Monday, October 04, 2010

Wear the Warmth ~ Touch Wood Rings

Every Touch Wood Ring is a collaboration between us (David and I) and you (the individual or couple commissioning a ring).

As always, David and I look forward to working with you to create something very special and very much your own.

We expect you to have questions, we love to hear your ideas and we'll work with you till you're completely satisfied with your decisions. Once we all the details of your design; David searches for the perfect pieces of wood to bring your vision to reality. We want your Touch Wood Ring to sing.

A sampling of commissioned, custom designed and meticulously hand crafted Touch Wood Rings.












Touch Wood Rings ~ at home.
Why we do what we do.

David and I focus most of our energy and resources locally on these 50 acres we call home. We live and work off the grid providing our own power through solar energy. We are committed to preserving the diversity of life here by caring for the land and the water and all the birds and animals who call this place home.

We reach out globally to those we feel we can help in a tangible and direct way; specifically through kiva.org and worldvision.ca. This is Patricia; she lives in Ghana with her Mom and Dad and her little sister. She's our sponsored child through World Vision.

Here's to a brighter, greener future for all life on the planet. And thank you ~ to every person who wears a Touch Wood Ring ~ you are a part of the ongoing work.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Abby and Alex and their Touch Wood Rings

~ Abby and Alex ~
designed classic Hawaiian Koa wood rings. Abby choose a golden toned Koa while Alex choose a darker toned Koa ~ both their rings were lined with a bright Birch wood and inscribed with some special words. We're delighted to share a few of their wedding photos with you and we wish Abby and Alex a joyful future together.

Abby writes: "I've been meaning to write to you for a very long time, to let you know that our wedding was a hit and our rings were very well received. After the ceremony, nearly all the guests wanted to know about them. They continue to be beautiful and to attract comments from friends and from strangers. Thank you again, so very much, for the beautiful rings. Much love to you both and to your happy home in the wilderness, Abby (and Alex)"

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Laura and Jeff's Wooden Rings ~ and Adam's lovely wedding photography

Adam George of Embrace Life Photography was kind enough to email us a link to a lovely feature in Eco-beautiful Weddings magazine.

On his blog post San Francisco Green Wedding Featured Adam writes; "We’re excited to share with you Laura and Jeff’s four-page wedding feature in the current fall issue (Pg. 80-83) of Eco-Beautiful Weddings magazine.

Their wedding was a weekend-long affair including 4 separate events for Laura, Jeff, their friends and family to enjoy together. Their vendors were chosen for their environmental friendliness and social responsibility, most notably their choice of wooden wedding rings by Touch Wood Rings."

Congratulations Laura and Jeff. Beautiful photography Adam! Thanks for sharing this with us.

Here are Jeff and Laura's Touch Wood Rings (these are our photos).

Monday, September 20, 2010

Love and Heartwood

We recently had the pleasure of working with Krista and Rob on their wedding rings.


In June, Krista wrote "David does such wonderful work and I am truly excited that we chose these rings for our symbol of love. I was wondering a bit about the tree that gave us this gift. Are the rings from the same branch and where does the tree live... just curious."

Here's my reply to Krista's question about her juniper heartwood.

"I’m glad you want to know about the tree that gave a little of her wood for your rings Krista. She is a Juniper tree and lives in the Similkameen Valley of British Columbia ~ she’s an old tree with beautiful gnarly branches that occasionally require pruning. Hence your ring wood. The term ‘heartwood’ means the wood that comes from the very center of a trunk or branch ~ it is generally denser, stronger and often has beautiful swirly patterns and colours … Here is a 'close up' of the dear old juniper tree from which your rings are made … it grows beside David's brothers' home in the sunny Similkameen.

Krista and Rob received their rings in early June and wrote:

"We couldn't be more pleased. They are absolutely beautiful! I had tears in my eyes when I saw them.

