Category: Why Handmade Still Matters

Dawn has opinions about this as does Rex. You will read them here.

  • Taking Our Story Live – Entrepreneurship, Wood, and Real Talk

    Taking Our Story Live – Entrepreneurship, Wood, and Real Talk

    This week in the workshop, something unexpected happened – we got invited to share our story in a whole new way.

    On Saturday, October 4th at 7 PM Eastern (that’s 4 PM here in Arizona), I’ll be joining MVC on The MVC Show for a live TikTok conversation about entrepreneurship, the realities of running a handcrafted business, and what it’s really like to build something from reclaimed wood and pure determination.

    Why This Feels Important

    After more than four decades of Rex turning wood into beautiful things, and several years of us turning that craft into Sarkanys Rising, we’ve learned that the business side of art is just as complex and rewarding as the creative side. The successes, the setbacks, the moments when you’re not sure if you’re building a legacy or just really expensive hobbies – it’s all part of the story.

    MVC reached out after we connected through the Confidence Project, and she’s interested in the real talk behind small business ownership, especially when you’re creating something that can’t be mass-produced or rushed. How do you price handmade work fairly? What happens when health challenges threaten everything you’ve built? How do you stay true to your values while still paying the bills?

    These are the conversations that matter, and honestly, they’re conversations we don’t get to have often enough.

    The Timing Couldn’t Be Better

    This live interview comes just days after we launch our October bundles and baskets sale – a celebration of how individual pieces can come together to create something even more special. It’s perfect timing to talk about how sustainable business practices and quality craftsmanship aren’t just buzzwords for us; they’re the foundation of everything we do.

    We’ll be discussing the challenges we’ve faced this year, how we’ve learned to adapt when plans don’t go according to schedule, and why we believe there’s still a place in this world for businesses that prioritize relationships over transactions.

    What to Expect

    MVC’s approach is refreshingly honest – no scripted questions or polished talking points. We’ll be diving into the messy, beautiful reality of entrepreneurship when your “factory” is a workshop and your “inventory” starts as raw wood that needs to be coaxed into beauty.

    Topics we might cover:

    • How a love for woodworking becomes a sustainable business
    • The unique challenges of veteran-owned enterprises
    • Pricing handmade work in a world obsessed with cheap and fast
    • Building customer relationships that last beyond the purchase
    • What “sustainable business practices” actually look like day-to-day
    • The reality of health challenges when you ARE the business

    Plus, we’ll be taking questions from the live audience, so if there’s something you’ve always wondered about the business side of handcrafted work, this is your chance to ask.

    A Special Thank You

    MVC has been incredibly supportive of small businesses and authentic entrepreneurship, so as a thank you for the platform and the conversation, we’re creating a special discount code just for her community. It’ll be good through our holiday season, lasting until our annual year-end clearance sale that starts December 26th. You have to listen to get it!

    Join the Conversation

    Whether you’re an entrepreneur yourself, curious about the handcrafted business world, or just enjoy authentic conversations about building something meaningful, we’d love to have you join us live on October 5th.

    You can find The MVC Show on TikTok at @the.mvc.show, and the live stream starts at 7 PM Eastern/4 PM Arizona time. Bring your questions, your curiosity, and maybe a cup of coffee – we have a feeling this is going to be the kind of conversation that runs longer than planned.

    Beyond the Live Stream

    This conversation is part of something bigger – our commitment to transparency about what it really takes to build a business that aligns with your values. Too often, entrepreneurship gets painted as either a fairy tale of overnight success or a nightmare of endless struggle. The reality, at least for us, is somewhere in between: challenging, rewarding, frustrating, and deeply satisfying all at the same time.

    We’re excited to share that reality, to answer your questions, and to be part of MVC’s mission to showcase authentic business stories.

    Mark your calendars, follow @the.mvc.show, and get ready for some real talk about entrepreneurship, craftsmanship, and what happens when you decide to build something that matters.

