Frequently Asked Questions
What materials do you use for your work?
I use fallen pieces of wood or wood obtained from pruning. I break each piece into smaller parts with a small axe and let them sit for months until they are ready for carving. I mostly use olive wood grown in the Muğla and İzmir regions of Turkey. I also buy special types of wood that don’t grow in my region but that I want to work with from wood shops or online.
How do you make your hand-carved jewelry?
First, I prepare a design to copy onto the wood, or I draw it directly onto the wood from my imagination. After cutting the piece, I prepare my sharp tools (mostly knives and some chisels) of the correct size and blade thickness for the specific part of the carving. When the work is finished, I apply natural oil (linseed oil) at least 3 times a day to protect the wood and bring out its beautiful texture.
Are your products truly handmade?
Completely handmade! I love sharing photos or videos of the working process on my social media so you can see the unique pieces that will result. I often point out my mistakes and leave out some parts that might look imperfect. I enjoy proceeding by embracing traditional methods, away from power tools.
Do you use electrical appliances?
No! After bringing the material to the desired dimensions using traditional methods (axe, saw, hacksaw), I now carry out my work entirely with various knives. I complete very small detail works with a medical scalpel.
Can I request a personalized custom order?
I can design a custom piece large enough for jewelry or other small tools I use. After you specify your request, I can advise you on what’s possible and help you make the right decision if you’re not entirely sure what you want.
Are you making a personalized product?
You can request a personalized order by contacting me and specifying your preferences, or if you’re considering it as a gift, the preferences of the recipient. Together, we can decide on the type of wood, size, and (if you don’t have a specific idea) the design. You can tell me whether you prefer a simple or detailed design; I can give you examples of the difficulty level, production time, and cost comparison. If you know your budget, we can determine how detailed the piece will be within the price range. Generally, carving a piece of jewelry takes a day (rings take a little longer).
Which type of wood do you use for your collections?
Each wood differs in color, texture, hardness, and grain direction. Most of my work is from Native (Turkish) walnut, which has compact and irregularly grained sections; it is hard and difficult to work with, but allows for work on very small surfaces. Similarly, I also use juniper, which produces a very beautiful effect with oil. Olive, oak, and American walnut are softer for simpler or medium-difficulty details. I also work with a variety of woods such as beech, Scots pine, oak, juniper, olive, walnut, linden, rosewood, rosewood, wenge, padduak (paduk), hornbeam, and cherry. I determine my collections according to the texture, hardness, and size of the wood.
Are wooden products long-lasting?
Like any material, wood requires care as it can change color or lose its shine over time. With proper care, wooden products can last for years. Sweat, in particular, can cause the color to darken in necklaces.
How do I care for wooden products?
Despite the oil protection, it’s sometimes a good idea to apply an organic oil for wood (Linseed oil, Tung oil) and dry with a cloth after a few minutes. For detailed pieces, you can use a soft brush (like a toothbrush). The shine may diminish over time or due to contact with water, so I recommend avoiding prolonged contact with water such as swimming or bathing. For maintenance, you can extend the life of your jewelry by lightly sanding the top coat with 400 grit fine sandpaper twice a year if possible, or once a year if not, and then applying oil.
Do you offer workshops/training?
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