Tag: functional art

  • 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.

  • 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

  • When Lightning Meets Cherry Wood: The Story Behind Our Most Enchanted Pieces

    When Lightning Meets Cherry Wood: The Story Behind Our Most Enchanted Pieces

    Sometimes the most beautiful pieces are born from nature’s most dramatic moments.

    Back in 2021, I thought I had a friend in New York who shared my beliefs about wood having spirit — how it connects not just to the people who will eventually own a piece, but also to the woodworker who brings it to life. Rex has always worked with this understanding too, respecting the energy that lives within each piece of timber.

    When lightning strikes a tree, it leaves something behind. Not just the obvious scars and splits, but energy — both in the physical sense and in ways that speak to those of us who understand the deeper connections between nature and craft. So when this woman told me her cherry tree had been struck by lightning, I knew we had to work with that wood.

    The Journey from Lightning Strike to Art

    I asked if we could have some of the wood, offering to pay shipping and create anything she wanted from one of the pieces. The wood had already been cut by the time we got involved, so we couldn’t control the way it was sectioned or prevent some cracking — but we still ended up with three large, beautiful pieces that held stories in every grain line.

    True to our word, we crafted a bowl for her from a half log. Rex used electrical tools to rough out the shape, but finished it entirely by hand — because that’s how you honor wood like this. We shipped it to her in 2023, and I kept one log while Rex claimed the other.

    Handcrafted wooden bowl made from lightning-struck cherry wood, showing rich natural grain patterns and smooth finish, photographed against white fabric background

    I chose the piece with the largest split, knowing Dawn’s resin artistry could transform those lightning channels into something magical. We cut it into rounds ranging from 1 to 5 inches thick, and earlier this year, Dawn worked her magic with resin pours on three of the thickest rounds.

    Where Lightning Traveled: The Sacred “T”

    Here’s something remarkable about lightning-struck wood that most people don’t know — sometimes you can see exactly where the lightning traveled through the tree. In many of our pieces, you’ll notice a distinctive “T” shape in the wood grain or resin channels. That’s the lightning’s path, preserved forever in the timber like nature’s own signature.

    These “T” marks aren’t flaws — they’re proof of the wood’s journey, evidence of the moment when sky met earth and left something extraordinary behind.

    The Pieces That Emerged

    What we’ve created from this lightning-struck cherry tells the story of transformation:

    Lightning-struck cherry wood slice with vibrant rainbow resin inlay filling natural cracks, displaying brilliant blues, reds, and yellows against warm wood grain
    Interior
    Handcrafted mortar and pestle set made from lightning-struck cherry wood with green resin accents, showing functional artistry and smooth craftsmanship perfect for kitchen or altar use
    Interior
    Lightning-struck cherry bowl with green and blue resin inlay, showing smooth interior finish and how resin transforms natural wood splits into artistic features
    Interior
    Lightning-struck cherry wood bowl with dark purple resin lightning channel running through center, showcasing the natural T-shaped lightning path preserved in the finished piece
    Interior

    The Lavender Dream — A bowl where soft purple resin flows through the lightning’s path like captured twilight. The resin doesn’t hide the wood’s trauma; it celebrates it, turning scars into something beautiful.

    Moss Green Mortar & Pestle — Functional art that brings the energy of that lightning strike into kitchen rituals. The green resin reminds you of forest floors and growing things, even as you’re grinding spices or mixing herbs.

    Rainbow Revelations — Two bowls where Dawn’s resin work captures entire spectrums of color within the wood’s natural splits. Each one is a meditation on how broken things can become more beautiful than they were before.

    Every piece is small but mighty — because sometimes the most powerful energy comes in compact packages.

    The Deeper Connection

    As someone who follows the Wiccan path, I believe in the spirit of wood being connected to everyone who touches it — from the tree’s original home to the hands that will eventually use these pieces daily. Lightning-struck wood carries extra significance because it’s been touched by one of nature’s most powerful forces.

    Rex and I both approach our craft with this reverence. When we work with lightning-struck wood, we’re not just creating functional art — we’re preserving a moment when the universe showed its power and left us a gift to share.

    What’s Still to Come

    We still have several rounds waiting for inspiration, and Rex hasn’t even started on his log yet. The beauty of working with wood like this is that each piece tells you what it wants to become. You can’t force it, can’t rush it — you have to listen.

    Whether someone wants a custom piece for their altar, their kitchen, or simply to bring more natural beauty into their home, we’re here to help that wood find its purpose. Each piece we create becomes part of a larger story — the tree’s story, the lightning’s story, our story as craftspeople, and ultimately, your story as the person who welcomes it into their life.

    The Blessing Forward

    May the god of your choosing bless you, and may everything you put into the world come back to you threefold. That’s not just a traditional blessing — it’s how we approach every piece we create. The energy we put into our work, the respect we show the materials, the care we take in every detail — all of that travels forward with each piece.

    When you use one of our lightning-struck cherry pieces, you’re not just using a bowl or serving tray. You’re connecting with a moment of natural power, honoring the tree that gave its wood, and becoming part of a story that started with a flash of light in a New York sky.

    Browse our current collection of lightning-struck cherry pieces with the links above or contact us about commissioning a custom piece that speaks to your spirit.

  • 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.