At HipShot, we can turn your ideas into lasting wooden memories. It is always our pleasure and privilege to get to be a part of marking significant moments in your lives. The Folk style wedding pie topper for a couple in New York is a favorite example. A wooden teddy bear for a five year olds birthday, WOW, what a treat! The mascot for a U.S. Air Force retirement gift was a fun piece for us. Designing and creating, "Spreading The Word" was an honor and privilege. The list goes on and on and we Love creating those special, one of a kind gifts just for you.  Here are a few examples of the ideas you have given us the opportunity to create. Give us a shout and let's see what we can create together.

A classic wooden captain's wheel with a twist. Designed and created as a retirement gift for an accomplished Architect, the wheel is carved with likenesses of some of his favorite projects. That's right, we carved images of buildings into the face of the wheel. Celebrating his 26 years with the firm with his work hand carved into a symbol of how his retirement will be spent, sailing. Carved from a solid piece of Cuban Mahogany, this wheel is a truly unique gift for a truly unique man. Happy sailing, Jeff!

"It is Beautiful! Everybody here loves it." JJ

Years ago he carved a heart into a tree for her. That heart has held a special place for both of them and now she has given the heart back to him.  Curly Maple and lined in blue velvet, this hand crafted, dovetail valet box is her very personal gift to him. Now they both have a heart given to the other as a token of their love. This unique box was created and carved by hand in the HWC studio.

If you are looking for that fifth wedding aniversary gift of wood, we can make it a very special and personalized gift. Imagine your spouses reaction when they see a fifth anniversary gift designed and created just for them! Initials carved in a tree to hand carved signs expressing your love, we can help make this anniversary one both of you will always remember.

We are always proud of the pieces we create, but once in a while, one just stands out. This Nevada Highway Patrol badge is truly a special work of wood art. The carving detail and the golden color of the yellow poplar combine to beautifully represent this icon of dedication and service. We always consider it a privilege to carve law enforcement badges and this one was definitely an honor to create.

"It is gorgeous! Thank you! I think this is the best gift I have ever obtained for him."  K.S. 

Imagine running any marathon let alone eleven of them. Now imagine running that 26+ miles at 72 years old. There you have the catalyst for the design of "Endurance 11". To celebrate their Father's successful completion of his eleventh Boston Marathon his children commissioned this one of a kind tribute. We carved a place for all of his medals so that they would be flush with the face of the carving. The design of the piece mirrors the current Boston Marathon medal given to all who finish this test of strength and endurance.

The arches are an image known round the globe. It seems fitting that the Arches were carved from a beautiful piece of Cuban Mahogany, grown and harvested in the Republic of Palau, shipped to Guam, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, New York, Kentucky, Texas and ultimately Illinois. It is appropriate that an icon seen around the world should be depicted in wood that has been around the world. Once again, Brian demonstrates his talent and skill in turning raw wood into the vision of his clients. The artistic, yet accurate recreation of the McDonald's Golden Arches is a statement to the diligence of Brian and the HWC team. Contact us and we will artistically and accurately turn your company logo into an original work of wood art.

It was a privilege and an honor to be commissioned by the University of Texas at Dallas Police Department to carve their badge (pictured on right). They wanted a legacy piece for their Department and we were privileged enough to create it. The framed piece in the officer's photo is their lineage and honors next to the "Certificate of Authenticity" that we at HWC send with our commissioned works of wooden art.

I could not help but think about the sacrifices and service that police officers around the country make on a daily basis as I created this piece. I have to say that it was a humbling experience to create something that represents so much. To everyone associated with and all of the officers of the U.T. Dallas Police Department, THANK YOU for allowing me to be a small part of your organization. But most of all, Thank You for your Protection, Courtesy and Service!

A custom designed beer tap for your basement bar or a micro brewery, we have done them all. Tiki's, Grizzly Bears and Lacrosse sticks have all been fashioned into beer taps complete with hardware. When you receive your new hand carved tap handle just screw it on and draw a cold one. Let us know the kind of beer tap handle you want and we will get carving. How about a totem pole beer tap handle?

His wife asked if we could create a firetruck bank for her firefighter husband's birthday. His favorite fire engine and his favorite number became the inspiration for this truly one of a kind gift of functional wood art. Carved from a solid piece of wood this 19" long custom pumper is equipped with a brass bumper, brass hand rails, an inset lock cylinder and felt lining. This original HWC firetruck bank is "Always Ready To Save".

