About The Crazy Cat Wood Shop
Handcrafted Pens, Gifts & One-of-a-Kind Fordite Jewelry Made in Massachusetts
What started in February 2021 with an “I can do that” has grown into a passion for creating one-of-a-kind handcrafted pieces that combine craftsmanship, creativity, history, and individuality.
The Crazy Cat Wood Shop is a small, husband-and-wife business based in Palmer, Massachusetts, where Laura and Ted create handcrafted pens, pencils, unique gifts, and one-of-a-kind Fordite creations.
We don't mass-produce our work. Each piece is individually designed, crafted, finished, and inspected by us. From the materials we select to the final polish, we take pride in creating pieces that are meant to be used, admired, and enjoyed for years to come.
From a Wood Shop to One-of-a-Kind Creations
Our journey began with hand-carved kitchen utensils and cutting boards before evolving into woodturning and handcrafted pens in 2024.
As our skills and interests grew, so did the materials we worked with. Today, our creations incorporate exotic and figured woods, acrylics, hybrids, and genuine Fordite, along with other unique materials that allow us to create truly distinctive pieces.
Every material has its own character, and part of the fun is discovering how that character can be transformed into something functional and beautiful.
Whether it's a handcrafted fountain pen made from figured wood, a colorful Fordite writing instrument, or a unique gift designed to start a conversation, our goal remains the same:
Create something you won't find sitting on a mass-produced store shelf.
Layer & Flow Jewelry Design - Handcrafted Fordite Jewelry Made in Massachusetts
Our passion for unique materials doesn't stop with pens.
Layer & Flow Jewelry Design is the handcrafted jewelry collection of The Crazy Cat Wood Shop, specializing in one-of-a-kind Fordite and Surfite jewelry.
Laura handcrafts each piece in our Palmer, Massachusetts workshop using authentic Fordite and Surfite.
Fordite is formed from layers of automotive paint that accumulated and hardened during the manufacturing process. When carefully cut, shaped, sanded, and polished, those layers reveal incredible patterns and colors that can resemble natural stone or agate.
Surfite is created in a similar way from layers of hardened paint associated with surfboard manufacturing.
What makes these materials especially fascinating is that their patterns cannot be duplicated.
Every layer represents a piece of industrial history. Every color combination is different. And every cut reveals something new.
From Corvette, Jeep, Mopar, and Kenworth Fordite to Maritime Navy Fordite and other unique sources, we transform these remnants of manufacturing history into wearable art.
Our Fordite jewelry includes handcrafted necklaces, pendants, and other unique pieces, each created to showcase the natural beauty and history preserved within the material.
No two pieces are ever exactly alike—and once a piece is sold, it cannot be precisely recreated.
Built in Layers. Worn with Pride.
Why Our Work Is Different
We believe handmade should actually mean something.
We don't have a production line, and we don't have a large staff. It's just the two of us—Laura and Ted—with the occasional assistance of our crazy cats.
That's where The Crazy Cat Wood Shop got its name.
Because each piece is made individually, we can spend the time necessary to work with the material rather than simply work around it.
A beautiful grain pattern might determine the shape of a pen.
A unique Fordite layer might determine how a pendant is cut.
A particular combination of colors might inspire an entirely new design.
The material helps tell us what the finished piece should become.
Handcrafted in Palmer, Massachusetts
Every piece we create is handcrafted in our Palmer, Massachusetts workshop.
We carefully select our materials from trusted sources, paying particular attention to the quality, character, and uniqueness of each piece before it ever becomes part of a finished creation.
From shaping and turning to sanding, polishing, assembly, and final inspection, we handle the process ourselves.
We are proud to create handcrafted American-made pieces in small quantities rather than mass-produced products made by the thousands.
More Than Just a Gift
We create pieces for people who appreciate things that are a little different.
A handcrafted pen for someone who loves to write.
A unique Fordite necklace for someone who wants wearable art with a story.
A special gift for someone who is impossible to shop for.
Or simply something beautiful that you weren't expecting to find.
Whatever brings you to The Crazy Cat Wood Shop, we hope you find something that speaks to you.
Because when you purchase one of our creations, you're not just buying an object.
You're taking home something that was imagined, handcrafted, and finished by hand—and something that may never exist again.
Meet the Makers - Laura & Ted
We're a husband-and-wife team who started The Crazy Cat Wood Shop because we wanted to create things we genuinely enjoyed making.
What began as a hobby has grown into a small business that allows us to share our creations with people who appreciate craftsmanship, unique materials, and the story behind handmade work.
We both continue to work full-time while building The Crazy Cat Wood Shop in the time we have available.
We participate in craft shows, art festivals, and other events throughout Western and Central Massachusetts and Connecticut, giving us the opportunity to meet our customers face-to-face and see where our creations end up.
And yes—the occasional crazy cat still manages to supervise the operation.
One of a Kind. By Design.
We don't believe handmade should look mass-produced.
Every piece we create is individually handcrafted, and the materials we work with ensure that every finished creation has its own personality.
No two pieces are ever exactly the same.
That's not a limitation.
That's the point.
