. Your future self will thank you when that carefully packed reminder of a perfect day shows up on your doorstep.
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Unique Housewarming Gifts – Handcrafted Wood Art for New Homes
Your friends just bought their first house, and you want to give them something meaningful. Something that says “welcome home” rather than “here’s a thing.” We get it — and we’ve got you covered.
The truth is, most housewarming gifts end up in closets or get quietly re-gifted a year later. But what if you could give something that becomes part of their daily life, something they reach for and smile about every time they use it?
Consider a handcrafted vase set from reclaimed fruit woods. Not only does it give them a beautiful way to display fresh flowers or dried arrangements, but each piece carries the story of the wood’s previous life. Maybe it was part of an old apple orchard, or came from a peach tree that shaded someone’s backyard for decades. Now it’s ready to be part of their new story.
Or think about a Live Edge Bocote Lamp for their reading corner. Bocote is one of those woods that makes people stop and stare — rich brown with dramatic black streaks that look almost painted. Dawn often pairs it with subtle resin accents that catch the light, creating something that’s both functional and absolutely stunning. It’s the kind of piece that makes guests ask, “Where did you get that?” And they’ll love telling the story.
We’ve learned that the best housewarming gifts are things people didn’t know they needed until they had them. A beautiful cutting board that makes them want to cook more. A decorative bottle stopper that turns every wine bottle into a conversation piece.
What makes these gifts special isn’t just their uniqueness — though you definitely won’t find anything like them at Target. It’s that they’re made to last. These aren’t things that’ll break or go out of style. They’re heirlooms in the making, pieces that will still be beautiful and functional decades from now.
Every time they use that cutting board or turn on that lamp, they’ll think of you and the thoughtfulness behind the gift. And isn’t that exactly what you want a housewarming gift to do?
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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?
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💫 Because Some Things Shouldn’t Be Cheap
Gifts. Memories. Legacy.
We know the moment you’re in. A wedding is coming. An anniversary. A retirement. A moment you want to mark with something real — something they’ll keep, use, and maybe pass on.
And then comes the scroll. Through price tags. Through plastic. Through mass-produced “options” that don’t feel like options at all.
That’s when people find Sarkanys Rising.
Big Moments Deserve More
When you’re buying for life’s biggest moments, it’s not about the biggest box. It’s about meaning.
A hand-turned rolling pin gifted to your daughter as she sets up her first home. A resin-inlaid charcuterie board passed around the table each Thanksgiving. A pen used to sign retirement papers — the same one they’ll use to write postcards in their new chapter.
These aren’t just gifts. They’re future memories.
At Sarkanys Rising, our mission is simple: nothing will ever be the same, and our pieces are as distinctive as our customers. That’s because each piece is handmade in the truest sense — guided by our hands and minds through the entire process.
What Goes Into the Price
We get asked sometimes, “Why does this cost more?” And the honest answer is: because it costs more.
• Because one-of-a-kind means exactly that. Even if Rex tried, he couldn’t make that exact piece again. With over 40 years of wood turning experience, he knows that wood moves, resin dances, and no two pours turn out the same.
• Because quality still takes time. Even our simplest carvings take 24+ hours — not including drying, finishing, and Rex’s meticulous attention to every detail.
• Because materials matter. Some woods we use were salvaged from trees with names and stories. Some resin colors are custom-mixed, layered over days. Some components? We source from other small makers, because only the best will do.
It all adds up — not just in price, but in worth.
The Real Question
It’s not “Why is this expensive?” It’s “What is this worth to me?”
And if the answer is connection, legacy, memory — then it’s worth every penny.
When you choose a piece from our collection, you’re not just buying functional art. You’re investing in a story that will be told for generations. You’re choosing to give something that says, “This moment mattered. You matter.”
Some Things Shouldn’t Be Cheap
Not the moments that matter. Not the people we love. Not the things we hand down, hoping someone will think of us when they use them.
That’s what we make.
Ready to find the perfect meaningful gift? Browse our collection at sarkanysrising.com where handcrafted joy meets lasting legacy. Have a special piece from us? We’d love to hear the story — share how your Sarkanys Rising heirloom is creating memories in your family.
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Why Choose Handmade Wood Art Over Mass Produced Items
In a world where you can order almost anything with next-day delivery, talking about “handmade” might sound old-fashioned. But here in our Tucson workshop, as Rex turns another piece of cherry wood on the lathe and Dawn carefully measures resin colors, we’re reminded daily why handmade isn’t just different — it’s better.
When Rex shapes a block of wood into a crochet hook or transforms a slab of Australian red gum burl into a bowl, he’s not just producing an object. He’s having a conversation with the wood, responding to its grain patterns, working around natural imperfections that tell the story of how that tree lived and grew. You can’t program that kind of intuition into a machine.
