Hi everybody! We are excited to announce the lathe is turning again. The Black Bear team had some major changes the past couple of years (all good!) but we needed to take a step back to focus on family. We moved to a new home, got promoted at our 9-5, partnered to create a thriving handyman business, and GOT MARRIED! But the bowls are back in action and we are playing with some new ideas that will be available very soon. Our Etsy store is currently in "vacation mode" while we work on listings, but check back soon for purchases!

We're thankful for all of the feedback on our items- both good and bad. Being our first year shipping snowmen, we did not know the problems that would come up. We'd like to apologize to those who had their snowmen come in with their noses disconnected. Please know your item was packaged with as much care as possible, but we have no control of how a shipment is handled once it leaves us. Shaking, tossing, and dropping of a package unfortunately causes even the best glue job to come undone. Knowing this information now, all snowmen are shipped with arms and the nose in a separate bag and will need to be assembled upon arrival. The snowman has pre-dilled holes, so all you will need to do is slide in the arms and nose, and your snowman will be just as adorable as in the listing picture. We feel this will make storage easier too.

Care is crucial when it comes to the longevity of a wooden good. Once you have found the perfect bowl or goblet, you want it to last for years! Here is a list of do's and don'ts when it comes to keeping your bowl as beautiful as the day you got it:

DO:

• Wash your bowl after each use with a mild dish detergent and warm water

• Dry your bowl completely immediately after washing

• Reapply food-grade mineral or walnut oil occasionally to maintain and protect the wood

DO NOT:

• Use your bowl in the microwave or dishwasher. This will warp the wood and may cause cracking.

• Leave water or other moist foods in your bowl for extended periods of time

• Soak your bowl or allow to excess water to permeate bowl. This can cause the wood to warp or crack while drying.

We sell 2oz or 8oz containers walnut oil as an add on to a bowl purchase, but you can use any high-quality walnut oil found at your local grocery store to do the job. If you have questions, feel free to reach out!

As many of you know, my dad passed away in December of 2022 very suddenly. We have only have one of his bowls left, and it is one of the first ones that he made. We entered it in the 2023 Mountain State Fair's woodworking competition, and won third place in the advanced division! We know Dad would have been incredibly proud, and we are so excited to enter another one next year. We encourage anyone who is new to or interested in woodworking to ask questions, seek advice, and continue on the path of learning. You never know how a simple hobby could change your life!

This summer, we moved shops from our set up in Hendersonville to a new location in Mountain Home. We appreciate all of the time, help, and effort we got from friends and family during this transition. We are in a new spot that better fits our needs and we're excited to get "rolling" again!