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Colorado City carpenter creates high-end furniture, chess boards and more – St George News

ST. George —When the store door opens, step inside. As the fireplace roars, the scent of wood fills the air, creating a cozy escape from the winter chill. This is where the handmade magic comes from.

Ianthus Barlow's dog Scooby-Doo watches as epoxy is poured onto wood in his woodworking shop in Colorado City, Arizona, January 15, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

“I like to create what I want that piece of wood to become,” said Ianthus Barlow, owner of IB Woodworks, standing in his backyard woodshop. “Every wood, every slab is different.”

Barlow is a woodworker who specializes in fine handcrafted furniture. He creates everything from 12-foot conference room tables to man cave bars with booze and gun storage. If you can dream it, he can create it.

Utilize every piece of wood you have and use wood scraps to create cutting boards, charcuterie boards, coasters, beer openers, and more. What are his most unique items? A clock, a chess board with wood and epoxy squares containing 3D printed chess pieces, and a wood and epoxy guitar with brass hardware.

He also uses stones from local stream beds and incorporates them into river-like designs made of epoxy.

Ianthus Barlow's custom chess set uses wood, epoxy, and 3D printed chess pieces.Colorado City, Arizona, January 15, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Ianthus Barlow's custom chess set uses wood, epoxy, and 3D printed chess pieces.Colorado City, Arizona, January 15, 2024 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

“Everything I make is solid wood,” said Barlow, holding a black and white walnut chess board. “We're trying to bring back old-fashioned woodworking techniques. It's quite a process to make these, but they look great. Everyone loves these boards.”

When it comes to sourcing wood, Barlow said there are 15 different wood suppliers across the United States. Although these suppliers are readily available, he prefers to sell his own locally sourced wood when trees are cleared for development. When local trees are cut down, he collects the burrows and reuses them as art.

how it all started

In the 10th grade, Barlow was a rebellious teenager who was frequently kicked out of school, which led to him spending his days working with his father in a furniture store. He spent hours building intricate wooden designs, such as bedroom sets, and his father taught him everything he knew.

I worked in home construction from the age of 14 to 23, which led me to carpentry. At age 23, he started a remodeling business in Salt Lake, then moved to Park City and installed his own windows. However, he always continued his hobby of making furniture in his home garage.

The custom 12-foot conference table by Ianthus Barlow is made from local wood harvested in Colorado City. Date not specified.Photo by Ianthus Barlow, St. George News
A custom 12-foot conference table by Ianthus Barlow is made from local wood harvested in Colorado City, Arizona. Date not specified.Photo by Ianthus Barlow, St. George News

When the cold weather in Park City became unbearable, he moved back to Hildale and started IB Woodworks in 2017.

“I built everything from a dream,” he said of his business. “We didn't have any funding or anything. We just started with the basics and built it up.”

But his business doesn't stop there. A year and a half ago, he and his girlfriend started a new store to support other local artisans and makers. Uzona Souvenir & Gift is an artisan cooperative, much like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before its closure, featuring works by people from the local community.

The store has everything from homemade jams to landscape photography to handmade earrings. The store currently features more than 60 different vendors from Colorado City, Hildale, St. George, Kanab and Salt Lake.

As for future goals, Barlow would like to partner with a furniture company that can offer wholesale pricing.

Shop IB Woodworks and Uzona souvenirs and gifts at: Suite C1 at 15 Central Street, Colorado City or Click here online. For more information about IB Woodworks Furniture Design, Visit their website.please follow them Instagram, Facebook and YouTube To stay up to date.

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Copyright Saint George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, All Rights Reserved.

Jesse Bang was born and raised in Utah and has a passion for nature and the great outdoors. She graduated from Kaplan University in California with a degree in Criminal Justice. She has extensive experience in marketing, content creation, photography, and copywriting. Through her blog 'The Rambling Raccoon' you can find her showcasing her adventures outdoors. In her free time, she enjoys climbing mountains, trail running, working out, and cuddling her two adorable puppies.

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