We source our materials thoughtfully — some from suppliers like Cook Woods and Woodworkers Source, others from local businesses clearing out cutoffs that would otherwise become waste. Dawn’s resin work, often using Alumilite products and P-Town Subbie micas, adds colors and effects that are impossible to replicate in a factory setting. Each pour is slightly different, affected by temperature, humidity, even the mood of the artist.
Mass-produced items can achieve consistency, which has its place. But consistency also means predictability. When you walk into someone’s home and see the exact same cutting board you have, the exact same pen set, there’s no story there. It’s just stuff.
Handmade carries intention. When you pick up one of our pieces, you’re holding something that exists because Rex or Dawn decided it should exist, in exactly that way, with exactly those wood grains and resin swirls. That’s why people treasure a handcrafted pen for decades while a plastic one gets forgotten in a drawer.
There’s also the matter of durability. Rex has been perfecting his craft for over 40 years. When he turns a rolling pin or shapes a knife handle, he’s thinking about how it will feel in your hands not just today, but years from now. We’re not interested in planned obsolescence — we want to make pieces that last long enough to become heirlooms.
Choosing handmade means supporting real people with real skills. When you buy from us, you’re not just getting a product — you’re investing in Rex’s decades of expertise, Dawn’s artistic vision, and our commitment to sustainable practices that give new life to materials that might otherwise be discarded.
In our convenience-obsessed world, handmade offers something radical: permanence, beauty, and the irreplaceable value of human touch. That’s not old-fashioned. That’s timeless.
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How to Choose the Perfect Artisan Gift Set for Anyone
The perfect gift set doesn’t start with browsing our website or walking through our festival booth. It starts with thinking about the person you’re shopping for — really thinking about them. What makes them smile? What are their daily rituals? What would make them feel seen and understood?
We’ve learned that the best gifts aren’t necessarily the most expensive or elaborate ones. They’re the ones that make someone think, “They really get me.” That happens when you match the gift to the person’s soul, not just their hobbies.
Take the writer in your life. Sure, you could go for the obvious choice — a Designer Style Pen & Letter Opener Set or our fantasy-worthy Jupiter Pen. But dig deeper. Is this someone who loves the romance of analog writing, or someone who appreciates functionality above all else? A dreamer might fall in love with the Jupiter Pen’s mystical name and stunning resin work. A pragmatist might prefer the clean lines and perfect balance of our Executive Style pen set.
For the person who loves to entertain, think about their style. Are they the type who throws elaborate dinner parties, or do they prefer intimate gatherings? A Romeo & Juliet Cutting Board paired with Decorative Bottle Stoppers works for the formal entertainer. For someone who’s more about casual wine and cheese with friends, maybe a set of Cheese & Cracker Boards.
The maker or crafter in your life presents wonderful opportunities. That Cherry & Golden Walnut Yarn Bowl isn’t just about organizing their supplies — it’s about honoring their creative practice. Add a matching Cherry Crochet Hook, and you’re celebrating not just what they make, but how they make it. You’re saying their hobby matters enough to deserve beautiful tools.
We see personality in wood choices too. Some people are drawn to the dramatic contrast of walnut with its rich browns and striking grain. Others prefer the warm, consistent glow of cherry. Bocote lovers tend to be bold — they’re drawn to that wood’s dramatic black streaking and exotic origins. Pay attention to what catches their eye when you’re together.
Dawn’s resin work opens up even more personality matching. Someone who loves ocean colors might be drawn to blue and green swirls. A person who’s earthy and grounded might prefer the warm oranges and golds. The bold personality who’s never met a color they didn’t like? They’re perfect candidates for our most dramatic multi-colored pieces.
The key is thinking beyond the obvious. Yes, the cook needs kitchen tools, but what kind of cooking do they love? The person who bakes bread every Sunday might treasure a handcrafted rolling pin. The one who’s all about fresh ingredients might prefer a beautiful cutting board that makes vegetable prep feel special.
Sometimes the best gift sets combine the expected with the surprise. A pen for the writer, yes, but also a beautiful letter opener that makes even opening bills feel ceremonial. Kitchen tools for the cook, but also a decorative piece that brings beauty to their workspace even when they’re not actively cooking.
We create from premium materials woods sourced from Cook Woods and Woodworkers Source, resins from Alumilite with micas from P-Town Subbie. Each set is as unique as the person receiving it.
Because the best gift sets aren’t just random pairings of related items. They’re curated collections that say, “I see who you are, I celebrate what you love, and I wanted you to have something as special as you are.”
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🪵 Do Handmade Shops Even Offer Guarantees?
We Do.
If you’ve ever wandered through a craft fair or browsed a handmade marketplace online, you’ve probably asked yourself: “What happens if this breaks?” It’s a fair question — and one that most people assume comes with a shrug and a “you’re on your own.”
