Scrollsaw Workshop

Hello Scrollsaw Workshop! 

Julia Dinesen here from Bear Woods Supply Company. After a lot of talk and planning with Steve Good's wonderful family, Bear Woods will be facilitating the continuation of Steve's blog. With this, it is my privilege to share my family's story and what Steve Good, the Scroll Saw Workshop, and the scroll saw community mean to us. 

Bear Woods started in 1987, but my family's journey with the company and the scroll saw began in 2015. My dad, coincidentally also named Stephen, was looking for a new business venture. Our family had walked through a hard few years and he was ready for something new. The couple who had run Bear Woods since 1987 was looking to retire, and the fit was perfect. Well, except for the little fact that we knew nothing about woodworking. Or literally any of the products. But hey, it can't be that hard to learn, right? 

The picture below shows our family in 2016. My siblings, from left to right, are Elijah, Evalyn, and Isaac. I was just fourteen at the time, and our little Evalyn only six! The second photo is our family all grown up, Christmas 2025. Fun fact, my first real job was editing the website listings for boxes of dowel rods! 

[Stephen and his four children in the summer of 2016 - From left to right - Stephen, Elijah, Julia (elder daughter), Evalyn (youngest), and Isaac)]

[Stephen and his four children Christmas 2025 - From left to right - Stephen, Evalyn, Elijah, Julia, and Isaac]

Well, it turns out, when you have quite literally thousands of products, there is a lot to learn. And learn we did. Most things weren't too hard to figure out. 2" x 2" cube? Those stack. They are made out of hard maple. Little wood turned trees? Not sure what they are being used for, but that's straight forward enough. Clock hands? Clock mechanisms? Tell me your clock face diameter and dial thickness and we can advise your socks off. Then my dad, Stephen, encountered Pegas Scroll Saw Blades on the shelves of his new barn-turned-warehouse. 

Bear Woods Family - The Family History of Bear Woods:

If you've been around the Bear Woods ecosystem, you've heard us talk (endlessly) about Pegas blades (because they are awesome). But, in 2015, my dad didn't know what they were for. His first thought was that they were some kind of jigsaw blade. (I'll pause to let you laugh for a moment.) He had never seen a scroll saw before. He quickly realized they weren't jigsaw blades, but that still left a lot of questions. The founder of Bear Woods Supply told my dad these Pegas blades are great, originally for making jewelry. So he looked for some teaching material to help him figure out what these blades can do and found this very blog, run by the one and only, the master himself, Steve Good. 

My dad called, and Steve picked up. They chatted, and my dad sent him some Pegas blades to try. At this point, Steve had heard of Pegas and had not yet tried them. Steve called back and said the Pegas blades are great. He told people about them, on this very blog, and almost overnight the community wanted to try Pegas blades -  because Steve said so. Wow. We had never worked with an "influencer" before.  But Steve wasn't that - he was passionate about his work and the community — having quality tools and supplies mattered to Steve.  

[Steve and Stephen at a tradeshow]

Stephen and Steve became good friends. So many times my dad, Stephen, would tell me he just got off the phone with Steve. Talking about family, scrolling, the blog. Steve’s readers meant everything to him. The emails, the comments, the opportunity to make custom ornaments - it all mattered to Steve.  He was as genuine as they come. He was excited about the new things coming - it mattered to him that the scroll saw community grows and remains vibrant. Millions of downloads, endless email responses, and a genuine commitment to helping all of us learn and grow with the most accessible, versatile power tool: the scroll saw.

[Steve teaching Stephen to scroll for the first time.]

In high school shop class my brother Isaac heard about the scroll saw for the first time. Starting with some of Steve's basic patterns and working his way up, my brother spent countless hours on first a cheap second hand saw and then the shiny new Pegas when it came out. Steve was an inspiration and Isaac has become an incredible woodworker in his own right. My grandma still has the Jesus fish my little sister scrolled when she was only eight years old sitting on her bookcase, given to my grandpa not long before he passed. One of Steve's patterns. 

Eight year old Evalyn Dinesen scrolling the Jesus fish Steve Good scroll saw pattern in 2018:

[Isaac Dinesen at age 15, scrolling on the Pegas saw just after it came out.]

[Elijah age 11 learning to scroll.]

[Evalyn age 8, scrolling the Jesus fish Steve Good pattern for her grandpa.]

So, what now. Well, we want to continue this blog, Steve's legacy, in a way that honours him - by talking all things scroll saw: blog posts, patterns new and old, tool reviews and suggestions, tips & tricks & how-to's.

The word our team is focusing on is stewardship. As many of you know, Steve was a strong Christian. Biblically, stewardship is being entrusted with the continuation and growth of something you have not necessarily earned. The heart of the Scrollsaw Workshop is Steve and his love of the scroll saw and people in this community. Our goal is to continue the blog in a way that reflects the passion and love Steve had for the scroll saw and woodworking community. Our heart is to continue and build upon his legacy and give back to the community.

My family's story, Bear Woods's story, Steve Good's story, is why carrying on the Scroll Saw Workshop with the utmost integrity and value is an honour we will steward wisely. Everyone who has ever read Steve's blog, learned from him, cut one of his patterns, is part of a tapestry of connection and a beautiful craft. Working with our hands is important. Hobbies are important. Helping people learn and grow and love something that brings them joy—for no other reason than to share knowledge and one's own love of the craft—is fulfilling. Steve Good lived a life of integrity and passion for his craft. Because of Steve's story, because of what he did for you, for scrollers, and scrollers yet to come, join us in continuing the legacy of a Husband, Father, Friend, Advocate, and a Shining example of what it means to give to the community.

Steve, we miss you, and we hope that you'll be proud. 

Scrollers - it's time to make some sawdust. 

Much love, 

Julia, Stephen, the Dinesen family, and Bear Woods Supply Team

Has Steve and this blog impacted you? Reach out with your stories and testimonials as we create a living tribute to Steve Good. You can reply to this email / blog and attach any write-ups or graphics. Please let us know if we have permission to share.