    See you live on October 4th!

  • 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.

  • Unknown Doesn’t Mean Inferior: The Story Behind Our Mystery Wood Collection

    Why some of our best pens come without pedigrees

    Let’s be honest about something: we have boxes in Rex’s workshop labeled “unknown wood.” Not because we’re trying to be mysterious, but because sometimes life happens and good wood loses its paperwork.

    Here’s how a piece of beautiful wood becomes “unknown” at Sarkanys Rising – and why that doesn’t change Rex’s standards one bit.

    The Real Reasons Behind Mystery Wood

    Estate sales: We find gorgeous wood mixed in with random boxes of supplies. Previous owner knew what it was, but that knowledge didn’t make it to the sale tag.

    Our own mistakes: Sometimes I forget to mark a blank after creating it. Sometimes Rex pulls something from storage and even with 40+ years of experience, can’t definitively identify the species. Sometimes we’re pretty sure it’s mahogany, but “pretty sure” gets its own box because we don’t guess when it comes to customer trust.

    Rescue missions: That beautiful hardwood dresser on the curb? We’ve saved furniture destined for landfills, but the species identification didn’t come with the rescue.

    Supplier Stashes: Cook Woods in Oregon and Woodworkers Source here in Arizona are fantastic family-owned suppliers, but occasionally their “mixed domestic/exotic” boxes and $1.99 bins live up to their name a little too well.

    Time and volume: We sort scraps when we have time. We almost never have time. Good wood sits waiting to be identified while Rex focuses on turning and I’m writing blogs.

    What Never Changes: Rex’s Standards

    Rex builds his own storage cabinets to last generations. He’s not putting his name on anything substandard, whether it’s identified African blackwood or mystery wood from an estate sale box.

    When you buy an unknown wood pen, you’re getting:

    • The same 40+ years of craftsmanship
    • The same attention to detail in turning
    • The same quality finish work
    • The same lifetime guarantee against defects

    The only thing that changes is the price – and that’s because we price based on what we can verify, not what we can market.

    The New Incognito Collection

    These pens showcase what happens when Rex applies his expertise to woods that have lost their documentation:

    Chrome Incognito Pens: Clean hardware that lets the wood speak for itself. These unknowns show grain patterns that would make any identified species proud.

    Gold Incognito Pens: Warm tones that complement whatever beautiful wood ended up in these blanks. Sometimes the best combinations happen by accident.

    Chameleon Incognito Pens: Color-changing hardware for woods whose own stories have changed along the way.

    Colorful Incognito Pens: Bright accents that celebrate the unexpected nature of these rescued woods.

    Gun Metal Incognito Pens: As dark as the “Colorfuls” are bright I tend to match them with dark woods and resin but the dark grain on this blank called for that accent!

    Why This Matters for You

    Real value: Same Rex quality at a lower price because we’re honest about what we don’t know instead of making up marketing stories.

    Sustainability in action: Every unknown pen represents wood that could have been discarded just for lack of a label.

    Authentic craftsmanship: Rex turns each piece based on how the wood behaves, not what the label says it should do.

    Honest business: We could easily call these “exotic mystery wood” and charge premium prices. We don’t.

    What You’re Really Buying

    When you choose an unknown wood pen, you’re not just getting a writing instrument. You’re supporting:

    • A veteran craftsman who refuses to compromise quality regardless of wood pedigree
    • A business model that values honesty over marketing hype
    • Sustainable practices that give good wood second chances
    • The belief that craftsmanship matters more than labels

    The Guarantee Remains the Same

    Unknown wood? Same lifetime guarantee. Same commitment to make it right if anything goes wrong. Same customer service. Same Rex standing behind his work.

    Because at the end of the day, you’re not writing with a wood species – you’re writing with Rex’s 40+ years of experience applied to whatever beautiful material found its way into his hands.

    Ready to discover what mystery wood feels like in your hand?

