Woodworking and Nature: A Match made in Heaven!

Woodworking is a form of art that has been practiced for centuries, but what many may not realize is that it is also closely connected to nature. From the materials used to the end result, woodworking allows us to connect with the natural world in a unique and meaningful way.

The raw materials of woodworking come directly from nature. Trees are harvested and processed into wood that can be transformed into furniture, décor, and other functional objects. By using wood as a building material, we are able to bring the natural beauty of the outdoors into our homes and workspaces.

Working with wood also allows us to connect with the rhythms of nature. Unlike synthetic materials, wood is a living and breathing material that is constantly changing. As we work with it, we can see the effects of weather, insects, and time on the surface and grain of the wood. This connection with nature provides a level of appreciation and respect for the environment that is not found in other forms of crafting.

In addition to the connection with nature, woodworking also has a positive impact on the environment. By repurposing and recycling wood, we are reducing waste and preserving natural resources. Furthermore, many woodworkers choose to use sustainable and eco-friendly practices in their workshops, such as using non-toxic finishes and reducing waste by using scraps for small projects.

Woodworking is not just about creating beautiful and functional objects, it is also about connecting with the natural world and respecting the environment. From the materials used to the final product, woodworking provides a unique and meaningful way to connect with nature and preserve its beauty for generations to come.

In conclusion, woodworking is a form of art that not only allows us to create beautiful objects, but also provides a deep connection to nature and the environment. So next time you admire a piece of handcrafted woodwork, remember that it represents not only the skill of the craftsman, but also the beauty and essence of nature

Side Project! (Gardening…)

Welcome back everyone! I hope all has been well in your neck of the woods, or city… or wherever! I am behind on the blog because all of our doggies caught a stomach bug and we have been busy helping them get through it. Our addison’s baby took it the hardest, but thankfully he, and all of them are finally better! Now back to the blog!

I am talking today about this little side project that I have gotten myself into. So, as you might guess, me and Steven don’t get a lot of free time, but I decided to talk his mom into joining me in growing a small vegetable garden this year. It has been a learning process to say the least! But, for a 35-year-old who has never tried to grow food before (uncomfortable laughter), there are Actually vegetables coming out of the garden!

His mom, Charlotte, has plenty of experience. She grew up on a farm where pretty much everything her family ate was produced by them. Yes, she is intimidating, lol. And I have to say, all of mine and Steven’s parents would be completely capable in the event that they had to grow their own food, they are all Amazing at growing anything in our zone, seriously they are so good. Now, with Charlotte at my side, her role here is to pretty much supervise me in my efforts. We chose to go with two raised garden beds and a couple pallets to grow around a dozen different types of vegetables. So lets get into what I am having success with, and well, what I am not.

I have to say, tomatoes are about the easiest thing to grow, so not surprising, we have more of them than we know what to do with. I can throw an old slice of tomato out in the yard and the darn thing will grow. But I still find pride in planting the plants and seeds and tomatoes coming from that effort and work. Some of the tomatoes were plants and some were started from seeds. They have grown from seeds and tiny plants to having to be staked up to stay upright!

Squash, this veggie is an absolute must in our family! Slice this yummy yellow gourd up into thin slices, coat them in some cornmeal and seasonings and oh-my-gosh, delicious!!!! I planted these from seeds straight into the dirt, following the package instructions and Charlotte’s advice very carefully. Every day that I check these, there are new little squash appearing. Steven built little lean-to chicken wire walls for these and the cucumbers to grow up and on so that they don’t completely consume everything else.

Next big accomplishment, peppers! Steven is addicted to any type of pepper, so we went with bell peppers, banana peppers, jalapeños and a pepper I can’t remember the name of… oops! These were all starter plants, so there was no pressure of getting seeds to start with these. We have just added stakes to each pepper plants to hold them up as well. Watering in between the rain has been insanely important here. If I don’t water everything as needed, the garden has been letting me know about it.

A couple other things that are producing are the onions, okra, cucumbers, radishes, and turnips! Each of these were started from seeds as well and required so much watering to get them to come up. I waited anxiously for around two weeks to see what was going to cooperate. I did soal all seed packets in water for about 24 hours before planting to jumpstart germination. I believe that was a must and will be repeating that step again next year.

I have to get to what all I did not do so well on. Sadly, the green beans, peas, garlic and carrots did not do well. My green beans and peas got fried by the sun, so next year I think I will give them another shot in some partial shade. The garlic and carrot seeds never even popped out of the ground, not sure what I did wrong there…! But I am choosing to focus on the success here, mostly at my mother-in-law’s demand, lol. She has been teaching, cheering and inspiring me through my very first vegetable garden, and when I stand back and look at it, I think I’m not doing so bad. We have eaten healthier already with just what has come out of there!

What should you take away from this you might ask? I think that everyone should get their hands dirty. It is feeling pretty good to plant seed and get the fruits in return for the work. We really should get back to what the generations before us were doing. They were not just surviving, they were thriving. They had less money than we do today, fewer commodities, but look at what they could do with their bare hands. They raised healthy successful gardens. Food to feed their healthy successful families. They are an inspiration, and in my opinion, their strengths are a goal worth setting and trying our hardest to achieve. I want to thank Steve and Charlotte, Ray, and Lisa and Jason! All of our parents who were inspired by their parents, who all set amazing examples for us to follow!

I hope you guys enjoyed this topic! I wanted to go out on a limb and talk about some of the side projects Steven and I get ourselves into. Tell us in the comments what success you have had, or maybe haven’t had with gardening. Let us know if you liked this read and if you would like to see more content like this, or if you want to see more work-related stuff, or a fun mix of it all! And as always, thanks so much for hanging in till the end! Have and amazing weekend, or week, depending on when you are reading!

