Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Wooden Rings and Active Duty


Lucaya and her now husband Matthew are Active Duty service members serving a two-year tour in South Korea.  They are an amazing couple and were so much fun to work with.

When David was finished his work and we sent the final photos of their rings, Lucaya wrote, "We are speechless.  I had seen some remarkable rings on your website but nothing really prepared me to see something that we brainstormed together with little bits of taped-up-paper, (I kid you not, we made little paper rings and drew on the inlays with pens at different widths and options) ...to what we see now!  These rings are absolutely stunning, I cannot congratulate you enough for an excellent job!"

After their wedding and honeymoon, another wonderful letter and some great pics!!  They wrote: "The rings are just perfect!  We could not believe how light they are!  It is stunning that so much work and craftsmanship can fit into something so TINY!!!   David is an absolute artist!  Thank you so so so so so so so much! We have returned to stressful Korea now, sun-burnt and blissfully happy after an AMAZING honeymoon along Thailand's glowingly beautiful shores.  
Due to some army emergencies, we had to get married March 26th instead of April 1st as we had hoped, so we quickly went to the embassy and did the scavenger hunt that was Korean wedding paperwork and then presented the rings to each other in a Thai restaurant, (we figured it was appropriate), situated on a lock.  We had talked for a year of placing locks around the world as we traveled, and our first was to be on Seoul Tower, where we had our first date, on the day of our wedding. Well, we had to wait until the day of our honeymoon, (April 1st) to actually place the lock, which we did on our way to the airport, that was where we said our vows to each other.

 Once in Thailand, we took some photos of the rings up against age-old mangrove trees, nestled within the prayer flowers that encompass the trunk of the tree
 
and more photos with the rings placed along the weathered wood of a traditional Thai longboat at sunset.
touch wood rings in Thailand
And finally, with a very heavy heart we had to leave...from Seoul to Taipei to Bangkok to Krabi to Ko Phi Phi Don to Ao Luk to Ao Nang, back to Bangkok, then on to Ho Chi Minh City and finally back to Seoul.  What a wonderful trip and thank you so much for giving us such a beautiful part of it!"
 David and I are so grateful to Matt and Lucaya ~ thanks for being a couple of bright lights in our days.     Perhaps one year we'll see you two and one of those locks on a gate or fence out here on these 50 acres.  Much Love to you both ~ now and always.
Blackwood rings with Bethlehem Olive wood interiors and inlaid with crushed shell and sea glass.

Mike and Angel's Wooden Rings

  Angel and Michael live, work and play in California.She's a  fiber-optics engineer. He's a PhD candidate studying biomedical sciences. They have a couple of cats and they love to surf and play guitar together. (Mike and Angel that is ... not so much the cats.) 
 David and I had such a great time working this lovely young couple.
Photo Credit © Ruka Micheletti
  They were happily wed this April in the Santa Cruz Mountains with their custom designed Touch Wood Rings.
Touch Wood Rings custom created for Michael and Angel
After their wedding they sent us these photos taken by their wedding photographer Ruka Micheletti   And they wrote ...  "Here are our wedding rings! They turned out exactly as we imagined them to be. Thank you for the great experience we had designing these rings and watching them come to life.  They're absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much"
Photo Credit © Ruka Micheletti

Photo Credit © Ruka Micheletti
Mike and Angel's Touch Wood Rings are African Blackwood with Willow interiors and inlays of jade and malachite bordered by Purpleheart wood.
Wooden Rings by Touch Wood Rings
 Thanks again to wedding photographer; Ruka Micheletti for permission to use her photos of Mike and Angels celebration.  And tremendous thanks to Angel and Mike. 
With much love.

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Soul mates and wooden rings


Commissioned and hand crafted wooden rings from Touch Wood Rings
 In Joseph's first email he gave us a lovely introduction to himself and his beloved. He talked a little about the work he does and how he dedicates that work to God, and he wrote:    
"I believe if you're in the trades, you're a tradesman
If you're in the trades and use your head, you're a craftsman.
And if you're in the trades, use your head and work with your heart, you are an artist."
It has been such a pleasure to work with Joseph and Glenda. They are kind and gentle people who describe themselves as Soul Mates.  Twin Flames.
 Wooden rings hand crafted by David Finch
With their rings in hand, Joseph wrote: 
"The arrival of the rings was much anticipated and we were elated to see the beautiful work and craftsmanship that went into them. We absolutely LOVE THEM and feel that they are a perfect representation of not only our personalities but also the delicacy and care needed for the rings is a beautiful reminder of the mindfulness and care needed for a long and happy marriage.  We look forward to wearing our rings on our special day and enjoying their deep symbolism for years to come.


