Wood Grain Is My Palette
If you ask me why I love woodworking, the answer is simple: every piece of wood already contains something beautiful. My job isn't to create that beauty—it's to reveal it.
I've been working with wood since I was about ten years old, when my grandfather "sold" me my first whittling knife for fifty cents because, as he told me, it was bad luck to give someone a knife. He taught me how to carve a simple propeller, and I was hooked. What started as childhood curiosity grew into a lifelong passion for making things by hand.
Over the past forty-plus years, I've explored everything from furniture and keepsake boxes to bowls, puzzles, cutting boards, and fine writing instruments. Although I enjoy working with many materials—including acrylics, carbon fiber, brass, aluminum, natural shell, and sea glass—wood has always been my favorite. Every board, burl, and turning blank has its own personality. No two pieces are ever alike, and that's what continues to inspire me every time I step into my workshop.
One of my favorite sayings is, "Wood Grain Is My Palette." As an artist, I don't try to improve what nature has already created. Instead, I carefully shape, turn, sand, and finish each piece to reveal the character already hidden within the grain.
I believe the things we use every day should be more than simply functional—they should bring a little joy every time we pick them up. Whether it's a handcrafted fountain pen, a pepper mill, a sewing tool, or another functional piece, I want it to feel comfortable in your hand, perform beautifully, and become something you'll reach for again and again. My work isn't meant to sit on a shelf collecting dust; it's meant to become part of your daily life.
Every item in my shop is individually handcrafted in my workshop. I carefully select each piece of wood or material, shape it by hand, and finish it to the highest standard I know how to achieve. I won't ship anything I wouldn't be proud to own myself.
I also enjoy collaborating with customers to create personalized and custom pieces. Some of my favorite projects have started with a simple conversation and grown into one-of-a-kind gifts that celebrate life's special moments.
As a small way of giving back to the natural resources that inspire my work, a tree is planted with every purchase through my partnership with One Tree Planted.
Thank you for visiting ASH Woodshops. Whether you're looking for a meaningful gift or something special for yourself, I hope you find a piece that you'll enjoy using for many years to come.
Blessings,
Alan
Founder & Maker, ASH Woodshops
I've been working with wood since I was about ten years old, when my grandfather "sold" me my first whittling knife for fifty cents because, as he told me, it was bad luck to give someone a knife. He taught me how to carve a simple propeller, and I was hooked. What started as childhood curiosity grew into a lifelong passion for making things by hand.
Over the past forty-plus years, I've explored everything from furniture and keepsake boxes to bowls, puzzles, cutting boards, and fine writing instruments. Although I enjoy working with many materials—including acrylics, carbon fiber, brass, aluminum, natural shell, and sea glass—wood has always been my favorite. Every board, burl, and turning blank has its own personality. No two pieces are ever alike, and that's what continues to inspire me every time I step into my workshop.
One of my favorite sayings is, "Wood Grain Is My Palette." As an artist, I don't try to improve what nature has already created. Instead, I carefully shape, turn, sand, and finish each piece to reveal the character already hidden within the grain.
I believe the things we use every day should be more than simply functional—they should bring a little joy every time we pick them up. Whether it's a handcrafted fountain pen, a pepper mill, a sewing tool, or another functional piece, I want it to feel comfortable in your hand, perform beautifully, and become something you'll reach for again and again. My work isn't meant to sit on a shelf collecting dust; it's meant to become part of your daily life.
Every item in my shop is individually handcrafted in my workshop. I carefully select each piece of wood or material, shape it by hand, and finish it to the highest standard I know how to achieve. I won't ship anything I wouldn't be proud to own myself.
I also enjoy collaborating with customers to create personalized and custom pieces. Some of my favorite projects have started with a simple conversation and grown into one-of-a-kind gifts that celebrate life's special moments.
As a small way of giving back to the natural resources that inspire my work, a tree is planted with every purchase through my partnership with One Tree Planted.
Thank you for visiting ASH Woodshops. Whether you're looking for a meaningful gift or something special for yourself, I hope you find a piece that you'll enjoy using for many years to come.
Blessings,
Alan
Founder & Maker, ASH Woodshops