My name is Trevor and I am the curator of concepts, the twister of timber, whittler of whimsy and have the less glamorous job as the cleaner upper of the man glitter (AKA saw dust) before it gets tracked into the house. Not only does most of the material I use have a back story (mid century Singer sewing cabinet, 1920’s pump organ, mahogany salvaged from an old church pew) about where it comes from but the material has either been saved from the surf, freed from the fire pit or grabbed before it is gobbled up by the garbage truck. I try to incorporate that same philosophy into the packaging as well. At the very least I make it possible for you to reuse the packaging for something else.

Why do I do it? In 2014 I suffered a work accident and was left with a permanent injury. After learning the severity of my injury and despite my efforts at trying to maintain a hopeful outlook, I had become completely enveloped by the darkness. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and believed that the only way to stop the pain was to take my own life. I don’t share this part of my life easily. I share it because prior to the accident, I had no such thoughts. I share it because no one is immune and there is no shame in seeking help. I was asked what depression was like for me. I compared depression to a piece of driftwood, I felt empty, alone and without purpose. It wasn’t easy, and it took effort, but like one of my Driftwood pens, with all its knots and weathered imperfections, I was able to re-discover the value and beauty that I was able to present to the world.

In 2017 I was completing my diploma in Graphic Design. For my Senior Project class I wanted to take on an assignment that I hoped would have a lasting legacy. I decided to partner with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), make and sell pens and donate the proceeds to a scholarship fund that would help those with mental illness pursue a post secondary education. Each of the pens made for the CMHA initiative were made using driftwood that was locally sourced from beaches in Vancouver BC, Canada and then named after waterways that can be found along the BC coast.

Though my senior project is over, the initiative is not. I am continuing to create not only one of a kind driftwood pens but pens as well as gift items from reclaimed and upcycled material. I continue to support the CMHA scholarship initiative and donate 5% of the proceeds from the Original Driftwood Pens to The Lorne Fraser Educational Fund. Click here to be directed to my information site.

Driftwood is defined as wood that has been washed onto a shore or beach of a sea, lake, or river by the action of winds, tides or waves.
In some waterfront areas, driftwood is a major nuisance. However, the benefits that driftwood provides as shelter and food for birds, fish and other aquatic species as it floats in the ocean and again once it lands on shore, far outweighs its negative perception. It’s time we started looking at driftwood differently.