Originally, Stone 2 Furniture was started by Dwayne Cranford and Jill Cywka. Today, Jill solely runs the business and builds the furniture. The process of making furniture is very labor intensive. It begins with finding just the right stones. The next step in the process involves cutting and shaping the stone with tools like a diamond carbide saw and hand chisels to fit the frame. Then the stone is drilled and set to fit the frame. Great care is given to create beautiful long-lasting furnishings. Here is some more information about and the concept of the company and how it began.
Dwayne the rock artist, comes from a long line of “Rock Huggers.” Growing up his mother rocked everything, including the outside of their house, the entryway, the pool and the fireplace. Everywhere they went she was looking for rocks to add to her collection. Most wives call their husbands at work requesting them to pick up a gallon of milk on their way home, his mother would call and ask for a bag of concrete.
Dwayne Cranford’s love for rocks stems from his childhood and growing up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. His artist talents emerged at a very young age. Dwayne spent countless hours cutting and shaping pieces of cardboard paper to create 3-D models of motorcycles. Carefully forming each part to fit the bike perfectly and create a replica of an authentic motorcycle. A self taught artist Dwayne a Colorado native, learned his welding skills in a foundry and took them with him to serve in the United States Army. Later he spent his days installing natural gas pipeline. On his days off as a hobby he began applying his welding skills to create steel sculptures. His figurative sculptures are created from materials such as bike chains, concrete nails and scrap steel that had been discarded. 15 years ago he began combining stone with the metal to create durable, unique, weatherproof furniture. You can see his sculptures here at www.metal2sculpture.com.
Cywka- Cranford’s work has been shown around Colorado, Nevada, California, Texas, Wyoming, Minnesota and in other parts of the United States. It can be found at The Pine Haven, Estes Park (CO), The City of Lone Tree, (CO), City of Heath, (TX), The Best Western Pioneer Court, Lusk (WY) and numerous private collections.
Artist Statement
My rock chairs have been compared to something found on the set of the Flintstones, but great care is given to ensure they are both aesthetically pleasing and comfortable. The stone added to discarded steel results in functional furniture inspired by Mother Nature. They are not only weatherproof, but integrate easily into landscapes and cityscapes without intruding on the surrounding beauty.