Before electric lights, Christmas trees glowed with candles. Before matches (invented 1826), every household had a spill plane—a specialized woodworking tool that created wooden shavings for transferring fire from hearth to candle. Discover the forgotten art of lighting Christmas trees in an era when fire was precious, and those glowing moments required real skill, coordination, and courage.

Your 2025 holiday gift guide is here! Discover unique handcrafted wood gifts for everyone on your list—from elegant hand-turned bowls and plant propagators for nature lovers, to charcuterie boards for entertainers, to charming wooden bird shelf sitters and heirloom ornaments. Every piece is one-of-a-kind or small batch, made with sustainable materials by a small business. Digital gift cards and gift receipts available. Shop small, give sustainably.

Trees communicate in ways that would make our own social networks look primitive. They send chemical text messages through the air, recognize their own offspring, change their behavior with the seasons, and even maintain connections after death. As someone who spends every day working with wood, learning about these deeper connections has transformed how I see every piece of timber. Today, I want to share what trees teach us about connection - and why it matters, whether you're a nature enthusiast, a woodworker, or someone who simply appreciates the living world around us.

Black Friday has the door-busters. Cyber Monday has the online deals. But Small Business Saturday? That's where the magic happens.For every $100 spent at a local business, $68 stays in your community – supporting your neighbors' dreams, funding local schools, and keeping your downtown vibrant. When you shop small, you're not just buying a product. You're investing in real people, one-of-a-kind craftsmanship, and the soul of your community.Want to shop local but don't know where to start? We've got you covered with search strategies, holiday market tips, and insider secrets to discovering amazing artisans and makers right in your neighborhood.[Read our complete guide to finding and supporting small businesses this holiday season]

We've all been there: standing in a big-box store, pushing a cart down fluorescent-lit aisles, picking up item after item and thinking, "Would they really love this?" There's something hollow about grabbing mass-produced gifts off a shelf, knowing that a hundred other people walked out with the exact same thing today.

As a woodworker who creates handcrafted pieces every day, I've witnessed countless moments when someone picks up one of my bowls, runs their fingers along the smooth curves, and their whole face lights up. That connection – that recognition of human hands, time, and care – is what makes handcrafted gifts powerful, whether they're made from wood, clay, metal, fiber, or glass.

This holiday season, discover why choosing handcrafted means giving something with history, soul, and a story that lasts far beyond the wrapping paper. From supporting real artisans to starting family heirlooms, handcrafted gifts create meaning that mass-produced items simply can't match...

Ever wondered why one tree in your yard seems to sprout new shoots everywhere? Meet the sassafras - North America's shapeshifting tree that produces three different leaf forms and builds underground empires through connected root systems. From Native American medicine to colonial root beer, this remarkable tree has shaped both forests and history.

Fall brings more than colorful leaves - it's the season of nature's percussion section! Discover why trees time their seed release for autumn, the fascinating science behind "mast years," and how different species create the distinctive sounds of the season. From acorns thundering onto sidewalks to maple helicopters spinning through the air, every falling seed tells a story of millions of years of evolutionary strategy.

The Majestic Larch Tree: Unveiling Nature’s Seasonal Beauty

Each fall larch trees share their unique gift. Learn more about it in this months blog.

Picture this: you're walking through a forest in October, and everywhere you look, nature is putting on its grand finale. Maples are blazing scarlet, oaks are glowing amber, and birches are dropping golden coins that crunch satisfyingly underfoot. As a woodworker, I spend my days working with the beautiful "bones" of these trees – turning their timber into bowls, sculptures, and decorative pieces that bring nature's beauty into your home. But the living story of these deciduous giants is every bit as fascinating as the grain patterns I reveal in my workshop.

What makes some trees put on this spectacular seasonal show while others stay stubbornly green year-round? And why should we care about those falling leaves beyond their Instagram-worthy photo ops? The answer lies in one of nature's most elegant survival strategies and recycling systems...

Continue reading to discover why deciduous trees are environmental superstars and what those falling leaves are really up to!

Ambrosia maple isn't a tree species – it's nature's artwork. When tiny ambrosia beetles bore through living maple trees, they create stunning gray and black streaking patterns that make each piece completely unique. Unlike spalted maple's bold zone lines, ambrosia maple features graceful, flowing patterns that follow the beetles' tunnel systems.

