Frequently Asked Questions

My commission books are full through 2026, and I am now booking new commissions for early 2027. If you'd like to be notified the moment booking opens, join the email list — I only send rare, high-signal announcements about new work and commission openings.

Email me with your idea — the subject, rough size, and where the piece will live. We'll talk through the details, and I'll send you a written quote with a timeline. A 50% deposit reserves your place in my carving schedule and I begin work once it's received. I share progress photos as the piece takes shape, and the remaining balance is due before I ship the finished work.

Every commission is quoted individually, based on size, complexity, and wood. Pieces in the shop have fixed listed prices. Send me a description of what you're dreaming of and I'll give you a straightforward quote — no obligation.

Simple commissions usually take 4 to 6 weeks, depending on how many commissions are ahead of yours in the queue. Complex pieces can take 4 to 6 months, depending on the subject matter and intricacy. If you're unsure where your idea falls, contact me through the contact page and we can discuss.

Basswood, walnut, oak, cedar, cottonwood bark, found wood, and many other wood types! I match the wood to the piece and where it will be placed (e.g., inside, outside, protected, exposed).

Pieces finished with spar urethane, penetrating deck oils, or otherwise sealed for outdoor use are created to live outside — many will silver beautifully with age and settle into the landscape. Indoor pieces have different finishes and should stay indoors. Each listing tells you which yours is.

Keep indoor pieces dry and out of prolonged direct sunlight. Depending on the finish and exposure, outdoor pieces may benefit from a fresh coat of protective finish every year or two. If you ever have a question about your specific piece, email me a photo and I'll be happy to advise.

Not at this time — I ship within the US only, and US shipping is free on all orders.

If something isn't right, contact me within 30 days of delivery and we'll make it right. I want you to love it. Full details are in the refund policy.

Orders normally ship within 1–2 business days. US delivery typically takes 3–10 days depending on your location. Every piece is carefully packed to arrive safely, and shipping within the US is free.

Yes. Everything is carved by my hands — when a piece sells, it's gone. The next carving will have its own grain, expression, and character. You are buying a completely unique work.

On many pieces, yes. For example, I'll hand-carve your initials into the lover's heart on the birdhouses — just enter them when you order. For commissions, personalization is part of the design conversation.

I carve in my studio in Grapevine, Texas. I'm not offering studio visits at this time.

I am not currently offering regular carving classes.

Grimm's Carvings is the studio of Joshua McGuire, an Austrian-trained wood sculptor. I trained in traditional hand-carving techniques at one of Europe's most prestigious woodcarving schools in the Austrian Alps, and my work draws on centuries of methods used in European churches and royal residences — reimagined with an old-world, dark-forest magic.