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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.

Gary,

I meant to email you last night . . . The rocker arrived, and the box was damaged BUT the rocker is in perfect condition so everything is great. We love the rocker . . . I didn't realize how big it was (a good thing – I'm 6'1" and it fits me perfectly). It's very good looking and obviously well-designed . . . it almost rocks by itself! I'm glad there are still craftsmen like you who create genuine quality furniture.

Thank you,
M.C.

Dear Gary,

I am the very fortunate recipient of your incredible rocking chair. I must thank you for a number of reasons.

Firstly, as a taller mom-to-be I cannot thank you enough for the pitch perfect proportions presented through your chair. I cannot ever remember my back position feeling better as the lumbar support is exactly where it should be. Secondly, that this was the gift chosen by my beloved partner suggests he understands me completely and we shall have a lifetime of memories with this chair as the backdrop.

. . . Everytime I sit in your chair I am reminded of the good times; the beauty, the excitement and the integrity that good design can bring to ones existence. That there are fewer of you able to do this only makes you more special.

In a David vs. Goliath world, I congratulate you and your family on your beautiful work and the impressive feat of succeeding both in business and in art.

Best wishes and continued success!
B.Q.

Dear Gary,

Thank you for your email and nice comment. The mountain has been a sacred place for more than 1000 years as is Mt. Fuji. Nowadays, however, people visit these places just for fun.

The rocking chair arrived safely this morning. The chair is more than I expected. First of all, it fits my body so well. The artistic curvature, especially the back, impressed me a lot. Now I can rock in this chair at night and enjoy a special liqueur made by me with wild blueberries, which I picked at the top of Hakusan (the white mountain) just before snowfall. I witnessed that bears were fond of these blueberries, and ate huge amount just before hibernation.

Sincerely,
K.T.
Sakai-shi, Fukui, Japan

P.S., Your work is marvelous and survives ages. In contrast, although there are so many scientists, the majority of their work are forgotten as soon as they report their research.

Gary,

We did indeed receive the rocker last night.

It is indeed a work of art.

My wife was very pleased with it and it fits her great.

We look forward to many good hours in it with the new baby.

Thank you for your prompt email communication and professionalism.

J.H.

Gary,

They received the chair and are enjoying it more than they expected. I had the pleasure of seeing it on Saturday and have to admit that the craftsmanship is superb!! The chair will complement the back porch of their soon to be built home quite perfectly. After completion of the house, a second rocker may be in order . . . I'll keep you posted. Again, thank you for such a unique and extraordinary piece of art.

D.E.

We unpacked the rocker last night. The wood is beautiful and workmanship is outstanding. The chair will be a lasting memory for our 22 anniversary. I wish I was home sitting in it now. I look forward to one day bringing it back to Texas.

Sincerely,
B.D.

Good Friday morning, Gary!

Given to me as a birthday present by my husband, your (now MINE!) rocking chair is the most beautiful, most comfortable piece of furniture we have every seen! It is obvious that it has been expertly crafted by caring hands from extraordinary selections of wood. It is quite perfect! It is the only chair that my oddly crooked tailbone has ever felt comfortably resting in!

Delivery went without a hitch, as the delivery man helped me unscrew, cut, tear and uncover this work of art that will be treasured for generations!

In fact, we are so impressed, we are considering purchasing some of your dining room furniture. Would you be able to send us a sample of the "hand-planed" surface? Or, if not possible, could you email a photo of this option to us?

Fine job on your website, as well! It is chock full of useful information!

Many thanks and best wishes!
V.B.

Gary:

I could tell by the cardboard and wood crate that you made to ship the chair, that I was about to appreciate what you had put together inside that crate. Maybe it was because the feet on the platform of the crate were made from scraps of walnut! Or possibly, because these days I'm not used to seeing such a carefully protected package sent via truck freight. While unscrewing the crate, I knew then, the quality and the care you take in your production.

Thanks for the wonderful rocker, it's everything I expected and more than I deserve . . . but I'm still gonna enjoy it. And thank you for the attentiveness and friendliness you extended for such a small order.

If you could be so kind as to mail me out a few additional Gary Weeks & Company furniture catalogs, I'd like to pass them along to some local friends. Thanks again, and the previous invitation is always open to you in this part of the northern left coast.

Enjoy your holidays.
Sincerely,
J.K.

