Woods we love and how we use them!
Wood reflects the natural variety of the cosmos! The grain patterns, textures, and colors vie with beautiful vistas of landscapes, cloudscapes, sunrises and sunsets as reflections of nature’s beauty. We feel fortunate and grateful that we have chosen wood as our medium. Not all woods are appropriate for all uses. Phil & I make a variety of things, and choose from our palette of species with care when making an item from wood. We have included here the common name, the scientific name, and very general ways we use the various woods.
This page is a work in progress, but full of sample pictures of woods in our workshop. Every piece of wood is unique, so the pictures are “Examples” and representative of the woods we use. If you don’t see a sample picture here of a wood species you are interested in – email us, and we will look into the nooks and crannies and see if we have a piece… You never know!
Please remember that every piece of wood is different. We try to show representative samples of wood, but there are always color and grain differences!
A note… tropical woods are, as we all know, endangered – we purchase ONLY from reputable dealers who follow the law of the countries in which these woods grow. As of August, 2010, fewer and fewer permits are being “let” to the people who harvest the woods.. We are very concerned about the environment and the health and welfare of the people and the indigenous species in these forests (as well as those in the forests of North America and Europe)..
We will continue to work in the exotic and tropical woods so long as we still have some. We will not be purchasing any more exotic or endangered woods. We , will continue to work with the woods that grow in the Southern Appalachian Nantahala and Cherokee National Forests which are located in the Southern Appalachian Mountain Chain (Southeast Tennesse and Southwestern North Carolina (w
here we live). We prefer sustainable harvesting of wood from trees that are taken by storm, drought, and careful management by the Park rangers. We thank you for your support.
Phil & Martha
DOMESTIC WOODS (NORTH AMERICAN)
| CHERRY WOOD (Prunus serotina)Eastern Forests,North America – Appalachianskitchen ware, hair accessories,furniture, boxes |
HICKORY(Carya Glabra )North Americakitchen ware, bowlscarvings, boxes, inlay, furniture |
SYCAMORE (Acer pseudopiatanus)Eastern Forests, N. America,UK, Europebowls, kitchenware, boxes |
Black Walnut (Jugians nigra)Eastern Forests, N. Americafurniture, boxes, bowls, kitchenware, cutting boards |
MAPLE (Acer macrophyllum)North Americahair accessories, kitchen ware,carvings, bowls, boxes, furniture |
AMBROSIA BEETLE MAPLE(Acer macrophyllum)North Americakitchen ware, carvings,bowls, boxes, furniture |
| Osage Orange, Bodark, Bois d’Arc, Horse Apple golden, grainy – turns  golden tan(Maclura pomifera) |
Dogwood (Cornus florida)Eastern Forests N. Americahair accessories, jewelry,spoons and utensils,carving, inlay work. |
| Peach Wood occasionally we get a piece.. | Apple Wood (Pyrus malus or communis) turnings, boxes, hair accessories, kitchen utensils wooden spoons,
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EXOTIC WOODS, ASIAN and AFRICAN
| MACASSAR EBONY WOOD (Diospyros marmorata)Andaman Islandshair accessories, specialty kitchen,carvings, boxes, inlay  |
PINK IVORY (Berchemia zeyheri)South Africa currently unavailable hair accessories, inlay |
| AFRICAN BLACKWOODDalbergia Melanoxylon – Common Name – Mpingo hair accessories, inlay, carvings extremely hard and dense rosewood currently unavailable |
WENGE (Millentia laurentil)West Africahair accessories, furniture, boxes, inlay |
BUBINGA (Guibourtia demeusei)Cameroonrosewoodhair accessories, furniture, boxes, inlay |
Gaboon (Gabon) Ebony (Diospyrus spp.)Gaboon, Southern Nigeria, Cameroon, and Zairehair sticks, inlay, carvings |
| ZEBRAWOOD (Microberlinia brazzavillenis)West Africa hair accessories, furniture, boxes, inlay  |
PADOUK (Pterocarpus soyauxii)hair accessories, furniture, boxes darkens to a rich deep colorCameroon  |
EXOTIC WOODS, TROPICAL CENTRAL, N & S AMERICA
BOCOTE (CORDIA) (Cordia elaeagnoides)Mexicohair accessories, furniture, carvings, boxes |
CHAKTE VIGApernambuco – Central Americahair accessories, inlay, carving |
| PAU AMERELLO (YELLOWHEART) (Euxiioophora paraensis huber)Brazil, S. America hair accessories, specialty kitchen, boxes, inlay yellow – stays shimmery yellow  |
CARDINAL WOOD (BLOODWOOD) (Brosimum paraense)Tropical Americathe deep red/pink is not currently available this is a pretty dusky pink to cream colorhair accessories, specialty kitchen, boxes, inlay |
PURPLE HEART (Peltogyne spp.)Central and South Americahair accessories, specialty kitchen, boxes, inlay |
GONCALO ALVES (Astronium fraxinfolium)S. America – Brazilhair accessories, boxes, inlay |
MAHOGANY, HONDURAN (Swistenia macrophylla)Tropical Americas (N & S)hair accessories, kitchenware, bowls, furniture, boxes, inlay |
TULIP WOOD (Dalbergia frutesscene)Brazil currently unavailable hair accessories, specialty kitchen, boxes, inlay
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BOLIVIAN ROSEWOOD (MORADO, MORADILLO)(Dalberia nigra)hair accessories, kitchen specialties,furniture, carvings, boxes |
ZIRICOTE (Cordia dodecandra)Mexicohair accessories, carvings, boxes, inlay |
Canarywood (Centrolobium spp.)Central and South Americahair accessories, boxes, inlay, specialty kitchen, furniture, bowls |
Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa)Central America from Panama to Mexico hair accessories, inlay, jewelry, boxes, specialty kitchen
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Chechen |
Brazilian Kingwood (Dalbergia cearensis) currently unavalable hair accessories, specialty kitchen, boxes, inlay, carvings
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