Fired Up

Hi Friends, We have so many wonderful stories about clients and projects that we’ve been privileged to work with and on. The story about this fireplace is one of those stories. We were commissioned to create and build this beautiful fireplace mantel for a lovely family in Texas for their new home being built. We originally met with them to talk about building a custom dining room table. After the meeting, it turned into two tables, a custom iron chandelier for the dining room, dining chairs, stone flooring for the entire house inside and out and a custom hand carved fireplace to be the focal point of the home. Now all of this was in the range of what we were already accustom to building with the exception of the fireplace, that we hadn’t done before, but I truly believe that with God all things are possible. The problem was finding a talented carver. The solution, pray. Have you noticed that in the bible there’s a verse (Philippians 4:19) that says, “My God shall supply ALL your needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus” So, with that, I just believed that the carver would come. Several months went by before the builder needed the fireplace and during that time I stood on that verse that God would bring the right person. I really wasn’t too worried about it, now I don’t want this to come across as arrogant, but I didn’t write that verse He did and He made the promise. I just have to believe it. Well the time came for the project to begin. I still had not yet seen the carver materialize and the plan was to start on the project the following day. So what do you think happened??? The following morning a man walked into the office that had just moved here from California. He was looking for a job and of course he was a carver. After reviewing his application and looking through his photos of work, I hired him and he began working. The entire piece was crafted from premium North American maple hardwood. The Old World fireplace stands at an impressive height of 10’ with a firebox that is large enough to sit in. Designed by the family, the carving depicts the family’s present history. Family name, first born son, the church they belong to, hope, security, strength, and the year the home was built. After completing it, we were asked to carve the panels for the massive iron entry gates in front of the home. After that, a carved bench to match the beautiful antique piano that sits in the foyer. It was a really great experience. I love it when the words of the Bible are lifted right off the pages and you can see and live them. Not to mention that I now have met a very gifted carver who does incredible work and clients who let us be a part of preserving their family history while creating a family heirloom. Blessings, Nelson J Nelson