Firewood Furniture

We find inspiration in one form or another, such as working in a garden, a beautiful hike or snowshoeing in the woods, gazing into the waves of an ocean - the list is endless. Nestled in the rural area of Western Massachusetts, you'll find Chuck & Devon of Firewoood Furniture, who find inspiration in the natural world around them.

Firewood Furniture - no, their creative art is not used for firewood! It's all in the name and to quote Devon, here is how they came up with their business name:

"it is a combination of the materials we use. We use birch trees as our logo because we love them, but also because they are a pioneer species that is the first to spread new growth to an area after fire. It seems to fit the name Firewood well. The name also has some irony for us. We both grew up in rural areas where signs for "Firewood" were posted everywhere. And of course, we like to think that nothing we create would be used for firewood unless the apocalypse were upon us :) So our name is partly serious and partly our weird sense of humor."

Chuck is the woodworker and Devon creates ceramics. They like to combine their skills to come up with unique pieces that are both functional and beautiful. You must see their shop to see what I mean. Read their Profile as well, very informative.

Not only do Chuck and Devon sale their work on Etsy, but they also do craft shows. Most of their smaller work is on Etsy, which they heard about in Venus Zine several years ago and finally decided to open up a shop. Glad they did because I'm the proud owner of one their Rustic Serving Trio sets, similar to the one below:

Oh but alas, they have more than gorgeous furniture! Go visit their shop and you'll find beautiful cutting boards, magnets, tiles, earrings and more. I can almost smell the wood and feel the cool sensation of the ceramics just browsing their shop.

Happy shopping!

Rocki

Just a few tidbits

I have so much that I want to blog about, but not enough time right now. It's so nice having Jeremy home! He's still here, but is now staying over at my sister's house, Laura, spending time with his nephews and everyone. He's making the rounds until he has to head back to Portland next week.

So, just a few tidbits to fill my lonesome blog until next week. Above and below are my new Slide n Go Interchangeable Ear Wires.

Below are my very cool Big Loop Wild West Earring/Ear Wires. One of my customers wanted a bigger loop than my standard Wild West and, yes, you know it. I loved them so much that I just had to make a pair for myself AND add them to my shop. One in Sterling Silver:

And one in 14k Gold Filled of course: Big Gold Loop Wild West

Tonight we're going to Corbin's graduation, my nephew/Laura's oldest son. It is an outdoor ceremony at the stadium, but it may be changed to another venue because we're due for thundershowers today & tonight. Guess we'll find out shortly.

My wrists are healing quite well. I think I simply over worked them far too long and have now changed the way I do things. The doctors office called yesterday to have me start therapy - no can do. I don't have the time to spare, plus I don't want to spend $35 a pop 3x per week when I can do it at home for free. I'm juuuuust fine :)

I'm off like a prom dress. Time to make the donuts. Time to get this party started. I'm heading out like a baby. Too much coffee perhaps? ;)

Happy day everyone!

Rocki

Jeremy's home!

My favorite pic of me & Jeremy!

Obviously I haven't blogged all week, for a couple reasons actually. I'm back in the studio and my oldest son is home - Jeremy!

Mark & I picked Jeremy up at the airport Thursday evening and we are enjoying his visit. He's home for about 1 1/2 weeks :) Yesterday, Jason took us to lunch at PF Chang's (YUM!), then we strolled through the mall and then hit Starbucks - Jeremy's treat. What more could a mom ask for? Lunch AND Starbucks! We accidentally (or WAS it?) left the Starbucks evidence in the garage. Mark discovered it when he got home and was a bit jealous. In fact, I do believe there were tears welling up in his eyes. Sing it with me now: "poor Mark" :(

Next week we'll be going to Corbin's high school graduation - one of my nephews, Laura's oldest son. I do believe our entire family will be there so hopefully we can get some pictures of the clan in action.

I'm just so happy Jeremy is home as he wasn't able to come home for the holidays due to work & school. I'm looking forward to spending time with him as it has been 1 year since he was home last. Way too long!

Well, that's it for now. Just wanted to do a quick post to say hello, have a great weekend and see you soon :)

Peace,
Rocki

p.s. For those who have asked about my wrists, I'm healing every day and have made adjustments in many areas - from how I work with my hands to how I schedule, etc. I'm not sure if I want to return to the docs as I'm sick of them right now, so I'm healing them on my own. Thank you all!

Unbelievable - Perfect Balance!

Yesterday I was working on just a few ear wires (getting better!) and the most unbelievable thing happened - totally freaked me out! While looking through my huge lighted tabletop magnifying glass, holding my little gold hoop in one hand and filing it with the other, I lost my grip and it fell out of my hand.

I looked through the glass and nothing. Where did it go? I figured it landed somewhere on my bench or on the floor perhaps. So I moved away from the table and there it was - STANDING UP! FREAKED me out!

