Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Frazier.
Hi Nathan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It all started when I was dating my wife back in 2020. During the lockdowns, I had a lot of free time on my hands so when she wanted an island table for her kitchen so I decided to make her one. As an engineer, I love the process of designing, sourcing, and building things. Well, this sparked an idea to make a white oak bench to use when I proposed (she said yes) and now it sits at the base of our bed. The process of building various wooden projects made me want to start selling my pieces. While discussing this with a friend he said that he wanted a wooden American Flag to give as a gift. He loved the flag so much that he bought another and recommended it to his friends. This started to snowball to where I sold over a dozen flags in different sizes and styles. I thoroughly enjoy the process of manufacturing each and every flag. There is something beautiful when looking at a raw piece of lumber and transforming it into a beautiful piece of work.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Ha! Has anything been smooth in the past few years? Starting a business during Covid came with unique challenges. It was difficult to be able to get supplies and go to craft shows. You may have the best product in the world but if no one knows about it, you will not be making any sales.
It is also hard to produce my flags at the level I would like due to not having a dedicated woodworking shop yet. I have learned to make do with the space and tools at my disposal. I am looking at getting space coming up in the next few years.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What does Smoky Mountain Woodworking do? We are a small woodworking shop that specializes in making wooden flags. I have made flags as small as 9.25″ x 17.5″ all the way up to 36″x60″. Focusing on the small details like taking the time to burn the front AND back of each board, sealing each flag, and cutting the stars or logo by hand is really what sets us apart from the competition. I will spend half the time it takes to make a flag standing over it cutting each star and logo. This adds character and uniqueness that other methods of manufacturing do not provide.
What are your plans for the future?
Once I can move into a dedicated space, I would love to expand into making farmhouse furniture. I love the look and design of that style (as does my wife so that is a bonus!).
Pricing:
- Handcarved Wood American Flag – 37″x19.5″ – $175
- Handcarved Wood American Flag – 25″x13.2″ – $125
- Handcarved Wood American Flag – 17.5″x9.25″ – $75
Contact Info:
- Instagram: smokymountainwoodworking
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063755400722
