Contemporary Furniture, Mission-Style Chairs & Tables, Lathe-Turned Lamps, Lathe-Turned Mirrors & Clocks
Photography can be viewed at http://www.thunderstruckphotography.com

Wood carvings of Native Americans, Mountain Men, Woodspirits, Wood Friends, Whimsical Houses as well as commissioned pieces, i.e., bears, squirrels, and other works.

I began turning wood as a hobby making gifts for family and friends. Eventually my shop was full and I began selling some items in order to expand my shop and purchase tools. I did this in order to make new and different items and cover overhead. I attend as many demonstrations and workshops as I can to improve my technique. My work has been well accepted and I now make items by request.

Mac Traynham of Floyd County became interested in handmade instruments in 1975 when he commissioned a friend build him a Gibson RB-100 copy on which to play a three finger style of Bluegrass and other experimental music . He became even more interested after commissioning Wayne Henderson to build him a Martin D-28 style guitar in 1976. Being attracted to beautiful woods and a serious player of Southwest Virginia style clawhammer banjo music, Mac built his first banjo in 1978 using recycled birdseye maple flooring that had been previously made into a door. During the late 70's and early 80's, he continued to make banjos and was part of an instrument makers seminar at the 1981 National Folk Festival. Being interested in all aspects of instrument making and playing, he visited the shops of and got tips from many of the area's renown instrument makers including Olen Gardner, Kyle Creed, Arthur Conner, Albert Hash, and Wayne Henderson. Over the years, he has experimented with classic tone designs and today is known for making beautiful banjos that have a superior tone. He most recently was a master banjo maker in the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities' 2009 Apprenticeship program.

He has been a professional custom cabinet maker since 1987. He prefers to use
local woods in a blend of traditional Shaker and modern European styles.

Mac's latest interest in raising grass-finished beef has resulted in a barter for
6 cow-calf pairs to be rotationally grazed on his grassland in Floyd County.

I have been involved in the art of woodcarving since 1970 for a total of 38 years. My goal is to share the beauty of wood sculpture with the public and encourage individuals to participate in this exciting art form. I specialize in realistic Bird and Animal carvings but also enjoy carving the traditional Busts of Indians and Trappers. My other interest is creating traditional Mountain Dulcimers.

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.

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

I turn and sculpt my bowls, vases and lamps from burl and other unusual wood growths. "Defects" become character as I collaborate with nature to create unique decorative pieces.

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.

Custom furniture and woodworking of fine craftsmanship

We create custom wooden "treasures" based upon customer specifications as well as a complete line of cajon (box) drums for the discriminating musician.

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

Woodworking became a hobby to me after retirement and I was influenced by my oldest brother, Jerry, and a good friend who is a woodworker in WV. I've enjoyed making a few pieces of furniture but have enjoyed more making nice writing pens and pencils of local woods especially but also of exotic woods from overseas. It has been a pleasure to give many of my pens to family and friends and I hope they will be a good investment for others.

I began woodturning out of a fascination with the infinite variety and beauty of wood, including its imperfections. I make bowls, hollow forms, lidded boxes, and platters. My pieces are generally decorative rather than utilitarian. I sometimes use surface texturing and carving, and now I am experimenting with color.

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.