skip to content
Designed for Comfort and Built to Last
Gary Weeks & Co. - Furnituremakers

Craftsmanship

In the body of this website we have a Craftsmanship Section.  It's deep. It answers the questions below and more:

  • What makes a handmade rocking chair different from those that are mass-produced?
  • Are handmade rocking chairs worth the cost and worthy of investment?
  • What woods make the best rocking chairs?
  • What do you look for and how do you evaluate joinery, wood, finish, ergonomics?

There is a subsection on How We Make a Rocking Chair and pages on Mortise and Tenon, Finishing, the organization of the shop, and more.

We are dedicated.  Our patrons notice and often write about it.

Dear Mr. Weeks,

The chair was delivered as scheduled, and arrived in perfect condition. We are most pleased with the rocker in terms of comfort, beauty, design and workmanship. The joints are immaculate, a delight to the hand, and the grains as nearly symmetrical as human art could achieve. It is everything I hoped, and then some.

Many thanks,

J.A.

P.S. — My Weeks cherry rocker reminds me of a rosewood desk by Sam Maloof that I had a chance to buy for $800 about 40 years ago. I have often regretted my inability to afford that desk, which would now be a museum piece, but I expect the sting to fade in the enjoyment of your magnificent chair.

Hi Gary,

The rocker arrived yesterday in good shape. If you designed this chair to fit you, you must be about 5'8", 150 pounds, 32/30 trousers, size 40 jacket, big feet and size 7 hat. This chair fits me to a tee and is a work of art. I have studied it over and cannot determine how many quarts of wildcat it took before you got settled on how it ought to be, but I'm glad you stuck it out and came up with this chair. It is really nice to sit in and nice to look at. My wife is very happy with the chair. She said that it is charming and beautiful. She is now talking about replacing all our living room furniture to match the chair. This sort of talk would usually get me worried a little, but she will never be able to match the exquisite beauty of your rocking chair.

In 1972-73, I built a 38' gill netter. It was a brute of a commercial fish boat with 13' of beam, drew 5' of water, was planked with 1-1/2 inch cedar, framed in oak, single Caterpillar diesel, and I forget how many tons of fish you could carry in the hold. It was the first boat I ever built and I probably should have started with a rowboat and worked my way up. A couple of months into the job I realized I had bit off more than was a mouthful, but decided to stick it out. Six months into the job, I realized that it was waaaay more than a mouthful, but now I was in so far, I couldn't let go. A shade over a year later, the boat was in the water and I told my friends that if anybody ever sees me with a set of boat plans again to please just get the 12 gauge and kill me. The reason I am telling you this story is because, just looking at this rocking chair and thinking about you figgering it out, made me think of that damn boat. To tell you the truth, the more I think about it, I believe I would rather build that boat again than try to come up with a rocking chair. You did a great good job. I very much appreciate the effort that went into this rocking chair.

Best to you and your crew down there. I hope you win the lottery and that your dog lives for 20 years.

J.M.

Gary,

Just wanted to let you know that E. (6 days old today!), is thoroughly enjoying his new rocking chair.

Thank you for making us such a beautiful piece of art.

Best,
J., D., and E. R.

Gary,

Received the Terrell Side tables yesterday. They are fantastic! Your shipping containers are as well thought out as are the pieces you make. They arrived perfectly and are beside my bed with the rocker and footstool at their side. Being an old woodworker, I can say that your work is impeccable and exquisitely done. Thanks again. They will become heirlooms someday.

C.F.

Gary,

In 1994 I bought this pecan rocker from you in Austin.

I want you to know it has brought many hours of pleasure to our family over these last 10 years. Every time I sit in it I find myself looking at the exquisite craftsmanship and fine detail which has set you apart and far above the furniture industry in quality. I am a very happy customer.

This particular chair was one you used in brochures and ads. It looks now as good as the day you last laid hands on it.

Thanks for your dedication to fine furniture making which you have elevated to an art.

G.E.

Hi Gary,

I received the chair yesterday. My wife is ecstatic. The chair is exquisite, a work of art. The confidence and pride you have in your work is truly apparent. Excellence is obviously the only acceptable outcome.