    Questions about our unknown woods? We’re always happy to share what we do know – and honest about what we don’t.

  • 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

  • Behind the Grain: Our Website’s Growing Pains (And Coming Improvements)

    Behind the Grain: Our Website’s Growing Pains (And Coming Improvements)

    Ever wonder what happens when a woodworker and resin artist try to wrangle the wild world of websites? Well, grab your coffee and settle in—we’ve got a story to share.

    The Workshop vs. The Web

    Here’s the thing about us: Rex can coax beauty from the most stubborn piece of mesquite, and Dawn can create resin magic that makes people stop mid-conversation. But this year? Our website has been more challenging than a piece of burl with hidden cracks. We knew computers before. Now we know too much.

    We’ve been dealing with what we like to call “digital growing pains.” Remember those bot attacks we mentioned? Turns out, when you’re focused on creating beautiful, functional art, the internet sometimes has other plans. We suddenly found ourselves hosting what felt like half the bitcoin universe on our little corner of the web—and none of them were interested in handcrafted cutting boards.

    Learning New Tricks (Even After Four Decades)

    Rex always says you learn something new every day in the workshop, and apparently, that applies to websites too. Through our connection with the Confidence Project Cohort, we discovered there’s a whole science to something called SEO. Who knew?

    We also found an absolute gem in Janice at Odd Duck, whose expertise has been like finding the perfect grain in a piece of reclaimed walnut—it changes everything. Her guidance via blog has already started transforming how we share our story online.

    What’s Coming Your Way

    Just like Rex won’t let a pen leave the workshop until it’s perfect, we’re not settling for a website that doesn’t serve you well. Here’s what we’re working on behind the scenes:

    Smoother Shopping Experience: We’ve been reformatting every page and product listing to make your browsing as enjoyable as running your hands over a perfectly sanded cutting board. If you run into any hiccups beyond variations or bundles (we know about this one!), please let us know at info@sarkanysrising.com—we want to make things right. We are offering a 10% off your order coupon to the people who report an issue the first time!

    Better Accessibility: We’re adding descriptions to all our images so everyone can experience the beauty of our work, whether they can see Dawn’s resin swirls or need to hear about Rex’s precise turning techniques.

    Consistent Storytelling: Every page is getting the same attention to detail that Rex puts into balancing a pen. We want the story of each piece—and our story—to shine through clearly.

    Planned Content: No more scrambling to share updates at the last minute. We’re building a content schedule that lets us share workshop stories, finished pieces, and behind-the-scenes moments with the care they deserve.

    The Reality of Small Business Growth

    Here’s something we’ve learned: when you’re passionate about your craft, everything feels like a priority. Website updates, new product photography, organizing the workshop (there’s currently a roomful of beautiful wood waiting for attention), and actually creating the pieces you love—it’s all important.

    But we’re taking it one step at a time, just like we approach each piece of wood. Some days it’s figuring out the perfect finish for a walnut bowl. Other days it’s untangling website code. Both require patience, attention to detail, and the willingness to start over when something isn’t quite right.

    Our Promise to You

    While we’re working through these improvements, our commitment to you stays the same: every piece we create will be one-of-a-kind, made with care, and backed by our lifetime guarantee. Whether you find us at a Renaissance festival, an art fair, or here online, you’re getting the same quality and personal attention.

    We expect most of these website improvements to be complete in the coming months, but honestly? We’re more interested in getting them right than getting them fast. Just like Rex’s approach to turning—it’s done when it’s done properly.

    Thank You for Your Patience

    If you’ve stuck with us through website hiccups, slow loading times, or any other digital bumps in the road, thank you. Your patience means everything to a small business like ours. Every email, every order, every kind word at a show reminds us why we do what we do.

    As always, if you have questions, need help finding something, or just want to chat about wood grain patterns, we’re here. Technology might challenge us sometimes, but connecting with the people who appreciate our work? That’s the easy part.

