Made in Scotland: Woodland Treasures
We love to find new to us Made in Scotland products and were delighted to find these beautiful pieces from Woodland Treasures! Geoff carves intricate and elaborate bangles, necklaces, earrings, brooches, kilt pins and hair combs by hand. He uses mostly salvaged, reclaimed or recycled offcuts of British hardwoods, sometimes with added stones from his renovated Croft house in the north of Scotland. Geoff joined us to talk about the health journey that led him to this work, his influences and his love for using old Scottish wood offcuts. While he works mainly to commission now, the Woodland Treasures website is full of inspiration as well as a few stock pieces so make sure you check it out after finishing this interview!
Woodland Treasures Necklaces
Can you tell us how your business got started?
After contracting Lyme Disease, I needed something less physical to do during the long, slow recovery. I had been a woodworker for many years, making toys, furniture, carvings, making doors and windows, staircases – anything in wood, and I had always saved off cuts that were too small to use but too nice to burn, thinking I might use them to make jewellery one day. The long-term impact Lyme Disease had on my health offered me the opportunity to do so. Starting at a very slow pace and with simple ideas I gradually developed an ever growing range of designs. After two-and-a-half years I had recovered sufficiently (and built up enough stock) to start trying to sell my work at craft fairs and festivals, with invaluable support from my wife, Fiona.
Geoff and Fiona from Woodland Treasures
Where do you look for inspiration when you are designing new products?
When I first started I created quite a lot of pieces based on Celtic and Pictish designs, but gradually moved on to more from my own imagination. I am inspired my the Highland landscape where I live, shapes in nature (particularly trees), the Arts & Crafts movement and Art Nouveau.
Organico Bangle (photo by https://cherrydeck.com/photosbymarija)
Can you tell us a bit more about how you make your products?
I mostly use what I call “rescued off cuts” of wood (mostly British hardwoods), 4000 year old bog oak and sometimes coppiced material from the garden. The design is traced onto the wood, fret sawn out and then carved, sanded and finished by hand. I don’t use any chemical solvents, so I finish with my own mixture of essential oils, nut oils and plant oils. Necklaces are attached to an organic hemp braided cord, adjustable by means of sliding beads. Other fittings, where used are sterling silver.
Moon Gazing Hare and Goddess Necklaces
What are your most popular products and which are your own favourites?
I now work mostly to commission and have less pieces available on my website. My range includes earrings, necklaces, brooches, kilt pins, combs and bracelets. My most popular products are necklaces, particularly the “Moon Gazing Hare”, goddesses and tree shapes with stones behind. My favourites to make are the trees with stones behind and the “Organico” designs, as these are the most interesting and challenging to make. I also love working bog oak because it is so old and special – buried for over 4000 years.
Tree Necklace and Organico Bangle
If you had to pick one place in Scotland to recommend that people visit, where would it be?
Places in nature are my favourite, so I think I would recommend Glan Affric where the charity Trees For Life started its first forest restoration projects. Photo from: https://pin.it/fG6TgHt
Made in Scotland: Woodland Treasures Glan Affric
Which other Scottish Makers do you love to recommend?
I love the work of Becka Gauld at”Becka’s Insects” and Sheila Bates in Torridon.
Thanks so much to Geoff at Woodland Treasures for chatting to us about the gorgeous handmade pieces they make in the Highlands. Make sure to check out their Website, Facebook and Instagram to find out more about their beautiful pieces!