Simply Wood Rings Blog

New Wood Ring Shops

2012-02-01T15:50:00.000-06:00

Chicago is the home of Simply Wood Rings' artisan studio in Pilsen, where we handcraft each ring to your specifications. The new year has brought us some changes, and our new studio space is one of them. If you are in the Chicago area please give us a call or email us to check out our new studio and try on some wood rings. We think buying local is great, and Chicago seems to have that going on.

craftsman@simplywoodrings.com

312.253.7190

We love Chicago, and we love the world! That's why, in addition to being an Earth-friendly company, we've updated our online shop for better service to our global customers.
Check it out: Simply Wood Rings Shop

Salvaged Rose Wood Ring

2012-01-30T14:21:00.000-06:00

The rosewood that we incorporate into our wood rings was salvaged from a local Chicago man who had barrels of it in his garage. He had worked for a company that made xylophones out of rosewood. The thing about making xylophones is that you have to cut the wood to the right dimensions, then test it to see if it will make the proper note it was intended to make. If it didn't make the right note, the wood was scrapped. This particular gentleman couldn't stand to see such a beautiful wood tossed into the trash. So he took it home, and it sat very well preserved in his garage until Gustav bought it from him. Rosewood is now an endangered species. Other folks can't buy this rosewood anywhere. This rarity is what makes people want it even more, let alone the fact that it is a gorgeous, rich-hued wood. We still have these materials that have already been harvested from the earth, and are now disregarded as scraps, ready to be tossed in landfills. Instead of looking for new shiny materials, or trees to cut down fresh, we want to face forward. We can draw out the beauty of this wood that was saved from the landfills. Rosewood has been harvested to near extinction. All we have is what we've salvaged from other people's harvests, and we are able to take this unwanted material, and give it the status of precious, rare, sought after. This rosewood will one day find its way back to the earth; we hope to give it a noble life until then. Simply Wood Rings

We are pleased to present: Simply Wood Rings Behind the Scenes

2011-12-28T13:18:00.001-06:00

We recently had a video made for us by one of our own Simply Wood Ring customers and filmmaker, Maren Wickwire. It means a lot to us to be able to show you who makes your rings, and let you know how much we love it! Hope you enjoy getting an inside look into the wood shop!

Return to Nature

2011-11-11T16:09:00.000-06:00

While hiking, one of our customers from Austria lost his wooden ring in a waterfall. Rather than being upset about it, he thought it was a good place for it. The ring was returned to nature in a beautiful way. We are making a new ring for him, because his ring wasn't lost, it just chose a new life.

This idea of being in a relationship with nature is one we like to focus on at Simply Wood Rings. We don't want to take from the Earth, we instead want to work with the natural beauty that has been offered to us. While we create a wearable piece of jewelry that represents a bond between people, it is also allowing the Earth to be a part of that bond. It is about an exchange. An exchange between couples, customer and creator, person and Earth.

While we invite our customers to become a part of the process, the rings we create become a part of their lives. We respect the trees for cleaning our air, providing us with shelter, warmth, and food. Let us give thanks to the trees!

Our Eco-friendly rings can symbolize new beginnings and new life. Be grounded with the Earth, and put down your roots. Become a part of the process with us: www.simplywoodrings.com

Simply Wood Rings on NBC!

2010-12-09T13:19:00.000-06:00

On Tuesday, December 7th, Tracy DiNunzio from recycledbride.com did a segment on NBC nightly news in Los Angeles that featured alternative, second hand, and eco-friendly engagement rings. Included in the segment was our own "Love is Now" walnut & maple moissanite engagement ring! Thanks to Tracy and Recycled Bride!

View more news videos at: http://www.nbclosangeles.com/video.

Hug - Let the tree hug you!

2010-09-15T14:57:00.000-05:00

Hug from John Driscoll on Vimeo.

This video was filmed and edited by Megan McDonough. The hugging ladies include our good friend Natalie and our very own Erin.

We're all about spreading the love over here at Simply Wood Rings! If you want to share the love too, check out our new tee shirt design!!!

Among the Trees

2010-08-18T11:41:00.000-05:00

Exchanging vows among the trees and flowers adds a special kind of significance to wooden wedding bands. Matt Doty shared these beautiful images of his forest wedding with us. His bride is wearing an Ancient Kauri ring with a Mother of Pearl inlay. Thanks and congratulations to you two!

A Garden Party Wedding

2010-07-20T16:05:00.000-05:00

Megan & Will Ryan had a beautiful old-fashioned garden party wedding, complete with paper lanterns and a barn dance. They used a beautiful set of wooden rings to exchange vows, and were nice enough to send us this card in the mail. The rest of the pictures from their wedding are so bright & beautiful! They can be seen here.
Vist: Simply Wood RIngs

Congratulations Martina and Clayton!

2010-02-11T10:22:00.000-06:00

Thank you to Martina and Clayton for sending us a lovely photograph of the wooden rings we made for their wedding. Best wishes to you both! Featured on the right is our "Breaking Traditions" ring made from Koa and Birch Wood, inlaid with a mixture of crushed stones that mimic the traditional three-stone diamond ring. On the left is "Seashore's Muse," comprised of a Rosewood band and a Mother of Pearl Inlay.

