Wooden Rings and Wild Flowers

Welcome back . . .

Summer has arrived in the Cariboo-Chilcotin and it's time to share some recently commissioned Touch Wood Rings ~ and a few photos of the diversity of wildflowers around the meadow this time of year. It's a wetter year than we've seen in about a decade. After 3 summers of drought and the wildfires last year, we celebrate every rainfall and the resulting explosion of wildflowers, mushrooms, mosses and lichens ~ it's a beautiful thing.

These are Jeanette and Robert's Black Walnut wood rings inlaid with sea shells, coral and sea glass that they collected on the shores of the China Sea.

A shot of our Meadow Arinca

Henri's tapered Black Walnut ring inlaid with a center inlay of Koa
with narrow bordering inlays of Maple. With recent congrats to Anne and Henri!

Brandon's Hawaiian Koa wood ring with a three tone juniper heartwood braided inlay. Meredith's braided ring was made a few months earlier and she wrote, "David's craftsmanship and talent added with your personal and warm communication made this experience great. I have rave reviews about Touch Wood - not a single complaint. In fact, everything was a step up from any expectation I had. " Meredith was a ray of sunshine to work with. Another friend made : )

Red Paintbrush on the meadow.

Mitch wanted a ring that really looked like wood showing lots of grain and figure. Dana choose a Darker Koa, Willow and gnarly Birds Eye Maple for Mitch's design.
Another meadow wildflower ... Prairie Smoke aka Old Man's Whiskers

Pyxie Cups (also known as Fairy Cups)

Below are Rob and Kimber's striking Arbutus, Yellow Cedar and Birch Wood Rings.

If you have followed our blog at all, you've heard me say this before but it bears repeating; the people we meet through our work are the most wonderful people! Thank you for coming into our lives.

We have lots of requests from Touch Wood Ring folks who would like to come and visit us here on the meadow. We moving ever closer to realizing our vision of an eco-sanctuary and retreat. It won't be long now till the first of our cabins is ready for visitors and we look forward to it.

Meadow Bunch-berry (above)
and a very special rose petal inlay (below) ...

Kevin designed this pretty wood ring for his sweetheart using Juniper heartwood, Bethlehem Olive wood on the interior, and an inlay of crushed pink quartz combined with a very special rose petal. Special Thanks to Vincent for sharing his photographs for this post.

Till next time ~ thanks for visiting.

A spring sky, a wooden ring and kind words

A Spring sunset over the meadow

and a Touch Wood Ring of Greyed Maple and Ancient Kauri
commissioned by a lovely fellow who was just great to work with and,
who had some very nice things to say! Thanks Sam.

" The ring is just as amazing as I was expecting it to be. The fit is absolutely perfect, and the packaging is a very nice touch :)
I can't explain how in awe I am of you and David's art.
Thank you so much for your help, patience, and flexibility. Your customer service should be a model for how business is supposed to be done; never once did I feel pressured or rushed. Every stupid question was answered with kindness, and in a timely manner. The entire process was painless and ended in my complete satisfaction. I will recommend your service to anyone I know looking for a unique ring. The inscription is beautifully done and very subtle. I could not have asked for a better finished result."

With our very best wishes for your continued happiness Sam and Lynn!
As ever, Nicola and David

Wood Rings and the coming of spring

Winter is giving way to spring up here on the meadow. It's slow coming this year but we don't mind a bit. Every day with snow is another day of moisture in the ground. The spring flowers when they come will be grateful for it.

Behind every Touch Wood Ring is an individual or a couple who we have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know ! Thanks to each of you who come to us to help you create a special symbol of your love ~ it is our pleasure and our honour. Here are some wooden rings ( now being worn by lovely humans) created by David in the past few months. With every ring we post on our website and blog ~ I 'see' the people who wear them and recall our conversations. We regularly receive emails from folks we've worked with years ago ... sometimes announcing the birth of a child, sometimes telling us about a big move or an upcoming adventure. It's a wonderful thing. Thank you all.

Sunrise and Heart Wood

A February sunrise over the meadow

Juniper heartwood Rings
Meticulously Crafted by Hand, and Made with Love.

Heart Wood Rings ~ from Touch Wood

To enjoy more of the sunrise that inspired this post,

Come and see where Touch Wood Rings are created.
The Homestone

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all our dear friends;

old and new and not yet met.