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

  • 11 Weeks In: From Workshop Dreams to Pitch-Ready Reality with The BOTOX® Cosmetic Confidence Project

    I am so excited to announce that I am one of @botoxcosmetic’s 2025 program participants for The Confidence Project! #TCPEmpoweringWomenEntrepreneurs

    Hey there, Sarkanys Rising family!

    I’m sitting here with my water bottle and I can hardly believe where we are — we’ve just begun week 11 of 12 in The BOTOX® Cosmetic Confidence Project, and in just days, I’ll be pitching Sarkanys Rising for a $20,000 grant. My hands are literally shaking as I type this, but it’s the good kind of shaking — the kind that comes from being so close to something you’ve worked incredibly hard for.

    The Journey That Changed Everything

    Eleven weeks ago, I thought I knew our business pretty well. Rex and I have been pouring our hearts into every piece of reclaimed wood art, every resin experiment, every custom cutting board that becomes part of someone’s family story. But this program? It’s been like looking at Sarkanys Rising through a completely different lens.

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    The expert coaching sessions have pushed me to think bigger than I ever imagined. We’ve refined our business model, strengthened our financials, and learned how to tell our story in a way that connects our passion for beautiful craftsmanship with real business potential.

    Rex keeps asking me what I’m learning in these sessions, and honestly, it’s everything from “How do you scale a custom business without losing its soul?” to “What does sustainable growth actually look like for a veteran-owned woodworking operation?” The answers aren’t always easy, but they’re always eye-opening.

    The Reality of Being This Close

    Twenty thousand dollars. I’ve been carrying that number around in my head for weeks now, and it feels more real every day. That’s not just funding — that’s Rex finally getting that floor drill press he’s been eyeing for two years. That’s expanding our workspace so we’re not playing wood-storage Jenga in the resin room. That’s being able to say yes to those larger custom projects without worrying about whether we have the equipment to deliver.

    But here’s what I didn’t expect: the confidence that’s come from just being in this program. Learning that women founders receive less than 3% of all venture capital funding used to feel discouraging — now it feels like fuel. We belong at this table. Our story of giving new life to reclaimed materials, of creating functional art that lasts generations, of building something meaningful with our hands — that story matters.

    What These 11 Weeks Have Taught Us

    The program hasn’t just prepared us for the pitch; it’s changed how we see ourselves as business owners. I used to introduce us as “just a small woodworking operation,” and now? Now I say we’re a sustainable artisan business with 40+ years of craftsmanship expertise, creating one-of-a-kind heirloom pieces from reclaimed materials.

    Same business. Completely different confidence.

    We’ve learned to quantify things that felt unquantifiable — like the environmental impact of every piece of wood we save from the landfill, or the generational value of creating pieces that’ll outlast us all. We’ve discovered that our “problems” (like every piece being unique, making it hard to scale) are actually our biggest strengths in a world hungry for authentic, handcrafted goods.

    The Pitch That’s Coming

    In just a couple of weeks, I may stand in front of a panel of aesthetic entrepreneurs and business leaders from Allergan Aesthetics and Hello Alice. I’ll have just three (count them 3) minutes to capture years of passion, months of preparation, and a lifetime of Rex’s woodworking mastery in a presentation that could change everything for us.

    Am I nervous? Absolutely. Am I ready? More than I ever thought possible.

    What This Means for Our Family

    Whether we receive a grant or not, this experience has already been worth everything. The connections I’ve made with other women entrepreneurs, the business strategies I’ve learned, the confidence I’ve gained in talking about what we do — these are gifts that’ll keep giving long after the program ends.

    But I’ll be honest with you — I want this. I want it for Rex, who’s spent four decades perfecting his craft and deserves tools that match his talent. I want it for every piece of reclaimed wood that’s waiting to become something beautiful. And I want it for every one of you who’s believed in what we do and helped us get to this moment.

