Beneath the Oak Designs

Every wire tree starts off looking a little… well, chaotic. A bundle of twisted wires, no leaves, no clear shape — just a tangle of potential. As I start shaping the trunk and curling the branches, it begins to take on life. The colors start to flow, the wire begins to dance, and suddenly it’s not just wire anymore — it’s a tree full of energy and movement. This little hanging tree ornament was such a fun one to make. I wanted to capture the colors of fall — golds, reds, greens, and browns — all wrapped up in one tiny piece of nature. It’s amazing how something that starts off looking so messy can end up so full of beauty. The finished product, well sort of I'm thinking about adding something as this litte tree looks lonely

Lately, I’ve been playing around with some new tree designs, and this one came to life as a little aspen grove surrounded by a single pine. Fall has a special magic for me—the golden shimmer of aspens against deep green evergreens always feels like nature showing off. Creating aspen groves is one of my favorite things to do. There’s something about the movement and texture that’s so calming. I even tried crafting a separate pine tree this time, but let’s just say… that experiment didn’t quite go as planned (back to the drawing board!). Last weekend, I took a quick trip up to Flagstaff to soak in the fall colors before heading back to the desert heat of Phoenix. The golden leaves, crisp air, and mountain views gave me so much inspiration for future pieces. This particular tree won’t be listed in my shop—it’s more of a creative experiment and a reminder of that peaceful grove tucked in my memory. But who knows, maybe a version of it will find its way into my store sometine soon. 

 I have two new trees to post! As of this writing they are not listed in my store.....YET This is a 3in cotton yarn wrapped tree of life featuring a crown of beads with a hematite star in the center. I call this one Starstruck due to the bright and colorful glass bead colors I used. Gold, silver, purple, and blue make a beautiful combination. This will be listed at $22.00.  In addition, I have a closeout sale going on for select 3" trees at $14.00 each. The sale will go on until all trees are sold.  I call this one Moondust. The photo doesn't do this beauty justice. I used the same color combination of glass beads as Starstruck. This 6in tree will list at $23.00 in the shop.  If you'd like more infomation feel free to email me at beneaththeoakdesigns@gmail.com Check back at my store for new listings.  Now, I must get started on my fall collection along with some Halloween style trees. 

New Season, New Trees   I’ve been having so much fun creating trees lately—honestly, the ideas just keep flowing, and I can’t seem to stop! Recently, I handpicked 14 special trees that my mom will be gifting to some of her dear friends. It makes me so happy knowing these little creations will find homes with people who will truly cherish them. Right now, I still have 5 trees left in my closeout sale for just $14 each —a sweet little deal before I shift into a new season of inspiration. With fall in full swing, I’m diving into warm autumn tones and even some playful Halloween-inspired trees . Keep an eye on my shop because I’ll be adding fresh designs as they’re finished. Don’t miss out on the last few closeout trees— shop the collection here  before they’re gone! Knee injury update! I am finally on my feet after 6 weeks of crutches! I took my first little hike this morning and it felt great. I am taking it slow and listening to my body. Physical Therapy has helped tremend...

  Hey friends, It’s been a little quiet over here lately—not for lack of inspiration, but because life threw me a curveball back in April. I’ve been healing from a knee fracture (yep, I was stubbornly walking on it until the MRI revealed what was really going on—whoops!). Along with the fracture came a bit of bone marrow edema, which is apparently pretty common with this type of injury. Since then, I’ve been on “protected weight bearing” duty for the past 6 weeks. That basically means lots of sitting, lots of patience, and trying not to go stir-crazy while I let my body mend. But… I can’t sit still for too long creatively. I’ve managed to create 6 or 7 new trees during my healing time—some of which are already up in the shop if you’d like to take a peek.  I’ll have more to share after my ortho check-up next week, but for now, just wanted to pop in and say hey—and thank you for being here and supporting my art, even during the slower seasons. 💚 When I'm not at work it loo...

  I've been getting asked if I'm still making dreamcatchers and if I sell them. Truth is, yes, I do still make them from time to time—but just for myself or as a gift, never for sale. Why? Because selling dreamcatchers doesn’t sit right with me. I purchased this authentic Navajo dreamcatcher from a western shop during one of my travels to the Grand Canyon Dreamcatchers are sacred items rooted in Native American culture, specifically from the Ojibwe people. They carry deep spiritual meaning, and turning that into a product for profit—especially when you're not part of that culture. It takes something meaningful and reduces it to décor. That’s not fair. We’ve already taken so much from Indigenous communities. The least we can do is respect their traditions and not profit off them. When I travel and see dreamcatchers, I always look for ones made by Native artists. Supporting them directly is the right thing to do. So no, you won’t see dreamcatchers in my shop—but you will...