What’s the most popular craft sculpture you’ve sold in the last year?

Oh, that’s a wonderful question—and one I get asked a lot! The most popular craft sculpture I sold last year was definitely our life-sized wooden fox carved from reclaimed walnut. It wasn’t just a piece of decor; it had this quiet, almost magical presence that made people stop and just *look*.

I still remember the first time I set it on the display table at a local art fair. Within an hour, three people wanted to buy it—and by the end of the day, it was gone. The fox’s tail curved upward in a playful arc, and the grain of the walnut gave it this natural, fiery red-brown pattern that looked like fur in motion. One customer, a retired biology teacher, told me that it reminded her of a red fox she used to watch near her cabin in Vermont. That’s the kind of connection I aim for in every sculpture.

What set this piece apart, I think, was the contrast between its strong, smooth body and the delicate, almost spiky texture of the ears and whiskers. I spent an extra three hours just refining the details around the eyes, making sure they held that clever, slightly mischievous glint. It sold for $450—the most I’d ever asked for a single piece—and I had to turn away five more orders.

When people ask why it sold so well, I always point to three things: the story in the wood (the walnut came from a fallen tree in my own backyard), the emotional resonance of the fox as a symbol of cleverness and adaptability, and the fact that it felt one-of-a-kind. Because it was. No two sculptures ever emerge the same from my hands.

So, what’s trending now? I’ve been getting calls for barn owls and miniature rabbits, but that fox? It’s still the star. In fact, I’m carving a sequel this spring—a mother fox with two cubs—using the same reclaimed walnut stock. The original owner already asked for first dibs. That, to me, is the highest compliment.