I was giddy with the thought of this perfect balancing act and trying to figure out how in the heck it happened. I started to get excited, even giggling and didn't want to move it, but I needed the space. I needed proof of this bizarre ear wire that fell onto my work board standing straight up!

Should I call Oprah, Ellen or David Letterman? Maybe Funniest Home Video's (are they even still on the air?) Where the heck is our video camera! Hmm, was I on Candid Camera perhaps? I was afraid to breathe, so I gently backed away from the table, picked up my cell phone and took a couple pictures.

I needed better photos, so I slowly got up to go get my camera from the other room. Came back and it was STILL STANDING! I swear, I was laughing out loud at this point because it was so weird! How did it do this? How could a single little ear wire fall out of my hands and land standing up like that? My board is polyurethane, not like it's velcro or has big divots in it. For the most part, it's fairly smooth.

After taking a few photos, I finally had to move the ear wire. All I did was barely touch it and poof, it fell over. Made me sad.

Funny thing about this strange happening is lately, due to my wrists, I've been trying to find balance. Balance that would continue to allow me to be productive with my work as well as have my own personal time. Is this a sign? If so, what the heck does it mean?

Happy Freaky Friday!

Rocki

p.s. The doctor's office called, it's NOT Carpal Tunnel! (does happy dance) Now more tests to see what's up, but I'll be back to work on the 11th!

PIF

While not being able to be in the studio much, due to healing my wrists, I've been getting a few other things done and yes, cruising Etsy. Okay, more like pecking my way with these braces on, which I'm getting used to and hopefully I'll be back up to par next week :)

Anyway, I came across a thread about PIF sales. PIF... sales? This was sadly confusing because although PIF has many meanings, it was being used as in "Pay it Forward" sense. So I searched PIF in Etsy. Besides several threads in the Forum, there are TONS of items for sale for the listing price of .20cents and cost of shipping. From one to several items in the shops - some with several PIF sales that relist them over and over. I'm not saying this is wrong, to each their own, but I'm only expressing my personal opinion on what the true meaning of PIF means to me as well as others.

PIF= Pay It Forward. Random acts of kindness from one to another. Something that will change their life for the better. It can be something major or something as simple as:

Handing a homeless person your change - may inspire him/her that there is hope.
Helping a neighbor take out their trash - you were strangers until this day and now friends.
Taking the worm that inched it's way into your home outside into the garden - it now has food to live.
Letting that crazy driver go ahead of you - makes for a peaceful drive and they may slow down.
Giving a stranger a smile while passing them on the street - may brighten their day and in turn will pass that smile onto someone else - and so on and so on...

I could go on, but I'm sure you get the meaning and have thoughts of your own. What I don't believe PIF to be is trying to promote or gain exposure to yourself. It's a selfless act, one that requires nothing in return. The only thing it does in return is warms your heart knowing that your random act of kindness has helped another in some small way. Not boost sales.

Oh and if you haven't seen the movie (based off the book written by Catherine Ryan Hyde) with the very talented Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt & Haley Joel Osment, I highly recommend it. Although it is hard hitting and sad at times, it is very inspirational. I'll admit that watching it only once was good enough for me. Although my beliefs go hand and hand with it, Pay It Forward has forever opened my eyes.

Inspire someone today, it will make your heart happy.

Rocki

Gratitude & Compassion

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."
Albert Schweitzer

With sincere thanks to my sweet friend, Mary Jane, for her very kind post this morning. You have lit the spark within me.

"Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind."

Albert Schweitzer

May you spark someones flame today and show compassion to all living beings that you come in contact with.

Peace, love & happiness,

Rocki

Friday Funny!

I'm sharing this funny joke with you, thanks to my sweet friend Deb.

A woman was sitting at a bar enjoying an after work cocktail with her girlfriends when Steven, a tall, exceptionally handsome, extremely sexy, middle-aged man entered.

He was so striking that the woman could not take her eyes off him.

This seasoned yet playful heartthrob, noticed her overly attentive stare and walked directly towards her (as any man would). Before she could offer her apologies for staring so rudely, he leaned over and whispered to her...

"I'll do anything, absolutely anything you want me to do, no matter how kinky, for $20, on one condition..."

Flabbergasted, but intrigued, the woman asked what the condition was. The man replied "you have to tell me what you want me to do in just three words."

The woman considered his proposition for a moment, then slowly pulled out a $20 bill from her purse, which she pressed into the man's hand with her address.

She looked deeply and passionately into his eyes, barely concealing her anticipation and excitement, and slowly and meaningfully said... "clean my house."

LOL! Love this one Deb - thank you!
Happy Friday everyone :)
Rocki

p.s. no news yet as a Neuro has to read the results first.