Quinault Woodcrafts

Quinault Woodcrafts had a small beginning...

Steve began his passion for woodworking after we moved to the coast here on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state in the winter of 1978.

Our home was located a short distance from the Pacific Ocean and on those long and rainy nights (the average rainfall was 120 inches a year!) that first winter Steve set up a tiny woodworking shop in our small extra bedroom. He started by making a small models out of wood. Shortly thereafter he started making small jewelry boxes. He basically did most work by hand but then bought a small scroll saw which really helped him to become more creative. Being in such a beautiful area with so much time and beauty surrounding us it was a real inspiration for him to create beautiful wood items. He grew to love using the local woods during this time such as Western Red Cedar, Douglas Fir, Big Leaf Maple and Sitka Spruce.

After moving to a larger home down the road a few years later Steve was able to make a larger shop in an larger extra room. He then purchased a few more tools and began building jewelry boxes of all sizes and began selling them to friends and family. He also began using many different woods along with the local woods to make beautiful combinations in his wood products. After our first child was born Steve began to have get more serious about his woodworking and started selling at a few craft shows to supplement our income.

In 1985 we bought our present home here at Lake Quinault, Washington where Steve made a small shop ( but slightly bigger than the last!) in the attic of our home. Since the rainfall here at Lake Quinault is 140 inches a year there was even more time to be a woodworker!

Shortly after our second child was born we decided to build a separate shop so Steve could get closer to fulfilling his dream of woodworking full time. Steve also began our business Quinault Woodcrafts at that time and started making more boxes and wood items (from ornaments to cremation urns to furniture). We sold our items at craft shows and slowly worked into wholesale along with retail sales.

In 1990 Steve quit his job and made Quinault Woodcrafts his full time job. Nan began doing our bookwork and marketing for the business along with some sanding, finishing, felting of his wood products and other things as needed. When our kids were at home they also helped us a lot with the business.

With several additions to his shop over the years Steve has made himself a successful business and a large shop ...and yes... It is our largest shop of all and perfect for creating his wood products...in the beautiful rain forest of the Lake Quinault!