Thoughts About All Things Wood

The Hardwood That Never Loses Its Leaves
The Hardwood That Never Loses Its Leaves
Did you know Pacific madrone is both a hardwood and an evergreen? It's one of the Pacific Northwest's most distinctive trees — and the wood is something special too. Read more...
The Story Behind Live Edge Wood: What It Is and Why It Matters
The Story Behind Live Edge Wood: What It Is and Why It Matters
I get asked about live edge wood a lot. Customers see it in a photo, something catches their eye — that raw, organic curve along the side of a board... Read more...
Top Handmade Holiday Gifts Made in Oregon 2026
Top Handmade Holiday Gifts Made in Oregon 2026
When the holidays roll around, the gifts that mean the most aren't the ones that shipped from a warehouse overnight. They're the ones someone made by hand — with real... Read more...
How to Care for Your Wood Cutting Board
How to Care for Your Wood Cutting Board
A wood cutting board is built to last — but only with the right care. Here's how to clean, oil, and maintain your board so it stays beautiful for decades,... Read more...
Oregon's Hazelnut History Starts Right Here
Oregon's Hazelnut History Starts Right Here
Oregon grows more than 99% of America's commercial hazelnuts—and much of that industry traces back to a five-acre orchard planted near Springfield in 1903. Here's the story behind one of... Read more...
Oregon White Oak & Indigenous Fire Stewardship
Oregon White Oak & Indigenous Fire Stewardship
Oregon white oak's iconic presence in the Willamette Valley isn't just nature at work — it's the result of generations of Indigenous land stewardship through cultural burning. Here's the story... Read more...
Six wood grain samples side by side, each labeled with the wood species name
10 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Wood
As a woodworker, I spend countless hours selecting, milling, shaping, and finishing each piece. Along the way, I've learned that every board has a story, and no two pieces are... Read more...
Meet Henri: The Locally Grown Gifts Shop Dog
Meet Henri: The Locally Grown Gifts Shop Dog
Every great workshop needs a great dog. Meet Henri — our almost-one-year-old French Bulldog, chief morale officer, and the newest face of Locally Grown Gifts. Read more...
More Than a Product: Why Custom Orders Are at the Heart of What I Do
More Than a Product: Why Custom Orders Are at the Heart of What I Do
Every custom order starts with a conversation and ends with something no one else in the world has. Here's why made-to-order work is the most meaningful thing I do. Read more...
Behind the Scenes: Crafting a Live-Edge Plum Wood Jewelry Box
Behind the Scenes: Crafting a Live-Edge Plum Wood Jewelry Box
What does it take to turn a plum tree slab into a jewelry box someone will keep for decades? I walk you through every step — from raw wood selection... Read more...
5 Unique Gift Ideas for the Wood Lover in Your Life
5 Unique Gift Ideas for the Wood Lover in Your Life
Skip the generic gift. These 5 handcrafted wooden pieces — made in Eugene, Oregon from locally grown plum, walnut, apple, and oak — are the kind of gifts people keep... Read more...
The Art of Handcrafted Wood: How I Source and Shape My Materials
The Art of Handcrafted Wood: How I Source and Shape My Materials
Every piece I make starts with a walk through my Pacific Northwest yard. Learn how I source locally grown woods — plum, walnut, apple, cedar, and oak — and why... Read more...