Tag: sustainable gifts

  • The Magic of October: Our First Holiday Sale is Here!

    The Magic of October: Our First Holiday Sale is Here!

    October 1st – 31st

    Well, would you look at thatโ€”October has arrived, and you know what that means around here? It’s time for our very first holiday sale of the season, and honestly, we’re as excited as kids on Christmas morning.

    Rex spent the better part of September putting the finishing touches on some truly special pieces, and I’ve been busy dreaming up combinations that we think you’re going to absolutely love. There’s something magical about this time of yearโ€”maybe it’s the way the light changes, or how we all start thinking about gathering around tables with the people we care about most.

    What We’ve Been Up To

    This month, we’re doing something a little different. Instead of just offering individual pieces (though we still love those too!), we’ve curated some bundles and gift baskets that tell complete stories. Think of them as ready-made moments of joyโ€”perfect for treating yourself or for that person who seems to have everything but would treasure something truly one-of-a-kind.

    Here’s what’s caught our hearts this season:

    Themed Journal & Pen Bundle – $35

    Artisan wood pen and journal bundle with southwestern design

    Sometimes the simplest combinations are the most perfect. We’ve paired our Comfort Slimline Pen in Fancy Gun Metal & Desert Hybrid ($32 on its own) with a beautiful Southwestern journal ($10) that Rex hand-selected to complement the pen’s warm tones. There’s something deeply satisfying about writing with a pen that feels substantial in your hand while capturing thoughts in a journal that feels like the Southwest itself.

    Can’t resist creating your own theme? Choose any pen from our collection and find a journal to matchโ€”we love seeing the combinations you dream up.

    Bread & Butter Bundle – $60

    Walnut Bread knife with Lavender-Lemon bread and a walnut butter spreader with lavender-honey butter

    This one makes Rex particularly proud. Our Hand Carved Walnut Bread Knife ($25) and Walnut Butter Scraper ($45) were practically made for each other. The walnut grain flows like it was meant to be, and together they transform any bread-and-butter moment into something special.

    Pro tip from our kitchen: Try them with homemade lavender-lemon sweet bread and lavender-honey butter. Trust us on this one.

    Have Yourself a Rustic Little Christmas Basket – $125

    Rustic palo verde Christmas ornament collection laser cut by hand

    Rex’s laser work has been getting some serious attention lately, and this basket shows why. Twenty-nine separate palo verde cookies, each with its own depth and character, complete with eyelets and multi-colored hooks ready to grace your holiday celebrations. It’s rustic Christmas magic, pure and simple.

    Getting Witchy With It Basket – $275 (complete) or $250 (just our pieces)

    Lightning struck cherry mortar and pestle with forest green resin inlay

    Dawn’s been experimenting with new resin colors, and this Lightning Struck Cherry Mortar & Pestle with Forest Green & Moss resin inlay ($245) is the kind of piece that makes people stop mid-conversation. We’ve paired it with our Green & Gold Hybrid Fancy Gold Slimline Pen ($32), a Cherry Herb Stripper ($20), Vintage Style Journal ($15), plus specialty tea blend ($10) and forest blend incense ($10) to complete the experience.

    The Duotone Kitchen Basket – $350 (complete) or $320 (just our pieces)

    Handcrafted walnut and maple kitchen gift basket with cutting board and utensils

    This is the basket that makes Rex’s eyes light up. The Walnut & Maple Checkerboard End Grain Cutting Board ($125) anchors a collection that includes matching salt and pepper shakers ($80), a French rolling pin ($75), butter scraper ($45), bread knife ($25), honey dipper ($25), plus kitchen towels, hot pads ($15), recipe book ($10), and honey ($10). It’s a complete kitchen story waiting to unfold.

    Celebration Basket – $490 (complete) or $420 (just our pieces)

    Padauk wood celebration basket with champagne glasses and serving pieces

    Made with gorgeous Padauk wood (though any wood can be custom ordered), this collection was designed with weddings in mind, but it’s perfect for engagements, anniversaries, or any moment worth celebrating. Champagne glasses ($165), cake serving set ($156), desk pen and holder ($70), wine caddy ($63), matching taper holders ($50), guest book ($20), and taper candles ($5) create a celebration that’ll be remembered long after the last toast.

    Rex’s recommendation: Add a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne Yellow Label Brutโ€”it’s one of the top champagnes under $100 and pairs beautifully with these pieces.

    A Little Something Extra

    Here’s what we love most about these bundles: they’re not just collections of beautiful things (though they certainly are that). They’re invitationsโ€”to slow down, to savor moments, to create memories around your table, at your desk, in your kitchen. Every piece carries the story of the wood it came from, Rex’s four decades of craftsmanship, and now, hopefully, your own stories yet to be made.

    As always, shipping is included in our pricing because we believe beautiful things shouldn’t come with surprise costs at the end.

