In the fall of 2021, Tom Dixon, a family member of Tom and Nancy, commissioned Tom and Bear Valley Trading to create 50-60 bowls from the Walnut and Osage Orange trees on the Dixon Family Farm. Unfortunately, these beautiful trees were imminently slated for destruction due to new highway construction. So Tom happily drove to Kansas to retrieve the gorgeous trees.

 

And so began the journey of those trees from the Dixon Family Farm in Kansas to the Bear Valley Trading workshop in Colorado.

 

Tom started turning the Dixon Bowls in January 2022. After coating the bowls with a waxy liquid to retard moisture loss in the dry Colorado climate, the bowls began drying in a particular location in Tom's workshop.

 

Eleven months later, the bowls had dried sufficiently for final turning, sanding, and finishing.

 

An array of the bowls and weed pots Tom turned for the Dixon Family Christmas is shown below. The entire commission was finished in March of 2023.

 

If you would like a bowl, weed pot, or other item made from a memorable tree, Tom will happily discuss it with you. Please contact Tom at bearvalleytrading@gmail.com