Heartwood Forge

hand crafting kitchen knives from recycled carbon steels & reclaimed lumber in Jonesborough, Tennessee

02/23/2024

Carbon steel feather chefs in cherry burl from in Athens, GA and Blackwood offcuts from a clarinet factory in Paris. Two are claimed, one is available. ❤️

02/14/2024

10 years ago today I quit juggling my last part time job and started making knives full time (and answering email, shipping, photography etc!). I needed to focus and everything else was just a distraction from what I really wanted to be doing. I’d been making knives nights and weekends for friends and family for 4 years prior and dreamed of growing the business side of things to something sustainable. Working for myself has been many things - freeing, challenging and rewarding - but mostly terrifying 😂 and to ease my pains and fears of growing older with the business, I convinced Jay to design and print these beautiful posters! Order one today. Signed and numbered limited edition of 201 and Jay kept half of them for his peeps. They turned out beautiful.

02/12/2024

OVERWHELMED. Thanks for all the love regarding the loss of our boy Jack. There is no doubt a long road to healing, with days of darkness and moments of body convulsing sadness. I’m also overwhelmed by the shear support we experienced during Saturday’s sale - Knives of Winter. There are a few blades (5) remaining and I’ve JUST uploaded them to the website for the general public. Link is in bio. ❤️💔❤️

02/10/2024

First sale of the year is hours away and all I can think of Jack Boy. We said goodbye to our boy less than 24 hours ago. He had nasal carcinoma which is fast and aggressive. We knew him for a decade and will never ever forget him. The love he and Lee shared is unmatched, from day one, they were each other’s source of peace and calm. After a few years of hard work, he blossomed and shared his love with many. Jack, you came so far and showed us the way loving a creature and giving love a chance can make a difference. You’ll always be our golden boy. We miss you. Rest In beautiful peace.

02/07/2024

When I started making the knives being released in my upcoming sale, our dog Jack was a healthy boy, but by the time these knives drop, he will be on the other side. The timing is odd, he’s progressed so fast that most of the knives were finished before we realized we would have to say good-bye to Jack. The knives I make each season remind me of whatever the season was throwing at us while they’re being made. This time feels different. I didn’t forge my thoughts and love for Jack into these blades or really even have the time in my shop to come to terms with this imminent loss. It’s fast. It’s sudden. Everything points to love. Love your people, love your animals. Life is short.

02/04/2024

Heritage series, hand forged from recycled century+ old high carbon steel (sourced from homestead lumber mill, Georgia) with handles ranging from storm felled oak burl (2017, Atlanta, hurricane Irma) to clarinet factory off-cut Blackwood. Thin behind the edge with a delicate convex grind geometry, these are ready to go to work preparing food for your loved ones. This small group will be available in less than a week in February 10th’s Knives of Winter drop. Subscribe for early access in your inbox. ❄️💙❄️

01/31/2024

Aside from its mesmerizing pattern, I’m enamored with the challenge of creating feather patterned damascus. Risk at every intersection along the way makes this material extra special. I’ve been in love with the material since first handling a Michael Rader right before going full time a decade ago. A few years down the road and I got the opportunity and to be thrown into the process with at his shop in Idaho. Making this material still maxes out my shop and capabilities not to mention my brain. When I say it’s special, I mean it. I made enough of this magical steel for 10 blades over the course of last year and this winter I’ve been painstakingly transforming this feather damascus into kitchen knives. 5 of the 10 feather chefs will be available in February’s newsletter sale. Subscribe at the link in my bio for early access to purchase from the knives of winter sale if you’re looking for a unicorn.

01/27/2024

February is fast approaching and that will mark year 10 since going full time, not just knife making, but also working for myself. I’ve been reflecting on the past even more than normal and what I keep returning to is the gratification this journey has brought me. It certainly hasn’t been all blades and blossoms though, there have been dark periods, feeling majorly inadequate, feeling pigeonholed, the whole gamut. At the end of the day, what really brings me joy are those who surround me and a feeling of a job well done. Additionally, I’ve met and/or crossed paths with some absolutely amazing people, be they talented artists or craftspeople, chefs, photographers, editors, students turned friends, mentors, neighbors, friends (or friends of friends), fellow knife makers, farmers, business owners, editors or just complete strangers who I feel an intense connection with. When I get that “other-side-of-the-fence-syndrome” and wonder what a job with a 401k, benefits & paid time off must be like, I always come back to the people I’ve connected with and the sense of pride, independence and endless opportunity that keeps me moving forward. Love you all.

01/20/2024

The first sale of 2024 is coming right up. One thing I love about beautiful East Tennessee is the four distinct seasons. It reminds me of my journey in knife making where each knife leads to the next. Knives of Winter hits inboxes February 10th at noon EST - subscribers get exclusive access to the sale 24 hours before it opens to the public. Subscribe on the website if you’re interested.

01/13/2024

Restocked some supplies for the coming year. These are the abrasive belts I use for shaping steel after the forging process. It’s a constant source of internal conflict for me. I have found joy in aspects of grinding but am generally considering of ways to decrease the time I stand in front of my grinder. The longer I do it, the more second nature it becomes, but my favorite way to shape steel always has been and always will be with fire, hammer and anvil.

01/11/2024

Dropping these little pocket pals in the Knives of Winter sale. The layered cladding is forged from recycled bourbon barrel bands & a high carbon steel core. Thuya burl (right) is scrap from a mill in Morocco that processes wood for & dashboards. Can’t wait to see them dressed in leather.

01/05/2024

Feathers have been keeping me warm lately.

Address

Jonesborough, TN
37659

Website

http://www.heartwoodforge.com/

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