tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-134032182024-03-04T20:49:27.431-08:00Touch Wood Rings BlogWear the warmth of wood. Visit our Wood Ring Blog. Wooden Rings from Touch Wood Rings. At Meadow Ranch since 1999. Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comBlogger246125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-70452228182554264542019-01-24T12:00:00.000-08:002019-01-24T12:43:33.898-08:00A whole lot of love<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you've worked with us or follow us on social media you'll have seen a whole lot of love in our correspondence and our posts. That's not a 'marketing ploy'. It's real. </span><span class="head1"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicQNuagSDSd4YLW4i0RVh6fLEWPqYhFb9EItbR5onANjPer2OcXu0qg0Rs-o_u8AUAtY0YlcKt-AMN2gD-nb2CvlgFHYUr9KhVpTSMcM7JLdnxyC30Kmj8QqWCHzQwZuu7yA_BA/s1600/IMG_9019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="1600" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicQNuagSDSd4YLW4i0RVh6fLEWPqYhFb9EItbR5onANjPer2OcXu0qg0Rs-o_u8AUAtY0YlcKt-AMN2gD-nb2CvlgFHYUr9KhVpTSMcM7JLdnxyC30Kmj8QqWCHzQwZuu7yA_BA/s320/IMG_9019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">It's all about the love that David and I have for the work we do and how grateful we are for each and every one of you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="head1"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKFF5BC_12owjQ3qFQ36HIs_kBZgLi228g3bRwMUsE-EZH-0CtcIS0ke6sMFK86_txliXgZqOpeMQrYEe6iu4Kw444IxxxsZdpBXbLl14vcI7TYFaIwV7QhBeaPyUaYv9g8Sanw/s1600/IMG_7618-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKFF5BC_12owjQ3qFQ36HIs_kBZgLi228g3bRwMUsE-EZH-0CtcIS0ke6sMFK86_txliXgZqOpeMQrYEe6iu4Kw444IxxxsZdpBXbLl14vcI7TYFaIwV7QhBeaPyUaYv9g8Sanw/s400/IMG_7618-002.JPG" title="Three generations of Wedding Rings" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="head1"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8nKGKCIEYP4PZP4rJYLOzUAfek7fiIf9FoPKdBj6IySx5FtJCwpm7819Lvkdse98OPgJhc_826x-PdyCXfaM81LQNRnN4kwq4U5OX_6WiZThSL7kLmduIc9iNIjdBwVykYGdgg/s1600/david+and+amy+surprise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8nKGKCIEYP4PZP4rJYLOzUAfek7fiIf9FoPKdBj6IySx5FtJCwpm7819Lvkdse98OPgJhc_826x-PdyCXfaM81LQNRnN4kwq4U5OX_6WiZThSL7kLmduIc9iNIjdBwVykYGdgg/s400/david+and+amy+surprise.jpg" title="Touch Wood Rings" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="head1"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZlhzJt3jmRvPMew7Vp5lH5yunR9H3ABFG9fxswCT7ApoeIJxBR-YW8sklzIeM1T1d7lYcYgoMKVt51Gn0lVHKZhldsWkR80yMHlPoypNxfvVhNhiG57EN3h4c3388vzC9_nh4Q/s1600/Tracie-Howe-destination-elopement-photography-65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZlhzJt3jmRvPMew7Vp5lH5yunR9H3ABFG9fxswCT7ApoeIJxBR-YW8sklzIeM1T1d7lYcYgoMKVt51Gn0lVHKZhldsWkR80yMHlPoypNxfvVhNhiG57EN3h4c3388vzC9_nh4Q/s400/Tracie-Howe-destination-elopement-photography-65.jpg" title="Love made visible" width="266" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="head1"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ16mprXMaESeFKsc1XiG33edkxkQGo7kPjgTugb8iYYxTkZnEuV4zBE_co6Yb0K4_-H6VNS0XdJ0vonftRGggPgoVtWiUPNxXvU38gC3dmiI0E3XBMhSE6pJofLmdJYxg6qeJg/s1600/faimly_photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="487" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ16mprXMaESeFKsc1XiG33edkxkQGo7kPjgTugb8iYYxTkZnEuV4zBE_co6Yb0K4_-H6VNS0XdJ0vonftRGggPgoVtWiUPNxXvU38gC3dmiI0E3XBMhSE6pJofLmdJYxg6qeJg/s400/faimly_photo.jpg" title="Touch Wood Rings, with Love" width="266" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="head1"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbLcz2YyEf_Owdw6v6djMJMrvKxQWb0rAQv7qNqu-ZW817Mdvg0cEnTlLa6u7v7H29gpH4JBhhyphenhyphenQGkc-Ik2VG37tnZO4OgjocHxaJzojOBYChsRMw-dvQYy3zDxRk5yTE9EGx6w/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="960" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbLcz2YyEf_Owdw6v6djMJMrvKxQWb0rAQv7qNqu-ZW817Mdvg0cEnTlLa6u7v7H29gpH4JBhhyphenhyphenQGkc-Ik2VG37tnZO4OgjocHxaJzojOBYChsRMw-dvQYy3zDxRk5yTE9EGx6w/s400/photo+3.JPG" title="Love and Touch Wood Rings" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="head1"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGxRlo5lgc6smejriGzJXBQi86lsc3I6lPw9eUacumHBMwx9EAtAfk7lelcYeSuvoj4jzsYKi3Qib3TTNmayrsGlIGu-7WEDlw3eqtmCde8Z6JoCzw9n8M97fttV6aRVHWmDu1Q/s1600/Samantha+and+Mohamed+Wedding+pic+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtGxRlo5lgc6smejriGzJXBQi86lsc3I6lPw9eUacumHBMwx9EAtAfk7lelcYeSuvoj4jzsYKi3Qib3TTNmayrsGlIGu-7WEDlw3eqtmCde8Z6JoCzw9n8M97fttV6aRVHWmDu1Q/s400/Samantha+and+Mohamed+Wedding+pic+1.jpg" title="Touch Wood Rings, with Love" width="266" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="head1">In 7th grade, I was fortunate to have had a truly inspirational teacher. He inspired and encouraged my love of acting and writing and set me on a course that would have a huge impact on my life. At the end of Grade 7 which was the transition point from Elementary School to Junior High, my beloved teacher, Victor Wilson gave me with a copy of 'The Prophet' </span><span class="head1">by Kahlil Gibran with a personal note of love and encouragement inscribed on the inside cover. I will never forget that marvelous teacher and have always felt The Prophet to be my own personal book of psalms. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="head1"></span></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="head1">When I consider my life and my work, a single phrase from Gibran often comes to mind.</span> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Work is love made visible."</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="head1">Here is an excerpt from Kahlil Gibran</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="head1">'On Work</span>'</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"And what is it to work with love?<br />It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart, <br />even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth.<br />It is to build a house with affection, <br />even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.<br />It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy, <br />even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit.<br />It is to charge all things you fashion with a breath of your own spirit,<br />And to know that all the blessed dead <br />are standing about you and watching."</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_4mnhbHRiZztHpC47xnPNvCznB1RKjcyDoVzeTLC89zGATVmB3BSpQWUQcQzE6yfq9C1UC-oyaUKUxjApUZb7emlVGjdgr7m9txhL-KVMrATh39IFuxcyNLFLFrW579ZbTa3Og/s1600/juniperwoodriing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="675" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_4mnhbHRiZztHpC47xnPNvCznB1RKjcyDoVzeTLC89zGATVmB3BSpQWUQcQzE6yfq9C1UC-oyaUKUxjApUZb7emlVGjdgr7m9txhL-KVMrATh39IFuxcyNLFLFrW579ZbTa3Og/s320/juniperwoodriing.jpg" title="Touch Wood Rings" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is how David and I approach our work. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After almost two decades of Touch Wood Rings and working with folks from all over the world, it is still just the two of us and our hands and hearts committed to you, your beloved and your rings. That's our guarantee. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When an individual or couple chooses to work with us ~ we are honoured and humbled. By the time David is creating a ring for you, we count you among our friends. You become part of our family. That's our promise, With Love. Always.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ag7ybkCBy41JTgt9yqdVQpWL3hvQGZB6073ZOy2RcVZHNrLY4478a800bQBc4UVTzaF6MHmG0CWAI0VCXBlBIMbmyiAAqWsiGIxanD7iF3lk4C1NcubVOojIxr76MKGuxivRyg/s1600/IMG_1028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ag7ybkCBy41JTgt9yqdVQpWL3hvQGZB6073ZOy2RcVZHNrLY4478a800bQBc4UVTzaF6MHmG0CWAI0VCXBlBIMbmyiAAqWsiGIxanD7iF3lk4C1NcubVOojIxr76MKGuxivRyg/s400/IMG_1028.JPG" title="Touch Wood Rings, 48 Acres" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-40896164538083653402018-09-05T15:59:00.000-07:002018-09-05T16:00:00.938-07:00A new chapter of hope and love.<br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hi, it's Adam Lucas here from Australia. In 2012 David made my wonderful wooden wedding ring. A few years later I had him make one for my wife also.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">When last we spoke, my wife and I were celebrating Christmas with her new ring, and our new baby!! I think I may have even sent through some of those photos to you, all that time ago.<br /> </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Since then life has been crazy!! We have had our second child, which resulted in some severe health problems for Kelli my wife during childbirth. This resulted in us having to move 400km to Brisbane, Australia for her continued care. We only arrived back home in our coastal town of Bundaberg in March of this year. It has been a very rough 2 years but thankfully has ended with a wonderful result of a great recovery for her and the resumption of our normal family life.<br /> </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">During her health battles, as mentioned, we had to leave our family home for almost 2 years. During this time away I lost my beloved wedding ring, but did not stress as I had bigger things to worry about!!!<br /> </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">But in a tearjerking touch of fate, I managed to be reunited with my ring in the most amazing circumstances. After witnessing the miracle that saw my wife unexpectedly recover and my family being allowed to return home, I went into our bedroom in our family home the day we moved back in and found my wedding ring sitting on a bedpost, where I had absent-mindedly left it during a fly-by-night trip back home to collect belongings for my wife's prolonged hospital stay. This was such a beautiful moment and was a symbol of our 'new' marriage and our life re-starting in a new chapter of hope and love.<br /> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-XqsP9QwrM7D96GLRtZaqAPSgmKOwdkONzGRSe1zXh5CFtFpVok4pOf8sRLfxVtkbgsN1jBT9WrkdVeKnwkz635TqWPMoKkfna-QQka-Q1fAMfowe3sqZRQvZI8HT9YpiVNLmg/s1600/IMG_4817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="640" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-XqsP9QwrM7D96GLRtZaqAPSgmKOwdkONzGRSe1zXh5CFtFpVok4pOf8sRLfxVtkbgsN1jBT9WrkdVeKnwkz635TqWPMoKkfna-QQka-Q1fAMfowe3sqZRQvZI8HT9YpiVNLmg/s400/IMG_4817.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><i>Adam's 2012 Touch Wood Ring. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><i>Black Walnut, Eucalyptus inlay bordered by Greyed Maple</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><i>and lined with Clear Juniper</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">So, the reason for my writing is that I have decided that to mark this gorgeous occasion, I would like to send my ring back for some fine tuning if I may. I would love to have it sized down to an Australian size 11 if that is at all possible (I believe it is a 12 at present) and for it to be re-varnished/lacquered if possible. I have lost a fair bit of weight since my wedding day 6 years ago, and would love to get the ring on board with my new figure!!<br /> </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">How might I proceed with this request, and is it possible to make the changes I would like? I am, of course, happy to pay for whatever expenses this incurs.<br /> </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I hope this story of your wonderful work becoming such a symbol of our marriage was worth me telling, I thought of you both often when wearing my ring these past few months. You truly made a little piece of magic that has survived more than I ever intended to put it through!<br /> </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Thanks, guys, love to you both.<br /> </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Adam Lucas</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /></span></span> <span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Want to watch something totally uplifting? Here is a link Adam shared to the Today show story on Australian national morning news.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><a href="https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1233586936678565&id=391969740840293">https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1233586936678565&id=391969740840293</a></span><br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-51168742885872532632018-04-06T17:42:00.003-07:002018-04-06T17:43:43.477-07:00Thank You!<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We have not fallen off the face of the earth, just replaced blogging with Social Media it seems. We are on Instagram and Twitter and Pinterest and Facebook. It's time consuming. It's also a great way to reach people. And it's fun. The social aspect is what I love about it; the feedback, the ease of sharing. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">However, I miss writing our blog posts. Personally, I like it as a record of our work,and it's a wonderful way to share the stories of folks we work with. <br /><br />Our clients (you!!) are the most amazing, warm, loving people! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And really, our story <i><b>is</b></i> your story. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We thank you for entrusting us with the creation of your rings! <br />Whether they are wedding or engagement rings, a birthday gift, memorial or anniversary rings; we are humbled that you entered into this relationship with us. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />THANK YOU for enriching our lives these past 16 years with your stories. <br />You’ve shared your hopes and dreams, your struggles, your joys and your sorrows with us. <br />Sometimes we’re the first to know that you plan to propose, the first to know you’ve decided<br />to elope, the first to know just how deeply in love you are! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />For David and I, you are why we do this work and your stories are what sustain us.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Awesome people you are! One and all. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Like Lauren and Chris who are artist/illustrators. In February, while David was making their rings; Lauren and I were chatting about spring, and Chris's birthday and that kind of thing. She wrote, "Things
are finally starting to warm up here in Texas so we took the opportunity to
bring our dogs out on the town! Austin is a super dog-friendly city and a lot
of the bars serve non-alcoholic "doggy beer." Looks like Cicero might
have had one too many in this photo :P " </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After Chris and Lauren received their rings, they wrote: "Thank you both again so much for all you do, we could not
have asked for a better experience. We will definitely send you photos from the
wedding in a few months!"</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Much love to you both Lauren and Chris ~ we look forward to some pics from your Lord of the Rings themed wedding (yah) and we're hoping that Bilbo and Cicero will be taking part in the celebrations as well. Because... Pugs. :) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And thank you all ~ With dearest love.</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-55289835321807177662018-01-25T11:40:00.001-08:002018-01-25T11:50:06.323-08:00Poetry, Graffiti and Wildfires<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In early June, a lovely couple from the Kootenays commissioned a set of Touch Wood Rings. Matty is a Graffiti Artist and Leesa is a writer. We had so much fun working with them and were delighted to learn that they would be passing through our area and were adventuresome enough to want to come out and meet us and pick up their rings in person. <br /><br />David and I live remote and off grid west of Williams Lake ~ it's not the easiest place to get to; over the years we've met only a few of our thousands of awesome Touch Wood clients.<br />Leesa and Matty were planning a trip across BC and over to Haida Gwaii where they planned on being engaged. Not only were we looking forward to meeting them, but then they'd be heading to Haida Gwaii; the home of my heart. I had the good fortune of being a child on those magical rainforest islands. <br />So. June was a pretty normal kind of June. We had a flush of summer weather and were making summer plans; things we wanted to do around the property, a few quick trips we wanted to make, scheduling visits from family and friends who wanted to come out and visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And then All Hell Broke Loose. </span></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Wildfires erupted on July 7th. We were placed on Evacuation Order on July 10th. 62 days in total. An entire summer surrounded by the worst wildfires in BC's recorded history.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Leesa and Matty were planning their trip. Roads and highways were closing all over the province as wildfires flared and new fires sprang up. There was no way in to our place and no way out. The City of Williams Lake was evacuated and so even though David completed their rings, there was no way to deliver them ... This was a first for us in 17 years of making rings. Matty and Leesa took it all in stride. They found another route around to get to Haida Gwaii but had to forego having their rings with them and we were sorely disappointed.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />The evacuation orders for the residents of Williams Lake were finally lifted and we were able to ship once Canada Post resumed service. It was a very difficult and stressful summer but in the end we are just SO thankful that we didn't lose our home or property Others, sadly, did not fare so well.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9Zsgm5r-tl_lFeXSt99GQeVdx7obtJRY6yIaChaBmX47iyGJCnRbsQwqa78dpxiUX9lKhXj4gi-TOHofMjdGCSFBFR3WM7DemYC4BTRUn2S4RwyjmTMoflHaLsdIgMhW1nqxsw/s1600/their+rings+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9Zsgm5r-tl_lFeXSt99GQeVdx7obtJRY6yIaChaBmX47iyGJCnRbsQwqa78dpxiUX9lKhXj4gi-TOHofMjdGCSFBFR3WM7DemYC4BTRUn2S4RwyjmTMoflHaLsdIgMhW1nqxsw/s400/their+rings+1.jpg" title="Leesa picking up her Touch Wood Rings at the Post Office" width="300" /></span></a><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Once Matty and Leesa were back in the Kootenays, they wrote saying .... "We are home and the long awaited moment finally arrived today when we trotted down to the post
office to pick up the most important package. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0O6um7TX82-F56nb8dpZjEd_bneAmcFhZoI_6Qc051Li7fZMGSZwpBjpF9vhxQfJWgyoA2PjqDbLqMHSph2J26dnu4IA4x6ZEnGF6dz-c4xn494cEs9wULZwnxUVJtg04g8toA/s1600/their+rings+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-BNJpYb4rMVxEWadMV41GuiFBDP4l68DlNZjfiePpVgaD2gRFBqCFhrhZg3BxG-4M07daAAzmgfYZqwfKThyphenhyphen_OtmDgWkC6JXufaQctDvpXqJFQb-yfoBa9Wg0riydnE4VJ2Fdg/s1600/their+rings+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-BNJpYb4rMVxEWadMV41GuiFBDP4l68DlNZjfiePpVgaD2gRFBqCFhrhZg3BxG-4M07daAAzmgfYZqwfKThyphenhyphen_OtmDgWkC6JXufaQctDvpXqJFQb-yfoBa9Wg0riydnE4VJ2Fdg/s400/their+rings+2.jpg" title="Leesa and Matty trying on their Touch Wood Rings for the first time" width="300" /></a><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0O6um7TX82-F56nb8dpZjEd_bneAmcFhZoI_6Qc051Li7fZMGSZwpBjpF9vhxQfJWgyoA2PjqDbLqMHSph2J26dnu4IA4x6ZEnGF6dz-c4xn494cEs9wULZwnxUVJtg04g8toA/s1600/their+rings+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0O6um7TX82-F56nb8dpZjEd_bneAmcFhZoI_6Qc051Li7fZMGSZwpBjpF9vhxQfJWgyoA2PjqDbLqMHSph2J26dnu4IA4x6ZEnGF6dz-c4xn494cEs9wULZwnxUVJtg04g8toA/s400/their+rings+4.jpg" title="Matty and Leesa" width="300" /></a><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We absolutely love the rings and, of course, they fit us like they have always been a natural part of our bodies. </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thank so much! </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">From our hearts to yours. </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Matty and Leesa."</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-BNJpYb4rMVxEWadMV41GuiFBDP4l68DlNZjfiePpVgaD2gRFBqCFhrhZg3BxG-4M07daAAzmgfYZqwfKThyphenhyphen_OtmDgWkC6JXufaQctDvpXqJFQb-yfoBa9Wg0riydnE4VJ2Fdg/s1600/their+rings+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And then earlier this month (Jan 2018) we opened our email to find these awesome pics and a happy note from our Kootenay friends.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0x1otRslrhXnso1jThMMtKvrfcXq_8cjYHhSDLPdIe65KptZZ8DMxWB2lQkJ4HgObZ-n4pxLGhtQAIuBj54FhURTvuwTNWvnWnwTCSLrbUKw0aEjTVE12HpAmL7idgaFGo7mWzw/s1600/For+Nicola_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0x1otRslrhXnso1jThMMtKvrfcXq_8cjYHhSDLPdIe65KptZZ8DMxWB2lQkJ4HgObZ-n4pxLGhtQAIuBj54FhURTvuwTNWvnWnwTCSLrbUKw0aEjTVE12HpAmL7idgaFGo7mWzw/s400/For+Nicola_2.jpg" title="Matty and Leesa Wedding in Hawaii" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBcGuHKbmiE7NS4dLCgUWUUpYFfL9eEJk-jZYwFEWwX7vFSmgFL-O7GPLK2YGXBzQ4mQdGbjjWukVhQwvwvAp8vY-hFCF3Ss4qJSU0CTKa7M6fN71T_T75SERWr_IsmvYVRMhFg/s1600/For+Nicola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBcGuHKbmiE7NS4dLCgUWUUpYFfL9eEJk-jZYwFEWwX7vFSmgFL-O7GPLK2YGXBzQ4mQdGbjjWukVhQwvwvAp8vY-hFCF3Ss4qJSU0CTKa7M6fN71T_T75SERWr_IsmvYVRMhFg/s640/For+Nicola.jpg" title="Leesa's Hawaiian Koa ring in Hawaii" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Matty and I recently got married in Hawaii and we wanted to
send you a few pics of the rings. We are thrilled to have them out and about!
