Dovetails and Stitches

08/09/2026

From a piece of solid black walnut to an East of the Sun menorah.

Every East of the Sun begins with an 18 × 4 × 2-inch hardwood blank. Asha sands the wood before cutting and refining the curved profile, fitting each candle cup and finishing the piece by hand.

The finished Hanukkah menorah has eight aligned candle positions with the shamash raised above them. We keep the form simple so the curve and the natural grain of the walnut can do most of the work.

Every East of the Sun menorah is made individually by Dovetails & Stitches. Even when we repeat the design, the wood makes each one different.

https://dovetailsandstitches.com/products/modern-handmade-menorah-east-of-the-sun

08/06/2026

This is how we build our Gimme Shelter solid walnut magnetic knife rack.

Each rack begins with a carefully selected piece of solid hardwood. On the back, we create seven separate pockets for seven rare-earth magnets. Each magnet is installed individually to create a defined holding position for one kitchen knife.

The magnets remain hidden inside the wood, so your knives rest against walnut rather than an exposed metal. It is easier on your knives and a lot prettier to look at.

Gimme Shelter is a 24-inch wall-mounted knife rack designed to hold up to seven kitchen knives. Each one is made individually in our workshop and mounts with four brass screws and brass finishing washers.

https://dovetailsandstitches.com/products/gimme-shelter-magnetic-knife-rack

07/17/2026

A new delivery of rough-sawn walnut has arrived at the workshop, and over the next few weeks these boards will be cut, shaped, sanded, and finished into this year’s handcrafted menorahs.

We make only a limited number each season. Each one is built in our small workshop from solid hardwood, with the grain and character of the board helping determine the finished piece.

This is one of our favorite times of the year: starting with raw material and turning it into something that may become part of a family’s Hanukkah tradition for years to come.

We’ll be sharing the process as the first pieces begin to take shape.

Follow along for this year’s limited menorah collection.

Shop handmade menorahs crafted from solid hardwoods, modern, heirloom-quality designs made one at a time for Hanukkah and year-round display.

03/09/2026

There’s a moment in the shop I never get tired of.

It’s when the finish begins to come alive.

In this case, I’m wet sanding at 600 grit, using a blend of natural orange oil and beeswax as the lubricant while the surface is worked smooth.

The desk slowly starts to glow as the grain of the cherry comes forward.

It’s not a fast process.

But good furniture was never meant to be rushed.

This is the Ania desk in solid cherry.

Heirloom-quality custom wood furniture handcrafted by 4th- and 5th-generation artisans at Dovetails and Stitches. Unique designs and timeless craftsmanship—made just for you.

02/19/2026

We’ve built a lot of cutting boards over the years.

Most of them are still in the kitchens they were made for.

If you want yours to age that way too, here’s how to care for it.

https://dovetailsandstitches.com/blogs/journal/how-to-care-for-a-wooden-cutting-board

A furniture maker explains how to care for a wooden cutting board. Prevent cracking, warping, and mold with proper cleaning and conditioning.