Today we’d like to introduce you to Omar Walker.
Hi, Omar. Thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
After 25 years of military service, I earned my master’s degree and got a job recruiting and advocating for children in the dependency system. Shortly after, I started writing children’s books and wondered how cool it would be to have them bound in wood. With the help of my lovely wife, we created Craft That Wood. Our company specializes in creating custom wooden collectibles such as Writing Journals, Chessboards, Piggy Banks, Epoxy Coasters, and much more at affordable prices. I hand-make each collectible through a multi-task process, with no mass production. This way, care is taken with every collectible to be custom-crafted to the client’s specifications.
I’m sure it had its obstacles, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Handmade wood crafting is a dying art compared to more modern electronics, the Internet, and imported items. That said, the road hasn’t sometimes been rocky. With life comes challenges. I love learning, so finding new ways to make it work is right up my alley. One of the struggles was developing a better hinge system for my books, journals, and photo albums. I perfected it with a double outer hinge system that is both durable and functions smoother. Another struggle was trying to make my crafts artsy as well as multi-functional. That’s why most of my collectibles have two or more uses. Having an item with more than one function increases its value and appeal. The ongoing struggle is increasing the awareness of how creativity and personal expression can be shown in work crafting. I accomplish this by conducting polls, offering customization, and sending progress pictures to clients.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Craft That Wood?
Craft That Wood is a handcrafted custom wood collectible business. You should know that Craft That Wood is veteran-owned and geared towards providing custom crafts at affordable prices. We specialize in providing custom handmade collectibles such as Epoxy Resin Coasters, Piggy Banks, Chessboards, Yarnie Dolls, and more. We are known for our Epoxy Resin Coasters. One of the things that sets us apart from others is that we provide progress pictures to our clients. Another is that we do several giveaways and donations. I am most proud brand-wise of two items: Photo Albums and Chessboards – The Photo Albums are varied in their look and functionality. They can be designed as an open-edge book-like album with multiple styles(single, double, and triple) or a closed-edge encased album. The complexity and sheer number of pieces on the 2 in 1 Chessboard make it note-worthy. I want readers to know that we care about them and their order and will custom any collectible we make at no extra charge.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the COVID-19 crisis?
One of the biggest lessons I learned from the COVID-19 crisis is that there are a lot of crafters in the world. They were locked down at home with nothing to do but think – what if a ton of talent is now coming out into the marketplace? This is a good thing in that folks are expressing their love and creativity through crafts. I feel proud to be among them.
Pricing:
- $5
- $25
- $65
- $150
- $500
Contact Info:
- Website: www.craftthatwood.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wooduniques
