This month we asked Jess Hirt of The Woodlot to choose some questions to answer so we can get to know more about her and the unique wood products that the Woodlot makes for knitters.
Q1) Tell us about your shop’s history
The Woodlot was chosen as a business name because we have a 25 acre woodlot about 1/2 south of Owen Sound, Ontario. I’m a woodworker, and the majority of the wood we use comes from fallen trees in our bush. In 25 acres a LOT of trees come down every year. I started with an ETSY shop in 2010 and with general craft shows, and then have migrated over the years to mainly attending Fibre related shows. I still have my ETSY shop, and I have my own website as well. I’ve learned a lot about trees and the different woods, what wood is good for what items and which aren’t a good fit too! Lots of trial and error over the years, which has all been a fun learning experience. For me making buttons and jewelry out of wood is a fun way to showcase the beauty of nature, and send a little bit of tree home with people to enjoy for years to come
Q2) Tell us about your shop right now, what’s different and interesting?
New and different – I’ve always made buttons out of branch slices, so the size of the branch dictates the size of the buttons. Last year Darren and I figured out how to add some consistency by making dowels out of logs, which result in uniform buttons. It also allows for some really cool two-toned buttons – because if we cut the square stick out of the section of log where the heartwood and sapwood meet – then we can get a two-toned button! Those ones are kind of my favourite : ) They take a lot more work, because we have to take the log, cut it into squared off “sticks” and then Darren has to run them through a dowel maker (I pass that task to him because you REALLY have to muscle it through!) – and then I have little uniform dowels to slice into buttons, drill them, dry them, sand them, and finish them.
Q3) What made you decide to open your business, and what was that journey like?
I have a Psychology Degree and I worked at a non-profit for about a decade before I had kids. I really loved it, but after having Nessa I was ready for some change. I left that position and stayed home with Ness. I like to be busy, so I sort of fell into woodworking as a hobby, and after a bit of thought and planning figured out how to make it a viable business. It was a win-win because I could be home with the kids (Lochlan followed shortly thereafter) and get to the workshop in the evenings and weekends when Darren was home
Q4) What’s your most popular product?
The thing that I make the most and sell the most are buttons. My mother in law was an amazing knitter, and she used to say that she could never find nice wood buttons. I’ve found that people who put so much time and effort into creating something knit want a little bit of handmade to finish it off. Handmade buttons are a good fit!
