The maple was one of the only sources of sugar for the native peoples & as such, it was seen as a gift from the creator. While the maple is a gift, the native tales are clear that this gift takes work.

The majority of maple trees are considered “pioneer species” meaning they are hardy enough to persevere. They are able to repopulate damaged and disrupted ecosystems because they have the ability to adapt to many different soil types & climates.

Walnuts are most often associated with intelligence, wisdom, and inspiration.

Greek mythology says that Prometheus, an immortal titan who rebelled against Zeus by stealing fire from Mount Olympus, gave a single walnut shell containing all the secrets of human future knowledge to his brother Epimetheus as he left him to create the human race.

Copper is an amazing amplifier and conductor of energy, this warming mineral is ripe for helping you release excess charge and conduct positive vibrations.

Spiritually, copper is considered a metal that is capable of storing healing and protective properties. This is why it was used in the making of shields, totem poles and talismans during ancient times. Copper has been anciently known to heal the impurities of your body because it is considered a grounding metal for the human body and spirit.

Quilted is a type of figuring named for its resemblance to patchwork patterns seen on fabric quilts. Experts believe the pattern is caused by a mixture of genetics and growing conditions. More specifically, it’s seen only in parts of the tree which grew at an angle.

The term derives from the French word “chatoyer”, which means “to iridesce, like a cat’s eye.” If you’ve ever seen the stone tiger’s eye, you get the idea. In woodworking, chatoyance is a similarly striking optical quality in which areas of light and dark grain seemingly shimmer or shift depending on the angle of view.

Texture can be achieved in a myriad of different ways. In the shop, we often use a wire brush to distress the wood because it will wear off the pulp of the wood grain, leaving the denser wood behind. This cleans the surface of the wood, brings out character, and leaves a more prominent wood grain.