Wood

I sometimes muse that I missed my calling as a carpenter – crafting and refinishing furniture. Yes, there’s something soothing about sanding away the rough edges left by time and circumstance. And something joyful about bringing it a new purpose; transforming it into something brand new while its heart and core remains entirely itself.

It’s not a medium I started truly working with until later in life. Growing up, my father tinkered in his wood shop with the driftwood my mother would pick up as she walked the beach, trawling for treasures after a storm. He would clean it and prepare it to become something new. When he found a project that he liked, he would go into mass production – everyone would receive a version of his latest inspiration – a woodpecker, an owl, even a toilet paper holder.

When he passed away, my sisters and I found the rafters of the shop full of lovingly prepared driftwood pieces that had been sitting, waiting patiently to become something. Their beauty shone, not only of the wood itself but the care that went into them. They called to me to complete them. I collected them then, determined to honor the memory of my father by transforming them into art in their own right. And I did, Glenda style.

I collect driftwood to this day, carrying on the skills taught to me by my father.

It’s used in frames or in bits of pieces throughout various projects. Most prominently it lends itself to houses – a representation of people and community. Whether inspired by reality or a fancy of imagination, each one has it’s own unique charm and character.

They’re also popular commission pieces! A tiny version of your childhood home, lake cabin, or other special place is a one of a kind memento and something I’d love to bring to life for you. Please feel free to reach out if you’d like to chat about a custom creation!

Wood, driftwood especially, is so heavily imbued with memory – its own as well as mine – that there’s a kind of reverence working with it. It, like myself, has grown and journeyed to become what it is today. By working with it, that evolution continues and together we bring something new and beautiful to the world.