They are comfortable and beautiful and we love them so. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thank you for being an important part of our union. ... we brought the </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hawaiian Koa</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> wood back to its homeland for a visit :) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Much love, Matty and Leesa"</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLp26Sq9coNzvfGBepMj1RLLfcAC9jf_tLUWammDJ6ALkUojNwejkfigMNtXnkw1rUz5qm2TwXpwy-h3zVta0vEpLRFNgoaLam6VtouDA5OeGcbXYxysE2aA3284iTGOT_Xlga8Q/s1600/For+Nicola_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLp26Sq9coNzvfGBepMj1RLLfcAC9jf_tLUWammDJ6ALkUojNwejkfigMNtXnkw1rUz5qm2TwXpwy-h3zVta0vEpLRFNgoaLam6VtouDA5OeGcbXYxysE2aA3284iTGOT_Xlga8Q/s400/For+Nicola_3.jpg" title="Matty and Leesa ~ Married in Hawaii" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pMGP0vinpDqwu-In7ZwPBdRlxhslmiYasDuU_uYF5DwFSsj8rak66xsnLx_bmx5SOJRMzwBIOq5h7AGM2KybaJKQdgsDjzPz7iXrC0jwx3efBE3XGJn5r6JlEdMSE7K7iEi6Yg/s1600/Matty+and+Leesa+KOA+OAK+PURPLEHEART+Lapis+Mother+of+Pearl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="640" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3pMGP0vinpDqwu-In7ZwPBdRlxhslmiYasDuU_uYF5DwFSsj8rak66xsnLx_bmx5SOJRMzwBIOq5h7AGM2KybaJKQdgsDjzPz7iXrC0jwx3efBE3XGJn5r6JlEdMSE7K7iEi6Yg/s400/Matty+and+Leesa+KOA+OAK+PURPLEHEART+Lapis+Mother+of+Pearl.JPG" title="Hawaiian Koa Wood with Purpleheart wood liners and inlays of Lapis Lazuli, Mother of Pearl and Oak with natural knots." width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Matty and Leesa's rings were made of Hawaiian Koa Wood with Purpleheart wood liners and inlays of Lapis Lazuli, Mother of Pearl and Oak with natural knots.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.touchwoodrings.com/" target="_blank">TOUCH WOOD RINGS </a></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-45566911510706847592017-10-24T14:22:00.002-07:002017-10-24T14:22:56.309-07:00Sacred Red Cedar, White Pine and Juniper wood rings for Katie and Ian<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Katie and I began our conversation in November last year shortly after she and Ian were engaged. S</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">he told us that they always try to support local businesses and people who are living and working sustainably. We're so happy they chose to work with us. What an awesome couple!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfymDpXNN1_0iZ8lfLTr0PrXXYzOmh2nD5dv7ehb5zxpMfWZZr2lB_RwJ11I5mGM8C-scUR4gcV20o_MVSKv9iESweffJ4oE3KNrThjos5Eu2ZXQVbP95WneZLwth-tkgOg7VxZA/s1600/juniper%252C+red+cedar%252C+georgian+bay+white+pine%252C+white+cedar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="521" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfymDpXNN1_0iZ8lfLTr0PrXXYzOmh2nD5dv7ehb5zxpMfWZZr2lB_RwJ11I5mGM8C-scUR4gcV20o_MVSKv9iESweffJ4oE3KNrThjos5Eu2ZXQVbP95WneZLwth-tkgOg7VxZA/s320/juniper%252C+red+cedar%252C+georgian+bay+white+pine%252C+white+cedar.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Katie and Ian gathered branch wood with special meaning to them; Western Red Cedar from the Vancouver Island, and White Pine and Juniper root from Georgian Bay in Ontario. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know I've said this before but it's a little like being a kid on Christmas morning when David makes the first cuts into a special branch and we get a glimpse at the figure and colours of the wood. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Always, with respect and gratitude to the trees whose branches were shared. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">David made suggestions on which woods would be most beautiful and most durable for their rings. They decided on the Juniper root for the primary wood, the Georgian Bay White Pine for the liners and inlays of their Western Red Cedar. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSw4X5CYybIns7jOnIP_wFCMA62Xkn18YBrAtVsS3AThFCJz0D_HDI4FBQ8bjK054RCBJmDLQVGJNDnc0e3LT8zEBUGyB20q5lq3nrEfKcBiclzztTMcQScC22ZSwOtJ7EbhDJQ/s1600/georgian+bay+white+pine+liners.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="939" data-original-width="1600" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSw4X5CYybIns7jOnIP_wFCMA62Xkn18YBrAtVsS3AThFCJz0D_HDI4FBQ8bjK054RCBJmDLQVGJNDnc0e3LT8zEBUGyB20q5lq3nrEfKcBiclzztTMcQScC22ZSwOtJ7EbhDJQ/s400/georgian+bay+white+pine+liners.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">They were married in September and recently sent us some pics of their celebration :) and this lovely email.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Here's what we said about the
rings during our ceremony. We wanted to highlight their symbolism in our vows,
and we also had them passed around among our guests in a "ring
warming" ceremony so everyone could place a wish on the rings for us
before we put them on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The
white pine and juniper root symbolize our deep roots in Ontario and our love
for our families and friends who live there and for the people and landscape
that made us who we are. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigPg6WKSTtLQLfWFkgWJZgpSSIep0iDJuMlgoHw-sSuAX36AfFf-t7GbnXxlzpp_ccpfFwArbANHJjcMuP7Wdxf_Jp2TWLtXcKh-leRvvN_cAy4Kj2tLzp2JK26NG88iFDKmx5A/s1600/_DSC4778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigPg6WKSTtLQLfWFkgWJZgpSSIep0iDJuMlgoHw-sSuAX36AfFf-t7GbnXxlzpp_ccpfFwArbANHJjcMuP7Wdxf_Jp2TWLtXcKh-leRvvN_cAy4Kj2tLzp2JK26NG88iFDKmx5A/s400/_DSC4778.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The
western red cedar symbolizes our choice to continue building our life together
on the west coast, our friendships made here and our mutual love of adventure
in the mountains. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The
juniper root reminds us how relationships can sometimes be prickly, but are
also resilient. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The
white pine, which leans away from the west because of the wind, reminds us to
stand tall and proud, and also that sometimes you need to bend and compromise
to be successful in your environment. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The
western red cedar reminds us to always keep growing and to have a long life of
providing for and nurturing those around us. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We're
absolutely loving them! </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Thanks
again! I hope the photos and our words help show our appreciation for all of
the hard work you both put into making our rings so special. :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All the
best, </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Katie and
Ian"</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnkA4me_HHCeaNwPIbCTUIKyje0x0Ux3yExybgCBDKeh38iH4-cydpfkclWgNbZ_v7VjUg3wiPdcxzMjhk4r8csMf_MWT37Dm_ejOWCguemVPAmkqg_0wEygq_UwXfLMt3WemBA/s1600/_DSC4691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDnkA4me_HHCeaNwPIbCTUIKyje0x0Ux3yExybgCBDKeh38iH4-cydpfkclWgNbZ_v7VjUg3wiPdcxzMjhk4r8csMf_MWT37Dm_ejOWCguemVPAmkqg_0wEygq_UwXfLMt3WemBA/s400/_DSC4691.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">~ Wedding photos by @braceyphoto ~</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42gRDO9SVifQrlClfNJlelFCNlTkZxnixJIQhyphenhyphenNJgLd8rMmyVUeLDhbKRmRECcCLsYvrwEik0a8DW8An_7vHK7Nc53F7HImyg2IOV7fbm1OZVizwIxYkKZQkZUXUkTjo2hVJuUg/s1600/_DSC5239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42gRDO9SVifQrlClfNJlelFCNlTkZxnixJIQhyphenhyphenNJgLd8rMmyVUeLDhbKRmRECcCLsYvrwEik0a8DW8An_7vHK7Nc53F7HImyg2IOV7fbm1OZVizwIxYkKZQkZUXUkTjo2hVJuUg/s400/_DSC5239.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Our congratulations and our thanks to Katie and Ian. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">With dearest love ~ as ever.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCFb8E-MD7dHLHv5Aei9Uu2lieL_RBeuzEb8dQ8i1r3fUGqSeKJD5o05Ek66dHPHkkqMMwNxNPcWBpxA7h4_DAjM58tBcbY0_mY41hQA3cpaWUBi0Pend4fsUWBIVK2c3QSWvcg/s1600/IMG_9724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="640" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQCFb8E-MD7dHLHv5Aei9Uu2lieL_RBeuzEb8dQ8i1r3fUGqSeKJD5o05Ek66dHPHkkqMMwNxNPcWBpxA7h4_DAjM58tBcbY0_mY41hQA3cpaWUBi0Pend4fsUWBIVK2c3QSWvcg/s400/IMG_9724.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-15093202659826754852017-09-09T20:57:00.001-07:002017-09-09T21:08:36.577-07:00Franciscan Tau Cross Wood Ring<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwd4VZyzf5MTPbJMjALq2UTQxqcwZHFKR8u_ISQ8A5lFqcqbryqs7VAWw55kpLdw8z5y1VvAFyUwK9zXV8nO6SQVX5EUEy6tTGZgom9rScvHNE9hU-jr_lvDZUIphxv1YV0HWcg/s1600/tau+ring.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVwd4VZyzf5MTPbJMjALq2UTQxqcwZHFKR8u_ISQ8A5lFqcqbryqs7VAWw55kpLdw8z5y1VvAFyUwK9zXV8nO6SQVX5EUEy6tTGZgom9rScvHNE9hU-jr_lvDZUIphxv1YV0HWcg/s400/tau+ring.JPG" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUdHXxJgCuPDJvVfpHr_b-aFellx3zVIipN5iDWMf40AG3Lpha9o5SxVYD0I8FcwWl5MY_8Ow_NNMvppUAUYYlAVJqW9wCLQZ6fteKTlMnRqFuCOsOS5MZ8NtoxmiE7Yx6IgMZA/s1600/IMG_9215.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUdHXxJgCuPDJvVfpHr_b-aFellx3zVIipN5iDWMf40AG3Lpha9o5SxVYD0I8FcwWl5MY_8Ow_NNMvppUAUYYlAVJqW9wCLQZ6fteKTlMnRqFuCOsOS5MZ8NtoxmiE7Yx6IgMZA/s400/IMG_9215.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We had the pleasure and honour recently of working with Christine on a very special commission. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We've had wonderful conversations over the course of working together and we shared a lot with each other. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKFKjAPWV_iSRZLMcsPZ2UldjO35Iv38dbl-kOSDzAspzrcO6WihVy57lpMMtmf9hxIX05RVKkjozVDJcnJPeWVSmG1WeW8Ga83AidOjyK7Ln1h37GbXbOyN1Xzlxg4D3Ru2AeQ/s1600/IMG_9225.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKFKjAPWV_iSRZLMcsPZ2UldjO35Iv38dbl-kOSDzAspzrcO6WihVy57lpMMtmf9hxIX05RVKkjozVDJcnJPeWVSmG1WeW8Ga83AidOjyK7Ln1h37GbXbOyN1Xzlxg4D3Ru2AeQ/s400/IMG_9225.JPG" width="400" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxE6H0WPza1PEESd_4a7-B2xESvKONzaTFkzjXs7MmeEY_UfArXqQWxpZJsSOJ_AmEMnvPHjGNIe-FgEB9HKHGoEbo3gQ9-meJy6jGbKyVdKdxTvFPxaZOB4R5nTzCWY8f9WBMdw/s1600/IMG_9226.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxE6H0WPza1PEESd_4a7-B2xESvKONzaTFkzjXs7MmeEY_UfArXqQWxpZJsSOJ_AmEMnvPHjGNIe-FgEB9HKHGoEbo3gQ9-meJy6jGbKyVdKdxTvFPxaZOB4R5nTzCWY8f9WBMdw/s400/IMG_9226.JPG" width="400" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNbcJBIY_h27EgPJEM9RbAIVbU7MqLJPtkjU2x_zapIzMRs4R688DyobwNBDFeqVA-V3G0b8uErDOhe6AgSFNeW7rV__p1A6CVHTKY5Yc7CSFToJLSMOXQKwbzbj6DJUKI0sFOw/s1600/IMG_9223.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNbcJBIY_h27EgPJEM9RbAIVbU7MqLJPtkjU2x_zapIzMRs4R688DyobwNBDFeqVA-V3G0b8uErDOhe6AgSFNeW7rV__p1A6CVHTKY5Yc7CSFToJLSMOXQKwbzbj6DJUKI0sFOw/s400/IMG_9223.JPG" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Christine is getting ready to enter a Franciscan Third Order </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">of Seculars. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">She wanted a wooden ring with the Tau Cross ~ as a gift to herself and the last before she takes her vows (one of which is poverty). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">David created Christine's Tau ring of Purpleheart wood with inlays of Hawaiian Koa and Cherry. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was designed after Christine's only other adornment; her Tau necklace. It's a wooden cross on a cord, with three simple beads signifying her vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>"I just love the ring! And love you and David. Thank you soooooooo much! </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Wasn't it Michelangelo who said he just chipped away around the image? The end result spoke to him, and he listened! I would imagine David "becomes one " with the wood and design. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Nicola, it's odd how intimate this process has been - I bet you hear that a lot! It didn't feel like a business transaction let alone an internet business transaction! <br /><br />"Love your pictures and your writing, Nicola - and your attention to detail re: marketing, operations, logistics, and hand holding; you are sort of a midwife in the birthing process of creating the rings!! You wear so many hats, so well!"</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thank you so much Christine. It's been a real pleasure working with you and getting to know you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Joy and Peace be with you ~ and much love from both of us as you take your vows and enter your Franciscan Order.</span><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-31458363563524137792017-08-03T13:10:00.002-07:002017-08-03T13:10:28.381-07:00Touch Wood Rings, Pear and Inner Peace<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Touch Wood Rings for Kait and Josh ~ Pear and Hawaiian Koa</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> The symbolism associated with pear trees speaks of prosperity, longevity and inner peace.</i></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3NNCmKM9nnGWJ5dKtbeOo-Qf5wvApX5VS1TImU57HlIy_KGNHGISAfuaxQA3kk_rISLi1XyLuCqc5oEOEM7X7jfZt8hVo7z1fD-XJA-CSK1XvG8__mTReEqXRNzzl9SwHe6RBQ/s1600/pear+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1059" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr3NNCmKM9nnGWJ5dKtbeOo-Qf5wvApX5VS1TImU57HlIy_KGNHGISAfuaxQA3kk_rISLi1XyLuCqc5oEOEM7X7jfZt8hVo7z1fD-XJA-CSK1XvG8__mTReEqXRNzzl9SwHe6RBQ/s640/pear+1.jpg" width="422" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Fellow Canadians Kait and Josh first contacted us in March. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">They wanted to use pear wood from a tree that has significance to them and were hoping to incorporate the heartwood and the sapwood in their designs.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Yd91jvoIZMf1XOJ_K8CD-QVzcksbhW4aO8zNPCqwAMChYwZMYAsHghZ6p1phCjDPB1hIMibxPnrpRi5rHQKbrhnWCdB5AM-jK3HDgGkxZ8rARW4EFCfruScSlwyAheSqUXrJ8A/s1600/their+branch.JPG"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Yd91jvoIZMf1XOJ_K8CD-QVzcksbhW4aO8zNPCqwAMChYwZMYAsHghZ6p1phCjDPB1hIMibxPnrpRi5rHQKbrhnWCdB5AM-jK3HDgGkxZ8rARW4EFCfruScSlwyAheSqUXrJ8A/s400/their+branch.JPG" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">David and I often say that cutting a branch of wood makes us feel like kids on Christmas morning. It is always a gift to discover the wood inside a branch and this pear wood was a delightful surprise. The heartwood of Josh and Kait's pear branch was beautiful and the sapwood had real character too. Perfect for their designs.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVblpM448bA02KwZKb85CGYaCI0BUaTOSfXZNuvl-niO7eZGX1Omi9SpN_W34Nhkfr5bHLwKz8r6avmEtRlrrMU5fv4pGtMD0U-tP-P3yOEJ4Dyjk7CVEca6YEXU9rtorCZ3AbA/s1600/pear+wood.JPG"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVblpM448bA02KwZKb85CGYaCI0BUaTOSfXZNuvl-niO7eZGX1Omi9SpN_W34Nhkfr5bHLwKz8r6avmEtRlrrMU5fv4pGtMD0U-tP-P3yOEJ4Dyjk7CVEca6YEXU9rtorCZ3AbA/s400/pear+wood.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">They chose a rich Hawaiian Koa as the primary wood for their rings with spiraled inlays of their pear heartwood and sapwood and interior liners of the lighter pear sapwood to accommodate their inscriptions. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr71o6xnUVtO8hgVYfk6CjAIOqtwvDS667k-oVmxV9s805zH7f1435r8RcnZwSa8qv1jHn_gGcDlDS2kDBBKLY1jl5dbRfWI2dXkYHE25-R1wzzPO6kn5fl5ys5BU8UfOL0GNWCg/s1600/IMG_8818.JPG"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr71o6xnUVtO8hgVYfk6CjAIOqtwvDS667k-oVmxV9s805zH7f1435r8RcnZwSa8qv1jHn_gGcDlDS2kDBBKLY1jl5dbRfWI2dXkYHE25-R1wzzPO6kn5fl5ys5BU8UfOL0GNWCg/s400/IMG_8818.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">When we sent final photographs of their rings, Kait wrote: <i>"We are just blown away! The rings are so beautiful! The pear wood looks great with the koa!! I can't believe we have to wait until our wedding in October to wear them!"</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's August now :) so not too much longer to wait ...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We look forward to some photos from your wedding and we hope you have an exciting and happy few months leading up to your Fall celebration. Remember to breathe!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Much love, as always</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Nicola and David</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-88284951180573694592017-07-16T21:36:00.002-07:002017-07-16T21:44:45.122-07:00'Touch Wood' is an apropos business name right now<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dear Touch Wood friends and followers, <br /><br />I want to update you on our wildfire situation here in the Cariboo and throughout the BC interior. We have been getting emails from our Touch Wood friends asking if we are safe and we thank you all so much for your concern!! You are like family to us and this month has been a challenging one so far. <br /><br />We are working with a few lovely people this month on new commissions but are keeping our workshop and office work to a minimum while we prepare for what might be a life changing event.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj672KWuNR9qCuQZo9_CZWl1ZDlB24BuuPUf4RL4HJXAe6J3Y1zXhLeDSjgUF0q0xt0ZIRhO-jlR1Q2UBvACmX-Q4Nz_VBA_rIjRNKfOdctaFUVScJ1hGm4qLcI2BG9B2UcWnPCWA/s1600/smoke+from+hancevill+fire.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj672KWuNR9qCuQZo9_CZWl1ZDlB24BuuPUf4RL4HJXAe6J3Y1zXhLeDSjgUF0q0xt0ZIRhO-jlR1Q2UBvACmX-Q4Nz_VBA_rIjRNKfOdctaFUVScJ1hGm4qLcI2BG9B2UcWnPCWA/s400/smoke+from+hancevill+fire.jpg" /></a><br />Saturday afternoon. Smoke from the Hanceville fire to our south west...