🍂 Birch, Craft, and Home: A Little Story From the Workshop

Pile of freshly cut birch logs on the workshop floor, harvested with care from family land in Wisconsin for upcoming handcrafted candle displays.

Some pieces begin long before they’re finished.

Our birch candle displays — coming later this month — are one of those projects.

They start on my parents’ land in Wisconsin, where birch wood is harvested responsibly and with care — selecting only what’s needed, choosing safe and healthy cuts, and respecting the land my family has tended for decades.

And they take shape in my dad’s workshop, Hillside Oaks Woodworking — the same shop I grew up wandering around in as a kid, the same tools, the same winter chill when the big door opens.

These displays aren’t ready yet, but the process is worth sharing. Because sometimes the “making of” carries just as much meaning as the finished piece.

✨ What’s Coming This Month

Drill press carving clean candle wells into birch wood, surrounded by fresh shavings in the Hillside Oaks Woodworking shop.

The work is already underway — birch logs measured, cut, and sanded; drill press humming; bark dust on the floor.

Here’s a glimpse of what’s in progress:

Tabletop Birch Candle Holders

12–15 inch birch logs, drilled with smooth, clean Forstner-bit wells to hold 3–4 LED candles. Designed to sit on holiday tables, mantels, and winter centerpieces.

Birch Pillar Trio

A sculptural set of three vertical birch pillars, each 3–5 inches in diameter and cut to varying heights. Minimalist, natural, and perfect for creating a warm winter vignette.

They aren’t photographed yet — because they aren’t finished yet. But they’re coming soon, and they’re being made with intention.

💬 A Note From Me

“I’m grateful I get to harvest wood from a place that means so much to me — home — and even more grateful to create these pieces alongside my dad in his shop. Working with him, and with the land we love, gives these displays a meaning I can’t replicate anywhere else.” — Scott

🌲 Made With Care, Made With Roots

Each candle holder begins with a simple moment: choosing a branch or trunk that feels right.

That part matters to me.

Harvesting the birch isn’t random — it’s selective, thoughtful, and rooted in the understanding of land that comes from working with it for years. After cutting, the wood is shaped slowly:

  • Selecting the best sections

  • Drilling clean candle wells

  • Preserving the bark

  • Balancing height, proportion, and warmth

It’s a simple kind of beauty — the kind that reminds you of winter evenings, quiet moments, and handmade traditions.

🛒 Want One When They’re Ready?

These will be released later this month and available in person only, plus limited local delivery.

To reserve interest or get first notification:

📞 651-677-6677

💌 scott@thegiftedhaus.com

You can also explore the broader seasonal collection here

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A Thanksgiving Portrait From the Studio

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🥄 Cranberry Season at The Gifted Haus: Small-Batch Flavor for the Holidays