My 85 year old grandmother spent five months knitting a beautiful blanket for her soon to be born great grandchild. When I placed the chair in the baby's nursery, my wife hung the blanket over the back of the chair. The craftsmanship in the blanket and the craftsmanship in the chair seem to compliment each other.

Regards,
S.P.

Gary,

She is very appreciative and excited with your fine craftsmanship. My mom seems to like it very much. I can't wait to see it the next time I come to visit. All went well and I thank you for your service. I do appreciate it very much. Have a nice week.

Respectfully Yours
K.P.

Dear Gary,

Thank you for the rocker! I shall enjoy every moment in it!

Scott enjoyed meeting you and your son . . . Thank you for devoting yourself to the gift of design and woodcraft and excellence and marketing — so that your joy and my joy in what you have created could meet.

Grace and Hope to you and all those you love and serve,
T. H.

Hi Gary

Your rocker arrived last night. Here is their reaction:

GORGEOUS heirloom piece!!

Craftsmanship is SUPERB!!!!

Wood is BEAUTIFUL — you cannot imagine the beauty of it!! Back comfort makes you fall asleep . . .

All triple A -PLUS!!

Sincerely,
E.L.

Gary,

Once again our expectations are exceeded! The chair is absolutely gorgeous. The subtle figuring in the maple seat is a natural work of art. Only problem now is that everyone in the house wants their own Gary Weeks Rocker. Thanks again and I am sure we will be in touch.

Best Regards,
T.G.

Gary,

There's darn little of it in this old world!!! I defy any being of human origins to set in one of your masterpieces and not feel better about themselves and those around them. Many folks never get an opportunity to own a piece of art much less recline in same. In my home I have many pieces of furniture that brings great joy to my heart for no other reason than just looking at them. I have one desk that survived the Civil War and numerous other maladies and yet it is paled in comparison to the sheer warmth and comfort of your team’s touch.

I have a friend who puts the inner parts of his soul in his paintings. When I compliment his work he merely says I am just a painter . . . My reply is so was Michaelangelo! If the old master ever made furniture he would now have a peer in the Weeks Rocker . . .

Thanks for bringing back to your customers the love of quality . . .
R.K.

Dear Gary,

It's really disappointing to have to ask you to take your beautiful hand finished rocking chair back, but my wife's anatomy is just not right for it. We're not really surprised; as a child M. was diagnosed with scoliosis and her spine has quite a pronounced curvature, which doesn't quite fit your chair. I find it wonderful, but unfortunately our living room isn't large enough to accommodate a rocker she can't use. When the chair arrived I called over our friend who is on the faculty at the School of American Craftsman at Rochester Institute of Technology, a studio furniture designer himself. The styling and the workmanship are "studio furniture" quality. That's why I'm so disappointed I won't be able to keep the chair.

I appreciate your taking full responsibility for the cost of returning the chair by freight. The screw-together packaging was easy to reassemble and the chair is ready to ship.

Sincerely,

R.R.

Hi Gary,

I wanted to let you know we received the rocking chair yesterday and it is lovely. And comfortable. We appreciated getting it so soon, knowing that you must be very busy with others' orders. We thank you for the gift of careful craftsmanship, something my husband and I value highly.

sincerely,
M.L.

Thanks very much Gary I appreciate it.

As for the rocking, my wife has been using the chair periodically to get comfortable in the late stages of the pregnancy. She still has 2-3 weeks to go.

Thanks again for such a lovely product, this type of craftsmanship seems to be lost in today's society.

Regards,

B.S.

Yes Gary the chair has arrived and my wife really does love it. It arrived on Tuesday and I have been so busy we just unpacked it last night. I received it and reviewed the packaging which was in great shape. The chair is in fine shape as well. I was very impressed with the craftsmanship especially with regard to the attention paid to the grain in the wood and how it all came together in the construction of the chair. As you had promised and we expected this will be one of the highly cherished parts of our family for many generations.

Thanks so very much,

B. and K.S.

Gary,

The rocker arrived at our Lynden dock Christmas eve morning, and I picked it up later that morning.

The box it came in was damaged, but the rocker was fine.

The rocker is a work of art, and it is comfortable.

Thank you.