Cedar… maybe the most versatile wood!

Hey again! If you are lucky enough to live in Kentucky or at least in eastern United States, you no doubt are familiar with the aroma that is red cedar. Y’all know that amazing scent! Well today I want dive into why I believe that eastern red cedar might just be the most versatile wood to work with. I want to get into some of what we have used it for here in our small business. We are going to get into the great things about it and also the not so great things. (There are not many negatives imo!)

It doesn’t matter if you find yourself in possession of cedar logs or cedar lumber, you should consider yourself fortunate. Why you ask? Because this material is not only stunning in it’s appearance, the aromatic goodness is also highly prized. This wood can be cut and shaped with ease using any saw or chisel.

Let’s start with a table saw for example. Using planks of eastern cedar, you can cut through these like butter and rip them down to any size for any project. A table-saw project that we chose this material for was a custom end table. We were able to easily get the different size strips of wood for every part of the custom table that was needed.

Next up, wood turning! Turning cedar can be quite fun. The tools peel through it with no problem at all and the colors that pop out while you are working the piece are so beautiful. Here are a couple images from wood turnings we’ve done. One is a solid cedar bowl (still attached to the chuck) that Steven turned for my dad out of a tree that fell on his property back in the 2009 ice storm. the second picture is using eastern cedar planks mixed with western cedar planks. Also a piece that the hubby did on the lathe!

Another reason cedar is so versatile, it is rot resistant! This makes it a great candidate for outdoor uses where moisture can get to the wood. We found that chopping a couple pieces down with the miter makes a gorgeous roof for a bird feeder!

Here is some more cedar knowledge I will leave you with, because this tree is so much more than just the amazingly attractive lumber it provides. Eastern red cedar is more accurately named Juniper. It can live for 500 years or longer! This wonderful tree provides an abundance of shelter and food for wildlife. It is rot and bug resistant… cedar be like, “not on my watch termites!” The mulch is even used to repel insects from gardens and pet areas. As far as medicinal, juniper has been used to ease digestive problems like heartburn, GI infections, loss of appetite and more.

This wood can also be used for fencing, siding for indoors or outdoors. So many different kinds of outdoor furniture have taken advantage of it’s outdoor greatness. Place pieces of eastern red cedar in drawers and closets to stave off odors and moisture. I really can’t say enough good things about this material.

Like everything cedar has a few drawbacks, like the sawdust created when working with it can be considered an irritant to eyes and airways, so Always where protective gear when working with this wood, and any wood. The tree itself can overtake a field or fence row quickly if the property is not being maintained. But I promise you that the wonderful things about eastern red cedar, or juniper, far outweigh the negatives! This material is a must have in your woodworking arsenal!

I hope y’all enjoyed this one and thanks so much for hanging in there till the end of it! Feel free to let us know what you thought about it. Are you a cedar lover, or not so much? What projects have you used cedar for? Let us know! Have a blessed weekend everybody!

-Madison and Steven

What can you use our frames for?

Hey everyone, I am gonna jump right into this one. So I had a client ask me before making her purhcase, “So what all can I use your chicken wire frames for?” I thought I’d take a second to expand on, what I consider, endless posiibilities for them! Here I will lay out some of those very uses so that you can decide if you need one of these frames in your life.

Photo Collage

1. Photo Collage-

   So a lot of our customers use these frames for simply displaying their favorite family photos! Our frames range in sizes and can hold anywhere from 4-16, or even more 4x6 photos.

Children’s Art

2. Children’s Art Display-

Several of these trendy frames have earned the honor of holding children’s paintings, drawings and other sacred art! What makes the frames even more perfect for this use, is that we offer so many fun colors that you can match any child’s room or favorite color!

Wedding Seating Chart

3. Wedding Seating Charts-

when chosen in the neutral colors, these frames make a gorgeously rustic way to let guests know where to have a seat for your big day!

Jewelry Display

4. Jewelry Display-

Are you a jewelry designer in need of a unique way to showcase your stunning work at craft fairs? These frames have served that exact purpose for a couple of clients in the past!

Baby Shower

5. Baby Showers-

Another super fun way to use these chicken wire frames is for a baby shower! I love this idea that clients have come up with! You can display ultrasound photos, baby accessories, ribbons or anything else adorable on these!

These are just some examples of how you could use your brand-new handmade frame. There are literally endless possibilities. Vision boards, hair bow displays, notes and reminders. I could keep going. So the question is, what will you use Your frame for?

The photos used are from clients and were posted alongside their reviews over on etsy.

Please let me know if you have any comments or suggestions! I am brand new to this and any feedback is appreciated! Thanks for hanging in there as I grow at this blogging thing, lol!

Blog One: Just the Beginning

We are Madison and Steven Thomas and we are beyond thrilled to have the chance to introduce ourselves to you! We are a small woodworking business and we create quality handmade wooden furniture and home decor. Our mission is to bring beautiful products to homes, products that will last for years to come.

We are very new to the blogging world, to be completely honest with you. So please bare with us as we get into our groove, lol. What we are not new to is our craft. We started this business out of necessity, as I’m sure a lot of business do. We are completely self taught and the progression in our skills shows through our work. We started with simple wall signs and handmade frames, and now we build so many pieces of decor and furniture. Steven and myself are even starting to branch out into woodturning, which I will share along the way.

We look forward to bringing our products to as many homes as possible! We most look forward to meeting all of you and sharing our small, but growing story with y’all! Don’t forget to sign up for emails to stay in touch and see new updates from us and our business. God Bless!