    The Thank You That’s Long Overdue

    You know what’s wild? None of this would be possible without you. Every spoon or cutting board that’s found its home in your kitchen, every serving tray that’s hosted your gatherings, every pen that’s signed important documents in your life — you’ve been building this business with us. You’ve shared our pieces with friends, tagged us in photos, and made us feel like we’re creating something that matters.

    This pitch isn’t just about Rex and me. It’s about everyone who’s ever believed that beautiful, functional art deserves a place in everyday life. It’s about proving that small businesses with big hearts can compete with anyone when they’re given the right opportunity.

    Here’s to Week 12 and Whatever Comes Next

    So here we are — 11 weeks of learning, growing, and preparing almost behind us, and one final week before the pitch that could change everything. I’m scared and excited and grateful and determined all at once.

    As always, we’re here if you have questions or just want to chat about wood (or business dreams, or the beautiful mess of following your passion)! Thanks for being part of our story — especially during this chapter that feels like it could be the beginning of something even bigger.

    Until next time, keep making beautiful moments in your everyday life — and maybe send us a little good luck for the pitch ahead!

    With gratitude and hands that won’t stop shaking (in the best way),
    Dawn (and Rex, who’s already cleared space in the workshop for that dream equipment)

    BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to temporarily improve the look of moderate to severe forehead lines, crow’s feet, frown lines, and vertical bands connecting the neck and jaw in adults (platysma bands).

    Talk to your doctor about BOTOX® Cosmetic and whether it’s right for you. There are risks with this product—the effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic may spread hours to weeks after injection causing serious symptoms. Alert your doctor right away as difficulty swallowing, speaking, breathing, eye problems or muscle weakness can be a sign of a life-threatening condition. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities. Patients with these conditions before injection are at the highest risk. Swallowing problems may last for several months. Side effects may include allergic reactions, neck and injection-site pain, fatigue and headache. Don’t receive BOTOX® Cosmetic if there’s a skin infection. Tell your doctor your medical history, muscle or nerve conditions, and medications, including botulinum toxins, as these may increase the risk of serious side effects.

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  • Shopping with Soul Still Beats Shopping with Convenience

    We live in the age of ultimate convenience. Two-day shipping has become same-day delivery. One-click purchasing. Subscribe and save. Shopping has never been easier, faster, or more mindless.

    And maybe that’s exactly the problem.

    When you can buy almost anything without thinking — without considering where it came from, who made it, or how long it will last — shopping becomes a reflex rather than a choice. You accumulate things instead of choosing things. Your home fills up with objects that serve their function but tell no stories.

    Shopping with soul is different. It’s slower, more intentional, and yes, often more expensive. But it’s also more rewarding in ways that go far beyond the transaction.

    When you choose one of our handcrafted pieces, you’re not just buying a Jupiter Pen or a cutting board. You’re investing in Rex’s four decades of skill development. You’re supporting Dawn’s artistic vision and our commitment to giving new life to materials that might otherwise become waste. You’re choosing to surround yourself with objects that carry stories, intention, and human touch.

    There’s something profound about using tools that were made specifically for you — not “you” as a demographic, but you as a person who deserves beautiful, functional things that will last. When Rex turns a pen, he’s imagining the hands that will hold it, the words it will write, the memories it will help create. That intention gets embedded in the piece in ways that mass production can never replicate.

    Shopping with soul also means supporting real people and real communities. When you buy from us, you’re supporting a veteran-owned small business, sustainable practices that give new life to discarded materials, and artisans who’ve dedicated their lives to perfecting their craft. Your purchase has impact beyond your own satisfaction.

    The convenience model is designed to make you forget about your purchases as quickly as possible, so you’ll make more of them. Handmade pieces do the opposite — they make you remember. Remember the festival where you found them, the conversation you had with the maker, the moment you knew something was meant to be yours.

