About Family Tree Woodworking
Family Tree Woodworking is a family owned business in London Ontario. Established in 2017.
We believe in making high quality, handcrafted items with locally sourced, reclaimed Ontario hardwoods. We strive to create heirloom quality keepsakes that are built to last and be enjoyed for many years.
Twigs
Twigs products are play based learning toys. We make stacking puzzles, block sets and nature themed toys. Our toys encourage skill development and imaginative play based on Waldorf and Montessori principles. Our toys are made with natural, untreated reclaimed hard woods. They are finished with nontoxic paints and baby safe local organic beeswax. Twigs toys are one of kind. Each toy is hand sanded, hand painted, and hand coated which gives them a different look and feel than factory machined. Our toys are made for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, children on the spectrum, children with exceptionalities, and all children under ten years old. The toys are sold under the brand name Twigs.
Our Story
I met the love of my life, my wife Heather, at Preschool. Well, before you imagine two tiny lovebirds holding hands in a miniature kitchen centre let me start again. I met the love of my life, my wife Heather, she OWNS a preschool and I happened to meet her there. For as long as I can remember I have loved art, I have always been drawn to rolling up my sleeves and creating. So I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the lady I fell for owns a preschool founded on art, music and play-based learning in one of the most trendy, thriving neighbourhoods in our beautiful forest city, London, Ontario.
Together, we raise five children (3 boys and 2 girls) who love to play, imagine and explore. My wife, children and I dream big and have fun including music, hockey, art, football, equestrian and fishing. We have built tree-houses, sheds, rock-climbing walls, a preschool and toys…. oh the toys. My young girls dream of ideas while they sleep. They are really helpful in creating, finishing and testing out the gadgets and gizmos their dear-old-dad whittles in his workshop. My sister just recently completed a gorgeous clay art exhibit for Canada’s 150th birthday in our city’s core… so I guess it goes without saying our family is artsy and I suppose a little fartsy.
This all sounds like a lovely story and if you have made it this far, thank you! But a good love story isn’t that good without a BUMP…right? I guess this is the part of our story that catapulted me, arms flailing into the next chapter of my life. Our BUMP. Our happy little family was stopped in our tracks this past year. I was diagnosed with Cancer. I will spare you the details to keep this upbeat but to say this took our breath away would be an understatement. I have since undergone treatment and the prognosis is GOOD. I am truly over the moon blessed and hope that this next stage of my life is even better than ever.
How does all of this tie into woodworking you ask? I like my 9-5 job, it’s a good job for a fine company. But I do crave art, it is very therapeutic. So I decided to combined art with my love of woodworking and this created the most invigorating synergy for me. I find it satisfying, challenging and best of all seeing my children and customers enjoy my creations is the most pleasing accomplishment. If there is anything that can shake your bones and wake you up in your own life it’s the BIG C. I want to leave a lasting impression on this planet, my family and live my life without any cards left on the table. So, here I am selling my works of art on this website. They are an extension of my blessings, family and second chance at life.
So that’s about all folks… Live long. Love big. Play hard. And always explore.