Take a look at another one of the many fabulous companies that Sturbridge Yankee Workshop has had the privilege to work with over the years. Vendor Spotlight on: Saw Dust City; featuring made in the USA products.
Morgan’s School Project
The story behind Saw Dust City and how it came to be is quite touching and one that we are proud to share with you. Liz and Lanny Collins, husband and wife from Eau Claire, Wisconsin have three children: Morgan, Haley and Reid. The youngest Reid, was born in 1995 and unfortunately due to a severe illness went through major surgeries during a stay at the Minneapolis Children’s Hospital. Thankfully the family was blessed with Reid’s miraculous recovery and were able to finally enjoy time all together at home. However, the high cost of medical bills and the importance of not exposing the Collin’s son to many harmful environmental factors, the family needed to find alternative sources for both income and creativity. The story goes that the following Christmas they made handmade gifts for everyone on their list. Soon the phone began to ring and the rest as they say, is history.
Originally considering the name ‘Collins Designs,’ Liz and Lanny eventually decided on Saw Dust City after discovering it was Eau Claire’s nick name while daughter Morgan was doing a school project on the town’s history. This area of Wisconsin is rich in lodging history and Lanny’s grandfather Gerry Miller, was actually a real lumberjack back in the day; hence the Paul & Babe company logo. After five years of working two jobs and multi-tasking the many facets of business together, Lanny was able to focus solely on Saw Dust City’s success. Today, their shop is located on the north side of Eau Claire with a staff of only 20 employees. Saw Dust City has been recognized nationally and has even had three of their products featured in The New York Times Magazine.
Quality Made Furniture
Unique to Saw Dust City’s relationship with Sturbridge Yankee Workshop, is that they provide us with both furniture pieces and nostalgic, quality made signs. Seen above on the left is our Farmhouse Bench. Its narrow design makes it the perfect bench for the hallway, entryway or mudroom, allowing family and visitors to easily put on or remove boots and shoes. The closed-back design means items won’t fall off the shelf and the distressed paint application (as seen with most Saw Dust City products) boasts a a rustic, worn look. Customers have their choice of black, red or white. To the right is our Knotty Pine Shelf Bench; another fabulous seating and storage option from Saw Dust City. A large bottom shelf space is perfect for storing filled baskets, like the ones shown or to keep larger items off the floor. Customers have a choice of black, blue, natural, red, or white. All of Saw Dust City’s furniture pieces are handmade of solid knotty pine wood. They use screws and plugs, not air nails or staples to secure products together. The natural appearance of knots, variances in color, finish or wood should be expected due to its handcrafted nature. Each and every product that comes from the Saw Dust City shop in Wisconsin is intended to have an old look and feel; thus no two items are exactly the same!
Nostalgic Signs
As mentioned above, Saw Dust City uses the highest quality knotty pine wood to create their furniture pieces and same goes for their vintage farmhouse signs. Signs from Saw Dust City typically have a saw tooth hanger, making it very easy for customers to position them on their walls. At Sturbridge Yankee Workshop we have a large variety of Saw Dust City signs that cover many themes. From seasonal to everyday we have a sign for every decor taste. One theme that is quite popular is their seasonal selection. Our Autumn Greetings Sign features a cherished harvest time phrase that for generations has symbolized the transition from summer into the wondrous holiday season. Proudly display this sign and share this message of Autumn in any room of your home. Another theme within Saw Dust City Signs is their signs with a nostalgic feel. Pictured to the left is our Bath Sign which is the perfect vintage accent for you guessed it, the bathroom, washroom or powder room if you please. Creamy white lettering with the appearance of handwriting, highlights the days when such things in public restrooms were at cost to those who used them. Our Bath Sign is a Sturbridge Yankee Workshop exclusive item.
Green Saw Dust
Saw Dust City is happy to announce that they have been recognized as an entirely “green” company. After research and verification from their lumber supplier, they can proudly say that all of the lumber used to create their products is provided by high quality sawmills who follow Green Forestry Initiatives. It’s not only the wood that’s eco-friendly, it’s the water based paints they finish with too. Saw Dust City does their part to take care in all disposal of waste and recycle as much as possible. While they care about the environment, they also truly care about the furry friends in our lives; as is seen with the many dog and cat themed signs they offer. A customer favorite is our Home Is Where Your Dog Is Sign, the perfect gift for the dog lover in your life. Hang above your pet’s bowl or commemorate a loved one. Handcrafted knotty pine sign with a distressed finish comes in your choice of brown or red.
~Thank you Saw Dust City for providing us with quality, made in the USA products over the years!
