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Tag: Reclaimed wood art
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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
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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.
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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.
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.
For Boxed Warning and Medication Guide, see @botoxcosmeticpi.
Intended for U.S. audiences only.
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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.