What’s New at the Market: Check out Northwest Beach Works

Sequim Farmers Market

Open: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5

Location: Sequim Civic Center Plaza, downtown Sequim

More info: manager@sequimmarket.com or 360-582-6218

On the web: www.sequimmarket.com

Northwest Beach Works is a new vendor this year at the Sequim Farmers Market.

The business was inspired by Davis and Jennifer Stevensons’ love for the beauty and wildness of the Pacific Northwest. Using recycled wood and naturally sourced stone and glass, they create unique jewelry, pens, bowls and other housewares that highlight the natural beauty of our region.

Northwest Beach Works is also well-known for its all-natural insect repellent salve that combines essential oils, including lemon eucalyptus, with moisturizing coconut oil and shea butter.

Davis Stevenson studied Physics in Flagstaff, Ariz., where he fell in love with nature through rock climbing and mountain biking. For many years he led educational programming with the National Park Service throughout the United Sates before meeting his wife Jennifer in Sitka, Alaska, at a raptor rehabilitation center.

Jennifer had studied Zoology at Washington State University driven by an interest in animals and nature. They spent a couple years in Sitka and then decided to travel around the Southwest and Northwest looking for a place that felt like home. That place came to be Port Angeles and the Olympic Peninsula.

Davis and Jennifer had always enjoyed beach combing, picking up rocks and shells wherever they traveled. Within a couple months of moving to Port Angeles, friends started to ask if they would sell their sea glass and beach pebble jewelry. They started Northwest Beach Works in February 2018.

Half of the fun in making these beautiful pieces is finding the materials. Davis and Jennifer go out beach combing once a month along the Strait of Juan de Fuca. They will beach comb until they lose sunlight or are chased by the tide.

Sometimes — unknowingly — they have walked more than 10 miles round-trip to find what they need. Or other times they will sit on the beach in one spot for an hour on a nice, sunny day and pick through all the rocks and gravel to find all the sparkly, shiny pebbles.

The Stevensons are both skilled in the art of woodworking and each artisan has their own unique style and technique. Interesting fact: When they moved here, Jennifer and Davis built about 85 percent of the furniture for their home. They source wood wherever they can; the original intent of their business was to divert trash and firewood into something beautiful.

Their creative elements are clear to see in every piece they build. They also accept special orders and commissioned works. If you have an idea, let them transform it into a functional work of art.

Northwest Beach Works attends the Sequim Farmers Market every Saturday and will be at the Sequim Farmers Market Holiday Markets, set for 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Nov. 23 and Dec. 21 in the Guy Cole Events Center at Carrie Blake Community Park.

A special thanks to Bell & Davis Law and BrokersGroup Real Estate for supporting the Sequim Farmers Market.

April Hammerand is the Market Manager for the Sequim Farmers Market. Reach her at manager@sequimmarket.com or 360-582-6218. For more information, visit www.sequimmarket.com.