"He is talking about how I should make it a tradition, and he already told me what he wants made next. So long story longer......he loves it! And it looks like we will keep you busy for the next few years!" KG

Down in Georgia, this young man said it in an old fashioned way with a modern twist. Initials carved into a tree that she can take anywhere she goes. From what we hear, she loved the way he chose to say, I Love You! Up in Illinois this gentleman chose a poem to add to the classic tree heart. How do you say it?

This thoughtful wife saved her hard earned money and commissioned us to create a greenman for her husband. She wanted a unique greenman as a gift for her husbands 50th birthday. Unlike our other greenman carvings, this piece is carved in the round. The eyes, Gwyrdd Dyn has the most intense eyes. His stare follows you around the room. Carved from a poplar log, this greenman is an original in design and style. Order your special someone a treasured gift that will be as unique and original as they are.

The celebration of a beloved teacher and mentor's fifteen years of service was the catalyst for this very specific and special work. The students of this Theologian were taken by the concept of the Gretchen Wilson "27" piece and asked if we could create a different version. Brian designed and created "Spreading The Word" to honor and recognize fifteen tireless years of work by a teacher at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago with ideas and inspiration supplied by his students. We knew someone would want us to create a new "27" and it was a joy to create one for such a special person as Dr. W.

We create hand carved wooden signs to your specification or we will create the design you suggest. This sign now resides in Arizona and proudly hangs inside the house. Carved from Alaskan Yellow Cedar, this piece is as timeless as the quote it is based on. This is just one example of the many wood signs we have created. Let us make one just for you to let the world or just your neighbors know what is on your mind. If you want a sign to mark your rec room bar as "Your Name Here" Pub", or have your favorite quote on the wall, we can do it for you! Drop us an email and lets get creative...

This piece was a joy to create. The question was, can you create a folk style wedding cake topper that looked like Grandpa carved it on the front porch? Well, yes we did! Based on a photo of the couple in their wedding attire, this cute couple are wearing those very duds. The groom was a great deal of help and my inspiration in creating the likeness of he and his lovely bride. We communicated daily throughout the process of creating them and made changes along the way to make them the darling pair they are today. By the way, I did say, wedding pie... Congratulations A & C, you guys are wonderful!!!

"The Love of Theodore" was commissioned by one loving sister to another, to memorialize the passing of a beloved canine companion. Theodore was a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, and as you may know, I have a Ridgeback, Mr. Shakey. I also have experienced the loss of that one special dog that can never be replaced. Due to all those factors and more, this piece became a very poignant work of art that I felt deeply. There was a particular photo of Theodore that served as a driving inspiration and will forever be etched into my mind. This piece currently resides atop the ashes of the one and only, Theodore! The carving was created from Cuban Mahohgany and mounted on black marble.

"When I got the package I could not stop crying. That my sister would do that and to have the carving of Theodore was to much". C.S.

"Thanks for taking my project to heart I know it will always be something special for my sister".  N.K.

This beautiful and spiritually significant piece of wood art was a moving and joyful experience to create. Commissioned to recognize an amazing act of kindness and selfless generosity, "Su Refugio" is the logo of a church being constructed in South America. The amazing couple receiving this sculpture as a gift have dedicated themselves and their resources to building a church for a small village of hard working people in Paraguay. "Su Refugio" is the churches logo and will serve as a permanent reminder of the joy they have brought to a deserving group of people. The base of the piece is African Mahogany and the crosses are Poplar.

"It is absolutely perfect. I am so excited to give it to them. The certificate you sent was such a nice added touch and so beautifully written".  JW

"Bob" serenades the bride to be and never sings off key. This unique wooden treasure was commissioned to commemorate the day, time and place that two people became engaged. The place the momentous question was asked happened to have a stone statue of a frog playing a guitar. The groom to be, contacted HWC to see if we could recreate that serenading frog as a gift for his fiance to be a lasting symbol of a very special moment. From a photo, Brian recreated this red cedar memory of that very special frog. I wish you both a joy filled marriage and may you never have a day without a happy song!

This carving of Jesus demanded as much spiritual energy as it did physical energy. It was a joy to create for the special lady that commissioned it.

"I show it to everyone. Beautiful work." BS