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.

Burl wood is anything but average. The swirls, twirls, and eyes dancing in the bark all create a unique, highly figured wood grain. A burl is an unusual-looking collection of tree cells. These are callous tissues. These are formed usually as a response to environmental damage such as injury or fungal colonies. The callous tissue then forms burls that are so admired.

In spiritual and metaphysical traditions Brass is the metal that brings out natural good and inner truth. Even the phrase 'getting down to brass tacks' tells of clearing away the old debris and getting down to the pure and natural truth. The Vedic texts have showcased the use of brass metal to attract positivity and abundance in life. Its use in rituals can help to invoke divine consciousness because it is made of zinc and Copper.

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.

Bark inclusions are pockets of bark found within the interior of a tree. An ingrown Limb is a limb or branch that has been cut through during the sawing process.

A knot is a portion of a branch or limb that has become incorporated in a piece of lumber.

Live-edge defines the unfinished edge of the woodwork. It is the periphery of wood not altered by hand tools or woodworking machinery. As a result, the untouched ends retain the original characteristics of a tree; its shape, texture, and sometimes even its bark.