About us….

Hello — I’m Ryan Ideus. Alongside my wife Kristi, our two trusty “Wood Gig” dogs (Maverick and Casey), and a wonderfully supportive family — all encouraged and guided, most importantly, by God — we created The Wood Gig.

If you know me, you know I struggle to sit still, so I keep several jobs, or as I like to call them, “gigs.” I work full-time in engineering, and I also run seasonal mowing and snow-removal gigs. Woodworking has always been a favorite hobby and the best tool for tackling my honey-do list. Turning that hobby into a business felt natural, and The Wood Gig was born.

I started by making cutting boards, shelves, flag displays, tables, and more. As demand grew, I wanted to offer personalization, so I brought laser cutting and engraving into the shop. I admit I’m a bit of a tech nerd when it comes to gadgets like lasers — and I dove in completely. I’m having a blast exploring the creative possibilities the laser adds to my products.

The idea for The Wood Gig began at Christmas 2023. Our daughter-in-law had a wall-hanging shelf on her wish list, and when I saw it I thought I could craft something even better — and maybe our other daughter-in-law would like one too. I built a shelf unit, wrapped it, and had them open it together. I promised to make each of them a custom shelf, letting them choose the wood, stain, and configuration. They each designed their own octagonal shelf to match the colors and style of their homes.

When my daughter-in-law used one of my shelves in her booth at a small vendor show, several people asked where she’d gotten it. My family teased that I should turn it into a side gig—making shelves and a few other pieces. And that’s how a little idea grew into The Wood Gig.

Take a cruise around my webpage and let me know if you see anything that catches your eye or if you have any ideas you need help creating.