My friend Larry has built some extremely creative "hobbit bungalows" for our chickadee friends.

He takes our Yew and artfully sands and shapes the pieces so as to build these. No two are alike but all have the same complete attention of the builder. There are more pictures in our website gallery under "sculptures,tables and bowls".

He can be persuaded to do more of these if you are interested. They are wonderful gifts!! 

I have always wanted a bar because I have this "cheers" fantasy but realize it would be very different from my imagination. But never the less I have collected many items for my bar and up until the mantel business I never had a place for the "bar".

So I decided to surround myself with the bar stuff and create a bar and wood shop combo. When I talk with my customers this is where I am standing. This part of the shop has a bar name of "Suds and Sawdust". Love to have you visit for possibly more than just a mantel. 

That is Otter curled up for a nap.  

These are old growth Douglas Fir planks that measure approximately 12' x 18-20'' x 4'' thick. They will finish in the lighter tones and make wonderful counter/bartops.

In the one picture is my "old salty dog" friend since being kids, Reidar Solberg. He and his wife Linda and their son Lange are important, good friends. They like many of us have a close tie to wood and all that it has to offer, not only as structural pieces but what it is as it relates to us emotionally through our family histories.

At one time I left the Pacific Northwest and lived in Minnesota and Missouri for 13 years.  I had not been back for some time and I remember coming up the road in a car with the windows down and being overwhelmed with the strong smell of the evergreen trees and how it stimulated many "tree/wood" memories. 

Reidar, like many of our friends and families have combined a working life of wood and fish. This year Reidar will once again fish in Bristol Bay Alaska where he has fished for 50 YEARS!

Now that is a "salty dog" that smells of fish and of course wood! 

Happy New Year. The years seem to be going faster. What's that all about?? 

Every once in awhile we surprise ourselves with the art that nature has provided for us.

This is a recent project that has the leading position on "character wood" or "natural edge" mantel pieces.

It is a Pacific Yew piece that is much darker than most. It appears that the sapwood has disappeared but I think it is possible that the sapwood is present but is just not blonde in color.

This is one of the most beautiful Pacific Yew logs we have ever milled. No, really, it is beautiful even though it may look ugly!

Within this log are some stunning pieces. The live or natural edge will have an abundance of character. One of the enjoyments we have is watching this log as it transforms into a mantel shelf.

The live edge will be sanded until it is smooth and blonde.

I also need to add that this happens to be the larget Yew we have had the good fortune to lay our hands on. I am a bit behind in my blogging so much of this log is in many of your homes. 

Thank you for opportunity of sending it to you all. 

Just a quick note to let you all know about our new friends at www.specialtybuiltconstruction.com From Feb. 14 to 22 they will be at the Seattle Home show.

I have recently had the pleasure of meeting Rick and have been introduced to his recent home/building projects. I must say that I am very impressed on both accounts. If you live in the northwest and can get to the homeshow please visit with Rick. Whether you end up using Rick in your next project or not, you will enjoy the visit with a person that truely enjoys his "work" and that has a fine appreciation of the builder/client relationship.

If you are not in the area then by all means visit his website. You will be pleasantly awed!

This is a 6' Juniper log mantel that will be mounted on two 7-8" diameter juniper log corbels. This will be shipped to one of our customers next week.

I like it because of its very unique character. Different from the Pacific Yew in that the "movement" is pronounced but yet somewhat controlled with some  symmetry.

Once again "nature's art".

I haven't had the Juniper for very long. It seems that when I have shown it to customers, with its unique look, it has gotten rave reviews.

It is a lighter wood on the outside with some dark spots where the knots are located. The knot area is also concaved. It reminds me of a larger Diamond Willow tree. You may have seen the willow in a walking stick.  The Juniper is characterized by ribs and waves in the outer layers. It is soft, smooth and quite "showey". The heart wood is very unusual in that it has no set pattern. It looks like a pallet of three differing colors just after you would begin to stir.

Hopefully from the pictures below you can get an idea of why I am pleased to have it as one more possible piece of natural art.

We have been on the web with our www.timbermantels.com site for a number of years and are intrigued by the marketing issues that arise. If any of you are in need of a person that can optimize and generally assist and/or manage your marketing strategy, then I highly recommend our "go to person" Gary Pickering at www.whatcomweb.com . He is not only extremely proficient but is also very attentive. He has treated our business as though it were his. I love that.

Please ask and I will be happy to send more pictures of Juniper mantels (mantles) in both the beam and 1/2 round log look.

The term "rustic" mantel is being used to search/find our mantels or should I say "rustic timbermantels" At the first take I was not particularly fond of the term rustic. But I have to admit I wasn't aware of all of the differing definitions.

I thought of rustic being "rough," "coarse," "unfinished" etc. I did not realize that rustic can refer to "country life and country people" but beyond that it also implies "charmingly simple". 

Here is where I land on the word. Our mantels (mantles) are simple and do reflect country charm. But not in a rough, coarse fashion but rather in a smooth, elegant statement of functional, elegant art that only nature could have provided for us to enjoy.

Our motto....."Do as little as possible with natural art and then get out of the way"

I am so very pleased with the requests that you have sent our way during the past few months. As we move into the gray, gloomy northwest weather it is time to kick the stove into gear and warm the shop.

It is also time to renew our relationship with our friends at www.mindfly.com and bring, to you, new pictures of projects and wood species that will now be offered.

I have not been blogging enough to keep all informed as well as to promote our site so that you might more easily find us. I have to be honest and say that I would much rather make sawdust than shape "the blog" but you know the bitter/sweet thing is ever present.

The Bitter......Some of you may have read about some random shootings and killings in our area of Washington State. Well one of my dear friends was shot and killed while he did what he loved doing....carpentry. Once again we are confronted by hideous behavior and the complete absence of mental health services for families when they have sought support for a family member that is obviously on the edge. Please support any efforts in your area to enhance mental health services.

The Sweet.....memories of David and his love of wood!!