Best,
M.C.

Hi Gary,

I was in SC for Thanksgiving and got to see the rocker in person. It is perfect and I couldn't be happier with it. Thank you and your artisans for such fine craftsmanship.

My brother and sister-in-law are expecting their first child in May and I know the wee one will spend many hours being rocked to sleep in the cherry rocker.

I hope to make it to your shop in the next couple of weeks.

Thanks again and I hope your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving,
B.T.

Gary,

I love the looks of my rocking chair . . . I hope someday to be given an opportunity to sit in it. My wife has apparently decided it is intended for her exclusive use. Every visitor has to try it and all rave about the quality of the work, especially the finish. I'll be ordering again soon.

J.M.

Gary,

Just got home and unwrapped the bubble wrap. (My wife was kind enough to let me do the unveiling.) Gorgeous was the first word that came to mind. Your workmanship is truly lovely and the one concern I had — the mesquite pattern would be too busy — turned out to be totally unfounded. I am SO GLAD I treated myself to that wood.

Your creation immediately took over the corner next to the fireplace in the bedroom. It sits next to an adobe accent wall under a recessed light that has a dimmer. It is at the moment under a 1/3 power dimmer . . . glowing.

Thank you very much. I intend to get a LOT of pleasure out of your creation and pass it on with delight to whoever the hell lasts longer than I do. I know the chair will :).

Best,

B.S.

Hi Gary,

Love the motion! Love the wood — especially the way it was harvested! . . . Love the chair! And great timing too :-0

Thank you for your help and beautiful workmanship!

D.W.

Gary,

I couldn't thank you enough. She, and everyone that attended the shower, absolutely loved it. I think every woman at the shower had to take her turn sitting in the rocker. It is truly a work of art. Several veteran mothers commented on the design features that must apparently make breastfeeding while rocking a much more comfortable experience — I wouldn't know. Notably, I heard the height of the armrests and the back support as being the most well thought-out design features for the chair. I'm sure some of them will be checking out your website as I had repeated it enough times throughout the party.

I guess I'll be talking to you again in the next few years. We are planning to have another baby and I would like to pass the chair on to each child as an heirloom.

Thanks again for your excellent craftsmanship. It's a rare thing these days.

E.D.

Hi Gary,

It is so nice to finally write you after silently getting to know you via your e-mails to Chris. I often feel it is difficult to get to know someone thorough writing, but we both feel that, through this huge venture, we have gained a friend. Your genuine spirit could be felt with every e-mail written and now that we have your beautiful rocking chair here, we will miss the frequent correspondence we've so looked forward to. Hopefully it doesn't have to end and we can continue writing every so often.

Gary, I knew that your rocking chairs were made with precision, hand-made care, and were beautiful just by reading your well organized website. But when opening the huge box to slide the chair out, my mouth completely dropped. Your work is phenomenal and I was speechless. The design, color, documentation, signature inscription, incredibly, smooth finish, etc. were more than I expected. The tender loving care that you and your company gave to making and shipping this chair was/is felt the minute one goes to touch it, let alone sit in it. I know that this heirloom will be much enjoyed for the years to come by the three of us (we just found out that we are pregnant!). Thank you, Gary, for your superior work. You are certainly an artist and we are lucky to have found you.

Hi Gary,

Now it's C. writing, what can I say that C. didn't already perfectly express? The chair is just gorgeous! We had no problems with the shipping, everything went very smoothly, and the chair arrived in perfect condition, safely and securely crated. It is clearly a work of art and I know it will fit very nicely into our home. What surprised me most was when I touched the chair and first sat in it. The finish is amazing! I did not believe wood could be worked to such a fine finish. And it is also very comfortable! Both C. and I have had only limited time up till now to enjoy it, but every time we sit in it we are surprised at how comfortable it is without having to use any cushions. I noticed in particular that if I sit up straight with my rear against the back of the chair then it gives me a wonderful even support of my entire back that feels very nice. I believe I can easily fall asleep in your rocker!

Thank you Gary! We will keep in touch!