    There’s joy in anticipation too. When you order something handmade, you know it’s being created specifically for you. You wait not because of shipping delays, but because someone is taking the time to make something beautiful. The arrival becomes an event rather than just another delivery.

    We’re not suggesting you purchase handcrafted everything in your life — that’s not realistic for most people and we know it. But what if you chose soul over convenience for the things that matter? The tools you use daily, the pieces you see every time you walk into a room, the gifts you give to people you love?

    In a world optimized for speed and efficiency, choosing beauty, story, and intention becomes a quiet act of rebellion. It’s saying that your life, your home, and your relationships deserve more than whatever’s cheapest and most convenient.

    Shopping with soul beats shopping with convenience every time. Not because it’s easier, but because it’s better.

  • Why Choose Handmade Wood Art Over Mass Produced Items

    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.

  • The Real Story Behind Handmade Wood Art

    The Real Story Behind Handmade Wood Art

    (And Why Your Home Needs It)

    Ever pass by a pile of discarded furniture on the curb and think, “what a waste”?

    Yeah… we don’t either. We think, “Ooh, potential.”

    At Sarkanys Rising, we believe handmade means heart-made — and it starts with materials that others overlook. Our workshop is filled with reclaimed wood, rescued relics, and offcuts from mills that didn’t quite meet factory standards. But to us? They’re treasures.

    Where Sustainable Craftsmanship Really Begins

    We’re lucky to work with two incredible small businesses who see that potential too:

    Cook Woods – especially their “Salvaging What Others Throw Away” philosophy – gives us access to exotic and domestic hardwoods that would otherwise be discarded. These aren’t your typical lumber yard finds; we’re talking about character-rich pieces with stories already written in their grain.

    Woodworkers Source – or as we call it, the Tucson playground of possibilities – has this magical $1.99 bin. (Dawn can’t help but organize it while simultaneously loading up hundreds of dollars worth of wood “for future projects.” Rex has learned to just smile and nod at this point.)

    Together, they help us bring sustainable craftsmanship to life, one rescued piece at a time.

    What Handmade Wood Art Really Means

    Here’s the thing: handmade doesn’t mean slapping a name on something pulled off an assembly line.

    It means starting with the right piece of wood — the one that asks to be something special. It means running our hands (and hearts) across every surface. It means Rex spending hours coaxing a bowl into existence because the grain decided to surprise him mid-turn.

    We do have a laser and a CNC in the shop — but they’re assistants, not artists. The wood makes the difference.

    Custom Craftsmanship vs. Mass Production

    True custom craftsmanship starts before the first cut is made. It begins with understanding the wood’s story – where it came from, how it lived, what it wants to become. Every piece of reclaimed walnut from that Phoenix backyard tree, every salvaged mesquite beam, every “imperfect” mill offcut has its own personality.

    Mass production can’t do that. Factories don’t spend time listening to wood grain or adjusting their process because this particular piece of cherry has a knot that could become a beautiful focal point instead of a flaw to route around.

    Why Reclaimed Wood Makes Better Art

    When you work with reclaimed materials, you’re not just being environmentally conscious (though that’s a beautiful bonus). You’re working with wood that has character, history, and stories to tell.

    That dining table made from barn wood? It remembers decades of harvests and family gatherings. The cutting board crafted from urban lumber? It watched over someone’s backyard for generations before becoming part of your kitchen story.

    New wood is lovely, but reclaimed wood has lived.

    The Handmade Difference in Your Home

    At its core, handmade is about connection. Between wood and maker. Between maker and you. Between your family and the piece that’ll become part of your story.

    When you bring one of our pieces into your home, you’re not just buying décor. You’re giving your house a handmade hug. One that’s warm, storied, sustainable — and a little cheeky, just like us.

    Love the story? Share it with a friend who still thinks “handmade” just means “expensive.” 😉

    As always, we’re here if you have questions or just want to chat about wood. Thanks for being part of our journey.