Master Craftsmen at The Sow’s Ear Custom Wood Works

By Amy Rognlie | Photos by Justin Borja

They say you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, but Jason and Amanda Parker of The Sow’s Ear Custom Wood Works have proven that’s not true.

From their humble beginnings of producing simple farm tables in their Temple garage, the Central Texas couple has expanded their services to include just about anything you can think of made from wood.

“We’ve done handcrafted dining tables and chairs, entertainment centers, coffee and end tables, dressers and nightstands, headboards, bunk beds, sliding barn doors of any size, kitchen islands and cabinets, bathroom vanities, wood counter tops and mantels. We use reclaimed, antique lumber as well as new wood in a variety of species, including pine, knotty alder, hickory, pecan, oak, maple, cedar and walnut,” Amanda says.

Jason, a craftsman at heart, has built the business by constantly stretching himself to learn new skills. “I think the key to our growth was that we rarely said ‘no’, even if we were asked to create something we had no idea how to build. Whether it was cabinetry, custom stair and balcony railing or custom entry doors, we took the job and then researched, tinkered and figured it out,” he says.

Jason and two employees build all of the projects, while Amanda is in charge of finishing each piece to their clients’ specifications. “Jason and I love working together every day and make a good team,” she says with a smile.

A far cry from their garage, The Sow’s Ear’s 8,000-square-foot workshop is now located on Highway 36 in the old Pioneer Ballroom and Bar.

As a nod to the building’s colorful history in Bell County, the Parkers have kept the disco ball hanging from the ceiling and turned the beer cooler into a wood-drying kiln. “We had some folks who were a little disappointed that we were not re-opening the bar,” Jason says.

However, no one is disappointed in the loving attention the couple gives each piece. “I think what makes us unique is that every piece we build is completely custom; built to the exact needs and desires of each client. Whether it’s a dining table, sliding barn door, entry door, media center or whatever, often clients come to us because they can’t find what they are looking for in any store,” Amanda says. “We don’t limit ourselves to only building any one style of furnishings.”

Far from mass-producing furniture, the Parkers pour their hearts and souls into their work. Some of their favorite projects are what they call heirloom pieces — doors, benches, and dining room tables, just to name a few. “I love building furniture that will stay in a family and be passed down from generation to generation,” Jason says. He gestures toward a partially-built bookcase. “That bookcase will be around long after Amanda and I are gone…someone somewhere will own it.”

IF YOU GO
The Sow’s Ear Custom Wood Works
2507 E. Texas Highway 36, Temple
Phone: 254-721-0045
Email: info@thesowseartexas.com
Online: https://www.thesowseartexas.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Sows-Ear-Custom-Wood-Works-1022047807819828/