Dear Mr. Weeks,

yes, the furniture has arrived. It is all what we anticipated — just beautiful. The chair is really, really comfortable. All items are perfect workmanship. Thank you. It was our pleasure doing business with you. Happy Holidays!

H.M.

Good morning Gary,

I received the rocker Tuesday in perfect condition. It really is a beautiful piece of furniture, and a testament to your craftsmanship. My wife and I look forward to holding many children in it!

Thanks for your help,
M.H.

The rocking chair arrived, and it is without a doubt one of the finest pieces of furniture I've seen. The quality and workmanship are impeccable. Thank you so much for the fine work.

D.C.

hi gary,

just wanted to let you know our chair arrived on schedule, and in perfect condition.

we love it! it's really a work of art, and as comfortable as we'd hoped for. the older we get this is becoming more important.

the rocker is in our kitchen, and is about the first thing we see in the morning. it's already feeling like an old friend, and it's real easy to look at.

anyway, it was a pleasure doing business with you. thanks for all your follow-up work making sure we knew what to expect regarding shipping.

if we need anything in the way of furniture in the future we will surely keep you in mind.

hope you have a merry christmas.

J. & M.A.

Gary,

The chair arrived intact and the driver commented on how well it was packed. I opened the box and checked on the chair and I must say it is absolutely beautiful. It is indeed a piece of art and everything that your website said it would be. My wife will love it as she appreciates fine woodworking and furniture even more than I do. Thanks for the wonderful chair and fine craftsmanship.

Best,
K.S.

Gary,

Thank you for your email. Yes, we got the rocking chair yesterday morning (the delivery man couldn't have been nicer), and I've only left it to eat and sleep! My little girl and I have been enjoying it so much. I can't thank you enough for expediting the delivery. Your chair is truly a beautiful piece of art — and it is so comfortable, almost as if it has been made for me. Please thank Leslie and the rest of your team for me for all their good work.

Warm Regards,
L.M.

LOVE THE CHAIRS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Haven't had the chance to write. They are gorgeous. Thank you! All the workmen, too, are envious of the workmanship. So fine.

I'll be hosting many a fine, long meal with them, for sure.

All the best, and thanks —
B.S.

The rocking chair arrived and it is wonderful. Thank you. I love it. Was delivered in rain and hail storm — makes sitting in it even better! (I ordered it while still living in San Diego in the sunshine)

My cherry rocker arrived and is spectacular. Many envious folks are trying it out and drooling. Thanks for the service and great product.

C.B.

Dear Gary –

Just to let you know our two daughters are absolutely thrilled with their rockers.

So were we when the girls broke open the packages and we all saw what beautiful items they are. The workmanship is exquisite.

Fortunately we shipped them over unopened in your excellent packing cases: . . .

Thank you for our family heirlooms-to-be.
A.B.

I received my rocker yesterday. WOW! Besides being a beautiful piece of furniture it's a piece of art! I sat in it every chance I could. It does wonders for my aching back. It fits me perfectly and I love running my hands over the beautiful finish! I had a place picked out in my living room and it's perfect! Thank you for the wonderful craftsmanship. I can tell you folks take great pride in your work and I am honored to own this rocker! However, now it seems I may need a bench for my feet, in mesquite. What are the chances?

R.C.

Hi Gary,

Greetings from Whistler, BC. Here are a few pictures of W. and Myself with our Weeks Rocker. As you can see in the second picture, the nursery is nearing completion with paint etc. . . . just a few things left to do . . . but the bags are packed in the event of an early arrival of baby.

We are so happy with the beautiful craftsmanship and obvious care that goes into the Weeks Rocker. As the pictures show, the rocker looks incredible in the room. The Chair far exceeded my expectation when ordering. The chair is the first family heirloom that W. and I have introduced to the family, and we look forward to future generations taking pride in having it be passed on in the family.

Thanks again for all your help in getting this chair to me on time. We will update you when the baby comes and be sure to send along a few photos with baby and us with the chair.

Warm Regards,
D. and W.C.

Gary,

K. LOVES her rocker. I can't say she has been off her rocker since it got here. This has been the best birthday present I have ever gotten her. OK, she did pick it out and I just ordered it, but WOW, she is happy.

I have to tell you, the picture in the New Yorker doesn't do your work justice. You and your team are truly artists. The chair is beautiful.

By the way, your packaging was ingenious. We especially liked how you only used the foam packaging in the minimum spots you needed since that stuff doesn't recycle well.