We want to thank you and David for the time and care that you both took in helping us design the rings.  We also greatly appreciate the frequent updates and the final unveiling photos.  We truly felt that we were a part of the entire process.  Warmest wishes and many thanks, Joe and Glenda" 
Koa wood rings with crossed spiraled moss agate inlays by Touch Wood Rings



Saturday, May 18, 2013

Touch Wood Rings; Art and Sustainability


 Wooden engagement ring custom made by David FinchThe ring you crafted is beautiful - it combines art and sustainability with a personal touch. Your artistic skill, in concert with my partner’s creativity tailoring the design, has made for a wonderful gift. It is simply amazing that a small shell we found on the beach of Costa Rica could be incorporated into this wooden engagement ring. Both my partner Dave and I appreciate your beautiful work. Warm regards, Olivia

Earlier ~ Dave had written, " Our Touch Wood Ring arrived the day before yesterday and wow, it is is amazing. I am so excited for Olivia to see it. It is incredible to see the shells I've been hiding for a year appear in such a beautiful (wooden) ring.



The two woods provide an excellent contrast. It's better than I could have imagined. Thank you so much. Thank you again for your attention through this process and please pass on my appreciation to David for his work.
Thank you, Dave"
 

(Olivia's Touch Wood Ring is made of 50 year old black walnut from a certified Century Farm and wood from a branch of 150 year old Post Oak with an inlay of their Costa Rican shells. )

Saturday, April 20, 2013

A Costa Rican Celebration, Love and Wooden Rings



Not too long ago Jason and Elena worked together on designing his ring.  They commissioned it together. Watched it's development together. Elena paid for Jason's ring.  Meanwhile, unbeknownst to her, Jason also commissioned a Touch Wood Ring for Elena.
A few weeks ago Jason wrote:
Nicola and David,  We just got back from Costa Rica and our most amazing wedding. We had the times of our lives and we received so many compliments with your rings. When I gave Elena her ring she was just mesmerized by it.

 

We were on the beach in Manuel Antonio and it was the sunniest and most awesome day. I had to give your website to several people who told me that they just had to get a ring. So happy with our rings again and I thank you.
You make the most amazing rings.
You guys are the best... Elena and Jason.
 

Thanks Jason and Elena. We meet the most amazing people through our work. :)
David and I wish you a rich and joyful life together.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Love Notes and Wooden Rings



I thought I would share a threesome of loving notes written to us recently by three couples who each designed and commissioned Touch Wood Rings as their wedding rings. We are, as ever, grateful and humbled.  It is, as always; our pleasure.  Thanks you guys!!

Our Touch Wood Rings!  We are absolutely in love with them!  They turned out even better than we imagined.   You have been so wonderful and have made this process so fun and enjoyable ...a big thank you to you and David! 




We are speechless.  I had seen some remarkable rings on your website but nothing really prepared me to see something that Matthew and I brainstormed together with little bits of taped-up-paper, (I kid you not, we made little paper rings and drew on the inlays with pens at different widths and options) ...to what we see now!  These rings are absolutely stunning, I cannot congratulate you and David enough for an excellent job!  

Touch Wood Rings
 
We couldn't be happier!  They are so breathtakingly gorgeous and we LOVE the hidden knots inside the rings.  Thank you so much for creating such a unique symbol for us to share with one another as we take the next step in our lives.  

I stumbled upon your website more than a couple of years ago and shared it with Adam with the hopes that one day he and I would get engaged and have the opportunity to be one of your satisfied customers with rings of our own. I am so happy that I can say that we are definitely satisfied with the craftsmanship, quality and ease of working with you.

Thank you so much! 

Quality and Craftsmanship