Wood-turned Pens by New Jersey Handmade Craft Artisan, Oak Lane Woodworks

The coolest part about this business is that I get to meet so many talented, local craft artisans.  Several months ago, I connected with Chris LeLong of Oak Lane Woodworks.  His wood-turned pens caught my attention and my proposal of selling his pens while drinking beer must have caught his.  We met at River Horse Brewing Company Crafts and Drafts for the first time where I was unable to place a name to his face.  His lovely wife, Becky, read into my confusion and was quick to help a sister out.  “He’s Chris.  Oak Lane Woodworks,” she yelled over as they unloaded their wares before the rain hit.  My first few interactions with the LeLongs, and working together since, have been easy.  They are truly fun, honest, and kind-hearted people.  The type you feel GOOD about supporting as you buy their pens, beer caddies, and sweet dog leash hangers.

You can imagine my surprise, then, when I opened my door last Saturday morning to a package bearing a logo I’ve come to know well.  Delivery from Oak Lane Woodworks.  Inside were two incredibly gorgeous and thoughtful pens, one a marbled wine color and the other marbled teal (some of my favorite colors).  The pens are intentionally different, his and hers style.  The wine-colored pen has gold accents complimenting most of my day-to-day accessories while the teal pen has gunmetal gray accents and a stylus component.  Both were neatly packaged in their own velvet drawstring bags and came with a note card describing the pen, ink replacements, and how to swap out the stylus tip for a conventional one (included, because who doesn’t like options?)

As if the aesthetics of these pens weren’t enough, they write beautifully.  I say this with all honesty -  I have never written with a smoother pen!

What the LeLongs don’t know is that their gift reminds me so much of my mother.  She passed away when I was 17, but one of my most vivid memories of her is the gold pencil necklace she always wore.  It always looked so elegant to me.  “My mom has her own GOLD pencil!” I thought to myself growing up.  As I work fervently at my desk adding to Marketspace’s craft event calendar for 2018, I feel a little fancy, like my mom, with my own gold accent pen! 

Thank you, Chris and Becky!  Your gift is priceless and I can assure any buyer it is a very special one to receive.