<br /><br /> The city of Williams Lake and some surrounding communities are fully evacuated as of Saturday afternoon and we are so sorry for all our friends and neighbours who have had to leave their homes to uncertainty and fear. Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone affected; the evacuees, the firefighters, the people who have already lost homes and livelihoods, not to mention the devastation to the land, the birds and the wildlife. <br /><br />We've been on evacuation order out here for a full week now but have chosen to stay because we have a very good likelihood of being able to protect our home, our property and our business. And it's not our first rodeo. We didn't evacuate during the 2010 wildfires either and those fires came as close as two km. <br /><br />'Safety first' has always been our motto!! I think we're in better shape off grid than most people in neighbouring communities; where power is off and services have ground to a halt. We have our own solar power system, backup generator and fuel, satellite internet, good well water, and a cold room fairly well stocked with supplies. We have propane for hot meals until we can use our wood stove again :) A good size creek runs through our place which is a real blessing. And while this is a scary situation, wildfires kind of come with the territory. We will stay till we can’t and we are optimistic we can weather this storm.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyT9sG7owubL0uRbD8LQzKRN5J1uiFQpv03PgOYztcxCFdTkPYgpqEnyZUGrj2P2nbkHiz0nPi5M91IZr8Mfz5XaIgyLpV-TIqRQqgxI2HGvwaGeT2-Kb8FulnGuM5pgRf0khQfw/s1600/IMG_7787.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyT9sG7owubL0uRbD8LQzKRN5J1uiFQpv03PgOYztcxCFdTkPYgpqEnyZUGrj2P2nbkHiz0nPi5M91IZr8Mfz5XaIgyLpV-TIqRQqgxI2HGvwaGeT2-Kb8FulnGuM5pgRf0khQfw/s400/IMG_7787.JPG" /></a> <br />Sunday early evening July 16th <br /><br />For all three of us and the wee pup, the stress is a challenge. It's a good test of our sense of humour, our patience and gentleness with each other ~ our ability to think clearly and to prioritize. We have done and are doing everything we can to preserve this beautiful little corner of the Chilcotin. After a week of a crazy amount of work we are feeling quite safe. There are still things we are doing to make ourselves safer but for the most part it's back to normal for us now ... aside from being prepared to run if need be. We're keeping the hummingbird feeders filled (at least until the sugar runs out), staying vigilant, knowing our escape routes and counting our blessings.<br /><br />You are welcome to follow our public posts on my personal Facebook page. David has been doing an awesome job of recording and sharing our fire protection efforts at the end of each day. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nkwala.jean">https://www.facebook.com/nkwala.jean</a> <br /><br />And as always, thanks for dropping by! Our love to you and your families! Stay safe and take care of each other. We'll do the same.<br /><br />Touch Wood :) </span><div style="line-height: normal;">
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-25228832241236647502017-06-23T12:55:00.000-07:002017-06-23T12:57:13.034-07:00Sharing some Love ~ from Meghan and Mary<div class="MsoNormal">
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David and Nicola,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I
wanted to write to you to thank you sincerely for creating such an
extraordinary gift of love for Mary and I. Your Touch Wood Ring is
unlike anything I've ever seen before. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It fits perfectly and glistens
beautifully in the sunlight. The stone and the Purple Heart Wood inlays are
incredible. People love to linger over every impressive detail that you have
carefully carved into the ring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mary
proposed in a very memorable way and the ring is just stunning. We are both
very happily engaged, and we have you to thank for giving us the token to
remember that by. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We
hope you are enjoying the month of June and we hope to meet you someday. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thanks
again for all the love and care you put into the making and the process of
communicating about this ring. We will always remember this.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Best, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Meghan</span></div>
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<span style="color: #663300; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Thank you Meghan </span><span style="color: #663300; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif;">💕</span><span style="color: #663300; font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> It was our absolute pleasure and honour to work with Mary on your ring. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #663300; font-family: "tahoma" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Mary put so much love
and thought and care into it's design ~ and David thoroughly
enjoyed creating it for both of you! We send our dearest love ~ now and always ~ and wish you and Mary immeasurable joy in the days and years to come. Congratulations and warm hugs from both of us to both of you. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-30786850553028973912017-05-05T21:32:00.001-07:002017-05-07T11:20:36.397-07:00A short history of steam bent wood rings<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="ad4ur" data-offset-key="843mu-0-0" style="line-height: 18px;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpwRaWgn53jWogY4exAUTOjGrCZGPQN6nJAZKmO-Q4f8UbwbY3JX5lyTkFEDlXNjZ20WB_Y26v25EpJejphGJ51ij7wJ2Fiim8wELPVvBZpgRjwG_I96bm9pf25rQWBQgWl819Q/s1600/Rings+on+honeymoon%252C+Jay+Cooke+State+Park+abby+and+alex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifpwRaWgn53jWogY4exAUTOjGrCZGPQN6nJAZKmO-Q4f8UbwbY3JX5lyTkFEDlXNjZ20WB_Y26v25EpJejphGJ51ij7wJ2Fiim8wELPVvBZpgRjwG_I96bm9pf25rQWBQgWl819Q/s320/Rings+on+honeymoon%252C+Jay+Cooke+State+Park+abby+and+alex.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Touch Wood Rings</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Touch Wood Rings are steam bent wooden rings. While steam bending wood is an ancient art, David is the originator and pioneer of the steam bent method of building a wooden ring. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A wooden ring is hardly an oddity anymore. There aren't many people nowadays who haven't heard of or seen a wooden ring and lots of people wear them. When I first introduced David's bent wood rings online in 2003, a wooden ring was considered a bit of a joke.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That was then.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">David and I are humbled and honoured to have started "a revolution in the jewelry industry", as a very early client of ours predicted. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There was only one other wood ring maker when I introduced David's work online. Dale Randles of Artistree Wood Art has offered his wood crafts online since 1998. The main difference is that Dale's rings were (and still are) carved wooden rings; not bentwood. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Every other bent wood ring maker you find online now (and there are hundreds) came after David. We trained and mentored some of them and we've watched a whole industry grow up behind us. It's been pretty incredible really. Humbling. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBu1f-UbRNfOCFXlpHFk9pDzJDKrYPrbR99-a_3pwaYEXq2XqM1CEgJs-m3rju629GE8z_R62QRbOGGCs_hQJsx4WlwfVD_lGUgmXsyScdxxZNXnKF2O_bC8E3q0quFNTlGvsVIQ/s1600/work+in+progress.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBu1f-UbRNfOCFXlpHFk9pDzJDKrYPrbR99-a_3pwaYEXq2XqM1CEgJs-m3rju629GE8z_R62QRbOGGCs_hQJsx4WlwfVD_lGUgmXsyScdxxZNXnKF2O_bC8E3q0quFNTlGvsVIQ/s400/work+in+progress.jpg" /></a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A Touch Wood Ring as a Work in Progress </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Natural materials have been carved into objects of personal adornment ever since humans began adorning ourselves. Materials like shell, bone and stone have of course survived the ravages of time better than tiny carved wooden objects. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One <i>carved</i> wooden ring that has survived is in The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. They have in their collections a 'carved' Bog Oak Wood Ring from Ireland dating from about 1775. The museum doesn't have a picture of the ring online but here is a photo of a set of Irish Bog Oak Rings David made for couple a few years ago. The light wood in this set is Australian Huon Pine.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQGKLGfTM2upgc3eq2ghmVVKa3U2w3d4Fi9FZwDjdG7NN0wBDC8c8O9mM-paENjSAswQDyljHq8VMgu2t74OKD2SDElt_bSRD2jN3wjV1AXsR6nZeXHu80r4MhrOw-B2X4dIvuw/s1600/IMG_5040.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQGKLGfTM2upgc3eq2ghmVVKa3U2w3d4Fi9FZwDjdG7NN0wBDC8c8O9mM-paENjSAswQDyljHq8VMgu2t74OKD2SDElt_bSRD2jN3wjV1AXsR6nZeXHu80r4MhrOw-B2X4dIvuw/s400/IMG_5040.JPG" /></a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Irish Bog Oak Wood Rings with Huon Pine inlay and liners </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Through my research, I've found references to a wooden finger ring (recovered) from an Egyptian mummy, and carved wood rings found on the battlefields of WW1 and WW2; sad reminders of too many young men who loved someone back home and quite likely lost their lives; leaving their little mementos of love to molder in the trenches.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmyAjLsUevbhMTv4N2N_mVU99f1RgSai1XjaLAP3RLpk9cdHWuy9wEDROkFei4JKJwyErTHuOdeay15lIuC9U18QdA8sLfc-ARbb0Y0AF2nLVrLOC0Yw161bX4PyBn287uEiKng/s1600/apple%252C+braided+birch+bark+inlay.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmyAjLsUevbhMTv4N2N_mVU99f1RgSai1XjaLAP3RLpk9cdHWuy9wEDROkFei4JKJwyErTHuOdeay15lIuC9U18QdA8sLfc-ARbb0Y0AF2nLVrLOC0Yw161bX4PyBn287uEiKng/s320/apple%252C+braided+birch+bark+inlay.JPG" /></a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Apple Wood Ring with Braided Birch Bark inlay </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Finnish folklore of long ago offers a song about a young fellow making a birch bark ring for his beloved after he drank away all his money. This song was sent to us by one of our early clients who wanted a birch and birch bark ring for his Finnish girlfriend. Here is a rough translation of that song:</span><br />
<i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Heisuli hei, my song sings, I am a trouble free vagabond rascal! This boy drank his last coins, one cannot live rich. I made a golden ring out of birch bark, I will engage a girl for myself. This birch bark ring and my love lasts one night at a time. </span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, what <i>is </i>steam bending exactly? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Bending wood dates back to antiquity in the form of baskets from willow branches. Fresh growth willow twigs are readily bent in practically any shape. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqE-iu4uAHm7fQbQIAmk9E-szwJj3nU5k7vTIMq2Eh_eWcvjFqjTGOwft0DC2ttSURNejPvGGTLSIFIugBTGsI0EhXzQLksT4FiFH6EgJgk9jrrlbCG1BUN-4L8LLpV4Am0nTqA/s1600/IMG_5134.JPG"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmqE-iu4uAHm7fQbQIAmk9E-szwJj3nU5k7vTIMq2Eh_eWcvjFqjTGOwft0DC2ttSURNejPvGGTLSIFIugBTGsI0EhXzQLksT4FiFH6EgJgk9jrrlbCG1BUN-4L8LLpV4Am0nTqA/s320/IMG_5134.JPG" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When wood has been separated from the tree and dried, it is more rigid, difficult to bend and breakable. Bending drier wood with the help of heat and water is centuries old. Fishing hooks, barrel staves, and planks turned into boat hulls are examples." <a href="http://ojs.cnr.ncsu.edu/index.php/BioRes/article/view/BioRes_08_4_4793_Wright_Editorial_Steam_Bending">Source</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"There are three basic ways of softening wood fibers. The first is to heat moisture already in the wood. This means using already moist, green wood, or soaking dry wood to replace the necessary moisture, then using a fire, or other heat source to turn the water to steam. The second method is to create steam first, and then force the steam into the wood. The final method is to use boiling water to penetrate the wood fibers." <a href="http://www.primitiveways.com/bending.html">Source</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you are interested in learning more about bending wood, Steven Edholm has an excellent blog post titled: <a href="https://goo.gl/iFcCD9">Bending Wood: What you need to know.</a> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGcIUt7ltduH0rN2ifZKxMT3WTyVyVWNO3XNMsIuWe8oFNHR0D_4rjDMrL7KORo9O6i81gpI1ptpd8zub8tdifCRPcV-UXS6vYE62WvPVs2VLzFw-PHMoo7sBMQDzFB_SNyJ-0A/s1600/Oak+Wood+Rings.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGcIUt7ltduH0rN2ifZKxMT3WTyVyVWNO3XNMsIuWe8oFNHR0D_4rjDMrL7KORo9O6i81gpI1ptpd8zub8tdifCRPcV-UXS6vYE62WvPVs2VLzFw-PHMoo7sBMQDzFB_SNyJ-0A/s400/Oak+Wood+Rings.JPG" /></a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Touch Wood Oak Rings featuring the natural figure and grain of the Oak wood.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And so it goes. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Wooden rings would not be a reality if people like you didn't find them beautiful and have a desire to wear one on your finger. And we thank you!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Touch Wood Rings has always been just the two of us. David is the artist and craftsman and I (Nicola) do the other stuff. Talking with you is what I love most about my work.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We live remote and off grid on 48 acres in the Cariboo Chilcotin area of BC. Our nearest neighbour is 10 miles away and town is a 45 minute drive on a good day ~ over active logging roads. David's brother has a cabin here as well. Our 48 acres is precious to all three of us. We consider ourselves stewards of this little corner of the planet and we take that very seriously. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We live a good life. A quiet life. The real difference I find about living remote is that our lives are mostly uninterrupted. This uninterrupted time allows us to focus on the natural world around us and to focus on you and fulfill your desire for a hand crafted Touch Wood Ring. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We are truly blessed. And ever thankful.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And we invite you to be in touch. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Please drop me a line at <a href="mailto:nicola@touchwoodrings.com">nicola@touchwoodrings.com ~</a> I'd love to hear from you.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Visit our <a href="http://www.touchwoodrings.com/">website</a> (currently being updated, thank goodness)</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And join us on social media is you like <a href="http://instagram.com/touchwoodrings.48acres/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/touchwoodrings">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/touchwoodrings">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/touchwoodrings/">Pinterest</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In closing, here are some snapshots from around our off grid homestead.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As always, thanks so much for dropping by!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_IWFfSjgi9NFkr4cCcyIXfgP32IdqshQn5bIwPXo2sqOTLHbybpobSsW_Z959VYiPbuL2YaUyH0-swFbW1AXE0SFgk1nJqKJ-Nc-9XW7ux92Fqd582LWmRXanswrkmV09jyZJA/s1600/IMG_4917.JPG"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_IWFfSjgi9NFkr4cCcyIXfgP32IdqshQn5bIwPXo2sqOTLHbybpobSsW_Z959VYiPbuL2YaUyH0-swFbW1AXE0SFgk1nJqKJ-Nc-9XW7ux92Fqd582LWmRXanswrkmV09jyZJA/s400/IMG_4917.JPG" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The little log cabin that overlooks the creek</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5shcV0rEYpWRdQRFw4zyVPWup7mce0nDxnCR55ljBfQT2_UbTsKpCAzlPCJdPi1tBOD-AVyIbe5eg2eZ89kT_1540Kk1KyVYPuyQKsUZrUSm5V4oeJdBJOmh005DqtzpJzV4ndw/s1600/IMG_4927.JPG"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5shcV0rEYpWRdQRFw4zyVPWup7mce0nDxnCR55ljBfQT2_UbTsKpCAzlPCJdPi1tBOD-AVyIbe5eg2eZ89kT_1540Kk1KyVYPuyQKsUZrUSm5V4oeJdBJOmh005DqtzpJzV4ndw/s400/IMG_4927.JPG" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Wildflowers in July</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W4lGC504UFjX_4JH8KuPnYhy1HtfOF-o-Aijt5VZfVkQ3XWwxIZnX5cpcQ_92vxWiJFy9NUfGHTWfoSdh4TMcLxzSCSQEwTzE7xRkqPgO2DCl0pRf1JwOmbb2IEyIpON8wqe5A/s1600/our+place.JPG"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W4lGC504UFjX_4JH8KuPnYhy1HtfOF-o-Aijt5VZfVkQ3XWwxIZnX5cpcQ_92vxWiJFy9NUfGHTWfoSdh4TMcLxzSCSQEwTzE7xRkqPgO2DCl0pRf1JwOmbb2IEyIpON8wqe5A/s400/our+place.JPG" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our place from overhead ~ the creek and hayfields</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GQ2oXvODEpBr860SUqz227sT6XQMRorGCvk5MDETydalr8mrrBlZ-cu5RY4auaIJVu_LmDXFeNlwsT9VYTRpLoaR6TyyB-RiI11DFKmPkcmExk-2ItksfXw6AlvLb3Vo0E1owQ/s1600/IMG_4254.JPG"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GQ2oXvODEpBr860SUqz227sT6XQMRorGCvk5MDETydalr8mrrBlZ-cu5RY4auaIJVu_LmDXFeNlwsT9VYTRpLoaR6TyyB-RiI11DFKmPkcmExk-2ItksfXw6AlvLb3Vo0E1owQ/s400/IMG_4254.JPG" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Nick and Kali on walkabout</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2k7dlzRC8AztXh7EdzFF6v_qijSORpW88Xo3IdMKWSSobZw6mrZhPwynIAHY-DYm36zBnczL5BJXw3u1BU4gp8XSazUdoNlLWUDIEaLB5HzT4VE7fVWO3l1auo_QERC9oKDFlBQ/s1600/IMG_3536.JPG"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2k7dlzRC8AztXh7EdzFF6v_qijSORpW88Xo3IdMKWSSobZw6mrZhPwynIAHY-DYm36zBnczL5BJXw3u1BU4gp8XSazUdoNlLWUDIEaLB5HzT4VE7fVWO3l1auo_QERC9oKDFlBQ/s400/IMG_3536.JPG" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On our walking trails, looking over at the homestead</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJO1-oQb_fsEeZA2hEAY_OEGIan0rkJIiyyMoI_LBtVFAGBA67OpHNko7Yz-ZYvGhPSU0w4RLx57e8CTqVzXdd_0jSaGxS51w0B5-d5Lfk90OkZpTO6gWHEkmv9Yg5IMGJ7jOxw/s1600/IMG_7855.JPG"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJO1-oQb_fsEeZA2hEAY_OEGIan0rkJIiyyMoI_LBtVFAGBA67OpHNko7Yz-ZYvGhPSU0w4RLx57e8CTqVzXdd_0jSaGxS51w0B5-d5Lfk90OkZpTO6gWHEkmv9Yg5IMGJ7jOxw/s400/IMG_7855.JPG" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dandelion delight and solar panels</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqN30jwfQ4n70AQB79PyaOIlG6mG6SMO5zJOJaC8Q-mPzCx586MOqGiddVR5Hrafi-TgZp_1-EKg_n96U9a-HyWCzAtxB-Fim36rewV-bHp8rkf6f1UtVDEPS9zyM3ux9BPhhyLQ/s1600/3+doe+and+fawn+june+2015.jpg"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqN30jwfQ4n70AQB79PyaOIlG6mG6SMO5zJOJaC8Q-mPzCx586MOqGiddVR5Hrafi-TgZp_1-EKg_n96U9a-HyWCzAtxB-Fim36rewV-bHp8rkf6f1UtVDEPS9zyM3ux9BPhhyLQ/s400/3+doe+and+fawn+june+2015.jpg" /></span></a><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Mom and the young Mister with a cowbird along for the ride</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.touchwoodrings.