    Until We Meet Again

    Whether you’re treating yourself to something special this October or getting an early start on gift-giving, we’re honored to be part of your story. Every order helps us keep doing what we love mostโ€”turning reclaimed wood into treasures that’ll outlast us all.

    Thanks for being part of our extended family. We love sharing this journey with you.

    Rex & Dawn

    P.S. – Got questions about any of these pieces or want to chat about custom combinations? You know where to find us. We’re always here for a good conversation about wood, craft, and the stories that make life beautiful.


    Sale runs October 1st – 31st. All bundles and baskets include shipping as shown. Visit us at sarkanysrising.com or find us at our next showโ€”we’d love to see you!

  • When Scraps Become Stars: The Story Behind Our Sustainable Wooden Bottle Stoppers

    When Scraps Become Stars: The Story Behind Our Sustainable Wooden Bottle Stoppers

    You deserve to drink a little and save the restโ€”no matter what’s in that bottle.

    Ever wonder what happens to those beautiful wood scraps after Rex finishes turning a cutting board or carving a pen? Well, we wondered too, and that’s how our sustainable wooden bottle stoppers were born.

    From Workshop Floor to Wine Bottle Hero

    Here’s the thing about Rex: he can’t stand seeing good wood go to waste. After 40+ years of woodworking, he’s developed what I lovingly call “scrap magic”โ€”the ability to look at leftover pieces and see their hidden potential.

    Last month, our workshop was overflowing with these gorgeous remnantsโ€”walnut with rich chocolate swirls, maple so blonde it practically glowed, cherry with grain that tells decades of stories, and mysterious pieces of wenge and okoume that Rex grabbed “because they were within reach while gluing and needed something.”

    That’s when Rex decided to work his integration magic. He started combining patterns and grain, mixing turned lines with glued lines, creating these stunning bottle stoppers that prove sustainability can be absolutely beautiful.

    Why Every Bottle Deserves a Proper Stopper

    Let’s be real: that half-finished bottle of wine (or bourbon, or craft beer, or whatever makes you happy) deserves better than plastic wrap or a hastily shoved cork. You invested in something goodโ€”shouldn’t you be able to preserve it properly?

    Here’s something you might not have considered: these work beautifully for beer bottles too. Having an outdoor party? Your guests can keep their craft beer fresh and bug-free. No more fishing flies out of IPAs or worrying about wasps diving into wheat beers.

    Our wooden bottle stoppers aren’t just functional; they’re conversation starters. Imagine pulling one of these beauties out at your next gathering. Your guests will be asking about the gorgeous wood grain while you casually mention it’s made by a veteran craftsman from reclaimed materials.

    That’s the kind of story that makes people lean in.

    Meet the Collections (Yes, I Named Themโ€”Don’t Judge)

    Because WooCommerce and I both agree that photographing 30+ individual bottle stoppers would drive us both to drink (see what I did there?), I’ve organized them into collections:

    The Thick Lines Set – “Beer Taps” (12 individual stoppers)

    These bold beauties feature dramatic turned lines that create stunning visual texture. Rex varied the finishes across these pieces, so identical oak pieces can look completely differentโ€”one might showcase oak’s distinctive heavy light brown grain in all its glory, while another highlights the same wood’s subtle elegance. Add in the deep, mysterious wenge (so dark it’s almost black with striking true black grain lines) and the warm character of okoume with its beige base and pink-to-red heartwood variations, and you’ve got a collection where no two pieces are truly alike.

    The Bumpy Lines Set (10 individual stoppers)

    Here’s where Rex’s turning magic really shines. Each stopper features those signature “bumpy” ridges that catch the light and create shadows, giving incredible depth and character. The finish variations make these woods singโ€”imagine wenge’s dramatic black-on-black contrast next to okoume’s warm pink undertones, all while oak’s heavy grain patterns create their own beautiful story depending on how Rex finished each piece.

    The Dark & Light Set (8 individual stoppers)

    This is where sustainability meets stunning design. Rex combined contrasting wood piecesโ€”the near-black drama of wenge dancing with oak’s light brown patterns, or okoume’s pink-blushed heartwood creating geometric harmony with maple scraps. The different finishes mean even the same wood combination can look completely unique. It’s like having wearable art for your bottles.

    The Rounded Set (6 individual stoppers)

    Classic elegance with Rex’s signature attention to detail. These smooth, organic shapes feel perfect in your hand and showcase how finish can transform wood personality. Oak might appear as a soft, understated beauty in one piece, then bold and dramatic in another. Wenge creates sophisticated depth, while okoume’s pink-to-red variations add warmth that changes entirely based on Rex’s finish choice.

    The Sustainability Story You’ll Love Sharing

    Here’s what makes these bottle stoppers special beyond their obvious beauty: they represent our commitment to zero waste. Every piece of wood gets a second life, whether it’s a small scrap that requires my resin magic or a larger piece that becomes part of Rex’s turning meditation.

