About

Hi!  I'm Dana, founder and artisan behind Desert Heartwood.   I was born and raised in Tucson, AZ and have enjoyed tinkering and making things as long as I can remember.  I began woodturning in 2018 and fell in love with the craft.  

Desert Heartwood evolved from my passion for making and woodturning.  I was making pens, earrings, plates, and bowls out of a love for the craft, and often gifted these items to family and friends.   It wasn't long before others took notice and asked where they could purchase these items--Desert Heartwood was born.

Most of the wood items I make come from locally and responsibly sourced mesquite wood.  The desert isn't known for its abundance of trees, but the trees that have adapted to thrive in this climate are incredibly dense, slow growing, and beautifully figured.  The heartwood of a tree is the inner most part of the trunk that yields the hardest timber.  Since the wood I work with comes from the heartwood of desert trees, the name Desert Heartwood seemed appropriate. 

Why buy handmade?

When you buy a handmade product, you aren't only paying for the cost of materials and labor. Your purchase includes hours of design, experimentation, failures, frustration, starting over, immense joy, and growth.  

You are purchasing a moment in someone's life and supporting them to pursue their dreams, ambitions, and something they truly love.  

Thank you for your support! 

- Dana