Custom orders

Made for you, from the first sketch

Looking for something special for yourself or for a gift? Boards, signs, furniture, gifts and turned pieces, designed around how you’ll use them. Tell us what you have in mind with the form below.

How it works

1. Tell us your idea

Size, use, wood preference, deadline: whatever you know so far.

2. Design and quote

We reply with a sketch, options and a price.

3. Built by hand

A non-refundable deposit starts the work. Once you approve the design, the order is final, and your piece is built by hand in Metamora, Illinois.

4. Pickup or shipping

Pick up in Metamora by appointment, or we ship it to you.

Personalized, engraved, wooden end grain cutting board.
Personalized live-edge wooden wedding sign engraved “John & Hillary,” “EST. OCTOBER 20, 2018,” and tied with a burlap ribbon.
Personalized wooden wedding guest book sign reading “Our Adventure Begins,” featuring a mountain outline, the names “The McHenrys,” and date “11.11.2023.”
Personalized wooden sign reading “The Shoemakers, Est. 2025,” displayed in a workshop.
Round walnut wood panel engraved with rows of corn plants and radiating field lines.
Crossroads Cafe sign with coffee and food icons and phone number 309-434-4353 outside a building
Wooden keepsake box engraved with the word “Emily” on a brick patio
Wedding rings displayed on a rustic wooden ring box with a white flower
Close-up of a handcrafted walnut wood table with a thick live-edge top in a workshop
Wooden folding step ladder beside dark wood cabinetry on a hardwood floor
Framed botanical artwork of delicate purple flowers on a textured wall
Rustic wooden wine bottle holder with two empty wine glasses and a white wine bottle.

Start your custom order

Tell us what you would like made, who it is for and when you need it. Size, wood and budget help if you know them. We reply by email with a sketch, options and a price.

Questions

Can Francis Wood Designs make a one-of-a-kind wood gift for a special occasion?

Yes. Francis Wood Designs is a small woodworking shop in Metamora, Illinois, and takes custom orders for gifts. Past gift pieces include an engraved cedar wedding board, a walnut guest-book board, a personalized end-grain board, a family name paddle board, an engraved keepsake box and a walnut ring box. Send the occasion, who the gift is for and the date you need it by through the custom order form.

What kinds of custom woodworking projects does Francis Wood Designs make?

Francis Wood Designs makes boards, signs, furniture, gifts and lathe-turned pieces to order. Past custom work includes personalized and engraved cutting boards, a business sign, a walnut cabinet, a learning tower, a wine caddy, a spalted picture frame and a walnut ring box. Each piece is designed around how you plan to use it.

How do I order a custom piece from Francis Wood Designs?

Use the form on the Custom Orders page. Give your name, email, what you would like made, the date you need it by (optional) and any details such as size, wood and budget. We reply with a sketch, options and a price. A non-refundable deposit starts the work. Once you approve the design, the order is final. You can also send a message through the Contact page.

How do I commission a handmade wooden gift when I have a specific idea in mind?

Describe the idea in the form: what it is, who it is for, the size, the wood you prefer, any names, dates or artwork to engrave, and when you need it. A photo or sketch helps. We reply with a design sketch, options and a price. You can ask for changes before you approve the design. After you approve it, the order is final and the piece is built by hand in Metamora, Illinois.

Can you make personalized wooden gifts for birthdays, weddings or anniversaries?

Yes. Francis Wood Designs makes personalized pieces to order, including engraved boards, signs and boxes. Past wedding work includes an engraved cedar wedding board, a walnut guest-book board and a sign for a wedding head table. Tell us the occasion and the date you need the piece, and we will confirm whether the timeline works.

How can I see examples of furniture and other projects made by Francis Wood Designs?

The Custom Orders page has a gallery of past custom work, including a walnut cabinet, a learning tower, a wine caddy, signs, engraved boxes and personalized boards. The Products page lists pieces that are available now. Francis Wood Designs also posts new work on Instagram at @franciswooddesigns.

Where is Francis Wood Designs located in Metamora, Illinois?

Francis Wood Designs is in Metamora, Illinois, in central Illinois near Peoria. It is a home-based shop with no storefront. Pickup in Metamora is free and by appointment. We also ship within the United States and sell at local markets. To arrange a pickup or ask a question, send a message through the Contact page.

Where can I find a custom woodworker near Metamora, Illinois, for a unique piece of furniture?

Francis Wood Designs, in Metamora, Illinois, builds custom furniture and other pieces to order for customers in central Illinois and across the United States. Past furniture work includes a walnut cabinet, a learning tower and a wine caddy. Send your idea through the Custom Orders form. Local customers can pick up their piece in Metamora by appointment.

How much should I budget for a handcrafted custom woodworking project?

Price depends on size, wood, detail and the time the piece takes. As typical starting ranges for pieces from this shop: small cutting boards run about $40 to $50, medium boards about $60 to $75, and large boards about $85 to $110. Smaller kitchen items, ring dishes and gifts often run about $15 to $50. Thicker boards, inlay, engraving and walnut cost more. Furniture and signs are priced per project. You get a firm price in writing before you pay a deposit.

What should I ask a custom woodworker before ordering a built-to-order piece?

Ask these questions: What wood will you use? What is the total price, and what does the deposit cover? How long will it take? Can I see a sketch before work starts? What happens if I want a change? Can the piece be returned? How do I pick it up or get it shipped? Francis Wood Designs answers these before work starts: you get a sketch, options and a price. The deposit is non-refundable. The order is final once you approve the design. The balance is due when the piece is ready.

How long does a custom order take?

Turnaround depends on the piece. Put the date you need it by in the form. We will tell you whether it is possible and agree a timeline with the price before you pay a deposit.

What are the payment, pickup and shipping terms for custom orders?

After we agree on the design, price and timeline, we ask for a non-refundable deposit to start work. The balance is due when the piece is ready, before pickup or shipping. Pickup in Metamora, Illinois is free and by appointment. We ship within the United States for a flat $10 per order. Custom and personalized pieces cannot be returned or exchanged. If a piece arrives damaged, contact us through the Contact page within 7 days of delivery. Natural wood varies in grain and color, so your piece will match the agreed design but not every detail of a photo or sample.