Sustainably Sourced Dowels

How I source my dowels and why each piece is truly unique

Photo taken in Blackwood Canyon, Lake Tahoe, CA behind our family cabin.

Sustainably Sourced Dowels

When I started on the path of turning macrame into a business, the question came up of how do I make each piece unique? For me, that came down to not only the design, but the dowel as well. And with that in mind, I thought it best to use recycled and/or naturally-gathered wood.

This photo is of a fallen Sugar Pine Tree that fell of natural causes and had been there for quite some time. My husband, parents and I found it on a hike last Fall in Lake Tahoe and found some fun, unique branches. Many of my pieces you see are hung on a one-of-a-kind Sugar Pine dowel or other species of pine found in my family's cabin yard!

And if I don't use a naturally sourced dowel, I use a recycled piece of hardwood. My husband, Jordan, is a contractor and finish carpenter by trade. If he happens to have left over wood from jobs, he will bring home all sorts of goodies!

How I prepare my dowels for tying

In order to keep the original integrity of my wood dowels, I sand them down through at least 3 different grits until smooth. Then I either use an organic shellac finish or a water-based finish! This leaves each dowel splinter-free and brings out the wood's natural grains and textures.