"Is it the wood,"

"Is it what you do with the wood,"

"Or is it where the wood comes from?"

Douglas Stroh questions.

He strives for elegant simplicity in his wood turning and furniture making. He lets the wood decide what shape and size a piece should be. The natural grain and color are always featured in his work.

Stroh often starts the wood working process by answering a call from local arborists who have to take down a big tree. He shows up with his chain saw and the creative process begins. Pieces are rough cut, then honed down and shaped later in his work shop.

At times his workshop floor will be knee deep in shaving with Doug working away sopping wet. Not from sweat, though roughing out is hard work, but the green wood is full of water. Bowls are marked, then weighed, then stored. When a piece stops loosing weight (water) it's ready to finish.

Doug believes that trees, wood and the pieces he creates are filled with good energy. This was brought home recently when Doug harvested a 75 year old Apple tree from a Washington home that had once been a working farm. The owners were sad to see the tree go, it had toppled during a severe windstorm. Doug gave the owners their tree back in the form of bowls. The family considers them heirlooms.

Doug's "simple elegance" philosophy is at its best with his salt and pepper mills.

They are never exact matches

Pepper is fiery, strong, with a definite sharpness. Salt is supportive and ready to complement and enhance. The user always knows the difference. They always pick up the correct mill. Viva la difference.

Enjoy looking at the pieces. Read the stories of the wood. Treasure owning or giving them to the right friend.

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