Beneath the Oak Designs

Posts

Changes to the Platform

Changes to the Platform Goimagine, the platform I’ve been using, will be closing its doors in March. After researching my options, I’ve decided to move Beneath the Oak Designs to Big Cartel. It’s the best fit for my small handmade business and keeps things simple and affordable. You might notice I’m not returning to Etsy, even though that’s where I originally started. Over time, the fee structure made it challenging to keep my pricing where I feel it should be. I never want to raise prices just to offset platform costs. For example, my $16 wire dragonflies (including shipping) would need to be priced significantly higher to maintain the same margin. That didn’t sit right with me. I also value truly handmade marketplaces. While Etsy still hosts many incredible artisans, it now includes a broader mix of products. As a small maker, competing alongside mass-produced items can be difficult. I want to keep my focus on slow, intentional craftsmanship. On my new platform, listings are lim...

Listening to the Space: A Tree That Asked Me to Pause

A reflective look at a handmade wire tree that challenged my creative process, inviting me to embrace negative space, trust intuition, and let nature-inspired art evolve naturally. Every so often, a piece comes along that quietly asks more questions than it answers. This tree is one of those pieces. At first glance, it’s clearly different from my current collection. The colors are familiar — gold and blue, two tones I’ve always loved — but the feeling is new. The left side is full of movement and detail: blooming wire flowers, twisting branches, and a trunk that feels alive with motion. And then there’s the right side… open, airy, almost untouched. My first instinct was to fix it. I kept asking myself what was missing. Should I add more branches? Balance it out? Fill the space so it matched the rest of the tree? I even started imagining additions — a wire dragonfly drifting through the open space, a delicate moon hugging the hoop, maybe even a soft sun shape in complementary tones. Bu...

Dragonflies and The Final Injury of 2025

I am trying my hand at wire dragonflies. I am trying to figure out another way to create the wings. Should I bead them or decorate them with wire wrapping? I do not claim to know a thing about resin so that is out! I really have a hard time with the wings. I have tried making the head and body first and attaching the wings after, however I haven't figured out how to do that without making a mess. Instead, I've made these using one piece of 17g aluminum wire. I love working with aluminum, as it is soft and pliable. The only downfall to this is stability. They are relatively easy to make and can be disassembled if I'm unsatisfied with the turn out. I have made large ones (bigger than the photos here) that include moon charms and hangers. I'd really like to learn how to make wire fairies. That will be my next project. In the meantime, I am working on a new tree (blue and gold) ___________________________________________________________________________ 💥...

2025 Reflections: Healing, Holding On, and Creating Anyway

2025 was… a lot. It was a year of injuries, frustration, forced stillness, and unexpected creativity. A fractured knee. Broken toes. A small eyelid carcinoma that, thankfully, was caught early and treated. None of it life‑ending, but all of it life‑interrupting. One thing after another stacked up, and before I knew it, much of my hiking season — my therapy, my grounding, my joy — was gone. Losing time on the trail hit harder than I expected. Hiking has always been how I reset, how I breathe, how I remind myself who I am. Without it, I slipped into a quiet depression that lingered longer than I wanted to admit. My body needed rest, but my spirit didn’t know what to do with the pause. So I created. During that slow, frustrating season, my hands stayed busy even when my feet couldn’t. I made a lot of trees — wire‑wrapped, rooted, reaching. Looking back, that feels symbolic now. Trees that stand still. Trees that grow anyway. Then, almost out of nowhere, the spiders arrived. Playful, ...

Fresh Creations & Holiday Sale

Over the last few weeks, my little Arizona studio has been buzzing — or maybe skittering — with creativity. I’ve been making more beaded spiders, and wow, the response has been incredible! Locals have already snapped some up, , and I'm working hard to keep new ones coming. Each one is made completely by hand, and no two ever come out the same. That’s half the magic. All of my spiders have names — and yes, they’re all ladies for now. I give each one a name that feels whimsical, mystical, or nature-inspired because these little creations have such big personalities. Names like Lady Solara, Lady Emberlyn… each one feels like a tiny guardian of her own magical story. The gentlemen are on their way! I’ve been planning my first batch of Sirs, and I’m excited to bring them int the collection soon! ...

From Chaos to Creation

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