Our Story
Second Nature has taken on the true meaning of it’s name, our livelihood and woodworking has been reclaimed and given a new life, just like our wood. The economy was a mess when we decided after much prayer to work together as a team and come up with an idea to sell something on Etsy.
The furniture business that had supported the family for fifteen plus years was upside down. We found ourselves in a new spot, like so many other Americans, looking for an unconventional way to make a living and for us it has always been handmade, so we needed to think outside the box once again.
The excitement and the fear are both there, taking business completely online with a product lots of people will want was something new. Pray, pray, pray. Lori had been selling her handmade soap and art on Etsy since it first opened the doors in 2005 and found success. So why not with woodworking? With not knowing anywhere else to turn in this new economy, we began to eat, breathe and sleep Etsy.
Pouring over interviews and articles like , “Quit your day job”, how to’s on photography, listing, keywords, marketing and so on were key. We were each others support and our mindset was one of no fail, this had to work. Although our boys are now teens, we still had to support ourselves, there was no room for failure, literally. And knowing with hard work God never allows anything to turn up empty we had assurance.
We basically lived on Etsy, doing hours and hours of research…unitl our eyes crossed. And I remember the feeling of that first sale and then the second, knowing we had hit on something other people wanted, something that involved the craft of woodworking and something we could do at home together.
The wooden letters came about through much research and prayer. Because they are completely customizeable, they hit on something personal and I think that’s key. Barn wood letters, with a great rustic feel has become something that newlyweds have now used in their wedding photos and even for proposals of all things.
Logos have been made for large companies like Cainkade in New York.
Second Nature Woodwork began as just one guy learning the craft he loved… woodworking. It started in a small goat barn, The first farm table that was made out of that barn and was sold to a designer up the mountain. That was a beginning to something much greater for our family, this business would go on to support a family of five, while living on a small farmstead.
Over the years there have been countless people come into the shop to learn the trade of woodworking, so they could build their business or make a piece of furniture. Woodworking is still being taught in that now expanded yet humble goat barn. Numerous commissioned pieces over the years have flowed out of that shop and we are so grateful our business can continue on.
We still have that first photo of the farm table once it was completed, with our yougest (still in diapers) peering up over the edge of the table, it’s hard work working for your self, but it’s been worth every second.
This has been a really fun and surprising ride all the way and we look forward to adding new things to the shop, so stay tuned. Be sure to stop by and take a look!
Custom Painted Distressed Barn Wood Letters
Lori here~Feeling a bit of Spring Fever and the thoughts of decorating with a coastal cabin feel creep in and I’m loving this Sea Kiss Blue color, sand and surf…..so here come the Cottage Style Colors for the season.
One custom, made to order wooden letter 12″ made from barn wood, that Brian salvaged years earlier, from one of the barns he tore down.
When Ordering (let us know in the notes section):
-Choose your letters/or symbol you want
-If you want your letter to hang