May brooks and trees and singing hills
Join in the chorus too,
And every gentle wind that blows
Send happiness to you.

An old Irish Blessing

Touch Wood Rings at the Grand Canyon

Back in November of 2006, David made a set of Touch Wood Rings for Regina and Trevor as their wedding rings. These are their Blackwood rings with Rosewood interiors ~


Earlier this week we got a lovely email from Regina. She made our day! What a sweetie, and a great pic ~ it took us back! David and I eloped to Arizona many moons ago and spent some very happy times exploring in and around the Grand Canyon.

Here's Regina's email

"Look how beautiful our rings are at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

We have had our rings going on 4 years and are in love with them. Thank you for taking the time to craft our rings. You both are very special to my husband and I ~ we see and feel your love that you put into our rings. Thank you David and Nicola."

Stephanie's Willow Ring

Back in February David made this dainty little ring for Stephanie.


She designed her size 3 1/2 ring using Willow, Grayed Maple and Rosewood.
Stephanie was so lovely to work with.
In July we received a heartwarming email from her titled 'Very Happy Customer'

Hi Nicola and David!
I am so satisfied with my ring! I absolutely love it. It is funny because I see people do a double-take when they see my ring and I love telling them where it came from and what it means to me. It is a powerful symbol and a work of Art that I can wear everyday. This ring speaks to me because of where it came from and who made it. The idea that you both do so much to give back to the Earth and to appreciate what it has to offer makes you both very special, and I have the greatest appreciation for that!
I am attaching some photos from our wedding.
Thank you for everything!
Peace & Love,
Kevin & Stephanie


Congratulations Stephanie and Kevin and Thank You for sharing those photos, and for your kind words. You truly do embody the essence of the happy couple! May it ever be thus.

Wooden Rings in the Green Mountains

Working with folks who are planning to surprise someone with a custom designed wooden ring, whether it's a marriage proposal or a birthday or anniversary gift, is always an honour and most enjoyable for us. We meet the most delightful and interesting people through Touch Wood Rings.

Keith first wrote to us in July with his desire to propose to his partner David with a special, meaningful and unique engagement ring. Over the next few months he and I chatted about all sorts of things from the qualities of different woods to Hurricanes and Grizzly Bears.

By early fall he had his commissioned Touch Wood Rings in hand. We received this happy email from Keith the other day.“It was a perfect setting in the Green Mountains of Vermont surrounded by trees with these special rings made from trees.”


Keith proposed to his love on a crisp snowy fall afternoon in the Green Mountains of Vermont. The answer was Yes when Keith asked David “if he would Grow Old and In Love with him for the rest of their Lives.” And he thanked us for “taking part in the memory that will live in our hearts a lifetime.”

Thank you Keith. What an absolute pleasure working with you.
We’ll join you in that prayer; May you and David grow old together in love and happiness.

A Touch Wood Travel Ring

Earlier this year we began working with a delightful couple; Jennifer and Kevin from California.

Jennifer had a custom Touch Wood wedding ring made for Kevin and then a little later, because they knew they would be traveling for a few months, they also asked David to create a simpler 'travel' ring for Kevin.

For Kevin's wedding ring, they designed this dark Hawaiian Koa wood ring with an inlay of Ancient Kauri wood bordered by Lava Rock.

"I just wanted to let you know that Jennifer and I got married in September, and I've been loving my ring! We leave for our honeymoon in a couple of weeks (going to New Zealand and Fiji for 2 months!) and I'm looking forward to wearing my travel ring. Thanks again for everything. Hope all is well up north."

I asked Kevin (and Jennifer) if they wouldn't mind me posting his email and their beautiful wedding photo on our blog. His return email was sent from Fiji (bless his heart for writing while they're on their honeymoon) and he tells us they are having a wonderful time ~ heading soon to New Zealand ( home of the Ancient Kauri in Kevin's wedding ring design.)

He says his 'travel' ring is working out great too!
Kevin's Touch Wood 'Travel' ring is Hawaiian Koa wood with a Juniper heartwood liner.

May every day of your honeymoon be another great beginning to a lifetime of happiness together. Enjoy!!

And Thanks so much to you both!