Not only did I enjoy talking with you on the phone when I ordered, the whole process start to finish with your wonderful chair up to and including your email below has been great.

Thank you so much. We will gladly be a reference.
R.G.

Dear Gary and Leslie:

The rocker arrived in good condition yesterday. It is as advertised: a comfortable and sturdy work of art. Very well done.

Thank you.

T.B.

Gary,

It arrived without a blemish. M. and K. were absolutely thrilled! The baby is due any day now and M.'s Mom is packed with a plane ticket in her purse. Thanks for the great design and workmanship. The plaque was also a surprise and they immediately realized they had a family heirloom, and a most useful one at that. The rocker will be put to a most valuable service very soon. I will be in Phoenix for Christmas and will get to see it and put it to use with the new grandson. What a thrill!

Thanks for the great job you and all your craftsmen and caring employees are doing. They clearly enjoy their work. It shows.

Regards,
A.G.

Gary,

Rocker came through in great shape. I'm impressed with the workmanship. I talked one of my friends (M.R.) into ordering one also. I think his will be delivered Monday 2 Oct. Looking forward to hearing what his wife says about it.

Thanks,
K.C.

Hi Gary,

The Rocker just arrived, and we did a very thorough inspection right off the truck. It was in perfect condition.

I called your number right after I'd finished drooling over it . . . it is absolutely the most beautiful piece of furniture I own. It's amazingly comfortable, and the workmanship, the wood-piece symmetry you used, and every detail are just so perfect! You want a reference or testimonial, YOU GOT IT!

My sincere Thanks for building me something I will surely enjoy, and pass down from generation to generation.

S.B

Thanks again, Gary. The piece is, as always, a celebration of material and mind, and the irresistible momentum of an artist's heart.

P.D.

Gary, the rocker is fabulous! Beautiful work, excellent grain work, great size — my wife had a feeling about you all — it's great that real skill and pride in such still lives! . . . I think I will be thanking you for many years to come — indebted J.

"To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to the stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear on cheerfully, do all bravely, awaiting occasions, worry never; in a word to, like the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common." — W.H. Channing

J.K.

Dear Gary,

As you are aware, I was in for a wonderful surprise upon my return to my home in Winnipeg. The container was in the garage and it immediately tweaked my curiosity. When Stewart told me it was an anniversary gift I decided to open it a bit later. This allowed some time for a guessing game. Needless to say, I could not figure it out.

What a beautiful rocker. It is a work of art. I wanted to put it on a pedestal so everyone would be able to admire the beauty of the wood but the rocker's form invites me to sit and relax.

I most certainly appreciate your talents as a craftsman. Thank you.

S.S. (she)

--------------

The rocker arrived on time without damage of any kind due it's being very well packed and crated by your staff. The chair is gorgeous — its flowing lines, the way the figure in the wood has been matched, details like the slight bevel in the arms where a person's forearms would naturally rest, and the way it's been oiled are a wonderful example of craftsmanship — is one of the most treasured things in our home. I also want to express my thanks for the regular and ongoing correspondence during the interval from order to delivery. It's been a pleasure to deal with you.

S.S. (he)

I recently purchased my second rocking chair from Gary Weeks, having found my first one to be the most comfortable rocker that I have ever sat in. I found them to be extremely courteous and accommodating, and the price of the chair to be very reasonable for a custom rocking chair. My second chair initially arrived damaged from shipping, and they were understanding and swiftly replaced it. I can't recommend them enough!

J.C. MD

Gary — the rocker was delivered yesterday without any damage to the packaging or the rocker. The rocker is absolutely beautiful, and my wife and I are just thrilled with it. I want to commend you and your company on your fine craftsmanship. The wood, finish and joints are perfect. More importantly, my wife could not believe how comfortable the rocker is. We are proud owners of your work and look forward to a lifetime's enjoyment of it. Your company has two new loyal customers (soon to be three), and we will certainly recommend your company to our family and friends. One last thing, I want to thank you for your service — it was as good as your rocker. Thank you, Gary, it was a pleasure doing business with you.

Sincerely,
C.T.

Just wanted to let you know how much our son and daughter-in-law appreciate your wonderful rocker. It arrived at their home today in perfect condition. The first words from our son were, "the finish is so spectacular that it feels soft" — followed immediately by, "this is the most beautiful piece of furniture that I have ever seen".