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbiaB_ywAR78WdL0mC5YLT0n74ahkKSIkO1XDdnxCVqcv4j-fgUjYZdLSHxJN5ZTksKwUA1SZr1yByt-D2W-OIjudQ4xz9uEnPWEs3W3fB-WGECEcmCTR_8WTox1__qtpUuXEMA/s400/ultimate+sophistication.jpg" /></a><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-65308309268669026102017-04-30T21:05:00.001-07:002017-04-30T21:06:10.713-07:00My Myrtle Moment<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Some of the woods David works with I just fall in love with. Oregon Myrtle is one of those woods. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><img alt="vintage illustration of Myrtle" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEx4FONb4TtkSY-kA616dL1RJHL29WzIvj8zw7_P7oyKKTgxYqqhptvn-qj39x-xJoZ77l5uQ2SijGAKyqvnWR-R7l7n14pO78UVhrRwMdRQnh7wvTLYIJ_T29YMcf9qC_FKXQug/s400/myrtle_edited.jpg" title="Myrtle Wood ~ Touch Wood Rings" width="323" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here are a few examples of Touch Wood Rings incorporating Oregon Myrtle. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The horizontal inlay on this juniper heartwood ring is Myrtle. The inlay is a 'full moon' </span><span style="font-family: "tahoma" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">™ </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> mother of pearl.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEmBJ5VJkKm_HDpwYqPrnxMBnSRT2iwNCWixAxkEk58C4iuzp1NBiuHgcQbuVgmUC8-omTSjaLJc8cPCWs3-ugbwtObTl6Kaiem18WO6Gg94V3aXNycZ-IZgWOsnVyOXH1pE0Vg/s1600/maple+myrtle+mop+jhw.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEmBJ5VJkKm_HDpwYqPrnxMBnSRT2iwNCWixAxkEk58C4iuzp1NBiuHgcQbuVgmUC8-omTSjaLJc8cPCWs3-ugbwtObTl6Kaiem18WO6Gg94V3aXNycZ-IZgWOsnVyOXH1pE0Vg/s400/maple+myrtle+mop+jhw.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The interior liner on this Grenadilla / African Blackwood ring is Myrtle and it's also one of the spiraled inlays.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQv6DXvamwOrOccH98wBsQ-o42OSdnQAKBA54jfqfQoXnqLwxF2qjOMEHx84kX7xpHFOWJOI1DMkiLjLCtTlxgcqJ7SX0R_AMIk3jRD8dTihIe5dfnENRVz0h4dwzD2f2Fa3GP3Q/s1600/blackwood+myrtle+liner++redwood+and++myrtle+spiraled+inlays.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQv6DXvamwOrOccH98wBsQ-o42OSdnQAKBA54jfqfQoXnqLwxF2qjOMEHx84kX7xpHFOWJOI1DMkiLjLCtTlxgcqJ7SX0R_AMIk3jRD8dTihIe5dfnENRVz0h4dwzD2f2Fa3GP3Q/s400/blackwood+myrtle+liner++redwood+and++myrtle+spiraled+inlays.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The single spiraled inlay on this juniper heartwood ring is Myrtle.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_jM0InTKVe1ilcLmp6kLFBXZBn6L_x9tlR8uyCKmrHFT3Rsaz6s3CpNV4SArbCd_nGeGGKzJl_ON7h15j3OthtUmWt6agK68RM7cDkXrXD7FkfjNOyy7md3yb4gK1hkLMjiJNw/s1600/juniper+heartwood+with+spiraled+myrtle+inlay.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_jM0InTKVe1ilcLmp6kLFBXZBn6L_x9tlR8uyCKmrHFT3Rsaz6s3CpNV4SArbCd_nGeGGKzJl_ON7h15j3OthtUmWt6agK68RM7cDkXrXD7FkfjNOyy7md3yb4gK1hkLMjiJNw/s400/juniper+heartwood+with+spiraled+myrtle+inlay.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Brent and Sarah's Black Walnut rings have inlays of Myrtle wood. Sarah's ring also has a crushed shell inlay. I'm partial to the wider myrtle inlay on Brent's ring as it lets us see the beautiful cross hatched grain that David coaxed out of the wood.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwGrQPTLUVBiCcGFldigJgrHr5Q_nRkwRvxIpKzBtu1Faf-8O-N3Ov3k-wVT7dwL1yq44x104ChfRA9Lc4ksmB_w1jfrT0PljyH81dZTLDO2eaSYCFgljvyOh90QkblaSyc86Ww/s1600/black+walnut%252C+myrtle+wood+and+shell+inlay.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwGrQPTLUVBiCcGFldigJgrHr5Q_nRkwRvxIpKzBtu1Faf-8O-N3Ov3k-wVT7dwL1yq44x104ChfRA9Lc4ksmB_w1jfrT0PljyH81dZTLDO2eaSYCFgljvyOh90QkblaSyc86Ww/s400/black+walnut%252C+myrtle+wood+and+shell+inlay.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>"These rings are simply amazing! We were just floored by how simple, clean and comfortable they were. They fit perfectly; like an old friend. My (Brent's) ring fits so well with (the unusual shape of my hand), I loved the way David didn't just taper it, but just made a space for my finger. It looks great and feels better. Sarah's looks amazing with her shell and she said its a perfect fit. Both of the rings go on quite easily but fit snug once they are on so there is no danger of them slipping off. Thank you for your amazing work and the love you put into it. We are so happy that we could share this experience with you. Brent and Sarah"</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Myrtle has also been called pepperwood, spicebush, cinnamon bush, peppernut tree, headache tree, mountain laurel, and balm of heaven. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Myrtle grows very slowly. The slow growth produces a close grained and fine textured wood. Oregon Myrtlewood offers a wide variety of beautiful colors and grain patterns.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As with most trees; the color of the wood is often influenced by the minerals in the soil. The colors of Oregon Myrtle range from blond to black with many shades of honey, browns, satiny grays, with reds and greens in between. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The myrtle plant has long been a symbol of love and an emblem for marriage. It is also believed to be the flower of the gods, being sacred to the Greek goddess Aphrodite.<br /><br />Myrtle wood is often used as a wedding garland or decorations for the marriage ceremony, and utilized in many wedding rituals.<br />The myrtle also symbolizes good fortune. It is believed that cultivating a myrtle plant will usher in peace and love to your home. Myrtle is considered a representation for long life, as well as joyful living.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thanks to the <a href="http://www.myrtlewoodgallery.com/what-is-myrtlewood">Myrtlewood Gallery</a> and <a href="http://www.auntyflo.com/flower-dictionary/myrtle" target="_blank">Aunty Flo</a>'s website. And as always, thanks to the awesome people we work with who wear a Touch Wood Ring. </span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-16020468119079686652017-04-22T21:53:00.001-07:002017-04-22T21:53:44.732-07:00This Earth Day, We Thank You.<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On this Earth Day, we'd like to send a huge thank you to all our Touch Wood clients. People who are making a positive difference in the world. And they are legion. <br /><br />Chas and Jenna commissioned their rings in the summer of 2013. They sent David two woods from remote Mfangano Island in Western Kenya. Both woods were bits of old fence posts. The two woods are "Kang'o" which Chas believed to be a wild olive (the long lighter piece) and "sangala" which he understood was a species of Sumac. (short reddish piece).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rmYc9tiR105hMDwTy0nte5NwzSCLGmiOBtPTuq01eiBIwAiq8vtna2Tuqd9vzdKr2qwOLjVuPhoIdoo4aBa4cwi8Jr6vQ1lvjwlQ-mY5nI3e7Q5zOloMQo-kZ5ruunDczH5Vdw/s1600/Kango+and+Sangala+woods+from+Kenya+Africa.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rmYc9tiR105hMDwTy0nte5NwzSCLGmiOBtPTuq01eiBIwAiq8vtna2Tuqd9vzdKr2qwOLjVuPhoIdoo4aBa4cwi8Jr6vQ1lvjwlQ-mY5nI3e7Q5zOloMQo-kZ5ruunDczH5Vdw/s400/Kango+and+Sangala+woods+from+Kenya+Africa.JPG" /></a><br /><br />They designed their rings incorporating their two woods and our heritage black walnut.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFRmW7ADcGulQZzCsuDZf4QvfA73pCbQLFdgbKFczHoduwQss7TOoKEro5DxrvhlY-iDrL0aTDbbgoOxxyZ2bG7n_xUZ1k3v3Tu_1DtIWjTRgdzNaW50YUDHQaE3xEeoF2Ic6Rg/s1600/Kango+and+Sangala+wood+rings+made+from+African+fence+posts+Kenya.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFRmW7ADcGulQZzCsuDZf4QvfA73pCbQLFdgbKFczHoduwQss7TOoKEro5DxrvhlY-iDrL0aTDbbgoOxxyZ2bG7n_xUZ1k3v3Tu_1DtIWjTRgdzNaW50YUDHQaE3xEeoF2Ic6Rg/s400/Kango+and+Sangala+wood+rings+made+from+African+fence+posts+Kenya.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Chas and Jenna are part of an awesome group of people called <a href="http://organichealthresponse.org/about/">Organic Health Response</a>. The organization, founded by Chas, describe their mission as "supporting an ecosystem of diverse community health initiatives on Mfangano Island, Lake Victoria, Kenya." Jenna was a WWOOFer (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) at Joel and Richard’s farm on Mfangano for six months and now serves on the board of directors of OHR. <br />We invite you to visit the <a href="http://organichealthresponse.org/about/">OHR website</a>, like their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/organichealthresponse">facebook page</a> and please, get involved! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpf8n87mjwgbogQrzkihOA1_2LSUhJYS53GcRpDl0M1JYwya5u2NZSW-zLwdr1RDUbc9AcpG3yiELo_EoWdfgOd5lGVzQYlun7atYxcjHMCTy39f2Z3SfaOvcqVcwy25UE4-dDPg/s1600/3+acres+with+lake+flies.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpf8n87mjwgbogQrzkihOA1_2LSUhJYS53GcRpDl0M1JYwya5u2NZSW-zLwdr1RDUbc9AcpG3yiELo_EoWdfgOd5lGVzQYlun7atYxcjHMCTy39f2Z3SfaOvcqVcwy25UE4-dDPg/s400/3+acres+with+lake+flies.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Kat and Scott's Touch Wood Wedding Rings incorporated a very special piece of wood that was connected to a beloved rescued elephant who lived out the remainder of her life at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee of which Scott was co-founder. Kat and Scott have dedicated their lives to the care and comfort of elephants.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiFRXBpI3JispLzW4a0HRjoi8sGvniZmWiXVDlguFItZCwS7ii6kwXhUvrCWIjw0XekhXKOz3W6JjlVVf3xEeRKm3kRbZDiy-1Ncwfl-FvZPano7IGzZbO2Si4BIWECUuEfDTAQ/s1600/IMG_6253.JPG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiFRXBpI3JispLzW4a0HRjoi8sGvniZmWiXVDlguFItZCwS7ii6kwXhUvrCWIjw0XekhXKOz3W6JjlVVf3xEeRKm3kRbZDiy-1Ncwfl-FvZPano7IGzZbO2Si4BIWECUuEfDTAQ/s400/IMG_6253.JPG" /></a><br /><br />This couple spearheaded the awesome organization called Global Sanctuary for Elephants. Please visit <a href="http://www.globalelephants.org/">their site</a>, follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/globalsanctuaryforelephants/">Facebook</a> and support their amazing work with Elephants any way you can. There's an <a href="https://www.biddingforgood.com/globalelephants">online auction</a> coming up on Bidding for Good, June 5th to 13th. </span><div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjn_v_BBjnGrS8zq06393WsyrDJP7GiwdG2ZAZy8G_0E3WYRaA8OPRvE_BkZpbP8X-f9Kly0lClhpciIeKscI5qGrx8iECuhcf-BdLqRpWhyphenhyphenyjEt15YTTWQUK8P2BnSRA5FPcgQ/s1600/elephant+sanctuary.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcjn_v_BBjnGrS8zq06393WsyrDJP7GiwdG2ZAZy8G_0E3WYRaA8OPRvE_BkZpbP8X-f9Kly0lClhpciIeKscI5qGrx8iECuhcf-BdLqRpWhyphenhyphenyjEt15YTTWQUK8P2BnSRA5FPcgQ/s400/elephant+sanctuary.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/globalsanctuaryforelephants/">Elephant Sanctuary Brazil</a><br /><br />And, if you are looking for <a href="http://www.touchwoodrings.com/">earth friendly rings</a> that offer a kinder gentler way to proclaim your love ~ please <a href="mailto:nicola@touchwoodrings.com">be in touch</a>. David and I would love to hear from you!</span><span style="color: #783f04;"><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thanks again to all our incredible Touch Wood friends ~ you never cease to inspire us. </span></span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-50739397702840639262017-03-21T22:15:00.000-07:002017-03-21T22:15:25.618-07:00The dairy cow shelter built by Jenny BarlowIf you've been with us through a season or two, you've likely seen a few photos of this little log cabin. It's one of my favourite scenes to photograph; covered in snow or surrounded by willows and wild roses. <br />
Yesterday, a friend asked me for the story behind the cabin so I thought I'd share it here as well. The couple we bought these 48 acres from called it "Jeannie Meadow."<br />
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This wee cabin of hand hewn logs was built by Jenny Warde; a Cariboo pioneer. She ranched and trapped on this property and built the shelter (I think in the 40`s) to house her dairy cow and her chickens on cold nights. The building had no roof when David and I arrived and was almost crumbled beyond recognition. We took it upon ourselves to save this last remnant of pioneer history. We carefully numbered and dismantled the logs, chose a place of distinction at the entrance to our place, put the shelter back together and created a new roof with handmade shakes.<br />
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Jenny was born at Meldrum Creek about 1909. In 1981, the local Tribune newspaper interviewed Jenny and wrote a lengthy article about her life. As Jenny tells it, she always loved to be `way back in the woods`. She was 7 when she started trapping with her older brothers. Until she was 16, she attended school during the days and tended the trap lines after school. She had 10 siblings, quit school after grade 8 and went to work to help support the family. Jenny married Doug Barlow when she was 23. They had 3 sons; Norman, Dean and Bud (Bud and his wife Jeannie are our closest neighbours and good friends). Doug Barlow died alone of a heart attack when he was out on their trap line. Jenny says it took them 8 days to find him.<br />
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Jenny worked with Eric Collier as a hunting guide for a few years. He`s the fellow who wrote Three Against the Wilderness. Collier used to say of Warde that she was `108 pounds of dynamite, and could shoot the eye out of a squirrel at 150 paces.<br />
Jenny is legend in this neck of the woods.<br />
We are humbled and honoured to have this little cabin in memory of her pioneering spirit and as a tribute to the work of her hands.<br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-10264302146979707832017-02-26T15:38:00.001-08:002017-02-26T15:38:10.137-08:00Right-handed wooden wedding rings <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4uBl7Mt2btuLWG7muU8pClU2G0c53HpE999hEQQe8TpD8MbF_SEJ-njumyyWZvp-Wno10zlrKe1fZB0p2cHho3nUmsNoN56P1A0bXDdCbsM_r9gJZyGWO5lsI4bMFXaVnuxDNg/s1600/SCH_1192.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4uBl7Mt2btuLWG7muU8pClU2G0c53HpE999hEQQe8TpD8MbF_SEJ-njumyyWZvp-Wno10zlrKe1fZB0p2cHho3nUmsNoN56P1A0bXDdCbsM_r9gJZyGWO5lsI4bMFXaVnuxDNg/s640/SCH_1192.png" width="456" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Almost a year ago, we had the pleasure of working with Tina and Ben from Denmark. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">They were really fun to work with and we thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them a little. They commissioned their wedding rings of a deep rich Hawaiian Koa with inlays of Eucalyptus and crushed shell.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A couple of weeks ago, we got this email from Ben with some really pretty pics of their rings resting on Tina's bouquet, and on their wedded hands.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ben's last paragraph had me in stitches.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;">"Hope all
is well you up your end of the literal woods!</span></i></span><br />
<i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">I've been
meaning to drop you a line for a while - after we got married in August last
year time has just flown on relentlessly, but here you are, some photos of your
workmanship in action. I take it
from your website, that you have an abundant source of pictures of rings, but I
thought just in case you didn't have any of rings shipped to Denmark, exchanged
in Copenhagen town hall and photographed in provincial Germany in my </span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">folk's</span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> garden (our family wedding gig)...;-)</span></span><!-- o ignored --><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;">We love
our rings. The only challenge arises that we've chosen to go the Scandinavian
