Wood, animals, and a slow tool.

[Replace with your story.] I'm based in San Jose, California. Paw & Wood started after carving a portrait of my own dog as a birthday gift — friends kept asking for one, and I couldn't put the knives down.

Every piece is carved by hand from basswood — soft enough to take fine detail, durable enough to last decades. I work from photos: the more candid, the better. Stiff studio shots don't show the animal you actually live with.

I work in small batches and only take on as many commissions as I can finish properly. If the queue is long, I'll tell you up front. Either way, you'll get progress photos along the way so you can watch your pet emerge from the wood.

Wood is sourced from regional sawmills and reclaimed lumber when possible. Finishes are food-safe — mineral oil, beeswax, occasionally a thin coat of linseed.