A short history of steam bent wood rings

Touch Wood Rings

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.

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.

That was then.

David and I are humbled and honoured to have started "a revolution in the jewelry industry", as a very early client of ours predicted.

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. 

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.  


A Touch Wood Ring as a Work in Progress

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.

One carved 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.


Irish Bog Oak Wood Rings with Huon Pine inlay and liners

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.


Apple Wood Ring with Braided Birch Bark inlay

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:
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. 

So, what is steam bending exactly?

"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.



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." Source

"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." Source

If you are interested in learning more about bending wood, Steven Edholm has an excellent blog post titled: Bending Wood: What you need to know.


Touch Wood Oak Rings featuring the natural figure and grain of the Oak wood.

And so it goes. 

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!

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.

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.

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. 

We are truly blessed. And ever thankful.
And we invite you to be in touch.
Please drop me a line at nicola@touchwoodrings.com ~ I'd love to hear from you.
Visit our website (currently being updated, thank goodness)
And join us on social media is you like  Instagram,  Twitter,  Facebook and Pinterest

In closing, here are some snapshots from around our off grid homestead.
As always, thanks so much for dropping by!

The little log cabin that overlooks the creek


Wildflowers in July


Our place from overhead ~ the creek and hayfields


Nick and Kali on walkabout


On our walking trails, looking over at the homestead


Dandelion delight and solar panels


Mom and the young Mister with a cowbird along for the ride

This Earth Day, We Thank You.

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.

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).



They designed their rings incorporating their two woods and our heritage black walnut.



Chas and Jenna are part of an awesome group of people called Organic Health Response. 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.
We invite you to visit the OHR website, like their facebook page and please, get involved!



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.



This couple spearheaded the awesome organization called Global Sanctuary for Elephants. Please visit their site, follow them on Facebook and support their amazing work with Elephants any way you can. There's an online auction coming up on Bidding for Good, June 5th to 13th. 

Elephant Sanctuary Brazil

And, if you are looking for earth friendly rings that offer a kinder gentler way to proclaim your love ~ please be in touch. David and I would love to hear from you!
Thanks again to all our incredible Touch Wood friends ~ you never cease to inspire us.

Waning Winter and Wooden Rings

Winter appears to be waning on the meadow. We've had a run of Chinook like weather for the last little while.  It's the 20th of February and it's 5 days early for us to be seeing our first harbinger of Spring but we have, just this morning ... and here he is.  David got some lovely pics of our first Red Winged Blackbird of the season.

Renowned photographer and naturalist Chris Harris notes that "In the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region of BC, spring typically comes during the month of March. It can arrive late some years in this part of the province, but when you’re outdoors in March, it’s time to start keeping your eyes open and ears perked. It’s a wonderful day when you see your first robin or hear that early first call of a Red-winged Blackbird. Then you know that spring is officially here!"

My post on our Homestone blog last year notes that our first Blackbird arrival was the 25th of February and on that day we also noted the arrival a flock of snow buntings and two robins!

Here are a few photos from my walkabout yesterday morning. It was a lovely start to the day with a touch of frost on the trees and willows.

Today David is busy building rings for some lovely people.  The sun is shining down on us and I must, once I get this post written, get back to answering emails from more lovely people.  We are so touched by what folks write to us.

David made a ring for Bob in January.  

Bob writes: "The ring is exquisite! A perfect fit, the coloring I was hoping for (And as a woodworker myself, believe me, I know how impossible it can sometimes be to select for final color…), and a beautiful swirling grain around the knot. It is… Perfect!   

I had looked at other sites, seen photos of other rings… But I kept coming back to Touch Wood - and I’m glad I did. David’s rings just looked more natural and artistic. And, especially when we started corresponding about the ring, I knew I’d made the right choice. Thank David for fashioning my beautiful ring for me, and thank you both for being such great people to work with!" 

 Spring is springing, the birds are singing and all's right with the world.  Thanks so much for stopping by and ... drop us a note sometime.  We love to hear from you.

A wedding on the Scottish Dunes

 Erica and Peter

 Happily Married

In the spring of 2013 Peter designed and commissioned his engagement ring for Erica
She said yes.  You'll find our post about their engagement here.