route of wearing them on the right hand (that's the traditional way around here
and at least 50% of people I observe do this) In my job I meet my fair
share of ham-fisted engineering dudes who at least half the time are also
right-hand-weaponised, and boy...do they manage to scrunch my science-lab-boy
paws when there is double lording of the rings...But apart from hand-shaking
with the Viking descendants all is very well :-)<!-- o ignored --><o:p></o:p></span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;">All the
best from us two to you two, hope bush and business is treating you well,<!-- o ignored --><o:p></o:p></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><i><span style="color: #0c343d;">Ben and Tina</span></i><!-- o ignored --><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our love and very best wishes to you two too Tina and Ben. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And thank you!! 😊</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So what do we know about the placement of the wedding ring? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The established North American wedding industry typically has the wedding ring on the fourth finger of our left hand. In this vein, the engagement ring is worn 'down the aisle' on the right hand and transferred to the the left hand after the wedding ring is on your finger. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's a humbling thing when that symbol of love is a Touch Wood Ring.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you google the 'right hand / left hand' question you'll come up with a great many articles touting theories and 'centuries old beliefs' for why a wedding ring is 'traditionally' worn on the left hand, fourth finger. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In some European countries as Ben points out, wearing your wedding ring on your right hand is the norm. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There's a 2010<a href="https://goo.gl/gx0M6l" target="_blank"> blog post</a> from 25karats that gives us a "new millennium guide" to western meanings of a right handed wedding ring. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Interesting article but ~omg~ I'd have to carry a cheat sheet in my wallet and ask a bunch of really personal questions. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's probably b</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">est just to do whatever makes you and your beloved happy! </span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-38545323515949210322017-02-03T13:00:00.001-08:002017-02-03T13:00:14.083-08:00February Woods for your Touch Wood Ring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We humans have always had strong ties to trees. Native Americans speak of trees as 'The Standing People'; rocks and boulders are "the bones of the earth".</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Trees of every description have carved themselves into our mythologies in an enduring way. Many of the couples we work with choose a particular wood mindful of its mythic or spiritual properties. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Our </span><a href="http://www.touchwoodrings.com/qualitiesofwood.html" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Qualities of Wood</a><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> page has been widely used as a reference over the years. It is one of the most visited pages on our website. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjMW7WtTJWH4zG1uDJ1fhps31TMfvcN2g_Vxmmc0vmn33ISnyDUt1xcBt4_4kIWJC8wB3iP8eJta14rb3pk1j9Gnx4d5eexLxE2LYQy-dLbGmbTlOLFWQ7baPMPQ1hWE51MKRYQ/s1600/March+creek+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjMW7WtTJWH4zG1uDJ1fhps31TMfvcN2g_Vxmmc0vmn33ISnyDUt1xcBt4_4kIWJC8wB3iP8eJta14rb3pk1j9Gnx4d5eexLxE2LYQy-dLbGmbTlOLFWQ7baPMPQ1hWE51MKRYQ/s400/March+creek+.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Clients will often ask about trees that have some personal connection to their beloved. They may want to know which trees are native to a particular country, province or state, or what tree is connected with their birth month. Some are looking for a wood that has a particular attribute like 'new beginnings' (that would be Birch) or one that promotes good health (the Ash tree).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">From the excellent and informative <a href="http://www.druidry.org/library/trees/nature-and-celtic-tree-calendar">Druidry</a> website, here are four trees that are connected to the month of February. They call them '<b>Tree Signs</b>'.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Cypress</b> (Jan 25-<b>Feb 3</b> / Jul 26-Aug 4) - Tree of serenity, new life, and adaptation.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Someone with this tree sign prefers to avoid drama, opting for a peaceful, dreamlike state of being as opposed to any form of disagreement or opposition. Life for them is peaceful and magical.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These are four woods sent to us by a couple a few years ago; </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Juniper, Oak, Walnut and <b>Cypress</b>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzPVtypAiSVJ2zVUUhsnnErofdg8ghxGfUoQgiFfriTF0K4yMdZVMFcKXoFLLl1yPp9ycxRPTDuhmcfYKWKJT86w4MRJG2yeOjUtYcbQ2S9028RHFHpV8HVsp0YrBUEuFoSKHtQ/s320/IMG_6898.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="250" /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Juniper, Oak, Walnut and Cypress Woods</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The crossed spiraled inlays on Candi's ring (on the left) is Cypress ~ the other woods in this set are those above; the Juniper, Oak, Walnut and Cypress.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-UoH6iIFsIx-M_joRCqeiPQ606uojpN0h6aPCX0X_mh0_2l_Tg7PgjooXay7xUc2okmPS7hmHQIhDyffVWkGfQPG_mDuVtscMAK9kWZxlmXOtgicssUbRPg1k0jc_SnJOeS4avg/s400/IMG_8009.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Walnut, Oak, Cypress and Oak Wood Rings from Touch Wood Rings</td></tr>
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<b style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Poplar</b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> (</span><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Feb 4-8</b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> / Aug 5-13) - Tree of growth, strength, and visualization.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When given this tree sign, one starts off blissful and carefree, only to encounter a few difficult challenges that often become hot dilemmas. But with a good outlook, they naturally persevere.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The cross spiraled inlays on Steve's ring were Poplar ~ from his grandmother's tree.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Walnut Wood Ring with Poplar Inlays, Touch Wood Rings</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioF5edddk_klhECnOWb58wvHM__lMTvMin2GUOzWAIauhs2kE6pEu3o0NfgVVdLNHfwazS2rRZaRngeBD4bEJT2hO8Zz5M56atICs7Tg54HOGAzPkts0HjhUphjOjkvF3JlfQUGA/s1600/hackberry+wood+from+Wood+Database.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioF5edddk_klhECnOWb58wvHM__lMTvMin2GUOzWAIauhs2kE6pEu3o0NfgVVdLNHfwazS2rRZaRngeBD4bEJT2hO8Zz5M56atICs7Tg54HOGAzPkts0HjhUphjOjkvF3JlfQUGA/s200/hackberry+wood+from+Wood+Database.jpg" width="200" /></a><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></b><br />
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<b style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hackberry</b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> (aka Sugarberry) (</span><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Feb 9-18</b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> / Aug 14-23) - Tree of nobility, pride, and dedication.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A tree with many practical mundane uses, Hackberry can guide us wisely through times of transition and inspire creativity. Hackberry has been reported to cause skin irritation so it is not a wood we've used for a ring. Here's a photograph of hackberry wood from the <a href="http://www.wood-database.com/hackberry" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wood Database</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Pine</b> (<b>Feb 19-29</b> / Aug 24-Sep 2) - Tree of health, perseverance, and moderation.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Someone with this tree sign is steady and poised, while moving forward towards progress and success. They often develop a good sense of what is needed physically, emotionally, and spiritually.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Touch Wood Ring; Shortleaf, Loblolly and Eastern White Pine</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfA6xk7PHD1wLE7LcK8vhs0k6JwaFObOFuH4n2mZxzjVUOTILTF6FjcSvhyxzrsd35r_LZ4fxOHkd4sMyRibaNSx4ZBJLVxQGwNbiY4DEORp0RkvSv_fjikVP0-6RsgktSlIc0Q/s1600/a_short_leaf__loblolly__eastern_white_PINE_RING.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This ring was made of three different pines; Shortleaf, Loblolly and Eastern White Pine.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Denim Pine Wood Ring Touch Wood Rings</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qmhdEkZPE2oL_7Faok9d4Ln1Xrh3dNf7N8SQOGI12thXpCSBzAQpSAgnUyWLS1HiWY_WtS55KW5lMZ5d3ed3sfhaLhbXmx9Iu7lvFbr2yZBHnTAvy3fyfbdUYycUny-xIPfHgg/s1600/IMG_0156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">David created this ring from what's known locally as 'Denim Pine'. It's our own pine that was killed by the Pine Beetle. It's also known as Blue Pine because of the bluish stain the beetles cause. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, if you are looking for woods that signify a February birthday or anniversary; any of these woods are great choices. <a href="http://www.touchwoodrings.com/" target="_blank">Touch Wood Rings</a> ~ visit us on <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/touchwoodrings" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/touchwoodrings.48acres/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/touchwoodrings" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/touchwoodrings" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. And <a href="mailto:nicola@touchwoodrings.com" target="_blank">drop us a note</a> anytime ~ we look forward to talking with you.</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-795281381368454872017-01-06T08:51:00.001-08:002017-01-06T09:02:17.899-08:00Touch Wood ~ Across the Pond<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Every day we receive emails from people all over the world. Old friends and new. Every day I am touched by the loving, caring people who take the time to write to us; to inquire about a Touch Wood Ring and to tell us about themselves, their lives and their loves. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">They share their stories with David and I and they put their trust in us. It is a humbling thing. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWbYIXN-GBHYt9TzMrnwBD42dRuGn5x1EC6ddrutBPuig8Qjf8YEo5WbLeMr156U_JRfk3Q12lsL0nB3vDXwux9HHrVkDZL73z1jWK9U9dUi8jE31gmeG20WAY1rydIjpzkYrMQ/s1600/wedding+pic+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "times new roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWbYIXN-GBHYt9TzMrnwBD42dRuGn5x1EC6ddrutBPuig8Qjf8YEo5WbLeMr156U_JRfk3Q12lsL0nB3vDXwux9HHrVkDZL73z1jWK9U9dUi8jE31gmeG20WAY1rydIjpzkYrMQ/s400/wedding+pic+1.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Michelle and Tez live in a village in England. There is so much more to their story of course, but briefly; they met in Chester in 2000, they were engaged in 2002 then finally married in December 2016! </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And to that we say Congratulations and Much Love!!</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiMcaRd0B8L0-Z9JniMuuiAEKwwEVB9CHW_BgE6DiNdF4FZ91KKNHkEyX8NIP2w3sh_raB1a8WqixVNY-xUzCnqfyoDUyfcNvVVQiXzoOJ15RJUjDA9ySFeoKLTDiQ8DtskW0MQ/s1600/IMG_2145+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimiMcaRd0B8L0-Z9JniMuuiAEKwwEVB9CHW_BgE6DiNdF4FZ91KKNHkEyX8NIP2w3sh_raB1a8WqixVNY-xUzCnqfyoDUyfcNvVVQiXzoOJ15RJUjDA9ySFeoKLTDiQ8DtskW0MQ/s400/IMG_2145+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Michelle shared with me that "<i>Tez didn't even want a ring as he
can't wear one due to his work, and didn't really like rings ~ but when he
saw how special Touch Wood Rings were he agreed!! So this was the perfect solution! I discovered Touch Wood Rings when our beautiful friends got two for their wedding and I have ask them to show me their rings every time we meet as I love them so
much!"</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Below are Michelle's dear friends' rings. Commissioned in November 2011, </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Chris and Angela's Touch Wood Rings are English Oak with spiraled inlays of crushed jade.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3NP72pFrD1qCth1MgtGxVL_81OukAj-9mzSHBvEo5gsAqCUQg9O9gvu6QvAmWYaU4vbrX4CLDZvY3MHvJRQhZsRjcz4HFF88Z71leJ-tbO-5XHsdszRQIdYEIO8Aqv2cWQJiIA/s1600/IMG_9677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3NP72pFrD1qCth1MgtGxVL_81OukAj-9mzSHBvEo5gsAqCUQg9O9gvu6QvAmWYaU4vbrX4CLDZvY3MHvJRQhZsRjcz4HFF88Z71leJ-tbO-5XHsdszRQIdYEIO8Aqv2cWQJiIA/s400/IMG_9677.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">Michelle and Tez designed their rings incorporating Juniper heartwood, Birds Eye Maple and a mother of pearl inlay for Michelle's ring. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">As David began work on their rings, Michelle and I got to know each other better. </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">I sent her a pic of our new pup. I admit I am seriously smitten :) It's been six years since we buried our last old pup and David and I were both ready. Here's the 6 month old addition to our family.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After introducing Kali to Michelle, she invited me to join a small group of friends and their fur babies on Facebook. I'm really enjoying the group. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When David completed work on Tez and Michelle's ring we shipped them off across the pond and waited. In 15 years we've done this thousands of times and we still hold our breath. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvMsm1gBwjjJ5OGWtmRAgtKd72GFaIHr72X48tPpJEO99Q2CqGgg1Fosiv65TQeiWvI5JTTTMBkYLyG1JUN6qf_Stiz56w3cRv1L6JBXZjDNvzwj6kCTxl9-Amz7IBPeohJgqfA/s1600/IMG_2150+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvMsm1gBwjjJ5OGWtmRAgtKd72GFaIHr72X48tPpJEO99Q2CqGgg1Fosiv65TQeiWvI5JTTTMBkYLyG1JUN6qf_Stiz56w3cRv1L6JBXZjDNvzwj6kCTxl9-Amz7IBPeohJgqfA/s400/IMG_2150+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On a Tuesday morning in early December, David and I were in town having breakfast at our favourite diner. My Messenger dinged. It was Michelle announcing the arrival of their rings! She and Tez were home and Michelle shared the opening of the package with us with pics and commentary. That was So delightful. To share those moments from half way across the world... David and I were both really touched.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Michelle and Tez were married on the twenty-second of December. Michelle wrote: </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">"<i>The rings have made the wedding! We are overwhelmed with the
attention to detail; love; warmth and encouragement from you and David. The
whole process from start to end was a really exciting process and brought
something truly unique and special to our wedding."</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And so ~ here's to the start of a new year, lots of celebrations of love and the beginning of new friendships. </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Much love to you and Tez, Michelle ~ and to your four legged friends too.</span></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-2355591977763169362016-12-09T13:13:00.000-08:002016-12-09T13:18:37.765-08:00"The most beautiful proposal ... "<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Todd and I started our conversations in August of this year. He talked about being drawn to our work and wanting to create the perfect ring for the love of his life. Todd was so warm and an absolute delight to work with! A genuinely good soul and a true romantic. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">While we were in the planning stages for Cori's ring, Todd sent along this photograph of himself and Cori, as he wrote; "sharing love and life'.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCsUBKitBTS2f-HT-uEpIuLMSf-BhbSLJXgmGuJP9wT7yb-weOr95aVLpno7SgPSV4wGmNN42Dkh7cIHB1ID5ADUZ75doYXPjj1K-9BnukW0E3Kicv0Or4TKQ0qxbGpPB2hu-aw/s1600/cori+and+todd+sharing+love+and+life.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlCsUBKitBTS2f-HT-uEpIuLMSf-BhbSLJXgmGuJP9wT7yb-weOr95aVLpno7SgPSV4wGmNN42Dkh7cIHB1ID5ADUZ75doYXPjj1K-9BnukW0E3Kicv0Or4TKQ0qxbGpPB2hu-aw/s400/cori+and+todd+sharing+love+and+life.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Shortly after Todd's (oh-my-goodness, </span><i style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">this-</i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">is-how-it's-done) proposal, we received this heart warming letter from his beloved Cori. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dear David and Nicola. Good evening. My name is Cori. We haven't met previously but
the two of you were a part of a moment that changed my life. I am typing
now with a beautiful ring on my finger and my new fiance sitting by my side.
