To tell you the truth, the stork shouldn’t be in today’s title. But I figure questions will come up – since they are scissors, after all, and needleworkers have A Thing for scissors – so I’m including them, too.

It’s been a while since we’ve done some Tool Talk! Needleworkers love their tools, so now and then, I like to highlight some tools on the market that are exceptional.

Today, I’m highlighting a tool block with its matching laying tool and a pair of stork scissors. The tool block and laying tool are made from gorgeous, hand-turned wood, so if you have A Thing for beautiful wood tools, then wake up! You’ll love these!

This tool block, which features an accompanying laying tool fitted perfectly into the center of the block, comes from the skilled hands of James Carter at Stitch in Turn.

Stitch in Turn is James’s wood-working business, where he makes a variety of gorgeous wood tools for needlework out of all kinds of woods. He’ll even customize tools for you, if you have something specific in mind.

I’ve been following his wood-turning adventures on Instagram for quite a while, and I was really excited when I saw that he was experimenting with tambour hooks. It’s so hard to find nicely weighted, well made tambour hooks in the US. Mostly, we just have the cheapy little lightweight ones. So, needless to say, when I saw the tambour hook, I was… hooked.

The tambour hooks aren’t on his site yet, but I will show you mine later on (with a little project I’m working on), if he decides to pursue making them.

In the meantime, he makes lovely seam rippers, gorgeous telescoping magnets, and all kinds of laying tools. And I think the tambour hook will fit right into his line-up.

Speaking of laying tools, the one that comes with this particular tool block fits perfectly into the middle of the block.

The tool block is a decoratively turned piece of wood with holes in the top where you can put your tools. There are larger holes for scissors, laying tools, and the like (even pens or pencils) and tiny holes, where you can insert fine needle threaders and the needles you’re working with.

On this particular tool block, the raised ornamental center features a hole into which the matching laying tool fits. The laying tool is everything a laying tool should be – glass-smooth, nicely weighted, comfortable to hold, and, in this case, sharply tipped. There’s a little rubber tubing that goes over the sharp tip to protect it.

The whole tool block is small enough to fit easily on a side table without taking up much room, but still keeping all your needful tools at the ready. And it’s beautiful enough to leave out!

I’m loving my tool block & the laying tool. I’ve been using them practically daily since they arrived.

And admittedly, I’m twitterpated with the tambour hook – but that’s a conversation for another day!

If you were at the ANG seminar in Houston, you may have seen James there as a vendor. He’ll be at the EGA Seminar in November in St. Louis, so you can look him up there. You can also visit his Etsy shop, where you’ll see all kinds of things he makes and the types of woods he can make them from. Pin cushion bases, telescoping magnets, pens, laying tools, laying tool cases, tool blocks, seam rippers. *Sigh*

There’s a turn-around time on custom orders (you indicate the type of wood you’d like and so forth), but you can communicate with him to find out what’s in stock and ready to ship, or to chat about what you’d like. As he put it, “I tell customers all the time when discussing orders that I would rather have 30 conversation on Etsy for us to get them exactly what they want, than to have someone order something that they may like, but wasn’t perfect because of 1 detail that we had not talked about.”

James has been doing this for a while, so he’s not a start-up. He’s got a good production cycle, where he builds inventory to prepare for events and takes custom orders along the way.

Those Storks

I don’t think I’ve shown you my storks before. So here they are:

These are DOVO storks. They’re really the only stork embroidery scissors that I’ve ever liked, and I’ve had a few storks over the years.

These have small, fine blades, are nicely weighted, and have the characteristic smooth working mechanism associated with all good DOVO scissors. They’re so very nice.

Not to mention, their two-toned plumage is really pretty!

If you’re looking for them, you’ll find the 3.5″ storks available in the States through Needle in a Haystack.

And please don’t blame me for feeding your scissor obsession!

Or your tool obsession, for that matter.

But really – what’s not to love? Beautiful wooden tools! Nice scissors! They’re perfect gifts – for yourself, or for someone you love.

And now it’s time to go make use of some tools and get this work day underway… see you soon!