Kinship and Wooden Rings

Linda and Al  ... Designed beautiful rings of Hawaiian Koa and Birch and incorporated inlays of sand from a spot that has special significance to them.  David made their rings in February this year.

In one of our early conversations Linda wrote "We had to dig thru some fairly deep snow to get to the sand and not to mention that the area where we pulled the sand was the site of a military operation underway in Yellowknife so we had to deal with security as well! LOL The easy part (was) mailing it out to you."  

Linda and Al
Married April 2012 in Tofino.

 

"Just when we couldn't believe how beautiful the photos of our rings were, they arrived at our doorstep!  We are truly overwhelmed with our beautifully crafted rings.   Throughout the process you made us feel like we were sitting at your kitchen table, sharing a cup of coffee, watching the birds while David crafted perfection into our wedding rings."

"Nicola and David we are unsure what lead us to you, after all we live in the diamond capital of Canada and our area has a strong history of gold mining.  Initially, I do think Al was surprised (or relieved!!) that I didn't want a diamond, the rings you have crafted for us feel exactly right for who we are and what our marriage will mean to us.  We are grateful that we were lead to you and thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

Linda, from our first emails I felt like I was talking with an old friend.  
It's great to have met you and Al and it was lovely working with you.  Take care of each other and thanks for coming into our lives.

Riley and Tucker, Sugar Maple and spring

 

It's April.  We were working with a couple of women who live in Ithaca New York ~ and love it there.  They sent us a photo of their pups; Riley and Tucker. 
I was sending spring bird pics. 

Erica wrote "As far as our spring bird watching, the finches have finally arrived.  In the spring, once they leave my aunt in Florida, she calls my mother in South Carolina.  As soon as my mom sees these fast travelers, I know to expect them here shortly.  
Family bonding!"   

Sharing moments and thinking creatively with people is a lot of what I do.  Old fashioned letter writing really ~ only back and forth in the blink of an internet eye ~ we chat about rings and different woods. We talk about trees and horses and dogs and dreams of where we want to be in 20 years.  We talk about our gardens and what makes our hearts sing...

  

In April, the Purple Finches were here in droves; they are bright little giggles of colour before the grass turns green. 

 

It's June now and another letter has just arrived from Katie and Erica.

They have put on their Touch Wood Rings. 

They are formally engaged

and crazy in love.

If all the stars align they will marry this fall.

Blossoms on you both.

A kinder gentler way

A special shell, a bit sea glass and a touch of granite inlaid and offset on a black walnut wood ring for his beloved...

“Nicola, It is very important to me and the special woman in my life to stick to our principles, no gold, and no diamonds. My girlfriend did humanitarian work in various parts of Africa and saw firsthand how the gold and diamond mining industry essentially enslaves and destroys people. Currently she is a Social Scientist for a wildlife organization leading programs to aid sustainability of natural resources in the Congo.

 
If more people only knew the truth.  That is why it is so very important to me to have a Touch Wood Ring for her. Not only are they beautiful but I believe in what you and David are doing and I thank you for doing it.”  Jeremy.  Washington DC