Un unexpected journey into healing and creativity
Sawdust therapy
They say that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.
When a neighbor had to replace his wooden fence, Doug just couldn’t bring himself to watch all that beautiful grainy and weathered wood be thrown away.
He brought home all the wood boards he could salvage and stored them in the backyard by the garage.
In the past, he had read about how veterans and people struggling with depression and PTSD are often recommended woodworking to help them cope with the symptoms of their PTSD and was always curious about trying it but never really felt like he had the ability or the skills to do it.
One day, as he was refilling the bird feeders in the backyard he had an aha moment: birdhouses!
A birdhouse was simple enough for him to build, so he got to work right away. That afternoon and every day after that, he would get home from work and spend three to four hours out in the garage building birdhouses.
In the beginning, as you can see in the photo, they didn't look anything like what they do now.
Little by little, he grew more confident and found himself using his carving and painting skills to add details and personality to the birdhouses.
He takes great pride in his work and building birdhouses is more than just a hobby- it's a form of therapy and an outlet for creativity and self-expression.
He calls it sawdust therapy. I call it purpose.
we believe
...that when you purchase something handmade, you are buying more than just an object.
You’re buying countless hours of failures and experimentation. You are buying days, weeks, and months of frustration and moments of ‘pure joy’. You are not just buying a thing, you’re buying a piece of heart, an insight into someone’s soul, a moment of someone’s life.
More importantly, you are giving the artist confidence in their product, a chance to develop their skills further, and an opportunity to support themselves and to re-invest the money back into their business and community.
So thank you
for allowing us the opportunity to inspire and impact others by
simply doing what we love.
Our wish for you is to recognize the gifts, the magnificence, and the beauty that is all around you.
Sometimes, the most cherished gifts of all are the most difficult to see, especially when they’re right in front of us.
We are truly grateful for the gift you have given us. You.
Seize the day.