Barefoot & Beautiful - Chad & Christine Eco-Friendly Wedding

2009-12-09T11:24:00.000-06:00

The entire wedding party went barefoot for the majority of the day and the pair went DIY-tastic by designing and making their own invitations, logo and napkins. Click to see Chad & Christine eco-friendly wedding.

Grow Old with You - A Thank you from Simply Wood Rings

2009-11-30T18:44:00.000-06:00

Just little introduction of our wooden engagement rings

This video was put together by Sarah on vocals (Very nice job with covering this song) and Zandra doing the video editing. It was done as Thank you to all the wonderful Simply Wood Ring customers.

We thank you for your commitment to living an eco-friendly life and your decision to placing your love of each other in alignment with the earth.

Thank you.

Simply Wood Rings

Grow Old with You - A Thank you from Simply Wood Rings

2009-11-21T18:44:00.000-06:00

Ring of Life

2009-11-03T13:01:00.000-06:00

My name is Zandra Rivera, and I've recently begun to work with Simply Wood Rings as a creative support. I am inspired everyday I come into the studio and am surrounded by so much beauty and love. I wrote the following based on hearing Gustav speak on a daily basis about his feelings towards his art and nature, as well as my personal reflections amidst this Earth.

As winter slowly approaches, the leaves turn various robust colors of yellows, reds, oranges, purples and browns, die and fall to the ground. I’m reminded of the delicate but intrinsic circle of life, where birth does not exist without death. The absolute abundance of life is viable only through the continuous process of decay. Gustav tells me this is the time upon which he reflects and is always inspired to create something new from the old, continuing and adding to this never ending cycle.

To work in the artistic and family oriented environment that Gustav provides, I am able to reflect upon the way we as a society are giving way to old systems of thought regarding the Earth and respecting her fury. This process seems too slow sometimes for me; I’d like more people to get with the flow of sustainability, to plant more trees, to recycle at every opportunity available, to teach the younger generation about ecology and the importance of the green movement as early as possible. "I am reminded by my loving family that I can only do as much as I can and hope that it causes a ripple effect for generations to come," Gustav reflects.

Though, at this time I should feel the shivers of a Winter almost upon me, I am warmed by the thought of a better future for all of us. Amidst death there exists life’s delicate thread awaiting our gentle pull.

Zandra River
Creative Support

A Ring for a Cause: Simply Wood Rings donates to CASA

2009-10-19T16:53:00.000-05:00

As part of my personal commitment to community, "Simply Wood Rings" donated a custom piece of art jewelry for an amazing, Chicago-based cause.

This month, the CASA (court appointed special advocates) program of Cook County held a cocktail reception and silent auction in hopes of raising funds for their non-profit organization that advocates for children’s rights in the Cook County court system. All proceeds from the reception help to ensure that CASA of Cook County can continue providing trained volunteers to abused and neglected children in our communities. These volunteers ensure that children have a voice in court and a chance to grow up in a safe, permanent home.

After the silent auction concluded, I was pleased to hear that the winning bid for my donation exceeded its actual value, so CASA received more compensation than I had intended! I feel it is my responsibility to continue to support causes like CASA and believe we should all be more proactive in our respective communities.

Please visit www.casacookcounty.org for more information on how you can help.

Simply Wood Rings in Garth Johnson new book

2009-09-26T05:35:00.000-05:00

Simply Wood Rings is in Garth Johnsons new book due out this November. If you are interested in having your very own copy you can reserve yours here. Garth also maintains a blog called Extreme Craft which is a must see. Oh wait this guy also does this amazing pottery check it out at wondabread.com. Where he gets the time I don't know, but I would like to thank him for highlighting my work.

1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse
Remake, Restyle, Recycle, Renew
Garth Johnson

"Artists and crafters have always been recyclers, but for many, it has not only become a thrifty choice, it has become a moral imperative. 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse contains a cutting edge collection of the most inventive work being made with re-used, upcycled, and already existing materials. The work in this book ranges from clever and humble personal accessories to unique and important large-scale works of art, including paper art, fashion, jewelry, housewares, interiors, and installations."

What Knot to Wear - Wood Bracelet

2009-07-24T08:52:00.000-05:00

I learned at a very young age what wood could do, and my new work is not it. I am excited to introduce a new limited-edition piece that has kept me busy for the last couple of weeks. This piece is very simple in design, but for me it holds wondrous promise, promise in the way a young boy learns what can be done by working with wood, promise in the way it is

constructed. Each of my new bracelets are hand-crafted in an eco-friendly way with 80% less waste than the traditional method of wooden bracelet construction. Each piece will be signed and numbered.

gustav

Gustav Reyes in the Niche - Simply Wood Rings

2009-07-16T22:47:00.000-05:00

This morning, I had the pleasure of seeing my work featured in the newest issue of NICHE Magazine. As part of the “Reclaim, Reuse, Recycle” article, it was such an honor to be featured alongside several artists and craftspeople whose work is governed by the same environmental concerns and practices. It was especially meaningful to see that NICHE, an established publication in the art and fine craft world, geared particularly towards small business retailers, devoted the entire summer issue to “green” work. I see this is an indication that “green” is moving finally from trend to lasting way of life.

Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show - I am sad today.

2009-05-23T21:26:00.000-05:00

I have been selected to participate in the 33rd Annual Philadelphia Museum of Art's Craft Show November 11-15 at the Philadelphia Convention Center.

I cannot say that I was not jumping for joy when I received my acceptance email a couple of days ago. Today I decided I was going to post about how I was humbled by the recognition and how one of the few male figures I respect as much as my own father Sam Maloof also exhibited at Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show in 1978. I found out today Sam Maloof died. He once said he was simply a woodworker by his own account, by the rest of the world he was a giant. You can google his name and see the impact he has had on it. As for me his impact on my life is beyond words. I am sad today.

-gustav

Wood goes Couture.

2009-05-01T23:17:00.000-05:00

Today, I had an entirely different blog post in mind – one about new work with which I have been experimenting – but more about that later. Excitingly, I was mentioned in a New York Times article today about how wood is making a come back in couture jewelry. Reading the article, I was reaffirmed of my belief that it is the impermanence of wood that I connect with most and the idea that life in all its glory is simply a process of growth and decay. Victoria Gomelsky mentions other designers, creators and artists, with which I am humbled to be mentioned. Her article illustrates how wood was used for jewelry in the past and suggests that the pendulum is swinging back. You can read the article here.

gustav

Why I do what I do.

2009-04-28T06:50:00.000-05:00

I recently celebrated my birthday, and with that came some time to reflect. I took a break from the mad rush of life and the draining desire to live every single moment—I stopped to exhale. As the big day approached, my wife asked if there was anything special I wanted to do. But there wasn’t much I was interested in doing to celebrate the day of my birth. That’s sad, you say. Well, my wife said the same thing. Not in so many words, but I sensed her concern that I may not be taking the passing of the years as well as I made it seem. So we spent the morning out with the kids. We made it back to the house and had some cake, at which point I decided to take some photos. And right there in the viewfinder, I breathed the oxygen of life, the essence of what makes life what it is. I snapped many photos that day. I decided to share with you the one that captured what I felt. In that moment, I did not long for the next; I knew this was life – simple, quiet, still. I inhaled. My wife and boys helped me to be still for just a moment. I’m forever grateful I have the time to do what I do.

--gustav

Some Bright News

2008-10-27T08:12:00.000-05:00

Like the slender sapling that needs the sun to grow into a strong and sturdy Oak, we're putting to use the abundant powers of sunlight to continue our growing endeavors as an environmentally conscious and socially responsible business. With the help of Affordable Internet Services Online, Inc., a company that offers solar-powered web hosting, www.simplywoodrings.com is now powered completely by sustainable energy. This move was motivated by our continuing commitment to living lighter and our desire to celebrate the beauty of earth's unrefined bounties, rather than exploit its natural resources. We believe "environmental responsibility" is more than paper or plastic; it is living in harmony with our earth.

Jay Leno Loves Simply Wood Rings

2008-10-17T06:58:00.000-05:00

One of Jay Leno’s Favorite Things.

Can’t see video?

… well, sort of. He may have been making a crack about wooden wedding rings, but we know he wouldn't have mentioned us specifically on national television if he didn't care. It's okay to admit that you love the eco-conscious jewelry creations of yours truly, Jay – no one here will judge you. Actually, we believe that the fact Mr. Leno even made several 'environmental' jokes indicates a prominent and persistent awareness of and necessity for positive change. The more extreme and sometimes ill-received image of the enlightened college students who protest the production and sale of high emission vehicles or the gung-ho environmentalists who chain themselves to death-sentenced oaks are giving way in the minds of most consumers to the idea that small changes, like recycling all those soda cans that pile up as a result of your syrup and caffeine addiction (guilty as charged!) for example, can make big differences. We're happy to be the butt of the joke if it contributes to this awareness. In fact, we were even inspired by Jay's little rib-tickler to offer a T-shirt design that's been in mind for some time…

- Sarah

2007-11-06T20:09:00.002-06:00

Ancient Kauri wood and pure fine silver ring

This ring is made from Ancient Kauri wood and 99.9% pure fine silver.

The Kauri wood is the world's oldest wood at 50,000 years old. When I work with a wood that is this old it puts things into perspective in a very real way. I think of life without our minds trappings. Not empty but more full of what life really is. Imagine for a moment what nature has done for us to have this natural miracle of our life from so long ago. This ring gives you a connection to an extraordinary time of pre-historic sunlight, rains and life from so long ago.

by www.simplywoodrings.com

2007-09-05T19:43:00.001-05:00

This ring is made of salvaged walnut and a salvaged diamond to make a heart felt wood engagement ring. Contact me via email Here.

2007-02-20T21:50:00.000-06:00

Click image to view our smilebox for Simply Wood Rings