We were so pleased when Peter wrote again to invite us to work 
with them on their wedding bands.

 ~ Their Touch Wood Rings ~

 Erica's Engagement ring

 

and their wedding bands

They were married this June, in Scotland about 5 miles from their home, in the sand dunes.
Our dearest love to you both!
We are so happy for you!

Special thanks to Grahame Smith, Peter and Erica's wedding photographer.

Tiny Toes and Touch Wood Rings

If you've worked with us you know that David and I don't 'sell rings'.  We offer our services and we care deeply about the people who entrust us with the creation of their rings.  One of the most rewarding things about the work we do is hearing from folks years later.  

We have a record of every Touch Wood Ring we've had the honour of creating.  We remember and appreciate every person we've had the pleasure of working with.  After more than 13 years of offering our work online there's not a week goes by that we don't hear from someone with an update on how they are doing, or where they are now in their lives. Often these welcome updates come with a photo or two. 

In October of 2010 James commissioned a ring for his beloved.  

In May 2011, Adrianne commissioned a Touch Wood Ring for James.

This Saturday (almost 4 years after our first contact) we received an email from James and Adrianne and grinned from ear to ear when we opened their photos!  

David and I are so happy for you and honoured that you have shared your wonderful news with us.

"Nicola and David,  It has been a few years since we last talked.  I hope all is well with you.  We recently had a little girl and had some beautiful photos taken with the rings you made us.  I attached a few for you to enjoy. Thanks again for making such beautiful rings! James, Adrianne, and the new babe"

And here is the photo I couldn't wait to share ... 
How priceless is this?!

~ Tiny Toes adorned with Mom and Dad's Touch Wood Rings ~

With huge thanks to James and Adrianne 
and their talented photographer; Jennifer Sturtevant of Jennifer Lynn Image

Dearest love to you both and your beautiful girl. 

Under the Ancient Cedar Tree

David and I had the absolute pleasure of working with these two beautiful women. One is a doctor, the other a midwife.  That's pretty cool in itself. They have also given of their time and expertise to Doctors Without Borders.  My communications with Dominique and Terra have been so easy and delightful ... I feel as though their love for each other just spills over into everything they do.  

When they received their rings they wrote; 

"We just wanted to let you know that we think they are absolutely beautiful, much nicer then we even expected. And they fit and feel amazing. We love them! They are so special!    It was great working with you both Nicola and David. David is an amazing craftsman, and Nicola, your the nicest and loveliest person to exchange ring emails and ideas with. Altogether you are an amazing pair! We also really enjoyed your many photos and updates. Hats off to you both for your commitment to a green and off the grid lifestyle."

To which David and I can say only; "The pleasure was all ours! Though our time working together was all too brief given the spontaneous nature of your decision to elope :)"
and then, this email ...  
"Dear Nicola and David.  We wanted to share our happiness and pictures with you. We eloped in an old grove forest and got married under a 1000 year old Cedar tree. It was a magical autumn day. It was perfect. Just the way we wanted it! The rings you made for us are amazing and were such a wonderful part of our ceremony. They mean a lot to us. Each time I look at it I remember these magic moments under that old cedar.  Thank you for your amazing work and lovely emails throughout the process."

 

I am often overwhelmed by the beautiful souls who reach out to David and I, and who so enrich our lives. We are incredibly blessed.

The icing on the cake, so to speak, was the woman they hired as their photographer.  All the photographs on this post are Tracie's work and she, and Terra and Dominique, have been gracious enough to allow me to post them here.  Tracie Howe is a Seattle based wedding and  portrait photographer.  Tracie's  website is as warm and lovely as her photography.  And, she loves to travel too. In her intro, Tracie writes: "If you’re planning a destination wedding or you live in the Seattle area and are looking for a destination wedding photographer then you have found her!  "Give me a tent and a breathtaking destination for your wedding, and I’m golden." 

 

 Terra and Dominique ~ David and I thank you both so much for the opportunity to work with you on the wee wooden symbols of your love for each other, and we wish you both tremendous happiness in the days and years ahead.

 

And thanks again to Tracie Howe for allowing me to share her photography of this magical day.