But not at Sarkanys Rising.
We believe that offering a real guarantee isn’t just possible in the handmade world — it’s essential. Because when you invest in something crafted with care by our hands, it should come with more than just beauty. It should come with trust.
Why Guarantees Matter in the Handmade World
In a sea of mass-produced items with 30-day return windows and call centers, handmade work can feel like the wild west. People assume that “handmade” means “no take-backs,” and that any defects are just part of the deal.
But here’s the truth: Handmade doesn’t mean fragile. And it definitely shouldn’t mean risky.
At Sarkanys Rising, we see our work as functional heirlooms — meant to be used, loved, and passed down. Our mission is simple: nothing will ever be the same, and our pieces are as distinctive as our customers. That kind of promise needs more than craftsmanship. It needs commitment.
What We Guarantee (and Why We Can)
We stand behind every piece we make, and here’s what that looks like:
• Lifetime guarantee on all pens. If something goes wrong, we’ll fix it. No fine print.
• Coverage for defects in materials or workmanship on all other items, as long as they’re used and cared for properly (translation: please don’t put our handcrafted cutting boards in the dishwasher).
• Easy repairs or replacements when needed. Sometimes a customer drops a lid or snaps a spoon — life happens. We’ll always do our best to help.
We offer these guarantees because we know our work. Rex has been turning wood for over 40 years. Dawn sources top-tier materials and creates resin blanks that are both beautiful and reliable. Together, we don’t let anything leave our hands that we wouldn’t be proud to stand behind.
What This Means for You
It means peace of mind. It means you’re not just buying a beautiful object — you’re building a relationship with people who care. And if something goes wrong, you won’t get ghosted. You’ll get help.
Our customers often say, “I didn’t expect a handmade business to offer this kind of guarantee.”
Our response is always the same: We do.
Because respect — for our craft, for the materials, and for the people who choose us — is at the heart of everything we make.
Ready to Experience the Difference?
So, do handmade shops offer guarantees? We can’t speak for everyone.
But here at Sarkanys Rising… we do.
Browse our collection at sarkanysrising.com and experience handcrafted quality backed by real commitment. Have a guaranteed piece from us? Share your story — we love hearing how our functional heirlooms are living in homes across the Southwest and beyond.
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The Joy of Saying “Yes, I Made That”
…and then watching their jaw drop
There’s this moment—if you’re lucky enough to catch it—when someone’s eyes go wide and their mouth falls open just a little. It’s the moment of realization. And if you’re Rex, that moment usually comes right after he casually says, “Yeah… I made that.”
It surprises him every time.
Honestly, it took five whole years of people telling him his handmade woodworking was art before he actually believed it. (Spoiler alert: I was one of those people—repeatedly.) It’s been a journey, not just of skill, but of confidence. Somewhere along the way, he stopped seeing it as just woodworking. He started recognizing the craft, the story, the artisan woodworking in every hand-carved spoon, every custom bowl, every intensely detailed piece.
It changed everything.
Learning What’s Worth It
That realization meant letting go of the pressure to carry “filler” pieces just to have more variety. No more grabbing “small stuff” to try and lure people in. We’ve learned something important: if the fine art is strong, it doesn’t need to shout. It just needs to show up—honestly, beautifully, and unapologetically.
And when someone gasps at our veteran-made art? It’s a little gift in return.
Yes, there are shows we thrive at (fine art festivals? Absolutely. Renaissance faires? All in. Small craft fairs with no “fine” in the title? Maybe not until we’ve got a motorhome and mobile shop setup.) But now we know where we fit—and where we shine.
The Work You See and the Work You Don’t
Rex has stepped up in incredible ways with his wood art pieces lately. The pride he takes in them radiates right off the festival table. He’ll look at something like “Intensity” or a new hand-carved spoon, smile a little to himself, and say those magic words again: “Yes, I made that.”
And me? Well, I’m doing the same—but behind a keyboard and a camera. The website, the photos, the story you’re reading now… that’s my “I made that.” And when Rex sees something I’ve posted and gasps? That’s my moment.
This journey we’re on—it’s personal, it’s powerful, and it’s full of jaw-drop moments. We’re learning to own our craft, say yes to the right shows, and say “I made that” with handcrafted pride.
Every piece we create becomes part of someone’s story. Whether it’s a cutting board that hosts family gatherings or a decorative bowl that sparks conversations, these handmade heirlooms carry forward the joy of that first moment when someone realizes the beauty in front of them was crafted by hand, with love, right here in our workshop.
As always, we’re here if you have questions or just want to chat about wood! Thanks for being part of our story—we love sharing the journey with you.
Ready to bring home your own “Yes, I made that” moment? Browse our collection of one-of-a-kind wood art pieces, each crafted with 40+ years of expertise and designed to become part of your family’s story.