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On Friday, November 11th, Todd came into my classroom.
(I'm a 7th grade teacher). He delivered a single long-stem rose and
chatted with my students for a bit. They, like anyone who meets him, were
enchanted. He then informed them that he would be taking me away for the
day. I was quite surprised, as I had classes to teach. That was
already taken care of, though. Todd had arranged for the principal of the
school to cover for me for the rest of the day. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Todd and I climbed into his truck and started head south
under the guise of going to visit his mom. He informed me we had one
little stop to make first - a short hike. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On the way down, we marveled at the beautiful landscape as
we always do. Trees in particular draw both of us. So much so, that
at home is a copy of a breathtaking picture book by an author and photographer
by the name of <a href="http://www.thattree.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mark Hirsch</a>. Mr. Hirsch had found a beautiful burr oak in
southern Wisconsin and had spent a year taking a picture of that majestic tree
every single day. Different angles. Different views.
Different lighting. But all of them were amazing. He put all of his
photographs in a book and Todd gave it to me as a birthday present some time
ago. It is a treasure. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After a couple of hours of driving, we pull into a
cornfield. Confused, I scanned the landscape...and saw THAT TREE!!! I was
absolutely thrilled! I grabbed his hand and bounded like a kid to the
tree, thrilled that he had found it and taken me there. I still had no
idea what was going on. I was just basking in his sweetness and the
beauty of that tree. After a few minutes, he motioned to a limb and
indicated there was something hanging there. I came to investigate and
found the most beautiful ring I have EVER seen. When he dropped to his
knee and asked me to marry him, my heart nearly exploded.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLAUKP_4VT732uCXxnxkQ84I8rpZEY7iHcP6Nh1bMi99ZwYcEFbqeJSUbh6rY0YA-NYBPunlLRhNpm-dCBdNngdEj5v1D2N03LHWsGGSXl3fAtcpthLClEqzcFcs_0X3xpiQd7A/s1600/cori+and+todd+engagement.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLAUKP_4VT732uCXxnxkQ84I8rpZEY7iHcP6Nh1bMi99ZwYcEFbqeJSUbh6rY0YA-NYBPunlLRhNpm-dCBdNngdEj5v1D2N03LHWsGGSXl3fAtcpthLClEqzcFcs_0X3xpiQd7A/s400/cori+and+todd+engagement.png" width="397" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As I cried tears of joy, wrapped in his arms, I noticed a
man with a tripod trudging toward us. Todd had arranged for Mark Hirsch,
the author and photographer of that book to come capture our moments! Not
only that, but Todd had received permission from the landowners for the two of
us to camp there underneath the branches of that amazing tree. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhro9GY93uyDUIugTZncBjh4jZg1zW4zjUnXYcnXKrVSZMYs_crl0RipFmOdDDiAyc8GF1Vs2oCZ7YfuAi_8cmVNoqv8s9CK6crsEfLi9YGNxU1CUOb-P9zymIuPiLXmAzhVBs__Q/s400/IMG_0301.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cori's Red Cedar Ring with Birch interior liner and a braided Birch Bark inlay</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhro9GY93uyDUIugTZncBjh4jZg1zW4zjUnXYcnXKrVSZMYs_crl0RipFmOdDDiAyc8GF1Vs2oCZ7YfuAi_8cmVNoqv8s9CK6crsEfLi9YGNxU1CUOb-P9zymIuPiLXmAzhVBs__Q/s1600/IMG_0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was truly the most beautiful proposal I have ever heard
of...and I got to stand in the middle of it. He put so much time and
effort into making it special, meaningful and absolutely perfect. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The
ring is such an important and stunning part of making it perfect. I love
it! I absolutely love it. It is truly the most beautiful thing I
have ever seen and it means more to me than anyone (except maybe Todd) could
possibly know. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Today I went back to work after our wonderful weekend.
Every single person that saw that ring on my finger remarked how beautiful it
was, how perfect it was and how it was 'me'. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The work Todd and the two of you put into making this symbol on my finger is humbling. </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I can't thank you enough. The ring you crafted will be
on my finger for the rest of my life and I am thrilled, proud and humbled to
wear it. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Filled with love and happiness, Cori </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>David and I wish you and Todd a lifetime of Pocket Moment treasures. Thank you both so much for coming into our lives and for sharing with us the immense love you have with each other. XO </i></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-62046235601220040682016-11-26T15:04:00.000-08:002016-11-26T15:12:52.745-08:00Kindred Spirits and their Wooden Rings<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RdLrD7pJv8x7qE1V9khaVt41HiDyjZnzBYzVkFOcixLVTvI2hBqm9OHMnkvKZitnyWWktdYttrH4rCucayYaua3XdtQSIMKCo-a2M8bBhzu9eVL08eR8GxtLmf8uiXkxjPrb-w/s1600/IMG_1476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5RdLrD7pJv8x7qE1V9khaVt41HiDyjZnzBYzVkFOcixLVTvI2hBqm9OHMnkvKZitnyWWktdYttrH4rCucayYaua3XdtQSIMKCo-a2M8bBhzu9eVL08eR8GxtLmf8uiXkxjPrb-w/s400/IMG_1476.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A couple of notes from new friends and kindred spirits; Danielle and Brandon of Virginia</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Thank you so much for your beautiful craftsmanship and for your friendly spirit. We have really enjoyed receiving your email updates with beautiful landscape photos. Your thoughtful personal touches have made this process even more enjoyable for us."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And then their rings arrived and they wrote:</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Our rings are even more beautiful in person than they are in photos! I am just mesmerized by how lovely and detailed, delicate yet sturdy they are. We tried them on and they fit, as you said, "like old friends". I think we will have no trouble getting used to wearing them. Thank you for making this whole process so warm and enjoyable. I know we will always fondly remember this experience of watching our most meaningful possessions be crafted just for us. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I hope rings like this will replace diamonds over time and will recommend Touch Wood Rings to anyone looking for a one-of-a-kind ring. Thank you for your beautiful work and I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!"</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiCROZwBtCi0tsRqUkKg05lZxzSRThG6AYKptMCLS23uAagfzUMCCIdBZQaNqXyZBiZW6JavVCI_lSTRZ6TNhMoiTpqrFguQHFMFMKvEflTmwkkWAwHT3jNC0sbu4K0ypdSbUcA/s1600/IMG_1467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiCROZwBtCi0tsRqUkKg05lZxzSRThG6AYKptMCLS23uAagfzUMCCIdBZQaNqXyZBiZW6JavVCI_lSTRZ6TNhMoiTpqrFguQHFMFMKvEflTmwkkWAwHT3jNC0sbu4K0ypdSbUcA/s400/IMG_1467.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Their rings are Black Walnut with inlays of dark green Jade </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">bordered by narrow white birch.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yf-se00KWX-aT3XoZBco38wgiwjyUyR_CnTmUSHZbLCMlYLilW2c60jNd-u0W50T9nqNGVOt9AyZkV-oCsUWO2Dmg22IvmxyIvkRxh32i0eKFvb1cKVQFrXYkUPMSnurK9Shrw/s1600/IMG_1469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yf-se00KWX-aT3XoZBco38wgiwjyUyR_CnTmUSHZbLCMlYLilW2c60jNd-u0W50T9nqNGVOt9AyZkV-oCsUWO2Dmg22IvmxyIvkRxh32i0eKFvb1cKVQFrXYkUPMSnurK9Shrw/s400/IMG_1469.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>Working with Brandon and Danielle was just a dream. They were so great to work with and we do feel as though we've made some new friends. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>We send our dearest love to you both and look forward to hearing from you again anytime. We hope that your upcoming wedding celebration and the years that follow are as bright and positive as the two of you are ~ thanks for reaching out to us to help you create these symbols of your love for each other. It has been very much our pleasure.</i></span><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-11546965772336289932016-11-05T19:42:00.001-07:002016-11-05T21:28:28.071-07:00Mulberry, Serviceberry, Chokecherry and Cherry<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Is there a type of wood you really love or a tree that's special to you?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Can you picture wearing a ring made from a branch of that tree?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Here are a few examples of David's 'Branch Wood Rings'.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FRrQPhX2HX9mQYaiOrI-mZVlstQZ3LhZxqvCB7swsKwU_QIhFq7JojfPBN3kvw_bLCCd2Mk_mZzsyz68QuAgWUZdq-UxMTWKWZxzrk7l3NsIisXtH5r_xUSknBXOpFXjJCl4nA/s1600/mulberry%252C+apple+and+oak.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FRrQPhX2HX9mQYaiOrI-mZVlstQZ3LhZxqvCB7swsKwU_QIhFq7JojfPBN3kvw_bLCCd2Mk_mZzsyz68QuAgWUZdq-UxMTWKWZxzrk7l3NsIisXtH5r_xUSknBXOpFXjJCl4nA/s400/mulberry%252C+apple+and+oak.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bill's Mulberry, Apple and Oak Woods above and</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">his Mulberry Ring with Apple and Oak inlays </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIVk1KESboPbocPaIlvqB2K-PabMvWnU1Cv46xAADN-9rG-8irjoi5PH7jnUUb05lwUg-NBeKg15zVexLZY9iHq7YaSSEtPjMJSlgJ3tbldMEjXRm8f_xvn154mRB6HsY20Jdwg/s1600/mulberry%252C+offset+oak+and+apple+inlays.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKIVk1KESboPbocPaIlvqB2K-PabMvWnU1Cv46xAADN-9rG-8irjoi5PH7jnUUb05lwUg-NBeKg15zVexLZY9iHq7YaSSEtPjMJSlgJ3tbldMEjXRm8f_xvn154mRB6HsY20Jdwg/s400/mulberry%252C+offset+oak+and+apple+inlays.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqld8qhvdogfA9BI5kAvjcBJ8F5M9A78Mu5GxLSxio0dc7FSHHc4k7MUAEc7fVmFxpiumVwywun3Wn2Vna1A7zZMIuqu0Ld4L4CXYKxbMBmuq9DmkDbSsp6tDWLAV3UlKHeVRz2g/s1600/IMG_2251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqld8qhvdogfA9BI5kAvjcBJ8F5M9A78Mu5GxLSxio0dc7FSHHc4k7MUAEc7fVmFxpiumVwywun3Wn2Vna1A7zZMIuqu0Ld4L4CXYKxbMBmuq9DmkDbSsp6tDWLAV3UlKHeVRz2g/s400/IMG_2251.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That's Kathy and Val's Serviceberry Wood above and the</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Serviceberry Rings David created with cross spiraled Lapis Lazuli inlays </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">bordered by narrow Maple</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhYiA2FwyYPJwHGeWyBwvnWsNUnBLAvsMAB2E8RN3WJ0MetDPrhzgbFGIwTJtH9LuzZ8qYOg26vqJQJnAelbBLtJX54j4Ll3agip6wNdYnjmVVagq8bKMKkSI-k4Lcqah_VBWog/s1600/serviceberry+saskatoon+rings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhYiA2FwyYPJwHGeWyBwvnWsNUnBLAvsMAB2E8RN3WJ0MetDPrhzgbFGIwTJtH9LuzZ8qYOg26vqJQJnAelbBLtJX54j4Ll3agip6wNdYnjmVVagq8bKMKkSI-k4Lcqah_VBWog/s400/serviceberry+saskatoon+rings.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">It's a little like Christmas morning when a parcel arrives with a branch or a rock or a little envelope of dried flower petals from some other corner of the world. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: trebuchet ms, sans-serif;">Someone has thoughtfully gathered and packaged those things and they've entrusted us to make them something beautiful from their raw materials ~ something worthy of their feelings for their beloved. It's a humbling thing.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTkhw0w9zym6phslzi8G_YXIMIeo9UbHggahpauo49cjx2rqttBKzNTTXBQAcslUdIlDGKl-1YlXPqdQ5CPSzjFGWOL1K_go0-FenURu3k9cV4fjAQPbYgfv1QDvNDM1QC5f2ZQ/s1600/IMG_8912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTkhw0w9zym6phslzi8G_YXIMIeo9UbHggahpauo49cjx2rqttBKzNTTXBQAcslUdIlDGKl-1YlXPqdQ5CPSzjFGWOL1K_go0-FenURu3k9cV4fjAQPbYgfv1QDvNDM1QC5f2ZQ/s400/IMG_8912.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kristen and Dan sent this Chokecherry wood (from their wedding tree)</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and these are their Walnut and chokecherry rings.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHGBXulNxjG9KdIfGuuQjUBS42DV1EjbUxfZjNEhyphenhyphencN9SVMNQKRfIRUIRGKAe6JmcT1fShwa39O6C0o4rJag3NqSN4iHfLYtP4GNrGZvsoLai_j0oFP5-MgWM-KjU-CkX_HfTTg/s1600/IMG_0730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHGBXulNxjG9KdIfGuuQjUBS42DV1EjbUxfZjNEhyphenhyphencN9SVMNQKRfIRUIRGKAe6JmcT1fShwa39O6C0o4rJag3NqSN4iHfLYtP4GNrGZvsoLai_j0oFP5-MgWM-KjU-CkX_HfTTg/s400/IMG_0730.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkX_kvNGgMM6kksDNmfLn3dMbu3AkU_t-L3P8nZcsBHEI8h3V9RtvZu6vdZAO62WPtwlskBQsfh0OlYX28MGJmOm6ojnH87gL-aMx4Lo73rP0bmIUL7xjN_CMeZs2_SU8UfhP4A/s1600/dark+black+walnut%252C+choke+cherry+with+natural+knots+liner%252C+crossed+spiraled+choke+cherry+inlay%252C+wide+choke+cherry+inlay+knot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkX_kvNGgMM6kksDNmfLn3dMbu3AkU_t-L3P8nZcsBHEI8h3V9RtvZu6vdZAO62WPtwlskBQsfh0OlYX28MGJmOm6ojnH87gL-aMx4Lo73rP0bmIUL7xjN_CMeZs2_SU8UfhP4A/s400/dark+black+walnut%252C+choke+cherry+with+natural+knots+liner%252C+crossed+spiraled+choke+cherry+inlay%252C+wide+choke+cherry+inlay+knot.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Drop us an <a href="mailto:nicola@touchwoodrings.com" target="_blank">email</a> if you like. We'll let you know how to choose your branch and how best to send your wood, or stones or shell (or coffee grounds or sage or sweetgrass :) just about anything that you'd like David to use a wee bit of in your ring. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's one way to make your ring extra special and have it tell your own unique story.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Here's the stone and shell Abby sent</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lnkdU0eENJ4dM0rMbndDJTiSgeavFSoe-Yta09tZnX9tvUVGmMY2C_PGaJKkFBlykiEqlu-eslqa7O-6CdURKJt7rOhea01s3oyyJ9rX8zW1Z1Me2Z1NnWq6HTIrjlvbmEhd6w/s1600/IMG_5176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lnkdU0eENJ4dM0rMbndDJTiSgeavFSoe-Yta09tZnX9tvUVGmMY2C_PGaJKkFBlykiEqlu-eslqa7O-6CdURKJt7rOhea01s3oyyJ9rX8zW1Z1Me2Z1NnWq6HTIrjlvbmEhd6w/s320/IMG_5176.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">and her Cherry Wood</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaemVez2bxsoUOxsElnvYVXLhyphenhyphenPGJRsDe2jKnavEZ5nD0CfqJNE-DIIMvF5cArnOHcC38JyMWTn4baqJ0FKyFKyVLe_tc5BOA_sozweiwiqBcmqr4PCP-M6lJQ5vOS61on30pyzQ/s1600/IMG_5135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaemVez2bxsoUOxsElnvYVXLhyphenhyphenPGJRsDe2jKnavEZ5nD0CfqJNE-DIIMvF5cArnOHcC38JyMWTn4baqJ0FKyFKyVLe_tc5BOA_sozweiwiqBcmqr4PCP-M6lJQ5vOS61on30pyzQ/s320/IMG_5135.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And the ring David created for her beloved. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Greyed Maple with Abby's Cherry Wood and inlay material.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdMohAyK8huyCQQmN0S4jpUCA5ncfccv95uFYBfW3VZLis1GkPMkRDPrj6GAGNU6JcShy8E2VAU27zxoUmcf8FkAUprVtTgDa-DNyV0eAvbreM_1tu6QHRmKxupf8aTcJYHri6Q/s1600/Commissioned+Touch+Wood+Ring+of+Greyed+Maple%252C+the+client%2527s+Cherry+Wood+and+the+clients+own+special+stone+and+shell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhdMohAyK8huyCQQmN0S4jpUCA5ncfccv95uFYBfW3VZLis1GkPMkRDPrj6GAGNU6JcShy8E2VAU27zxoUmcf8FkAUprVtTgDa-DNyV0eAvbreM_1tu6QHRmKxupf8aTcJYHri6Q/s320/Commissioned+Touch+Wood+Ring+of+Greyed+Maple%252C+the+client%2527s+Cherry+Wood+and+the+clients+own+special+stone+and+shell.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The possibilities are endless.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We look forward to hearing your ideas.</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As always ~ thanks so much for stopping by.</span><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-4298299845991617932016-10-20T11:47:00.000-07:002016-10-20T11:50:45.029-07:00A spur of the moment wedding celebration<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Adam commissioned an engagement ring for his beloved Jennifer back in April of this year. When it arrived in the mail Adam wrote to us saying:</span><br />
