Tying the knot with a wooden ring

Great photo!! Thanks you guys! Tom and Natalie; a lovely couple from Chugiak Alaska who tied the knot in Costa Rica over the New Year holiday.  

"Thank you for the beautiful ring. It is everything that we had hoped for and we are thankful for such a well crafted symbol of our love. As you might have read, our winter has been legendary! I hope you are both benefiting from the snow and cold as we are. Cheers, Tom and Natalie"  

Connecticut Newlyweds . . .

A delightful young couple ~ so obviously and thoroughly in Love and

Such a pleasure to work with.

 We wish you tremendous happiness Liz and Mark

Today and always. 

Hi Nicola and David-
Greetings from the newlyweds! I wanted to write you an update and let you know how our wedding went on December 30.  First of all the rings are a HUGE success.  We love them so much.  I am so surprised by how comfortable they are.  I never thought I would wear a wedding ring because I always thought rings were so uncomfortable, but both of us really enjoy the light feel of the wood!  

If I can write any recommendations on the rings for you let me know!  
Our wedding was wonderful!  We had a gorgeous day about 40 degrees and sunny which is odd for Connecticut in late December.  The ceremony was beautiful with the colors of Christmas still decorating the church.  The reception was full of delicious food and fun dancing!  Then we went off to Stowe, Vermont for a couple of days of relaxation filled with snowboarding, snowshoeing and hiking :)
I attached a couple of pictures for you! 
Thank you again, Liz and Mark

Today's sunshine; Emma and Sam

 

 This morning's sunrise over the meadow . . . 

and today's sunshine; 

Emma and Sam 

of the UK 

commissioned their Touch Wood Rings in July of 2011,

and were wed on October 22.

 In the months before their wedding, Emma knitted up a bundle of these sweet hearts as wedding favors.

 A creative and talented couple; Sam self describes as a reader, writer, events manager and organic gardener based in Bath.  Emma is also a writer and artist ~ her passion is writing teenage fiction. 

Hi Nicola and Dave,

Sam and I had the most wonderful wedding back in October. The whole day was perfect. As for our rings, well we love them. I love looking at everyone's shiny metal rings and then looking at my beautiful wooden ring. People don't know what they're missing.

Thanks again, Emma and Sam

 

The 'Tolkien Wood' Ring

OH MY LORD!!!! 

If I could hug you both right now I would. You will just have to settle for a cyber hug. This ring is far above and beyond what I could have ever hoped for. Thank you so much David and Nicola for putting so much hard work, time and effort into something we will cherish ~ You have both been an absolute pleasure to converse with and thanks once again for expediting the shipping date. Much appreciated. I will be telling everyone about you!! All the very best. Much Much Love, David

 

Dear David and Nicola,

Once again, thank-you so much for being such an integral part of such a wonderful day. The redwoods blessed us with a gorgeous day, everything was perfect!  

We have already started talking about our wedding rings that you will hopefully do for us (although that won't be for a little while yet). Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. It means the world to me and Nat. Now she would like to say a few words:

Hello there, it's Natalie here.  I'm completely blown away by this incredible ring, 

I can't stop looking at it! David just showed me your step by step emails, so much hard work and skill has gone in to it!! I feel so very grateful and special. The organic materials used hold such a special place in my heart, this is a ring filled with so much love and magick. And boy did I cry like a baby when Dav told me that you included my Tolkien pine! Wow! I never knew rings like these existed, i will be sure to let everyone know...... protecting the environment one ring at a time :)

Love and light, Natalie and David

2012 and Touch Wood Rings

 2012.  A new year! 

This very human marking of the passage of time is of no consequence however to the critters or the natural world around us.

The coyotes go about their business with purpose and poise.  

It's a lovely time of year, presenting us with breathtaking skies at sunrise and sunset. 

As we bid the old year Adieu and greet the new year ~ I thought I'd share a sampling of Touch Wood Rings commissioned during 2011.

   Every ring has a story, and a delightful individual or couple attached to it.

The people are what makes our work such a joy.

This set of Touch Wood Rings is Bethlehem Olive wood, 

lined with a bright contrasting wood for inscriptions.