And just the other day Krista wrote:

"You know it's fall when you get the hooded sweatshirts out and go pick blueberries on a foggy moist morning...yummy!! What a great time of year. Our wedding day has come and gone and we were so happy to have our rings on that special day. I wanted to share some photos with you two. Thank you so much again and we couldn't be more pleased with our beautiful rings. We have received many compliments as well. Hope all is well in your part of the world, Robb, Krista and Lennon

What a delightful young family you are ... and what a pleasure it's been to be a part of your special day! With much love, today and always ... Nicola and David

Thursday, July 22, 2010

A Yosemite National Park Proposal


We had a lovely email from Chris just the other day that he has kindly allowed us to share with you. Chris commissioned David to create a 'Juniper heartwood ring with a featured knot' for his beloved while Chris handcrafted the Juniper Heartwood Ring Box. It's so perfect ~ like the ring rose from the heart of the box.

And the good news ....
"Hey Nicola and David,
I just wanted to share a few photos with you. SHE SAID YES! We had a beautiful trip to Yosemite and I gave Jessica her ring in the meadow below El Capitan. It fits perfectly and she is so happy with it. She can't stop talking about how perfect and beautiful it is. I built a box out of Juniper Heart Wood to compliment and protect the ring.
Attached are a few photos for you. Thank you so much for your work. We are so happy and Jes has already started checking out your site looking at wedding bands. We'll be in touch. Thank you! Chris Our congratulations and love to you both Chris and Jessica.
May all your days together hold the magic of those moments at Yosemite!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

A wooden ring takes the spotlight in a Broadway Musical

This scene which makes reference to a wooden ring is from
'A Little Night Music' a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, it involves the romantic lives of several couples. Its title is a literal English translation of the German name for Mozart's Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major.

My sincere thanks to Marian who contacted us in her quest for a wood ring after watching her friend perform this scene in a current Broadway revival of A Little Night Music. She told us about the scene, how touching it was and sent us the excerpt. Thank you Marian.

Scene 8, Act 2
'A Little Night Music'
(A grandmother is having a conversation with her granddaughter ~ shortly afterward in the play the grandmother passed away.)

Madame Armfeldt:
A great deal seems to be going on in this house tonight. (pause) Child will you do me a favor?

Fredrika:
Of course,Grandmother.

Madame Armfeldt:
Will you tell me what it's all for? Having outlived my own illusions by centuries, it would be soothing at least to pretend to share some of yours.

Fredrika: (After thought): Well, I think it must be worth it.

Madame Armfeldt:
Why?

Fredrika:
It's all there is, isn't it? Oh, I know it's often discouraging, and to hope for something too much is childish, because what you want so rarely happens.

Madame Armfeldt:
Astounding! When I was your age, I wanted everything - the moon - jewels, yachts, villas on the Riviera. And I got 'em too, - all for the good they did me.
(Music. Her mind starts to wander)
There was a Croatian Count. He was my first lover. I can see his face now - such eyes, and a mustache like a brigand. He gave me a wooden ring.

Fredrika: A wooden ring?

Madame Armfeldt:
It had been in his family for centuries, it seemed, but I said to myself: a wooden ring? What sort of man would give you a wooden ring, so I tossed him out right there and then. And now - who knows? He might have been the love of my life.

( Fredrika falls asleep, resting her head against Madame Armfeldt's knee. )


No, it wasn't this ring ~ this is a Touch Wood Ring
hand crafted by David Finch

In this scenario, the beloved said yes!! With no regrets.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Spring arrivals and departures

Spring departures: From David's hands to Brett and Kortnee
Their Touch Wood Wedding Rings ~
Purple heartwood and African Blackwood ring designs
with jade and malachite inlays


Springtime arrivals on the meadow include White crowned Sparrows, Ruby-Throated and Calliope Hummingbirds, Red Winged and Yellow headed Blackbirds, Robins, Swallows, Purple Finches and bluebirds.

And more Spring departures ~ these Touch Wood Ring designs:
Jen and Brent's Dark Hawaiian Koa wood rings


This Black Wood Ring with crossed spiraled inlays of Golden Koa
and a golden Koa interior; for Nicole
Ed's Black Walnut Wood Ring ~ a tapered wood ring
with crossed spiraled inlays of Ash
Juniper Heartwood rings for Debora and Keith

African Blackwood, Hawaiian Koa and
Juniper heart wood rings for Brittany and Derek

Amber and Kelsey's gently tapered Arbutus Wood Rings
inlaid with New Zealand Paua shell.

Dark and light Hawaiian Koa Wood rings
with Birch Wood interiors for Abby and Alex

And our newest arrivals ~ Evening Grosbeaks;
there are 5 couples here now.