Beginnings -
Industrial/Rustic: Original designed, live edge & wood based furnishings; integrating art & function "simply for living simply."
I started collecting discarded & broken wood furniture in 2011. The image above encapsulated the spirit of my works at that time: The yellow deacons table of disparate pieces & found wood; found wood benches, hand sprayed stenciling; and a window seat totally re-visioned from a TV table. The back and arms were rescued from a late 19th c babies cradle. (See the transformation of this piece on the "Archives" page.)
Like all of my re-furnishing they are not only functional gems, but one-of-a-kind, uncommon works of art.
As my vision for rescuing roadside items started to expand, I began "seeing" different components working together to create something like this unconventional night stand. After sanding and multiple layers of spray paint, the work just "needed" a over-sized top. A reclaimed table top made it.
This process start to finish is also in the "Archives" page.
Regardless of what I initially "see" for a finished work, I was constantly amazed of what the work really wanted to become!
Unique - unconventional - original design
Next Story
The fall of 2019 was a turning point for me in my work with found objects & wood designs.
I acquired quite a stack of centuries-old barn wood and live edged planks. As a result, my work moved toward creating one-of-a-kind benches & wood-base furnishings.
These images are only a small display of my ongoing works at that time.
Live edge side table with natural branches
The 2022-23 collection
" "Zen" Garden bench with non-toxic,
water resistant finish
- From Raw Planks to Functional Works of Art -
I used a large variety of live edged planks & barn wood most of which are dated from the early 19th century and found on reconstruction sites.
The quality of the wood was unsurpassed. Each plank "spoke"of its history and I felt it was very important to create a finished work which
honored that history.
Yet another turning point came in 2024
As with all of my visual artworks, I am led on The Path to create what I sense The Spirit of Creation is calling me into next.
Since the Spring of 2024, the amazing, functional benches and tables were transformed into garden and tabletop incense altars. Like all of my wood works, I use live edge planks with the addition of stones that I found on the Hudson River's strand and on nearby Ohayo Mountain in Woodstock, NY.
Below is a small collection of the most recent altars, all unique, "Hand Created, Spirit Infused" which I have sold at my open air market "Forest & Path" and (coming soon) in a shop in Woodstock.
"Separate Peace Incense Altars for Garden & Home" are readily available. However, the altars that are depicted are samples of what you can expect when you special order your altar.
Contact on: turtletotempathways@gmail.com
Describe your vision for your altar (table top or garden) and the approximate size or garden area.
Your altar will be created with available stone & wood.
Please add your contact info
I will return your email with the price of the altar which will include shipping the New York State. Or, you may pick up your altar - we can make arrangements for pick up.
Double Altar: Live edged & found wood, Hudson River stones, vintage Pacific Islander
cloth with found, glass votive candle holder.
Hudson River Stones with vintage, Pacific Islander cloth, hand-fashioned cone incense holder.
A selection of table top incense
and memorial altars
Stone, wood base, drift wood and
feathers. All altars will come with an individually made, hand painted clay incense bowl.
Table-top Memorial altar: found birch wood base, Hudson River Stones
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