As an artisan woodworker specializing in reclaimed materials, I'm fascinated by how these small insects transform ordinary maple into extraordinary decorative wood. The beetles cultivate fungal farms within their tunnels, creating the distinctive gray patterns that make ambrosia maple so prized by woodworkers and collectors alike.

Currently featuring three handcrafted ambrosia maple live edge bowls, each showcasing the wood's natural character through careful design that complements rather than competes with the beetle's artistic contributions. Every piece tells a story of nature's collaboration – beetles, fungi, and trees working together to create something more beautiful than any could achieve alone.

Gray Hill Woodworking LLC - Handcrafted, functional art from locally reclaimed wood.

As woodworkers, we have a unique connection to our native tree species. Currently, iconic trees like ash and hemlock face unprecedented threats from invasive pests and pathogens that are fundamentally changing our forests. The American Chestnut's devastating story – where a single invasive species eliminated 25% of Eastern forests – shows us what's at stake. Scientists are racing to save these imperiled species by finding "lingering trees" with natural resistance and breeding future generations of resistant forests. At Gray Hill Woodworking, we understand the irreplaceable value of these species and support conservation efforts while creating handcrafted pieces from 98% sustainably reclaimed materials.

4 billion American Chestnut trees once dominated our forests. By 1954, they were gone—wiped out by a single invasive fungus. The ecological collapse that followed changed America forever. 🌳💔

This heartbreaking story shows how interconnected our ecosystems really are. Full story + powerful documentary link on our blog.

#AmericanChestnut #ForestHistory #EcologicalCollapse #ReclaimedWood

Discover the ancient Japanese practice of forest bathing—a simple yet powerful way to reduce stress, boost immunity, and reconnect with nature. Also known as "shinrin-yoku," this mindful forest immersion goes beyond hiking or camping to create a deep sensory connection with woodland environments. Scientific research shows that spending intentional time among trees can lower blood pressure, reduce cortisol levels, and enhance immune function for up to 30 days. As woodworkers who transform reclaimed materials into sustainable home accessories, we understand the profound connection between forests and wellbeing. Learn how to find the perfect forest bathing locations near you, from the majestic Adirondacks to local state parks, and experience firsthand why trees offer us so much more than beautiful materials—they provide healing, inspiration, and a pathway to inner peace.

Discover the best Mother's Day gifts for 2025 in our sustainable gift guide! Skip mass-produced items and choose handcrafted treasures made from locally reclaimed wood. From small splurges under $35 to statement pieces that wow, our one-of-a-kind creations offer something special for every mom. Order by May 8th for local delivery, or choose nationwide shipping. Browse our collection of handmade, eco-friendly gifts that are as unique as she is! #BestMothersDayGifts #Sustainable #HandcraftedWithLove

Spalted maple wood reveals nature’s hidden artistry through dramatic black lines and ethereal patterns created by fungi. This rare material, harvested at peak decay, becomes the canvas for artisan woodworkers crafting one-of-a-kind home décor. Explore how fungal battles transform ordinary maple into extraordinary works of art, and how sustainable woodworking preserves these natural masterpieces.

They’ve shaded soldiers, guided travelers, and survived centuries. Meet America’s most remarkable trees—Witness Trees, Monument Trees, and hidden Native American marker trees—that stand as living testaments to our past. A woodworker’s journey through the bark-covered archives of history.

Trees possess abilities that, if attributed to comic book characters, would make them the ultimate environmental superheroes. Their superpowers extend far beyond providing the beautiful wood we use in our creations.

Whether you currently live in Asheville, NC, Cape May, NJ, or Burlington, VT, check out this Redfin article we were featured in on How to Achieve the Cottagecore Aesthetic From Experts

Article written for Redfin by Emily Pascale

Check out the article we were featured in: How to Achieve the Cottagecore Aesthetic From Experts | Redfin

Discover simple expert techniques for wooden cutting board care that preserve beauty and extend lifespan. Learn proper cleaning methods, conditioning treatments, and preventative maintenance to keep your handcrafted cutting board in pristine condition. This comprehensive guide covers daily cleaning essentials, monthly maintenance rituals, and seasonal rejuvenation for cutting boards made from both reclaimed and non-reclaimed wood. Follow these professional tips to prevent warping, cracking, and staining while enhancing the natural character of your wooden cutting board for generations of use.