    We’re not just making bottle stoppersโ€”we’re proving that sustainable practices can create something more beautiful than starting from scratch.

    Built to Last (Because That’s How We Roll)

    These aren’t flimsy accessories that’ll break after a few uses. Each stopper is crafted with the same attention to detail Rex brings to our cutting boards and pens. The wood is properly finished to resist moisture, and the mechanism creates a reliable seal that’ll keep your beverages fresh.

    Like everything we create, these are made to become part of your family stories. That bottle stopper preserving your anniversary wine? It might just end up being passed down to the next generation.

    Perfect for the Person Who Has Everything

    You know that friend who’s impossible to shop for? The one whose kitchen is already perfectly curated and whose wine collection makes you slightly jealous?

    This is their gift.

    A set of handcrafted wooden bottle stoppers says, “I see your good taste, and I’m raising you something unique that nobody else will have.” Because let’s face itโ€”these are one-of-a-kind pieces born from reclaimed wood and Rex’s four decades of craftsmanship.

    From Our Workshop to Your Collection

    Every set includes multiple stoppers because variety is the spice of life (and wine). You can match them to different bottles, keep some for special occasions, or gift them to fellow wine enthusiasts who’ll appreciate the story as much as the function.

    And here’s the Rex guarantee: if anything ever goes wrong with your bottle stopper, we’ll make it right. That’s not just good businessโ€”that’s who we are.

    Choose Your Perfect Stopper(s)

    Each collection organizes our stoppers by style, but every single piece is sold individually. Browse through the collections to find the ones that speak to your style, whether you want one signature piece or several to match different occasions and bottles.

    And here’s something to look forward to: we’re launching our holiday bundle and basket sale in October, perfect timing for gift-giving season. Keep an eye out for our November gift-with-purchase offer tooโ€”because who doesn’t love a beautiful surprise with their order?

    Shop our Sustainable Wooden Bottle Stoppers collection now and discover which set speaks to your style. Looking for something just as sustainable but maybe funkier? Check out our original sustainable stoppers!

    As always, we’re here if you have questions or just want to chat about wood, wine, or the magic that happens when scraps become stars.

  • When Someone Says “Too Expensive” โ€” We Smile. Because We Know.

    It happens now and then โ€” someone picks up a piece, runs their fingers over the polished wood, sees the shimmer of resin, and softly mutters, “Too expensive.”

    We smile. Not because we’re dismissing them, but because we know what goes into it.

    See, we price every piece at Sarkanys Rising to be as fair as possible โ€” not inflated, not mass-marketed, just honest. But “honest” includes more than what most people realize when it comes to the value of handmade artisan work.

    That bowl? It started with a chunk of reclaimed wood that once lived as a tree in someone’s Arizona yard. The resin that brings out the beauty in the grain? Dawn (that’s me) uses polyurethane for most pours, unless we’re using stabilized bone or wood scraps โ€” then it’s epoxy. Stabilizing means vacuum chambers, pressure pots, and sometimes an oven I cannot use for food anymore.

    There’s also mica, pigments, pen kits, lamp bases, jewelry findings, shipping charges, taxes, and tools. Oh, the tools. Rex’s shop looks like a mad scientist’s lab with a 3D printer and laser cutter tucked among the chisels and lathes.

    But what we never charge for โ€” and couldn’t, even if we tried โ€” is the time.

    Rex will spend days refining a single piece. Sometimes, weeks go by just conceptualizing a design. And sometimes, after all that, we scrap it entirely because it doesn’t feel right. (Art is like that โ€” it doesn’t always behave.) This artisan mindset understands that true craftsmanship can’t be rushed.

    Me? I wrestle with resin for hours, then wrangle paperwork for days. That’s not hyperbole. It’s just what it takes when you’re committed to creating handcrafted art that stands apart from mass-produced alternatives.

    And in the end, what you receive is something real. Human. Not perfect, because we aren’t machines โ€” but filled with love, laughter, and a little bit of stubbornness. (Especially from Rex, who I’ve been known to gently wrestle the finished piece away from because he’s never quite sure it’s done.)

    The difference between handmade vs mass-produced isn’t just in the process โ€” it’s in the soul of each piece. When you choose one of our reclaimed wood gifts, you’re not just getting functional art; you’re getting a story, a commitment to sustainable gifts, and decades of woodworking stories embedded in every grain.

    So when someone says, “Too expensive,” we don’t get defensive. We just nod and think: you’re not our person โ€” not yet.

    Because the ones who do get it โ€” they see more than just a bowl or a pen. They see the story, the soul, the hours behind it. They’re not just buying something. They’re joining a journey with Sarkanys Rising.

    And to those folks? Welcome home.