Meet The Maker: Goodsmith
Meet Savannah Cotter, the founder and woodworker behind Goodsmith.
Goodsmith is a line of air plant accessories handcrafted from repurposed scrap wood. Even better, one tree is planted for every item sold!
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PRACTICING YOUR CRAFT?
7 years.
WHAT DREW YOU TO YOUR MEDIUM OR PRODUCT ORIGINALLY?
I worked in a wood mill for about a year when I was younger and learned how to use many tools and different methods of woodworking. We were making large office furniture and there were always tons of scraps and ‘off-cuts’ left over that would just go in the trash. It became a hobby of mine to use these scraps. I would make little boxes and planters and such.
Years later, I found out about air plants and thought it would be fun to make little wooden planters for them. So I started up my hobby again, continuing to use only scrap wood, and adding my love of painting and color to the mix.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU MOST AND HOW IS THAT REFLECTED IN YOUR WORK?
I am very inspired by nature. I love plants and being outdoors and am very passionate about healing our planet. Growing up in the 80's and 90's, I’ve always been earth-conscious (thank you Captain Planet and Peace Frog); so from the very beginning, I had a strong desire for Goodsmith to be as eco-friendly as possible. As a result, I continue to only use reclaimed wood that I buy from salvage yards and wood mill scrap bins. My proudest achievement with this business, and what continues to inspire me, is that I was able to partner up with some non-profit organizations that plant trees all over the planet and promote sustainable farming and agriculture. I have donated to plant one tree for every single planter I have ever sold, which is now over 51,000 trees!
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE ITEM TO MAKE? WHY IS IT YOUR FAVORITE?
My favorite item, and most time-consuming, is the rainbow air plant holder. They take 3 times as long to paint and can be very tedious, but when I see a bunch of them all done and with their plants, they just make me happy.
WHAT DO YOU WISH CUSTOMERS UNDERSTOOD BETTER ABOUT HANDMADE ITEMS?
I know handmade items can seem expensive compared to their factory-made counterparts, but a lot of work and love go into handmade, and when you consider the carbon footprint, there is almost no comparison. I’m not saying I don’t buy things from Target every now and then, but when I buy handmade, I am fulfilled in other ways and those items tend to stay with me as I value them much more.