Your Friends,

C. & C.

Dear Gary,

After speaking with Austin about unpacking (the bottom part of my crate was missing and so were the eight screws and arrows), I welcomed my cherry Weeks Rocker to its new home tonight. It seems not to have minded that bit of crate because it looks perfect! It is as beautiful and comfortable as I hoped and exactly as your other customers have described.

Thank you very much for creating such a lovely piece of furniture. It has been a pleasure speaking with you and I will enjoy your craftsmanship for many, many years.

Yours truly,


M.

Hi Gary,

The party and rocking chair was a big success. R. was surprised and very touched and all present were awed by the beauty of the chair, taking turns sitting in it or just touching it. It really is a work of art. Sunday it was all R's . . . he watched football, read the paper, and just smiled. So thanks for your very special part in R's 50th birthday. You feel like family and perhaps we will meet someday.

Warmly,

R.A.

Gary —

"Like" is an absolute understatement. We love the rocker and stool! While H. and I were confident that the furniture would be all that we hoped for, we were somewhat apprehensive since neither one of us had ever made such an investment on something we could not actually see or touch. So when the rocker and stool arrived last week, I was so nervous with excitement and anticipation. Needless to say, when I pulled the rocker out of the box and nervously pulled away the bubble wrap out came the most beautiful furniture I have ever seen. Your craftsmanship is unrivaled. The cherry wood is perfect.

Although I could barely resist, I put the rocker and stool in our living room and waited for H. to come home that evening so she could be the first to sit in the chair. When she did, tears of joy appeared on her smiling face. Like her grandmothers before, H. has always loved rocking chairs and now she has her very own.

Since this was an anniversary gift to H. — our first — I have set the bar at a level, thanks to you, I may not be able to maintain. I will certainly try though.

Thanks again for the wonderful rocker and stool as well as your excellent customer service.

We will be back!

J.

Gary,

Thanks very much for the note. The rocker and stool were delivered last Thursday. Lisa is absolutely delighted. We love the style and craftsmanship of both pieces. She also really enjoys the Wimberley connection.

We will enjoy rocking with our Grandchildren and telling about the '42 skills of their Great-Great-Grandmother W. decades from now.

Thanks again,

J.H.

Gary,

Arrive it did, midst heraldry and fanfare, trumpets blasting, poets singing (truly) and a hurricane as midwife. The rocker is truly magnificent, easily surpassing my expectations, which were substantial. The birthday boy loved it, as did his wife, on all levels. Further, it is easy to see that they will love it more with each passing day. It reflects truly Smithsonian grade workmanship. Cannot thank you and the crew enough, not only for the rocker but for the entire purchasing experience. So few things defy Murphy's law these days.

Can you send J.W. a copy of the guarantee? He's a lawyer and will be impressed.

Thanks for everything. I have the feeling we'll be in touch again in the future.

P. and I.R.

Gary,

The chair arrived on Tuesday in great shape. My wife is very very happy with it — already declaring it the most comfortable chair she's ever sat in. The craftsmanship of the chair is a bit humbling really, the level of precision in the joinery and the finish are truly amazing.

My daughter C. (two years old) is still enjoying playing in the box that the chair came in. We've fashioned it into a small play house for her complete with windows and doors.

The new baby is due in a month and we plan to have photos taken of the family in the chair to use as baby announcements. We'll be sure to send one out to you and your crew.

Thanks so much for the fine work. We're looking forward to someday adding a matching chair for me when I manage to retire and build a house on the lake (I'll need 20 years at least . . .)

Thanks for making such a fine product, we'll enjoy it for a lifetime.

best,
C.

Dear Kind Sweet Sir,

Have got to let you know how much I appreciate the work that you do. My rocker is perhaps the most elegant rocker in all of creation. You truly do amazing work that will be cherished in our family for a long time to come. Thank you for my main seat. I now understand what I. has been making such a fuss about for so long.

With such appreciation,

The New M.H.

Thanks very much Gary!

Kudos to you and your team, it is a beautiful chair and a pleasure to sit in. I read the morning paper in it today — what a great way to start the day. My wife likes it a lot as well, so we are over the highest hurdle. :-)

The grain patterns are very nice. I especially like the splats and the rockers. They have that subtle reflective, wavy pattern that I like so much. The finish is superb as well — a pleasure to touch and look at.

