I've been carving for several years. I prefer carving human forms like Indians, cowboys, spirit faces, sometimes famous people depending on my mood and spirit and likes at the time. I like using native woods from around the area like butternut and basswood and also clay is becoming one of my favorite medias.

Thomas Stowe has been creating wildlife artwork for more than thirty years using Linden wood as the main medium.

Subjects are carved for shape, wood burned for texture, and panted for realism.

Over the years, artwork ranging from basic feather pins to intricate life-sized woodcarvings have become desirable and collectible.

Pens and pencils turned from Appalachian hardwoods. Other hardwood items, including spinning tops, kaleidoscope eggs, yo-yos, fly novelties, fly candles, fly ornaments, fly clock.

wood turning

Basket Weaving: I use flat and oval reed along with oak frames and hoops to weave traditional baskets for everyday use or decoration.

A bird carved by Bill Chrisman demands to be held. One may know the bird is made from wood and still have to touch it to make sure its feathers are not real. Attention to detail of each bird and delicate touch with paints results in a remarkably realistic bird.

My cutting boards and baguette boards are made from wood from our farm in Glade Spring, Virginia. I enjoy working with wood to create something fun as well as functional. Each varies a bit with the natural grain of the wood. The only finish on the wood is mineral oil. An occasional good rubbing with oil will keep it happy!
The bird houses are pulled from my love of books and my imagination. The books that I use are all re-purposed and pulled from a sure end to life. They decorative and for indoor enjoyment only.

Its about quality, its about integrity, in the way I design and bild each piece. All my hardwoods are hand selected and produced directly in my studio. Each piece is 100% exclusive to my client and the result is a true

Real Wood Designs builds functional household items, including furniture. All projects are created in my studio using local wood.

I am a native Virginian who, until 2007, lived and worked in the Washington DC area for the US Justice Department.  After thirty years of civil service with DOJ, I retired to pursue my passion in lutherie.  I now reside with my wife, Sarah, and our four wonderful children, Elena, Diana, Asher and Amelie in the culture-rich mountains of Southwest Va. I've played guitar most of my life and have always loved fine woodwork. In early 2000 I became interested in lutherie and found a guitar builder associated with a local music store in Old Town Alexandria, Va, who took me under his wing. The luthier's name was Roberto and he spoke little to no English.  Over the next few years I spent afternoons and weekends with Roberto learning his craft. Language was no barrier. I was later inspired by Wayne Henderson who lived just a few miles from my parents in SW Va. As noted, I retired from Civil Service in 2007 and moved to Marion where I have established a lutherie shop on Main Street. My parents are native to the Greencove / Whitetop area, and I spend much of my childhood here.

Born in the midst of the Appalachins Mountains I am a lifelong resident of Smyth County in Southwest Virginia being raised in Rich Valley and Chilhowie. I've lived at the foot of Little Brushy Mountain for the past eighteen years.
Having eighty acres of land to explore with my dogs, I have ample room to roam and think, but I'm still not sure where the idea for acorn jewlery came from. The hard mast crop of acorns in 2010 was enormous. While waling in the woods I strted filling my pockets with acorns and collected baskets fulll but the idea of what to do with them didn't come until the fall of 2011. I have tree stands on three different levels of the mountain. I don't hunt but enjoy watching all the wildlife. I must have spent too much time in the woods the day the idea of making acorn jewlery hit me like a lightning bolt. Working with acorns has brought back many wonderful childhood memories of playing for hours in the woods surrounding my home in Oak Grove. I hope you enjoy wearing Squirreley Worley Acorns as much as I enjoy making them.
Joan Worley Prater

Native to Appalachia, Journel was born into a family that valued hard work, self-sufficiency and hand skills. Both his father and grandfather made tools and furniture for personal use and sale or trade. After many years as a skilled carpenter and contractor, in the 1980’s he turned an enduring interest in woodworking into a second trade. He draws on and takes pride in his heritage then adds his own contemporary spin to his bowls. His “food-friendly” exquisitely carved and decorated turned salad bowls start with hand-picked woods native to the southern Appalachian Mountains. Sustainable practices guide his work and the unique north-south range of the mountains he lives in results in a wide assortment of rare, unusual and beautiful woods. His bowls are turned on the lathe and embellished with unique, hand-carved designs.

We are Martin & Linda Garthaffner and we operate Garthaffner Creative Family Enterprises.
Originally from up north, we are now in grafted Southerners, having lived in Virginia for 35 years! Martin enjoys wood working & began making quality, period correct, functional Artisan Lanterns for the Frontier Camping Fellowship many years ago. Produced in several styles & types
of wood- these lanterns are now used by numerous Civil War re enactors, in homes, events, and festivals.Linda enjoys the more artistic side of the wood working, as in Pyrography (wood burning), painting, & decorating. As well as making jewelry, bow making, knitting, sewing, & quilting.We are both members of the James River Woodcarvers Association.

I build musical instruments, guitars and mandolins. I complete repairs on all types of stringed instruments, both acoustic and electric. I process all my materials that I have opportunity to. After completing the master program, I graduated from the Galloup School of Lutherie.