I'd say that is one happy couple!

Thank-you so much for your craftsmanship and devotion to customer satisfaction. I suspect that we may order a rocker for our own home soon.

Best Wishes and continued success,
B.M.

PS, in a recent publication identifying the 100 must have's for expectant parents, your Rocker was mentioned. Congratulations!

Gary, thanks. The rocker and table are very beautiful — almost too beautiful to use. The mesquite and finish are amazing. Thanks for your offer for my son to visit. I want for him to visit. He is impressed by your design and workmanship as much as I am.

R.B.

Gary,

Received the mesquite rocker today. It is a work of art.

Thank you,
M.M.

Dear Gary Weeks and Company:

It has been about a year since I received delivery of my cherry rocker. Suffice to say I have never had second thoughts about my purchase. The chair is my home base for reading, relaxing, and even some reflecting. Even when not sitting, its joining of form and function always pleases the eye and elevates my expectations of what excellence is and might be. Thank you again for your work; know that it has become a part of our family.

B.W.

Dear Gary,

We are ecstatic about our Weeks Rocker!!! You are a masterful furniture artist — it is simple, elegant and extremely comfortable. In fact, I've hardly been anywhere else but sitting in that rocker since it arrived on Tuesday. We will take some photos of how we are enjoying the rocker and promise to share a couple of them with you.

The shipment arrived on time and intact — excellent work!

Thanks again for the great customer service.

Fondly,
The A. Family

Hello Gary,

Thanks again for sending the felt pads, we received them today. I can now remove the unsightly blanket I put under the rocker.

When F. tore off the bubble wrap to expose the rich walnut wood we were all excited by what we saw. The wood grain and satin finish is sweet (OK exquisite). He thinks it's both comfortable and good looking. We are lucky to have one of your rockers.

F. said, "He plans to spend a lot of waking hours, as well as non-waking hours in the rocker".

Best regards,
M. and F.Y.

Dear Gary,

I can't thank you enough for bringing my "Katrina-soaked" Weeks Rocker back to it's original beauty.

Despite lying in 7 and 1/2 feet of Hurricane Katrina's flood waters for well over a week, I found my Weeks walnut rocker intact. Months after the flood I used soap and water to clean off a layer of dirt and mold from the rocker. I was amazed at how good the finish looked and how well the rocker held together. I appreciate the work you recently did to restore it for me.
Photo taken before repair and refinishing
I lost my home and virtually all of my possessions to Katrina's flood waters,
including a collection of Ethan Allen solid cherry furniture which just broke apart. So I am especially pleased with the quality and craftsmanship you put into your furniture that allowed my rocker to survive Katrina.

Sincerely,
J.P.L.

Hi Gary:

Yes, the rocker arrived right on time and in perfect condition. It's very nice and comfortable. My husband was impressed with the workmanship. I had no idea that ordering furniture from Texas was so easy. I wish I had done it sooner!

Thank you for your excellent service, and the lovely chair.

Regards,
J. B.

Well, it was a busy day to say the least! We did receive the rocker today, and what a great looking rocker it is! Destined to be an heirloom, it all started today! Thanks to you, and your painstaking labors! Your talents and efforts were not in vain! I wanted to also, thank you for taking the extra time to make sure the rocker arrived properly. All is well at the W. household! Thank you again! Take care!

S. and T. W.

Gary,

I received your call yesterday, I actually picked up the chair yesterday. I figured it would be easier than them finding my house. When I unpacked it I was very happy with it.

Thank you for your fine craftsmanship.
E.L.

Gary,

The chair was delivered this morning and it's a beauty!

We live in an isolated area and the delivery company was a little concerned about bringing their tractor-trailer into our road. After several phone calls, one of their drivers, who lives in my area and was on his way home after the night shift, decided to put it on the back of his truck and bring it to me. It was a fitting way for the chair to arrive since it served to underscore the friendliness of the whole enterprise and introduced me to one of my neighbors.

The wood and workmanship of the chair is beautiful; I can't quite believe how sturdy it is. No wonder you give it such a great guarantee.

Many thanks.
L.H.

Hi Gary,

Good talking with you today. When I zone out or think through a problem, I head for my Weeks Rocker. Everyone who enters my living room loves its comfort and superb workmanship. What a joy it's been! Rocking seems to soothe the emotions and enable the mind to focus more clearly. "Quiets the monkey," I say.

