Carson City resident Travis Skaggs has long enjoyed working with wood, creating unique handmade works of art for his home or as gifts for friends and family. Furniture, wooden toys, special boxes and everything else made it so unusual that making and decorating dog dishes has become so fashionable.
You might think it's just a wooden board because these boards usually have small edibles that almost completely cover the board.
However, Skaggs believes that a charcuterie board should be a functional piece of art that can be displayed and admired after the meal. His lovingly crafted works of art are resurrected from once elegant and functional trees and live on in his creations.
The plates and boxes made by Skags are often very intricate designs made from different types of wood, like pieces of a puzzle. When asked where he gets his wood, he candidly replies, "I buy my boards at Lowes, and for more exotic woods I go to my wood shop in Sparks."
Skaggs, now retired, worked in construction for many years until he was injured and then began a new career as an accountant. He always enjoyed woodworking and soon found himself making pieces here and there until he retired and began to take his "hobby" seriously. As you'd expect from a former construction worker, he excels at solving problems by making something with a simple piece of wood.
These days, he says, "I have a three-car garage full of woodworking tools, and my house is knee-deep in completed projects."
Where does he get his inspiration from?
“I subscribe to a woodworking magazine and watch a lot of YouTube videos,” he said.
Its most exotic pieces are made of oak, ash, hickory and walnut, and they fit together perfectly to form a puzzle pattern that offers something new every time. He's become so good at making boards that now all he needs is a solid slab of wood, an idea of what he wants to build, and then "let the wood talk to him" as he puts the pieces together. From start to finish, exploring its unique boards can take five hours of concentration.
Woodworking is a great hobby for those who like to work alone and let their minds wander. That describes Skaggs, who takes pride in his creations, no matter what, and recently brought several items to the Carson City Chamber craft store to sell to those who prefer Nevada-made pieces by local artists who want to buy them. They would make a great gift for any occasion, including a wedding.
Although woodworking is one of his hobbies, he travels the world with his wife Lou, who leaves no stone unturned. She and Lou are actively involved in the local Lions Club where they sell See's Candy during the holidays to raise funds for the club.
“I love working with wood and find it fun and stimulating to keep my brain active and sharp,” he said. All his products have his logo and no two creations are alike.
– Ronnie Hannaman is the executive director of the Carson City Chamber of Commerce.
