The Indie Wed/Wed Altered Pop Up Event

This Saturday, we're heading to the Indie Wed Pop Up, at super cool space in Humboldt Park - The Living Room - to meet folks and have impromptu design appointments.

Want to get in on the wonderland? Head here to buy a ticket, or email amanda (at) gustavreyes (dot) com to request a free ticket! We've got six to give away, so hop on it! Please include your full name and the number of tickets you need, and make sure to email by the end of Wednesday, September 24, 2014.

See you there!

Suzie & Niche & Their Rings

Our client Suzie sent us the SWEETEST email, one in a series of VERY SWEET emails:

"I just don't think we would have ever felt like this about any other rings. It's like they're alive and a piece of us, a piece of one another. This morning I received a text from Niche stating how sad he was because he forgot to put his ring back on when he got out of the shower before work. And then a little later on he sent me one stating that it's bad enough being without me all day, but since he's been wearing his ring it's like he can look down and there I am with him all the time and it makes his day better, but today he hasn't even had that. It's just crazy how something so simple like a wooden ring can carry so much weight. 

I don't usually like to place much value in material things, but these really are different. They really are a part of something. A part of us, and you, and the craftsperson, and Chicago, and the tree, and the stones, and the Earth. They really are FULL circles. 

It's just really nice and comforting to feel the 'warmth of wood'  (pretty sure I stole that from y'all somewhere along the way) and know that there are people out there who have respect for and honor their work and nature."

Sales-wonder Allison collaborated with Suzie to design this beautiful natural diamond, patina'd silver and rich walnut ring. Niche's is a simple and beautiful walnut band, to match. 

All of these beautiful photos below are by Martina Rachau!

We congratulate Suzie and Niche on their matrimony, and on being awesome people!

Client Visit Photoblog: A Lovely Couple Named Michael and Sarah, and Their Beautiful Fossil Rings

When Michael and Sarah came into the shop, you could feel the sweet energy coming off them. Their love was almost a physical presence. It was a hot, sticky day here in Pilsen, but knowing that we'd get to show Michael and Sarah their awesome fossil rings kept us alert. (What would we do after? Gulp some coffee and continue to serve, if a bit sluggishly...)

Sarah and Michael's rings, set with fossils they found together, and made with foraged Koa they brought from Hawaii. 

 The couple admires Sarah's ring!

Sarah takes a closer look. 

Sarah's earrings are wood too! And beautiful. 

The lovely couple...and baby-in-belly makes three!

Michael and Sarah, we wish you a happy and sweet life. Thanks for bringing your joy into the studio! 

Balance & Growth: Ebony/Birdseye Maple Wedding Set

These rings came out of the shop today and made us moon-eyed.

Partnerships are all about balance, or a constant engagement to work toward balance.

These rings -- ebony and birdseye maple -- present and enactment of those sweet efforts. The throughline, what binds them, is a shimmering inlay of ruby, yellow topaz, and mother of pearl. 

In the pictured rough-hewn box, the rings will have a beautiful place to rest together, while their owners going swimming or rock climbing or whatever heavy activities they like to do. 

A scrap of a poem, from Alice Notley's "Clinical Thermometer with Moonstone," via The Poetry Foundation:


"I love you as a fan loves air. oops it’s/vice-versa I/told you about that/character/She is a bezel/awaiting the plop of a/ruby she must grow/chronically"

We wish for the wearers of these rings to grow chronically, together, in balance, and to have a beautiful life together!

Goldielocks Rule of Wood: Too soft, too hard, just right!

ROSEWOOD, Salvaged from Xylophone Keys!

The most common question we hear is:
"What type of woods can we use to make our rings?" 

We have used a ton of different types of woods and we have many types ready to go in our shop. There are a few rules when choosing woods for your ring, think Goldielocks... 

A type of wood must be hard enough to be durable but not too hard that it splits when we wrap it. The good news about too hard and too soft is that most of the time these woods can be incorporated as inlays or liners. So if you have a particular wood in mind on the TOO HARD or TOO SOFT list, let us know we can find another way to use it. 

We've compiled three lists of woods that are too soft, too hard and just right for the main component of a wood ring.  

Wood types that are JUST RIGHT: 

Alianthus
Alder
Ash
Bamboo
birch
Bog Wood
Cedar
Cherry
Ebony
Gingko
Hackberry
Hickory
Juniper
Kauri
Koa - Golden
Koa - Brown
Lace Wood
Mahogony
Maple
Maple - Birdseye
Oak
Oak - White
Padauk
Pear Wood
Purple Heart Wood
Redwood
Rosewood

Teak
Walnut
Wenge
Zebra Wood

Wood types that are TOO SOFT: 

Willow

Wood types that are TOO HARD:

Ironwood
Olive

If you don't see a particular type of wood, email us! We are always excited to work with new woods and we often use woods provided by customers. Check out the photos at the bottom of this page! 

Contact Information:
Allison Taylor - Customer Liaison
312 590 6070
craftsman@simplywoodrings.com
simplywoodrings.com

Kauri with a Birch Liner

Rosewood with
Bog Wood Inlays

Mahogany

Padauk with a
Dark Rosewood Liner

Kauri with a Bog Wood Liner

Zebra Wood with
a Walnut Inlay

Manzanita Wood