About Us

           

     Westwinds Furniture is owned by Jerry and Teri Tomasek.  Our home is in the Columbia River Gorge region of southern Washington.  The scenic beauty and abundant recreational  activities are what first attracted us to the area.    In 2001 we made "the gorge" our primary residence. Jerry is a self-taught woodworker with a deep respect for nature and the environment.  Furniture-making allows Jerry to combine his creativity with his skill as a craftsman.  He incorporates several different types of wood into his furniture, creating interesting textures and contrasts.  The designs and styles of furniture have evolved through the years.  Coming up with fresh new ideas has not been an issue.  Jerry gets his inspiration from watching the natural world, which is consistently changing and  intricately arranged.  Teri assists in various aspects of the furniture-building process, mainly marketing.  We are thankful to be able to work from home doing something that we both enjoy.                 

Home

Who we are

 

     The furniture making process begins with many hours spent in the woods gathering material.  A handsaw, pruners, and backpack are the tools of choice for harvesting.  Each branch or twig is selected for it's unique character, size, and relationship to the surrounding environment.  Some branches are peeled, while others are left with bark on to dry for an appropriate amount of time.  The furniture is assembled in an off-grid solar powered shop.  The time honored technique of mortise and tenon joinery is used for strength.  We have been able to incorporate recycled and reclaimed woods into most of our furniture pieces.  A tung oil finish is then applied to bring out the natural beauty of the wood and protect it.

Our furniture making process

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Environmental Commitment

    Living in the Columbia River gorge has given Jerry and I the opportunity to pursue an interest in renewable sources of energy.  In 2001 we built an off-grid solar powered shop, followed by a small home the next year.  The electricity used for producing our furniture, and everyday living, is generated from the sun through an array of solar panels.  We were so excited about not relying on conventional electricity, that we began looking at what else we could do for energy independence.  Recent projects have included solar heated hot water, rainwater collection system, and a small wind generator for producing additional power.  With the current high costs of gasoline we have begun using our economical, 35 mpg Honda Civic, as a delivery vehicle.  Strapping a chair or table to the roof often attracts some unusual looks and a couple of "thumbs up".  We prefer to sell locally whenever possible.  For us the benefits of living a simpler lifestyle have definitely outweighed any drawbacks.