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<i><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I just received Jennifer’s ring. David does amazing work! Thank you so much. You guys were so easy to work with and David did a beautiful job. I can’t wait to give to her!</span></i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7GvExocrob9jQRXhAQQ30X434arTYrr_IUErLZlS4nM6xKuXSbXbTt47_fcwXmqZKCoJDjQ2YhyphenhyphenojTALMZm-mbfV8GgD3gq9LTh375Fz7FKsbTBNW1cX_cGF-K6FAXHWHxBpQg/s1600/juniper+heartwood%252C+maple%252C+myrtle%252C+mother+of+pearl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7GvExocrob9jQRXhAQQ30X434arTYrr_IUErLZlS4nM6xKuXSbXbTt47_fcwXmqZKCoJDjQ2YhyphenhyphenojTALMZm-mbfV8GgD3gq9LTh375Fz7FKsbTBNW1cX_cGF-K6FAXHWHxBpQg/s400/juniper+heartwood%252C+maple%252C+myrtle%252C+mother+of+pearl.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">~ Jen's Touch Wood Engagement ring is Juniper heartwood with Myrtle, Maple and Mother of Pearl ~</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On October 5th, Adam wrote:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnZzPTAkFZhZRNwd7qNcm7ruTiLTEyTKgKaWAT4vqq9WiF3RRWgvGchtrEHAiZLuqYy4PsliL7s1vr9FjMaixrFMv_rZX03iLtDgdLIlaqtysZWzbaCakfHYNdqmOTwM9rfHUKA/s1600/jen+with+ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnZzPTAkFZhZRNwd7qNcm7ruTiLTEyTKgKaWAT4vqq9WiF3RRWgvGchtrEHAiZLuqYy4PsliL7s1vr9FjMaixrFMv_rZX03iLtDgdLIlaqtysZWzbaCakfHYNdqmOTwM9rfHUKA/s400/jen+with+ring.jpg" width="266" /></a><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></i></span>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>I meant to contact you months ago but the summer just flew by. I proposed to Jen and she absolutely loved her ring. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">We </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">were</span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"> planning on getting married next summer but in a spur of the moment decision </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>we ran off to Banff
and got hitched</i></span> <i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">last weekend in a small ceremony with our families. </i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2b_2o0j2mR3LJjwrtS49cRfop5AnXZC_m04o8kScjH7Klje1Ut_EaeLIjiKa7wkQQadW-B7bj-1L1zWzA1gbxwXzStysL3B9Nf6K8S0_7zV_5a8r3bNQAqoxVUlVGCseOivp9fA/s1600/wedding+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2b_2o0j2mR3LJjwrtS49cRfop5AnXZC_m04o8kScjH7Klje1Ut_EaeLIjiKa7wkQQadW-B7bj-1L1zWzA1gbxwXzStysL3B9Nf6K8S0_7zV_5a8r3bNQAqoxVUlVGCseOivp9fA/s400/wedding+pic.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">We’ve been talking, and were thinking of ordering some wedding rings for next year. We are not in a rush but were thinking around February-March.</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>With
our spur of the mo</i></span><i style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">ment wedding we didn’t have any rings so I crafted up some
temporary rings the night before – (not quite as nice as David’s work but it
did the trick)</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixnZzPTAkFZhZRNwd7qNcm7ruTiLTEyTKgKaWAT4vqq9WiF3RRWgvGchtrEHAiZLuqYy4PsliL7s1vr9FjMaixrFMv_rZX03iLtDgdLIlaqtysZWzbaCakfHYNdqmOTwM9rfHUKA/s1600/jen+with+ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0k4zm3yQYMCj9ejKHtgRzcZUWfe3vzrEq_K3hqb9YRJOqWUINKUY7Bb8tUTSbTzcDBxA4JZ7D8fXldOhNDrUNNEAQoqWBXbWpdMlnLWTgmoooKtd6i10hROK570EJ0JEkpn2UQ/s1600/their+wedding+rings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0k4zm3yQYMCj9ejKHtgRzcZUWfe3vzrEq_K3hqb9YRJOqWUINKUY7Bb8tUTSbTzcDBxA4JZ7D8fXldOhNDrUNNEAQoqWBXbWpdMlnLWTgmoooKtd6i10hROK570EJ0JEkpn2UQ/s320/their+wedding+rings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;">We admire Adam's ingenuity and just adore their wedding rings. <i>So</i> sweet ~ and what a great story they have to pass on ... </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Thanks so much to you and Jen, Adam! We loved working with you too and look forward to hearing from you and Jennifer again. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Much Love and Light to our newlywed friends! </span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">♥</span></span><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-62211249881126947182016-10-05T22:04:00.004-07:002016-10-05T23:28:42.041-07:00October Tree Lore and Tree Signs <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are so many ways we connect with trees. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7IszVunFq42VisgvFBT66ljB860bhVVelqag0gc1sDCIHwRVfVfpqK85-n98HdePKjXTaTuMk_owE5yjgaBXru_5rKcIEUB7cIhPCIk9SKFZAmyuBB5xT1RjjlTdpGowQFA2Ag/s1600/walnut+maple+and+blackwood.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7IszVunFq42VisgvFBT66ljB860bhVVelqag0gc1sDCIHwRVfVfpqK85-n98HdePKjXTaTuMk_owE5yjgaBXru_5rKcIEUB7cIhPCIk9SKFZAmyuBB5xT1RjjlTdpGowQFA2Ag/s320/walnut+maple+and+blackwood.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Touch Wood Ring of Walnut and Curly Maple ~ both October Woods ~ bordered by Blackwood </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You likely have a favourite kind of tree, or a particular tree that you really love. It might be a tree planted by a Great Aunt or your Granddad on a property that's still in the family, or a gnarly old tree in a park where you played as a kid. Maybe it's a majestic Cedar on a hillside in some exotic corner of the world? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We two-leggeds have always had strong ties to trees. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Native Americans speak of trees as 'The Standing People' or 'The Standing Ones'.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Nv6u5X06sYEegk2wf2oFbWiX0G2cD_yvL3zVNCGcgdcC1sUPpdcPOiXPCMo3GnmJStP-ntfqLhpwsbqZNgE0ddimrWKaGOQnXQnPY8wFSoqEGPqbqSiJBO_kQMiyF-WldgXdSA/s1600/twin+souls+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Nv6u5X06sYEegk2wf2oFbWiX0G2cD_yvL3zVNCGcgdcC1sUPpdcPOiXPCMo3GnmJStP-ntfqLhpwsbqZNgE0ddimrWKaGOQnXQnPY8wFSoqEGPqbqSiJBO_kQMiyF-WldgXdSA/s400/twin+souls+trees.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the 7km road into our place; 'The Twin Souls' who have grown wrapped in each others embrace</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Trees of every description have carved themselves into our mythologies in an enduring way. Lots of the couples we work with choose a particular wood mindful of its mythic or spiritual properties. Our </span><a href="http://www.touchwoodrings.com/qualitiesofwood.html" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;" target="_blank">Qualities of Wood</a><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> page has been widely used as a reference over the years. It is one of the most visited pages on our website. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Clients will often ask about trees that have some personal connection to their beloved. They may want to know which trees are native to a particular country, or what tree is connected with their birth month. Some are looking for a wood that has a particular attribute like 'new beginnings' (that would be Birch) or one that promotes good health (the Ash tree).<br /><br />From the <a href="http://www.druidry.org/library/trees/nature-and-celtic-tree-calendar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Druidry</a> website, here are four trees that are connected to the month of October. They call them 'Tree Signs'.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Hazel</b> (Mar 22-31 / Sep 24-Oct 3) - Tree of originality, intellect, and adaptation.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Someone with this tree sign firmly believes in individual growth, knowledge, and permeation. They strive to develop their own sense of style and wit, making them solid pioneers in their field.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivlWVAS3oZA363fTgDse9I0QXfXOMuFLJPrIbjRZBIdA-cgksW3MngeGfTFY8biDjnsQExShaaY5Acac4DIqeOX6yxzClGNydn3YA8Viv10UbzHJWEA7OkCfevgHRRjsGE6Xzvw/s1600/hazel+wood.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiivlWVAS3oZA363fTgDse9I0QXfXOMuFLJPrIbjRZBIdA-cgksW3MngeGfTFY8biDjnsQExShaaY5Acac4DIqeOX6yxzClGNydn3YA8Viv10UbzHJWEA7OkCfevgHRRjsGE6Xzvw/s200/hazel+wood.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hazel Wood Ring ~ Touch Wood Rings</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">• <b>Rowan</b> (Apr 1-10 / Oct 4-13) - Tree of ambition, honesty, and communication.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When given this tree sign, one always believes in being true of character and opinion. They never sacrifice their integrity for hidden motives and always obtain goals by way of pure ingenuity. Rowan is also known as Mountain Ash.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIppk72GcqsnkVNLpOe5_q-J6CiT_Ecjuj4f9bGwmvm8aOkF74nomR7q5lW-2H2D2F-loJZPWqEKNbx6cLWXTEo9qTnZLLZxd1-KUpmuDAt4IQQrX0YpL1r4umXQr2LddtLd6TA/s1600/Rowan%252C+blackwood+and+rainbow+moonstone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIppk72GcqsnkVNLpOe5_q-J6CiT_Ecjuj4f9bGwmvm8aOkF74nomR7q5lW-2H2D2F-loJZPWqEKNbx6cLWXTEo9qTnZLLZxd1-KUpmuDAt4IQQrX0YpL1r4umXQr2LddtLd6TA/s400/Rowan%252C+blackwood+and+rainbow+moonstone.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Rowan Wood Rings with center inlays of rainbow moonstone bordered by African Blackwood ~ Touch Wood Rings</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">• <b>Maple</b> (Apr 11-20 / Oct 14-23) - Tree of personality, energy, and imagination.<br />A tree sign such as this one beholds sheer charisma to go further than most, especially when such journeys encompass creative thought. They never cease to amaze and go beyond. They never stop.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBFD_DMSSRzSoCNQNO_woKGFXvNbYPpW_8KGjbdPsX2-2SK75SoN57rkE78L9z9a92h6Pvr10XvUI0xCIJ4eGG9XQY2JeSJ_oXY1ayOCIcZKRgZnQO5BRk88nHTrAO1kRYdJEKw/s1600/birds+eye+maple.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBFD_DMSSRzSoCNQNO_woKGFXvNbYPpW_8KGjbdPsX2-2SK75SoN57rkE78L9z9a92h6Pvr10XvUI0xCIJ4eGG9XQY2JeSJ_oXY1ayOCIcZKRgZnQO5BRk88nHTrAO1kRYdJEKw/s320/birds+eye+maple.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Birds Eye Maple (Sugar Maple) ~ Touch Wood Rings</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">• </span><b style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Walnut</b><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> (Apr 21-30 / Oct 24-Nov 2) - Tree of fortune, vigor, and determination.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Someone with this tree sign is destined for success and ultimate riches, whether they are in the form of material or supernatural. Their energy is based upon their will and their will is done.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjc49PGusFmaLhabMottsiTnNTJyK-rqoOE60JPrLFNaLKWIsFE4asNFCT_Q2zKcr7b0ifbe69eTa_cWqKAujRJKblZIKRtf_F_yxC9pUwFP-n5D5TI1hi389YmBUd8dAvguACA/s1600/black+walnut+and+juniper+heartwood+++sz+6.5++12.5+to+6++++size+12.5++14.5+to+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjc49PGusFmaLhabMottsiTnNTJyK-rqoOE60JPrLFNaLKWIsFE4asNFCT_Q2zKcr7b0ifbe69eTa_cWqKAujRJKblZIKRtf_F_yxC9pUwFP-n5D5TI1hi389YmBUd8dAvguACA/s400/black+walnut+and+juniper+heartwood+++sz+6.5++12.5+to+6++++size+12.5++14.5+to+6.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Heritage Black Walnut with Juniper Heartwood inlays ~ Touch Wood Rings</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you want to infuse your ring with more meaning and and little Druid magick ...you'll find in-depth information on tree lore at <a href="http://www.bardwood.com/" target="_blank">BARDWOOD</a>. Alferian is my 'go-to' guy for all things Druid p</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">lus, he's just a helluva nice guy. </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When I was researching material for our 'Meanings of Wood' page in 2003, it was Alferian I leaned on; he was generous and kind and graciously answered all my email inquires. His website is beautifully crafted, well organized and a pleasure to visit. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No matter what tree speaks to you ~ David will be happy to incorporate it into your custom made Touch Wood Ring. You are welcome to send us a special piece of wood you have, and we have a storeroom full of branch wood, reclaimed and recycled wood that you are welcome to use as well. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As Alferian kindly notes on his website; </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"The touch of wood on the hand conveys the power of that tree to the wearer." </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Happy October!</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-51322759983728837312016-09-20T11:11:00.000-07:002016-09-20T11:30:46.546-07:00Danny and Melissa's Mexican Wedding Celebration<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPCFYj9xA3jmxf1PJ2-5b6O6d_CErtucYptrxxhCNI2bFMKDutj-DrJtZH-4VHDKc2Y_SdatCNYIwutuQvhxMi6X-m2FnKRL_rsXNm-IXZcSt0dmaVKhMVK6xtROtRxV2jaCj1A/s1600/melissa+danny+wedding+pic+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPCFYj9xA3jmxf1PJ2-5b6O6d_CErtucYptrxxhCNI2bFMKDutj-DrJtZH-4VHDKc2Y_SdatCNYIwutuQvhxMi6X-m2FnKRL_rsXNm-IXZcSt0dmaVKhMVK6xtROtRxV2jaCj1A/s400/melissa+danny+wedding+pic+1.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Danny is originally from Australia. He met Melissa who is from Manitoba and he's been in Canada off and on for about 6 years. Melissa and Danny married in July and will be settling on the west coast of Canada. Danny and I began our conversations in the spring. He settled on woods that were symbolic of both their homes as Melissa pointed out. :) Australian Blackwood with two offset inlays of Canadian Maple.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNdhrmL7BDQR6S9-neMRPUlN9bRL0Lk-m-6J0ly0TEeKprw7laP9O1ayyqm6oIFHxnNydMFOsIMmy7bxhNFNIAckTETAO9Sa7GvgoSBPJDppV2HLOBVgOcrCAegZe3LQ0h0OzKw/s1600/IMG_5470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNdhrmL7BDQR6S9-neMRPUlN9bRL0Lk-m-6J0ly0TEeKprw7laP9O1ayyqm6oIFHxnNydMFOsIMmy7bxhNFNIAckTETAO9Sa7GvgoSBPJDppV2HLOBVgOcrCAegZe3LQ0h0OzKw/s400/IMG_5470.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Earlier this month Melissa and Danny wrote and shared some beautiful pics with us of their celebration. "Everything went
really well with the wedding and the ring was a big hit! Everyone was pretty
amazed by it so again thank you to both yourself and David for all the effort
you have put in. </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was a very small but very special wedding for us. (Danny's) family traveled all the way from Australia to Canada then to Mexico to be with
us on our special day. Again just wanted to say a big thank you for your
contribution to our wedding day! "</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It was a great pleasure working with Danny and Melissa. David and I wish you both tremendous happiness in the days and years ahead. And welcome to Canada Danny. We're so glad you and Melissa chose Canada's beautiful west coast as your home. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Their lovely wedding photos are by Viktor of Adventure Photos at Iberostar Paraiso Lindo, Riviera Maya, Mexico.</span></div>
