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Tag: custom craftsmanship
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Limited Edition Handmade Wood Art? – Actually it’s all One of a Kind
In a world where you can “buy one in every color” and stores stock hundreds of identical items, we’ve been forced to make a different choice. We intentionally make only “one of a kind” items, and we’re going to tell you exactly why.
First, there’s the simple reality of our materials. When Rex finds a beautiful piece of Australian red gum burl, there’s only so much of it. That burl grew on one tree, in one place, with grain patterns that will never be repeated. When it’s gone, it’s gone. We could try to approximate the look with different wood, but it wouldn’t be the same piece, so why pretend it is?
Dawn faces the same thing with her resin work. When she develops a color combination using P-Town Subbie micas — maybe a deep blue swirl with metallic highlights — the exact ratio of pigments, the way they flow together, the ambient temperature of the workshop that day, all contribute to the final result. She could make something similar, but never identical.
But there’s a deeper reason we keep things small, and it’s about you, the person who chooses our work. When you pick up that Maple & Walnut French Rolling Pin, you’re not getting “item #4,327 off the production line.” You’re getting one of maybe three or four rolling pins Rex made from that particular combination of woods and it’s the only one with that wood in that combination he did. Your cutting board isn’t the same as hundreds of others — it’s one of the few that exist, period.
We’ve had people ask us, “Could you make fifty of these for our corporate gifts?” The answer is always no, not because we don’t want the business, but because we can’t make fifty identical anythings. Even if we used the same wood species and followed the same general design, each piece would be unique. The wood grain would be different, Rex’s hand movement on the lathe would vary slightly, Dawn’s resin pour would create different patterns.
There’s something powerful about owning something genuinely rare. Not artificially scarce because a marketing team decided to limit production, but naturally limited because the artist made what the materials allowed and then moved on to the next inspiration.
This approach means sometimes people miss out. We’ve had customers email us months later asking if we have “that blue and purple bowl from the Tucson Celtic Festival,” and we have to tell them it found its home with someone else. It’s bittersweet, but it’s also what makes finding the right piece feel like destiny rather than just shopping.
When you own one of our pieces, you know that even if someone else has something similar from us, they don’t have yours. Your Jupiter Pen has wood grain that exists nowhere else. Your cutting board has a story that’s entirely its own.
In an age of mass production and infinite availability, there’s something beautifully rebellious about saying, “This is it. This is all there is. Choose now or it’s gone forever.” It makes each piece more precious, each decision more meaningful, each ownership more special.
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What We Love Most About Custom Work
It’s always a new adventure
There’s something magical about being asked to create something we haven’t ever made before.
That’s what custom craftsmanship is for us—a beautiful invitation to explore, experiment, and build a piece of functional art that exists for one person, one story, one moment in time. Whether it’s a heart-shaped dual cutting board trophy for a dog show champion, a commemorative pen to mark a graduation, or a memorial urn to honor a life well-lived, every custom woodworking project starts the same way: with a conversation.
You tell us what you’re dreaming up, and we start figuring out how to make it real.
Two of our custom pieces for the Heart of America Cluster dog shows – the signboard for Photos by Lennah and the heart-shaped trophy below. Thank you, Lennah, for letting us share this!
Why Custom Craftsmanship Keeps Our Workshop Alive
One of the biggest joys of handcrafted custom work? We get to play. New materials. Unusual shapes. Color combinations that would never work in our regular line. Giant projects that wouldn’t fit at a craft show. Tiny details that matter to just one person.
Honestly, some of our favorite custom pieces are things we’d never be able to sell online or at art fairs. But when someone commissions exactly what they need—it gives us permission to stretch our skills and pour love into something completely unexpected.
Take our annual custom work for the Heart of America Cluster dog shows. For several years running, we’ve crafted their Best of Breed, Best Junior Handler, and Variety Group win trophies. Each one is different, each one celebrates a specific achievement, and each one gets to be part of someone’s proudest moment.
Sure, we’ve had our share of trial and error with custom commissions. Sometimes we put our own money into a piece to make sure it’s exactly right, even if it takes extra time or materials. That’s part of the deal when you choose artisan custom craftsmanship over mass production. You’re not just getting a product—you’re partnering with us in the creative process.
Our Custom Woodworking Process: What to Expect
We believe in clear communication and building trust, so here’s exactly how our custom work process works:
1. Let’s Talk About Your Vision
Reach out and tell us what you’re imagining. We’ll be completely honest about what we can and can’t do with custom resin and wood work. If it’s a good fit, we’ll move forward together.
2. Materials, Colors, and Design Approval
We’ll work with you to select specific wood types, resin colors and effects, sizes, and shapes. Rex might suggest techniques that would work better, or Dawn might have ideas for resin combinations you hadn’t considered. Once you approve the direction, we’ll ask for 50% up front to source materials and get started.
3. Handcrafted Creation and Updates
We’ll build your custom piece with the same care and attention we give every project. Depending on the complexity, we’ll keep you updated on progress and send photos along the way.
4. Professional Photography and Final Payment
When your piece is complete, you’ll receive professional photos showing every detail. Once you approve and send final payment, we’ll carefully package and ship your custom creation.
5. Our Custom Work Guarantee
Our warranty covers any manufacturing issues once your piece arrives safely. We stand behind every custom commission we create.
The Real Joy: Creating What We’d Never Get to Make Otherwise
We won’t lie—it’s not really about the money (though we do appreciate being able to pay for materials!). It’s about the pure joy of creating something you dreamed up that maybe no one else ever would have thought to request.
The custom craftsmanship projects we love most? The ones that let us break our own patterns. The ones that push our skills in directions we didn’t know we could go. The ones that come from someone trusting us with their vision.
We’ve made memorial pieces that helped families heal. Celebration trophies that marked life achievements. Anniversary gifts that captured decades of love. Retirement presents that honored careers well-lived. Each one taught us something new about our craft and reminded us why we do this work.
Custom Ideas We’d Love to Explore
Thinking about commissioning something but not sure what’s possible? Here are some custom woodworking and resin art ideas we’d love to tackle:
- Corporate awards and recognition pieces with company colors and meaningful symbolism
- Memorial and commemorative items that honor loved ones with dignity and beauty
- Anniversary and milestone gifts incorporating special dates, locations, or shared memories
- Unique serving pieces sized perfectly for your entertaining style
- Personalized desk accessories that make your workspace feel distinctly yours
- Trophy and award pieces for organizations, competitions, or achievements
- Large-scale art installations for homes or businesses
- Matched sets and collections built over time to your specifications
Ready to Start Your Custom Project?
If you’ve got an idea brewing—or just a story in your heart that you’d love to see transformed into something tangible—we’d love to hear from you.
Maybe it’s something completely practical, like a cutting board sized exactly for your kitchen island. Maybe it’s deeply personal, like a pen made from wood that has family significance. Maybe it’s purely celebratory, like a one-of-a-kind piece to mark a major life event.
Whatever it is, if it involves wood, resin, craftsmanship, and care, we’re probably the right people to bring it to life.
Ready to start the conversation? Contact us through our website or give us a call. Let’s talk about what you’re envisioning, and we’ll figure out together how to make it real.
Interested in commissioning a custom piece? Get in touch with us to discuss your vision. From concept to completion, we’ll work with you to create something truly one-of-a-kind.
As always, thank you for being part of our story. Your trust in our custom craftsmanship makes our work meaningful, and we’re honored every time you let us turn your ideas into something beautiful and lasting.