Again, thank you for the wonderful chair. The H. Family appreciates it very much!

M.H

Gary,

Yes, it was delivered yesterday afternoon by Motor Cargo. Everything went fine as far as delivery and condition.

The rocker is wonderful, truly a work of art. And the minute I sat in it, it was comfortable, a perfect fit with everything supported, and a lovely rock. I was delighted with the curve in the arms, the way you can put your elbows off the end of the arm and not have any pressure on the elbow to make your arms "go to sleep". (By design or accident, a great feature).

My husband was also very pleased with the beauty and comfort of the rocker. I suspect we will have to take turns with "my" rocker.

Thank you so much!
K.E.

Dear Gary,

My husband, D., surprised me for my birthday (6/21), with one of your maple rockers. This is one of the most beautiful things I've seen (of course, besides my daughter, D.)! It is the most comfortable chair in our home. I move it from my daughter's room to our family room, on a regular basis so that visitors get a good look at it. Thank you for making such a beautiful, functioning piece of art.

Sincerely,
K.B.

Gary,

I got my cherry rocker about 2 weeks ago. I knew it would be nice, but when I unwrapped it I was amazed at the perfection of it! The joinery, finish, and comfort are more than I could have hoped for. I've never seen a piece of furniture of this quality.

Thank you for your craftsmanship and outstanding rocking chair!

D.C.

Gary,

We are VERY happy with both the rockers and the table. They look great together and we plan to spend many hours enjoying them on our new screened porch. Thanks so much for having done such an outstanding job on their looks, workmanship and comfort.

S. and B.C.

Gary,

I am more than happy with both the chairs and the delivery. I had a party to welcome these new pieces, and one of my friends swore that the rocker was the most comfortable chair in which she had ever sat - I think she's right! The rocker has become my favourite place to sip my morning coffee and read the newspaper.

Thanks for your good work and artistry.

S.C.M

Dear Gary,

We have received our much anticipated rocker and are very pleased. Though the cardboard of the crate had a large tear in one corner, the rocker arrived in perfect condition. It has also come before our son, whose due date was yesterday. Thank you, again, for making us a priority with the rather short notice we gave you. C. is delighted to have her rocker in place — in the small room we have for the nursery — and is ready for this baby to be born.

I pray that God continues to bless you and your family, and everyone who works at Gary Weeks Furniture. Your craftsmanship testifies to the depth of your devotion to your work.

Sincerely,
F.B

Hi Gary,

My wife and I with her friends from San Antonio made a trip to the Fredericksburg area and visited your facility in early 2002 when you took the time to show us your shop and new home as it was under construction (We are from Grosse Ile, Michigan), since that time I have seen many 'look alike' furniture pieces in several area art fairs for twice as much money, no where near the quality and comfort, and without the 'art' of your designs. We still have a place for a few The Wilson Chairs and a The Terrell Side Table, at some opportune time we will fill that void.

Sincerely,
R. and S.W.

Gary:

Briefly, the rocker arrived in perfect condition, and the delivery man from Overnite was perhaps the most pleasant and courteous I've come across in years. The crate was a pleasure in itself to "unwrap."

My wife was thrilled with the rocker, and used it last evening to rock (of course!) the baby to sleep. Did I mention that R. and I have a 7 month, and a 23 month old sons? More to follow, we hope. I often comment to those professionals whom I refer business, that when they look good, I look good. Let's say that your rocker made me look really good!

To conclude, the rocker is magnificent.

Best regards,
D.M.

The walnut rocker arrived as promised. It's absolutely gorgeous and my wife is in love with it.

Now how do I get my 13 yr old son out of it?

P.D.

Dear Weeks Family,

I just want you to know how happy N. is with her new rocking chair. It arrived yesterday, right on her birthday, as promised, and she fell in love with it immediately. She's wanted a rocking chair for many years but never liked any she sat in. But when she sat in your chair she knew she'd found a home. She loves it and I am thrilled. And it is so beautiful to look at and a pleasure to touch. I've been trying for more than 30 years and have never before been able to give her a gift that pleased her as much as your beautiful chair. I don't know what I'm going to do next year.

Thanks for making such wonderful things and thanks for all the extra effort to make this happen for me on her birthday.

