Gifts Handcrafted From Wood: Warmth, Grain, And Beauty

We have a special appreciation for wood here at Dogwood Hill Gifts. There's nothing like the natural appeal of wood grain, and the warmth that wood evokes. The diversity in grain patterns and color mean that gifts handcrafted out of wood will be unique, and that the living nature of wood will be felt in each piece.

Look at the incredible grain of cherry and walnut wood: 

The burl of birds eye maple, and thuya wood:

We offer quite a few gifts made of wood, and particularly appreciate artisans who work with wood in an environmentally sustainable way - understanding that preserving trees is vital in order to continue to work with them. A fair trade cooperative of artisans in Thailand uses scrap wood to hand-carve their palm wood bowls and chopsticks:  

These coasters are carved from mango wood, which is a sustainable and eco-friendly wood:

And we have endless appreciation for the beautiful things that artisans have been able to create using wood - it's absolutely amazing!

Techniques like complicated wood inlay and yosegi-zaiku, the Japanese craft of wood parquetry, are great examples of  traditional wood craft handed down from generation to generation. You can see the complexity, the use of many different woods in the designs, and the skill required.

Looking for a gift for a lover of all things wood? Please stop by - click here - and take a look at our collection of unique gifts. You'll find lots of wood...and more.

With thanks,

-Dogwood Hill Gifts

Puzzle Boxes

Puzzle boxes are great. We like both the complex, and the not-so-complex. With varying mechanisms come varying styles, but they all add a little fun to an otherwise straightforward object.

7-Step Koyosegi Puzzle Box 

It seems the first puzzle boxes came from the Hakone region of Japan in the early- to mid- 19th century. They were called himitsu-bako, or personal secret box, and were decorated with yosegi-zaiku marquetry. 

6-Step Hexagon Puzzle Box

Hexagon Puzzle Box, Open

This amazing technique is still practiced today, but only by a small number of artisans. Yosegi-zaiku involves putting together different types of wood with naturally varying colors into geometric patterns. Then the stack of patterned wood is shaved with a special plane into thin veneer slices, and the veneer applied as decoration. 

4-Step Cube Puzzle Box

We proudly offer three examples of handcrafted yosegi-zaiku puzzle boxes in our collection. They all feature the koyosegi pattern on all sides, and are handcrafted by Hiroyuki Oka, who carries on the tradition of making these wonderful boxes.

From Bali, we have two puzzle boxes of a less complex nature, but full of charm 

and simple beauty. 

Hand-carved from suar and sono woods, the simplicity allows the 

beauty of the wood to shine.

Dragon Puzzle Box

After learning her craft from her father, Eka now handcrafts these beautiful boxes. They require the removal of a pin-like piece so the top of the box can slide off and reveal an inner compartment.

Heart Puzzle Box

Heart Puzzle Box, Taken Apart

From Guatemala we have a creative puzzle box made by artisan Francisco Mendoza. He's been handcrafting puzzle boxes since 1990, and enjoys coming up with new designs. Here he's turned a little piano into a fantastic puzzle box:

Piano Puzzle Box

Piano Puzzle Box, Taken Apart

We think puzzle boxes are great additions to our collection because we believe in supporting the artisans who continue to handcraft these interesting boxes, and we think they make outstanding gifts. Hide a little treat in any of these puzzle boxes, and enjoy watching the recipient have to work (just a little!) to get to it. It's two gifts in one!

Puzzle boxes are conversation pieces, and wonderfully decorative items to display. We will continue to look for unique puzzle boxes to add to our gift collection, so please stay tuned...

Thank you!

-Dogwood Hill Gifts