Crossed spiraled inlays of (I kid you not) crushed cinnamon 

(for a very special reason) on Hawaiian Koa 

and her ring is Grayed Maple wood. 

This set is Hawaiian Koa incorporating maple, Purpleheart wood and grayed maple.

Classic Touch Wood Rings; Hawaiian Koa with Grayed Maple

Hawaiian Koa and African Blackwood (Grenadilla)

Hawaiian Koa, juniper heartwood, clear juniper and crushed Jade

Juniper heartwood ring with mahogany inlay bordered by narrow inlays of clear juniper 

Black walnut wood ring with a braided birch bark inlay and birds eye maple liner

Magnolia Wood ring with a braided Juniper heartwood inlay.

Oh, and did I mention the lovely people we have the pleasure of getting to know?

Here are a few of the friends we made this past year ...

 Nick and Lauren

 Matt and Ally

Jonathan and Jessie (I'm writing a separate post about their story ~ coming soon)

 Nicole and Lonnie

 Annalise and Jie

These People are what Touch Wood Rings are all about.

  

Thanks to all our old friends, and those not yet met,

Brightest blessings in this new year and beyond.

River stone, Willow, Black Walnut and Love

Tim and Charley sent their own stone to be incorporated into their wooden rings.  The stone was from a local river in the Toms Creek Basin of Southwest Virginia.   They were such a pleasure to work with.  We began our conversations back in July, and David made their rings in August.   Another lovely couple with very kind words for us ~ Thanks So much to you both!

In October Tim writes ...
"Hi Nicola and David!   I am very sorry for the long silence. We did indeed receive our rings without incident, but immediately moved Charley out to Colorado and so life got away from me for a while.

The rings are beautiful; true works of art. we both love them! They really capture a lot of the essence of our relationship: light, gentle, but with a core of strength and solidity. And the contrast of the willow and our river stone against black walnut is perfect - exactly what I had hoped.

Thank you so much for all of your hard work in crafting these rings. Although Charley and I are 1500 miles apart for now, I feel like the rings give us a tangible symbol of our connection. We often send snapshots of them back and forth, just as little reminders. =) 

 

Anyway, we are both very grateful to you for your craftsmanship and artistry, and are recommending you to all of our friends! Charley and I both treasure our rings; our thanks again to you and David for bringing them to life and for the care and love that you put into their creation!

Peace to your both, Tim"

Tarra and Aly and their Touch Wood Rings

Hi Nicola and David,  First off, let me give you a GINORMOUS virtual HUG for the beautiful creation that is our rings!! We LOVE them!  They fit perfectly and are just incredible.
I've attached a picture.  Thank you so much for creating something so unique, and special for us.

When I wrote Tarra back to ask if we might post this on our blog, she responded, " Of course you may post our picture and comments !!  Please let us know how else we can support you in letting people know how wonderful, unique and amazing your rings are.
peace,  Tarra and Aly.   

Oh yes... this is why we do what we do.  The people we work with are so wonderful ~ they are warm and loving humans; one and all. Thanks so much Tarra and Aly.  Wishing you both tremendous happiness, now and in the future.

Enduring and eternal love ...

We did it! We're married!

And... the rings were beautiful! I've attached some pics of us, the rings, and the ring bearer just for fun! Enjoy! :)

The rings were (and are) absolutely perfect!
Thank you again!!! Jie & Annaliese

What lovely human beings these folks are. From their first email to us back in January 2011,
they have been such a pleasure to work with.
Blossoms on you Annaliese and Jie and Thank You!!

Jie and Annaliese designed their rings with an interest in the metaphysical properties of their stones and woods. Their Touch Wood Rings are a combination of Ancient Kauri wood, Birds Eye Maple Wood and stone inlays combining raw emerald, sapphire and rose quartz.

The Chinese idiom they chose for their inscriptions were also really important and special to them. Jie explained that all four tones of modern Mandarin are represented in this short four word phrase which is the first line of verse seven of the Tao Te Ching.
tiān cháng dì jiǔ

Literally translated: Long-enduring Heaven and Earth ~
Enduring and Eternal Love.

May it ever be thus.