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<o:p></o:p><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-41037205386132230662016-08-29T14:04:00.002-07:002016-09-20T10:19:03.996-07:00Summer winds down on the meadow. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vn8Pox8U37_fbXcsfQr7wyrlkElSmCODCuS4X7JIuwXofZcy2ZRVWe2Qb5VkMKLvoCtKdDrAimKI_xw6qXEjtd1yzOsLQj2RMdFp2uKzn9tFvMwtUzwydD3sJeUc29NRpnLFnA/s1600/IMG_4927.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vn8Pox8U37_fbXcsfQr7wyrlkElSmCODCuS4X7JIuwXofZcy2ZRVWe2Qb5VkMKLvoCtKdDrAimKI_xw6qXEjtd1yzOsLQj2RMdFp2uKzn9tFvMwtUzwydD3sJeUc29NRpnLFnA/s400/IMG_4927.JPG" /></a><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These are busy and beautiful days ~ I'm still behind with my emails but working hard to catch up with folks while David builds rings for our oh so awesome touch wood friends! <br /><br />We are in the midst of haying our fields and the rain hasn't let up since it was cut. That's not the greatest situation but it happens. Hoping for some warm dry days to get that job finished up.<br /><br />When we first moved here, we supplied hay to our neighbour for his small herd of cows. He lived fifteen miles to the north east and was a fountain of local knowledge having lived here all his life. He cut our twenty five acres of hay with his workhorses and a ground driven mower. It was an amazing experience to take part in the daily harnessing and care of the team and get to understand some of what goes into their training. We took lots of pictures and videos of something we won't ever see done again.</span><div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 19.32px;">
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.32px;">With the highly efficient haying machines our neighbouring ranchers use these days; the meadow is cut in one day, raked in one day and baled in one day making the whole process five or six days counting some drying time and moving the huge bales to the feed area. That's if the rain doesn't slow it all down.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;">The method has changed but the result is the same ... the meadow hay will be fed to brood cows' that will grow new calves over the winter to be born in the spring... the hay from this meadow has been used for this purpose since at least 1890, so we are just the latest participants...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMud6beq-RSjyODYkf0ePlUH0mVp_TFAONxzAe2_VXCo89XRE3ov1OD_r8Ps9rTEaGw4b6ky7hyphenhyphenxqkRO_62Ew7RSlv0E7TLBucptuLGtqBmHGdaQK7FnFCVrLUB7CSUzCb-w933g/s1600/fields+cut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMud6beq-RSjyODYkf0ePlUH0mVp_TFAONxzAe2_VXCo89XRE3ov1OD_r8Ps9rTEaGw4b6ky7hyphenhyphenxqkRO_62Ew7RSlv0E7TLBucptuLGtqBmHGdaQK7FnFCVrLUB7CSUzCb-w933g/s400/fields+cut.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here are a few pics from around the homestead on these late August days.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb92ATlxm2QEV8_lKCHidwIxRqYnUvfykvPOYQKUvK53_4TnMLIfHaP1ZQYHczJ_a2oQr1Nnde3ikvA5yM7eoCqZMT8MAz1b9UZxtisQKLNWEt_Oq8Npi6SRIKFxQUOLPp2evXEg/s1600/IMG_4910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb92ATlxm2QEV8_lKCHidwIxRqYnUvfykvPOYQKUvK53_4TnMLIfHaP1ZQYHczJ_a2oQr1Nnde3ikvA5yM7eoCqZMT8MAz1b9UZxtisQKLNWEt_Oq8Npi6SRIKFxQUOLPp2evXEg/s400/IMG_4910.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Cc6o8FLxE4Fs05ivWEEvZZ_7ZIZwFWolPDLHqdLLODEnj7T8N-kGyzYODrwXhugyCLRlx5gfW2Frjf13drnrbnv9wErFc1JejJQceleYjKGauoCijaqVw99TuoasXYllYKjdIg/s1600/IMG_4918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Cc6o8FLxE4Fs05ivWEEvZZ_7ZIZwFWolPDLHqdLLODEnj7T8N-kGyzYODrwXhugyCLRlx5gfW2Frjf13drnrbnv9wErFc1JejJQceleYjKGauoCijaqVw99TuoasXYllYKjdIg/s400/IMG_4918.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And some of the commissioned rings David made this summer :) </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Jack's Hawaiian Koa Wood Ring with Maple interior</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SDVbIoPOFpoQLANbFPrx6Qeaffl0FCvQS54nmKLC4juqSATD3Gfi_qcqSAz7Zlh8BXVaAE06gy5Nnl8WmG1KzPBBGe98hL53lKUm3PFn82nyXIyGNJqtbChBev202CvgT8ZsSQ/s1600/IMG_8640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SDVbIoPOFpoQLANbFPrx6Qeaffl0FCvQS54nmKLC4juqSATD3Gfi_qcqSAz7Zlh8BXVaAE06gy5Nnl8WmG1KzPBBGe98hL53lKUm3PFn82nyXIyGNJqtbChBev202CvgT8ZsSQ/s400/IMG_8640.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Greyed Maple with Magnolia interior for Alex</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOCLj907CrvS9-fqNOE5rELpsV8S1iU5y97Ef-_CDSb8moxwughU3JNyiCI1t2aH7FG0OJlitTZiCvTGWpPk7DXVtCp9OsAbLIGkYqVb_zNKBD3n7xq6KsvBFg2jdEYXNUUv4pQ/s1600/IMG_8405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOCLj907CrvS9-fqNOE5rELpsV8S1iU5y97Ef-_CDSb8moxwughU3JNyiCI1t2aH7FG0OJlitTZiCvTGWpPk7DXVtCp9OsAbLIGkYqVb_zNKBD3n7xq6KsvBFg2jdEYXNUUv4pQ/s400/IMG_8405.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ally and Gordon's Choke Cherry, Madrone, and Burr Oak rings</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNzKN6edZp39c56Kqq8wEfW070XcRA1x20uS8db7bkMyI2ATdyGJU-avYB0Da4i8k6G4Sa4pk3OJwzAZuKqWEOPboi6CpnTAVRc32tRnmUiPFur5jKfE-LbnhW4KramVS2d1F9g/s1600/IMG_8650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNzKN6edZp39c56Kqq8wEfW070XcRA1x20uS8db7bkMyI2ATdyGJU-avYB0Da4i8k6G4Sa4pk3OJwzAZuKqWEOPboi6CpnTAVRc32tRnmUiPFur5jKfE-LbnhW4KramVS2d1F9g/s400/IMG_8650.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Kenneth's Black Walnut wood ring with a featured knot and Cherry interior liner</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ian's Black Walnut, Willow with a center inlay of Amethyst mixed with Kara's stone</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMriq-umx7zROeIf3znBA60stES4hNeexFc0b4a2YxhEmZY9XCq42iUYw9LunOz2583B4UQ4kSJOCfI3TMGRMGvXGE1Grhk5PUbc91VkVETUYP7KT1pRtqvuU11L5WiWPGusibQ/s1600/IMG_8652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMriq-umx7zROeIf3znBA60stES4hNeexFc0b4a2YxhEmZY9XCq42iUYw9LunOz2583B4UQ4kSJOCfI3TMGRMGvXGE1Grhk5PUbc91VkVETUYP7KT1pRtqvuU11L5WiWPGusibQ/s400/IMG_8652.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Laurent's Hawaiian Koa, Walnut, Birds eye Maple and a braided inlay of Yucca</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mary and Kevin's designs incorporate Juniper Heartwood, Walnut and Bamboo</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We've also been building a stone circle. Taking a hour some evenings just before or after dinner to move the next boulder down to the clearing we choose for stones. It's something I've always wanted to do and we have the property and the big stones so it was just a matter of choosing the spot and making the time. Well, and enlisting my honey's help with his trusty skid steer and his smarts. It's coming along. Going to be beautiful!! A sacred space built with stone that should outlast us by many hundreds of years.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Talk to you again soon and thanks, as always for dropping by. If you haven't already, please visit our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/touchwoodrings/" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> and follow along. My updates there are much more frequent :) </span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-7032175557117393602016-07-02T22:36:00.002-07:002016-07-02T22:39:48.888-07:00A Welsh Love Spoon and their wooden rings<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We first connected with Eric and Sarah back in November of 2015 and decided that February would be the perfect time for David to make their rings. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6dbdcryxpHNj_RtO_SezLWpM-vhFRg2_92UcMuI6eweZo1Uf5A1Uqhz6aFa1juMgH9K26CVWbojtR-r9gca5q2YmvptqfPl4upXURBYRhYTlf8_3O8rMjkWw4YP7EApUHLoFbg/s1600/IMG_1740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6dbdcryxpHNj_RtO_SezLWpM-vhFRg2_92UcMuI6eweZo1Uf5A1Uqhz6aFa1juMgH9K26CVWbojtR-r9gca5q2YmvptqfPl4upXURBYRhYTlf8_3O8rMjkWw4YP7EApUHLoFbg/s400/IMG_1740.JPG" width="400" /></span></a><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">They chose walnut as their primary wood (more on that in a moment) with inlays of dark figured Bethlehem Olive wood and a full moon inlay of Aspen for Sarah`s ring. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CTf-p6B13KSnlIL8Ip79_figszGfGLcjrSdZ0SkOwkGLkQb7qIUKpemosvTb95kzWZWkEPx-UPRTaYUrxFvJ3olsYZe96OJSyivlXHx4fS4ZObaeKmXksj5A5G_FTwcl2MpJiQ/s1600/welsh+engagement+spoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CTf-p6B13KSnlIL8Ip79_figszGfGLcjrSdZ0SkOwkGLkQb7qIUKpemosvTb95kzWZWkEPx-UPRTaYUrxFvJ3olsYZe96OJSyivlXHx4fS4ZObaeKmXksj5A5G_FTwcl2MpJiQ/s400/welsh+engagement+spoon.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Eric and Sarah were engaged in Cornwall in the traditional Welsh fashion, where a
carved wooden spoon is presented rather than a ring. Their spoon was made of
walnut, which is why they wanted walnut rings. They shared a picture
of their spoon and were hoping the rings might be somewhat similar in terms
of color and grain.</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For the uninitiated; the custom of giving a Love Spoon is unique to Wales and originated in the 15th Century, when lovers would offer intricately carved spoons, bearing symbols of their feelings and hopes, to their partners. Love Spoons today are given as gestures of friendship, engagement, wedding and anniversary gifts.</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">David used our Heritage Black Walnut to mirror the figure in their beautiful spoon. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">They were kind enough to let us share a few pictures from their wedding, </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">and they wrote:</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We had our shindig in
the Catskills and took some time out while we were still in the
mountains to do a little photo shoot. The rings are on the chicken foot
ring holder that I made for them -- don't worry, just a plaster cast, not a
real foot :) </span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We fashioned the broom out of an aspen walking stick that Eric had made when we
lived in Colorado... partly why I wanted aspen wood in my ring :) Thank
you both again, we love the rings and have received so many compliments on how
lovely they are. We'll cherish them forever! Best wishes, Sarah and Eric.</span></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdjCPB6jFUPCBSyZUyJ9RhIhKQmLNgG-ET37_0F7ouIi6m56Cd0DEFoc2uk9AV0dpmL4W8fa3OD3GbmNC61UCqpm3mLgGfRdUD_myGHUl-08JMbdkyu_pTGiE3nkZJNP54gwk3Q/s1600/DSC_5547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdjCPB6jFUPCBSyZUyJ9RhIhKQmLNgG-ET37_0F7ouIi6m56Cd0DEFoc2uk9AV0dpmL4W8fa3OD3GbmNC61UCqpm3mLgGfRdUD_myGHUl-08JMbdkyu_pTGiE3nkZJNP54gwk3Q/s400/DSC_5547.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now happily married, Sarah and Eric are moving back to Colorado and excited about the next chapter in their lives. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It has been wonderful to meet you both (hopefully we`ll meet in person one day too) and we had so much fun working with you on your rings. Thanks so much Eric and Sarah!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We`ll sign off with this old Welsh Blessing. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Wishing you a house full of sunshine, hearts full of cheer, love that grows deeper each day of the year.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13403218.post-59328530996332676522016-06-11T15:27:00.002-07:002016-06-11T15:27:16.117-07:00Married under a Full Moon <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuD0Ac5O3u36xn3mZF8WYvEuw9ZvbYG_1V-k_p2-nVs7RCHbWzNig9d4OCguYG8D2bMIW5RQNrHFe2yCgQHGxT6vIUnMut9XX11g3zcM8LVVLbYNaGs0D8n0RchAogUrdOScJQg/s1600/lindsey+and+jeff+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuD0Ac5O3u36xn3mZF8WYvEuw9ZvbYG_1V-k_p2-nVs7RCHbWzNig9d4OCguYG8D2bMIW5RQNrHFe2yCgQHGxT6vIUnMut9XX11g3zcM8LVVLbYNaGs0D8n0RchAogUrdOScJQg/s320/lindsey+and+jeff+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lindsey and I began our conversations back in October of 2015. </span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> Right from her first email I felt a kinship with Lindsey ~ she's a massage therapist, and her beloved; Jeff is a Chef and a guitar player. As Lindsey explained; their hands are their tools.</span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> They are both genuine, warm and positive people. And they have a truck load of beautiful dogs!! :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In March of this year, David created the rings they designed: Hawaiian Koa Wood, Greyed Maple and Lindsey's ring has an inlay of some of her own special raw opal. Opal being her birthstone.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They were married at Point Reyes, California, surrounded by friends and family ~ and with David and I attending if only in spirit. :) </span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We got this lovely email from Lindsey and Jeff just a few weeks after their wedding.</span><div>
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<i><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Our wedding was the most beautiful and memorable event of our lives. Everything was perfect beyond our wildest dreams! All of our friends and family were gathered and beautiful Point Reyes, California for a wonderful weekend. The weather had been threatening all week. Right up until right before the ceremony the clouds were thick. As the bridal procession began, the clouds parted and the sun came shining through. It remained beautiful all day and into the night, so that the full moon shone brightly over us. The ceremony began at 4 pm and the festivities continued until 2 am. The food was amazing and nearly 20 musicians (mostly friends) performed throughout the day and night.</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKLBDQPd-2hOBgCna3HzdRQJ0vUEaKONKccdMJYwNVihZbLOO-0fFutKAUCvsIfnlIwLhkLq9QfkOV79vohZtZ3d0umcM5ZlHE1wO_-K5UcPWZDbzg2H9pVszWp7sHmNPeRso2A/s1600/IMG_8517.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKLBDQPd-2hOBgCna3HzdRQJ0vUEaKONKccdMJYwNVihZbLOO-0fFutKAUCvsIfnlIwLhkLq9QfkOV79vohZtZ3d0umcM5ZlHE1wO_-K5UcPWZDbzg2H9pVszWp7sHmNPeRso2A/s400/IMG_8517.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXYl3QDewLEzWFAnzNdgAdguyHoZ6FOp8U8jK4kiXXbUHpOBxLRVywzS3dWYSPewzCiIcqtkTJihJZg1xpTF93ea3Ea4sByVRbSTo9bB9lqiJYhtk9Z2cZDN1zCLP0QdVPdeZ7Q/s1600/IMG_8482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXYl3QDewLEzWFAnzNdgAdguyHoZ6FOp8U8jK4kiXXbUHpOBxLRVywzS3dWYSPewzCiIcqtkTJihJZg1xpTF93ea3Ea4sByVRbSTo9bB9lqiJYhtk9Z2cZDN1zCLP0QdVPdeZ7Q/s400/IMG_8482.JPG" width="400" /></a><i><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />The ceremony was really very beautiful and moving. A lot of laughter, a lot of tears, and mostly a lot of joy. During the ring ceremony our officiant spoke specifically about the rings and about their meaning. Everyone loves them, especially us.<br /></span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Thank you for your support, kind words, and extraordinary artistry. The rings are perfect </span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">for us! We will continue to follow you and your work through Facebook and wish you both the very best!"</span></i><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thanks so much Jeff and Lindsey. David and I wish you both tremendous happiness in the days and years to come and we will give the last pic to your pups who will be delighted to have you home again after your much anticipated honeymoon to Cuba!! :) </span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">www.touchwoodrings.com </div>Nicola Finchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07896014117767633488noreply@blogger.com