From a Cedar Log at Whiskey Gulch

In January of this year Peder contacted us saying he would be interested in designing a ring to be made out of a piece of cedar from a full size cedar log that had washed ashore on his family's water front property at Whiskey Gulch near Homer, Alaska.  Peder’s family has owned the land for a long time and decided to never build on it.  Jessica and Peder spend summers there camping and enjoying the beauty!!

Knowing that we like to have a photograph of the folks we're working with, Peder sent a lovely pic of himself and Jessica noting that she's the pretty girl on the left, he's the bearded fellow on the right. : ) 

David and Peder had some back and forthing about how best to cut wood from the log so it that would be workable and beautiful for Jessica's ring.  

After making its journey from Anchorage to William's Lake, in May, David proceeded to craft that chunk of precious log into an inlay with a featured knot on Birch wood. 

 David's initial cuts into Peder's wood showed up some nice workable knots.  

 skipping ahead a bit, here's a pic of Jessica's ring as a work in progress

 and her finished ring .... 

Earlier this month, Peder writes:

I finally gave Jessica the ring and she absolutely loved it! She was totally surprised and completely blown away by the ring, what it was, where it came from, 

the craftsmanship, etc."

And just the other day, this lovely email from Jessica arrived.

"I wanted to reach out and thank you both for helping Peder Reiland create my engagement/wedding ring. It is a perfect reflection of our love and life together. I have attached some photos from the special moment.  Thank you again for helping to create something that means so much."

Thanks so much Peder and Jessica.

David and I wish you both continued happiness and clear, bright Alaskan skies.

New Year coming. New Beginnings

Birch
First month of the Celtic Tree calendar: December 24th - January 20th. First consonant of the Ogham alphabet - Beith  Birch gives the essence of truth. It is considered the 'giving tree'.
Since the dawn of human kind, birch bark has been highly valued and utilized for all manner of things to benefit us 'two legged's'. It is after all, the bark of the giving tree. The birch bark David uses to create his braided inlays is lovingly collected from the ground around the birch trees where we live. Because of the remarkable preservative properties of birch bark, it is possible to use the bark from dead or fallen trees to make all sorts of things.  
Birch wood is a good hard wood which David jokingly calls hammer handle material.  It's serviceable wood but not especially pretty being without any remarkable grain or figure. Having said that, David can create a beautiful ring from almost any wood and there are lots of ways to include a particular wood without having it be the primary focus of a ring.

Birch trees prefer cool, moist areas, including peat bogs, river banks and lake shores. Birch can be found in larger numbers in cool damp woods and forests were the ground does not dry out for most of the year.

Birch wood is often used for fire wood because it burns well without popping, even when frozen. Birch bark can be easily used to start fires and the bark can also be peeled into thin sheets to make a paper like kindling that can be ignited even with sparks. We don't burn birch or the precious bark.

LESSON OF THE BIRCH
The birch tree symbolizes a fresh start and can bring courage and determination to those of us who are treading the path of spiritual growth and development for the first time.
Although the birch does appear fragile, it is in fact extremely hardy. This teaches us that in apparent weakness there is often to be found great strength.
The birch also promises new life and love, and is a potent symbol of purification and renewal, which focuses our attention on our potential for the change and on the consideration of new directions and goals to be experienced in our lives.
It teaches the lesson of unselfishness and of caring for the needs of others in ways that help them to flourish of their own accord.

 

BEGINNINGS are always important, as are the ways we approach any new task. Good preparation and a willingness to lay the ground on which we will build are every bit as valuable as the eventual outcome. The Green Man's wisdom here is specific: make a good start and whatever you are undertaking will end well.  This means paying attention to the moment of inspiration (which the Celts called 'awen') and following this to a satisfactory conclusion.
 
Traditionally birch was used to drive out evil spirits and return to sanity those who had become mad. Its calendrical association is with the beginnings of the year, and with the sacred festival of Samhain, hence its connection with making a fresh start. The birch is also one of the first trees to flower in the spring.

Wishing our new friends and old friends alike a wonderful new beginning this year!
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Sources / Thanks to
www.treenames.net 
www.thegoddesstree.com
Lesson of the Birch. The Wisdom of Trees by Jane Gifford 
Beginnings. The Green Man Oracle by John Matthews and Will Worthington

Summer skies and wooden rings

An August sunset over the meadow where Touch Wood Rings are created.
And, some summer rings ...

A matched set of wooden rings with wide bands of birch bark featuring natural birch bark markings.

Koa wood ring with a mahogany inlaid band. Lined with blue spruce.

Tapered Juniper heartwood rings with spiraled bands of golden koa and birdseye maple.

A Koa wood ring lined with Grenadilla. The crushed stone inlay is lapis lazuli. Lapis (Latin for 'stone') is known as the stone of friendship and truth, and is believed to promote honesty and ease of communication.

Another mid-summer sky over the meadow.

Eucalyptus rings with blue spruce and maple.

A Birdseye maple wood ring with a centered band of Bethlehem Olive wood bordered by two narrow bands of purpleheart wood. On the right; a purpleheart wood ring with a center band of Bethlehem Olive wood and lined with birdseye maple.

"Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend or a meaningful day." Dalai Lama

Hand crafted wood rings by David Finch, custom designed by really fine folk.

Juniper heartwood, blue spruce and olive wood rings.


Juniper heartwood, blue spruce and walnut wood rings.

Koa, zebra and oak wood ring.
Inscribed Cherry wood ring with a birch wood liner.
Purple heart wood ring with an oak wood liner.
Koa wood ring with juniper heart wood liner.

Wide, tapered Juniper heart wood ring.

Grenadilla wood ring, blue spruce liner and a juniper heart wood braid.