I don't think any other piece of furniture has equaled it in either comfort or pride of ownership.

Enclosed you'll find a check to purchase a second rocker to go to: [ Name and address ]. Please don't call him unless it is an emergency as it is a surprise. I will call the shipping company.

Thanks again for your great product,
L.M.

Gary;

We have well received the rocking chair; it is a beautiful piece of art. I like the wood and the finish. It is also very comfortable. Thank you very much!

M.B.

Hi Gary,

I just wanted you to know the rocker arrived in perfect condition. It is just beautiful, what wonderful craftsmanship. It has worked its magic on my daughter, who has fallen asleep in minutes every night. So comfortable for both of us.

Thank you so much,
B.W.

Gary & Co. —

We just received the crate, all looks good on the outside. My husband made me promise not to open it until he got home so I will patiently await the unveiling — it is not going to be easy though!!!

[ later ]

Indeed. It literally brought tears to my eyes. My husband said, "We will grow old sitting right here." It is a piece we shall cherish.

Thank you!
T. E. and Baby Girl

Gary:

The chair is stunningly beautiful and so comfortable. The wood has so much depth — it's just lovely and extremely comfortable. I'm still rearranging the living room and will send you a photo soon.

The delivery person could not have been nicer — the office was the problem!

Thank you and your family for such beautiful work, it's truly a work of art.

J.G.

Hi Gary,

We received the rocker without incident on Tuesday. Our baby girl arrived a bit early but we have already begun to enjoy the chair with her. My wife was particularly impressed with your attention to detail across all the many aspects of your promotion, salesmanship, execution, delivery, and follow-up.

Thank you,
T.B.

We got it last week and are extremely pleased. The craftsmanship is incredible.

S.K.

Gary,

The rocker arrived safe and sound yesterday afternoon. It looks wonderful and, more importantly, is a real pleasure to sit in. The chair is very comfortable. It reclines to a very comfortable position for both my wife and I to easily rock it even though we are 6" apart in height. Thank you very much for your wonderful work and know we'll get years of enjoyment from your rocker.

Warm Regards,
G. O.

Gary,

We got the chair. It looks beatiful and feels great, just as we expected! The build quality is superb and your service exceptional.

After a quick two minute "rocking" on the chair, the only thing I could think of to possibly hope for/comment on — and this is purely a matter of personal taste and influenced by "butt-memory" of the rocking chair in my childhood home in Finland — is perhaps a little bit wider range of rocking when leaning back.

I wonder if you have any comments on this? Perhaps an issue with stability? Having said that, the rocking motion range on your chair is much longer/wider than on any other rocking chair I've tried here in the US.

Again, thanks for the wonderful chair; we look forward to a lifetime of rocking!

Best regards,
J.V.
Washington, D.C.

--------------

[ My response and a reply follow: — GW ]

J,

I am glad the delivery worked for you and that you like the chair. I wish you and R. the best, and thank you very much.

When I designed this chair 12 years ago, I found the curve of the rockers and their relationship to the seat and back by trial and error. Many people tested the prototypes, giving their opinions, and I have delivered many chairs since. You are the first to comment that, for you, the rocker could travel farther back in its pendulum swing. I have had several people say that they are glad the chair doesn't go so far back as to give them any sense that it could go too far — there are some rockers out there that do give one a fright. This is not to say that your memory or experience is invalid . . . I just have to admit that I didn't get it completely right for you and hope that you find the other aspects of the chair pleasing enough to temper this compromise.

May you rock in good health.

Sincerely,
Gary

--------------

Gary,

The beauty, craftmanship and comfort of the chair far outweigh my small observation! And I am sure it is only a matter of getting use to the range of motion the chair has.

J.V.

Dear Weeks Family,

It's been a few months since my husband and I were in your studio, but I wanted to let you know how much we are enjoying our rocking chair. We are the couple that dropped in late one afternoon to look at your chairs for our nursery. When we got home with our daughter, whom we adopted from Colombia, I went straight upstairs to sit and feed her in our beautiful rocker. I continue to use it everyday and whenever someone comes over to see us I just can't wait to show it off!

It was such a pleasure to meet you and your wife that day. I couldn't be happier with our purchase and the service we received from you both. It's heart-warming to know there are still family-owned companies that put so much of themselves into their product — it really shows how dedicated you are to your craft. We will cherish the rocker for many years.

Thanks so much!
D.B.

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