How does the idea become the thing? The tangible product? How does it arrive at handcrafted exquisiteness? From raw material to our gorgeously constructed iPhone 6 cases, monitor stands, and other desk accessories?

The route taken to the destination is often tortuous, pitted with holes, washed out in places. Sometimes the road does not exist at all, and tapers into a rutty earthen path. Here at Grovemade, however, we like a challenge, we like the dirt, we like molding that which comes from it.

We start with wood. High quality, domestically sourced wood. Oregon Claro Walnut and Eastern Hardrock Maple, to be specific. When a shipment arrives at our workshop in downtown Portland, Oregon, the whole team helps out to bring it in from the outside. We check over every plank to ensure each finished product is as close to perfection as humanly possible, then place them in their proper place - laser room, mill room, production shop.

With the arrival of a batch of orders, the team springs into action. The specifics are meted out, the woods selected and cut to approximate size, and are then sent to the laser shop. There, the profiles of our goods are lasered out by the Speedy 500. It’s carpentry with light, equal parts magic and ingenuity.

Next, the pieces are sent to the mills for fine detailing. The blank profile is taken further along the line. All is inspected for defects, knots, cracks, warping.  Blades whir and the journey progresses. What was once a simple wedge is now discernible as a keyboard tray in need of a shave.

Once out of the mill, the pieces are ready for production. A multipronged attack commences. Each piece is inspected for quality then put on the line. It is subjected to one round of sanding, then another, until the wood’s surface is as soft and plush as the premium Hermann and Oak Leather that lines our cases. After the wood dust is vanquished by a blast from the air hose, it’s ready to be hand-oiled, then set to dry for a solid twenty-four hours.

Lastly, the component parts are added, a final sanding ensues, another round of quality control occurs, and then after our final goodbyes, each piece is sent to the finished goods shelf. From there, the fine folks in shipping wrap each order with care in our specially made shipping containers, affix them with a stamp, and send them to you. We don’t allow for shortcuts, we don’t care for substitutes. We do it all onsite. We do it for you.

Written by Edmund Sandoval. Edmund is a member of Team Grovemade, a writer, a medium to deep thinker and the founder and sole member of the Amateur Flâneur Society.