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Gray Elephant Goods

@gray_elephant_goods

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Daniela Tenuta
Wood Artist
📍Wauconda,IL
💌 [email protected]

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Hi, I’m Daniela 👋 & this is my shop. ✨

It’s been a long time since I’ve introduced myself.

I’m a woodworker and wood artist based in the northern Chicagoland area, and my journey started six years ago yesterday. Not everybody starts a business on their birthday 🎂… but something in me decided I wanted something more for myself and my family, and Gray Elephant Goods was born right in my home garage.
Also — my birthday is the one and only day I willingly wear a dress, so I figured I should document it. 🤪
Before becoming a wood artist, I was a stay-at-home mom raising my 3 boys, they’re still the center of my life. One of the things I’m most proud of is that through woodworking and making, I get to show them what’s possible. I hope they grow up knowing it’s never too late to learn something new, build something with your own hands, or create a life that feels meaningful to you. ✨
Woodworking sparked something in me I had never felt before — a deep passion for learning, creating, and constantly pushing myself a little further with every project —just ask any teacher I ever had in school. 😂
3 years ago, after a major foot reconstruction surgery left me unable to walk for four months, I completely fell in love with scroll saw art. I spent that time recovering & sitting at home watching videos, practicing, studying, and becoming totally obsessed with the craft… and I truly haven’t looked back since!
I started on a tiny WEN 16-inch scroll saw, upgraded to a DeWalt, and made my way to a Pegas saw. What started as curiosity quickly became something much bigger!

I appreciate you being here more than you probably realize. When I first started, I never could’ve imagined I’d grow into the artist and maker I am today — or that I’d get to share this journey with so many incredible people along the way.

I still feel like I’m just getting started. ✨ And truly, I hope that feeling never fades!

Thank you for being here and supporting what I do. It truly means everything to me. 🩶🌙✨

#woodartist #woodworker #scrollsawartist #maker by @gray_elephant_goods

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5 months ago

Let’s stare at this @sublime sun together. 😍
Creating this for my first scroll saw challenge was an absolute pleasure—it pushed me in all the best ways. Every piece of this sun was carefully considered as I tried to bring its wild, majestic details to life.

At 30” x 26”, it maxed out both my saw and my mind! Blending hardwoods like Yellowheart, Aspen, Spalted Hackberry, Canary, Padauk, Walnut, Wenge, Ash, and painted MDF, I combined intarsia and segmentation in the most creative ways I could imagine.

This piece took me to my limits and beyond, and I’m so grateful for the experience—and for the chance to compete alongside some truly incredible scroll saw artists.

Huge thanks to @makerschallengecentral @bearwoods_supplycompany and @thehouseoftimber for hosting these inspiring challenges!

#woodart #woodartist #scrollsawart #scrollsaw #scrollsawart by @gray_elephant_goods

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2 years ago

I can’t believe I get to say this — my angel piece made the cover of Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts (Winter 2025)! 🥹✨

Being asked to write a step-by-step article on my angels was an absolute honor, and I’m so humbled to see my name in print and my art featured in a magazine I’ve admired for years. What began as a small creative outlet has grown into something that’s shaped so much of who I am.

Huge thank-you to everyone who’s supported my work, shared encouragement, and followed my journey. These little angels have officially flown farther than I ever imagined. 🪽

You can find this issue — including my pattern and instructions — at foxchapelpublishing.com, local newsstands, Rockler, Woodcraft, and select home improvement retailers.

#scrollsawart #woodworking #grayelephantgoods #woodart #artistfeature #scrollsaw #scrollsawwoodworkingandcrafts by @gray_elephant_goods

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a year ago

I like to take my time to think about how to start a wood mosaic but once I do it feels like game on! I actually approach most projects like that. Thoughtfully. I really think through the process. Most of the time it works in my favor 🤪

#woodartist #woodmosaic #woodworking #hardwood #miterjoints by @gray_elephant_goods

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2 days ago

📸 Pics from this past week 🍁🍃✨

Hikes, art, sports, leaves, wild mushrooms, food 😋 … just a few of the things that make me happy ❤️‍🔥

I also pulled a bunch of art off my walls to take some updated pics and see how everything has aged. And if I do say so myself… aging like fine wine 😍✨ by @gray_elephant_goods

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6 days ago

I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent routing & sanding these strips but I know the prep always makes it worth it. ✨

Also, don’t forget to tighten your router bits 😉😜

#woodworking #woodart #womeninwoodworking #woodmosaic #scrollsawartist by @gray_elephant_goods

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6 days ago

Drippy Elephant 🐘😍
I never shared stills of this piece and thought I’d fix that today as I’m laying in bed nursing a cold 🤧

I’m super proud of this one! I have her hanging in my room and whenever I look at all her colors it brings me all the joy ✨

#woodart #elephantart #scrollsawart #scrollsaw #humanmade by @gray_elephant_goods

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11 days ago

Wenge. Walnut. Spalted Maple 😮‍💨 Holy trinity of wood?? 😍

Ripping thin, accurate strips from a 10 ft Wenge board requires some serious attention and consistent pressure against the fence as you run the board through the saw. 🪚 I traded my usual thin rip guide for a featherboard this time, to help keep the board tight to the fence & I used a couple of sawhorses for extra support on the back end.

In the end, it worked out pretty awesome. 💪🏼 Now I’ve got a whole pile of perfectly ripped Wenge strips ready for the next step… sanding 😭

#woodart #woodworking #woodmosaic #woodartist #bts by @gray_elephant_goods

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12 days ago

Double sided angel intarsia 😍No paints or stains. Just natural wood and handcrafted.

I still have plans for this angel but for now she is cut & shaped and I’m pretty in love with how she is 🤍🥹✨

#woodart #intarsia #scrollsaw #angel #scrollsawartist by @gray_elephant_goods

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18 days ago

My tripod broke 😭🤣❤️ by @gray_elephant_goods

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20 days ago

🥤🥤
made w/ acrylic, black walnut & padauk
#onthisday #woodart #scrollsawartist by @gray_elephant_goods

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24 days ago

📸 Glamour shots. She is radiant ✨☀️😍

🪵’s: Black Walnut, Figured Maple, Aspen & Poplar

✨Available on my website
✨Pattern is now available on my site

#intarsia #scrollsawart #woodart #woodartist #magnolias by @gray_elephant_goods

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a month ago