Wood & Welcome was born from a dream Gary and I shared for many years — to build a life centered around faith, family, craftsmanship, and hospitality.

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After working in corporate trade compliance since 1997, I was laid off in January 2026. While looking for another contract, we decided it was time to go all in on the family business we had quietly been building. Today, Wood & Welcome is a true multi-generational family endeavor.

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Gary brings his skilled craftsmanship and design eye (when he’s not working overtime to keep us afloat). Our son J (owner of Wolfskill Mediaworks) is the master creator behind our website. Our daughter Ivy is currently in Illinois at our Milan workshop, scouting opportunities, passing out business cards, and creating paracord bracelets and keychains. Our daughter Hallee helps handle office operations, and both girls are leading the development of our upcoming jewelry collection. Our honorary daughter Rena designs, draws, and paints the custom birdhouses in Perchville.  And my dad — a Vietnam veteran — joined the Florida crew full-time in June 2026, and helps every day with whatever needs doing.

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Together we design, build, stain, solder, paint, and create with our own hands. We craft furniture and décor meant to last generations — pieces that tell stories and bring people together. We also open our doors through our short-term rentals, creating welcoming spaces where families can make memories of their own.

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Everything we make is rooted in what matters most to us:

•  Faith — the belief that God calls us to hospitality.

•  Family — the real reason behind every bench, table, birdhouse, suncatcher, and paracord piece.

•  Story — each item carries a memory, a prayer, or a moment of love.

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From the heavy-duty workbenches in the Family Foundation Collection, to the glowing suncatchers in the Rainbow Connection Collection, to the whimsical birdhouses of Perchville, and our jewelry line coming soon ) — every piece is made with care on our property in North Port, Florida (and our workshop in Milan, Illinois).

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We don’t just build things.

We build welcome.

Handcrafted with care. Styled to feel like home.

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Thank you for being part of our story. We’d be honored to become part of yours.

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With gratitude,

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Christy, Gary, Ivy, Rena, Hallee & Pops

(and our studioshop cats-Gatto, Hunter Grey, Purrdee and Oscar the Grouch)

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In honor of our Saber Baber, a part of our family we miss every day

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Wood & Welcome

North Port, Florida

Milan, Illinois