🪵 Meet Paul Dunbar

Welcoming Our Favorite Woodworker to Handmade in the Sandhills

We’re beyond excited to introduce one of our newest (and most delightful) makers — Paul Dunbar, a self-taught woodworker with a heart of gold and a serious love for cedar.

Paul began turning wood after retiring in 2018, seeking something to keep his hands busy. What started as a casual hobby quickly grew into something much more: a full-blown creative passion for shaping bowls, vessels, and other beautifully functional pieces from locally sourced wood.

“I just picked up a lathe and started trying things out,” Paul says with a smile.

His favorite thing to make? Small bowls. Why?

“They just feel right. I love how smooth they get and the way the grain shows through.”

You’ll usually find Paul working with cedar, elm, and pine, all gathered locally (yes, including from the city tree dump on Saturdays, which has become a bit of a treasure trove). He’s especially fond of cedar for its softness and aroma, though he admits pine can be tricky and likes to chip when it’s feeling cranky.

What’s most incredible about Paul’s work is how intuitive and natural his process is.

“You don’t know what you’ve got until you start to work the wood,” he says. “You let it speak to you.”

His wife — the unofficial quality control department — is the one who nudged him to start selling at markets. “She told me she didn’t have any more shelves for my stuff,” Paul laughs.

Now, we’re so lucky to have him as part of the Handmade in the Sandhills family! Paul’s craftsmanship fits perfectly with our rustic, whimsical vibe, grounded in Nebraska roots, full of heart, and always handmade.

Say hi to Paul at local markets (like the Ainsworth Market, the first Saturday of the month!) and run your hands over one of his cedar bowls. We promise you’ll feel the love, skill, and sawdust that went into every curve.

Welcome, Paul! We’re so glad you’re here. 🪵💛