Best regards,
G.G.

Gary,

Thanks for your follow up. We've been away since Xmas, so just getting to this now. We did receive the chair and are absolutely thrilled with it. It is just beautiful and extremely comfortable! Your rocking chair is a piece of art. Thank you again.

S.G.

Gary,

In a world where mediocrity thrives and proliferates, while good men and women struggle and die, a world where avarice has replaced philanthropy and violence has replaced compassion, your rocking chair restores my confidence in the human spirit. That's no exaggeration. One problem, though. How do I extract my wife from the chair? I'd like to sit in it.

G.V.

Gary,

All you and Gary and Co have done from start to finish is so very appreciated. My folks were BLOWN AWAY. I think they are still in shock. The rocker is a work of art. Mil Gracias!

— Many thanks to you and Austin and the crew —

M.C.

Hi all,

Just a quick note to thank all of you for the hard work put in to my rocker, which arrived today (Friday a.m).

It is a wonderful piece of furniture, as you know, and the exquisite curves and colour, let alone the joins which can hardly even be seen, are something to just marvel over.

To Gary and Austin especially, thank you. And to Leslie and Zach and all the others who contributed, thanks for your work.

It is of course the best piece of furniture I have ever bought and the most prized. Nothing I've invested in even comes close except for my flat! And even that is not as beautiful.

I am and have been in awe of the work that you all do and would be blessed if I could work in wood with even a fraction of the skills and precision. But of course that is the domain of just a few, and my own skills are elsewhere.

And I wish for you all the best of luck and prosperity in your work, ideas and plans for the future whatever they are, although of course they will involve wood and wonderful design and execution.

I will cherish my Weeks Rocker and always remember the work that went into the design, the choice of wood and the careful shaping and polishing of the parts to make it a truly memorable piece of furniture that will always be admired and used.

Regards,
G.M.

PS: Will wire balance of money owed at earliest opportunity, either today or Monday.

For your interest, the total of Australian duties and GST and quarantine charges plus delivery came to about US$770 (AUD$1336), just in case you want to note it down for any other potential Australian patrons later.

Gary:

B.'s cherry Weeks Rocker arrived as promised, right on time and she absolutely loves it. I am in awe at the wood selection and the fine craftsmanship. I wish we had purchased this earlier (if you remember, I have been looking at your chairs in Austin since the days of your Texas pecan rocker, which I am truly sorry I don't possess). Thanks again.

J.F.

Gary,

Thank you again for your outstanding design and craftsmanship. The rocking chair has been more comfortable than I could have ever imagined, even sitting for long periods of time. My feet even touch the floor! I am still amazed with the way the chair fits both me and my husband perfectly, yet is beautiful too. It will truly be a blessing for our nursery and home for years to come.

Good luck to you and your business.

K.M.

Dear Gary,

Received my rocker in fine shape. Needless to say, the workmanship and finish were superb. However, waited a while to write this letter because I wanted to give it a good workout. I can say, without qualification this is an extremely comfortable piece of furniture and pleasing to the eye. One item I would like to mention is the ability to get in and out of the rocker is very easy, meaning the design was right. My thanks for a perfect addition to our home.

Best regards,
R.B.

Dear Gary,

The walnut chairs are beautiful! They are almost too pretty to sit in but they are also so comfortable and feel so good. The are true works of art and M. and I (and all our friends) just love them.

Thank you again for beautiful craftsmanship.

S.S.

Dear Gary Weeks and Company,

Enclosed find check in payment of invoice for the beautiful walnut dining table and six chairs. We fully intend to enjoy them for as long as we are "able to enjoy." And we do indeed highly value the craftsmanship that went into creating these pieces —

Best regards,
M.A.J.

Gary & Leslie,

I just wanted to send a message saying that although we've had only limited time to experience the chairs at this point, they are beautiful & the workmanship is incredible. Thank you!

But I have sat in the rocker long enough to know that the bonding that will take place there with my grandchildren in my lap will be among life's greatest treasures — & blessings

Thanks again.
J. & B.W.

Page 11 of 12 (565 total)

Navigation
Gary Weeks & Co. - Furnituremakers