There are some pieces you make because someone asks for them…and then there are the ones that find you when you don’t even realize you’re searching.
Just like how the Lord seeks us, The Refuge Cross design speaks to that very nature of God.
It started with a glance, a moment of inspiration while looking at others work, and that grew into this cross design. Different woods and different dimensions than the original design I saw, and with a unique intention. A vision shaped by what felt right for the piece, not just what had been done before, and an inspiration built in to this piece from my own walk of faith.
Often, pieces such as this are not simply a different or unique “idea” but more a representation of something deeper. The grains of the wood and the way it all comes together can often times be a way to represent something in an expression of where it brings our minds and how it speaks to our hearts.
That is exactly what this piece is.
Crafted with Contrast
Every Refuge Cross is handmade from two carefully chosen hardwoods: thermally modified red oak and hard maple. One dark tone, one light tone. The contrast is intentional. The warmth of the oak against the brightness of the maple creates a two-toned, dimensional look that draws your eye in and holds it there.
The piece is built in layers, two of them radiating outward from a hollow center giving it a depth and presence in any room or space. At roughly 10" wide and 14.5" tall, it's substantial enough to act as a focal point in a room, yet refined enough to tuck into a quiet corner as a meaningful accent.
What the Hollow Center Means to Me
When I look at the center of this cross, I see something more than negative space.
That open space in the center is a representation of who God is for us, a refuge. He is the place, and has a place for us to go to when the world around us is closing in. It represents the shelter found in God's love, provision, promise, and protection, all surrounding us. But it also speaks to something harder to say out loud: that apart from that very love, a truth the noise of the world so often drowns out we are empty. Hollow.
And His love fills that void and covers us.
The layers that build outward from the center aren't just a design choice. They're a reminder that we are held, surrounded, and never left alone (Psalm 23 and Psalm 91 come to mind in this thought).
A Piece That Speaks Without Words
Whether you hang it in an entryway, a bedroom, or a living room, the Refuge Cross carries meaning into whatever space it occupies. It's the kind of piece that guests notice, and that you notice, every single day. A beautiful daily reminder.
It makes a deeply personal gift for someone walking through a hard season, a housewarming present with lasting significance, or simply a reminder for yourself of where your strength and hope truly comes from and is centered in.
Down to the Finish
As with all pieces I create, even the finish is intentionally thought through. When and where I can (unless it can’t be avoided due to certain applications) I try to use more safe and non-toxic finishes. This piece is finished with Tried and True Original Wood Finish which is an FDA approved non-toxic and non-allergenic finish. This finish, being only polymerized linseed oil and beeswax, leaves a more antique “patina” and really ties all of this together.
Handmade in small batches. Each cross is one of a kind with natural wood variation meaning no two are exactly alike.
0 comments