How I Met Master Craftsman Michael Frazier
A chance meeting at the Fresno Home & Garden Show led to a partnership built around handcrafted redwood furniture, an ingenious folding design, and more than 40 years of experience.
By Yori, Fresno Forest Creations
Photo coming soon
Michael and Tess Frazier with Yori
Best option: a horizontal photo of Michael, Tess, and Yori, or Michael beside one of his folding redwood table sets.
I met Michael Frazier and his wife, Tess, at the Fresno Home & Garden Show. As I walked through the event, one display stopped me in my tracks. Michael’s handcrafted Coastal Redwood tables and benches were not only beautiful. They were unlike anything I had seen before.
I watched Michael demonstrate how the tables and benches folded and transformed using a design he created himself. The craftsmanship stood out immediately. Every edge, joint, and detail reflected decades of experience and a level of care that is increasingly hard to find.
More than 40 years of craftsmanship
Michael told me he has been designing and building these tables and benches for more than 40 years. During that time, he said he has never had a customer return one of his handcrafted pieces.
That kind of record comes from building products the right way, using quality materials, standing behind the work, and treating customers with honesty and respect. Michael built his reputation one satisfied customer at a time.
Getting to know Michael and Tess
As I spent more time talking with Michael and Tess, I learned that Michael is also a proud Vietnam War veteran. Now in their late seventies, they have dedicated much of their lives to creating furniture that families can enjoy for generations.
Their passion for craftsmanship and customer care was obvious. I knew I wanted to help them share Michael’s work with more people.
A partnership for Central California
That conversation led to an exciting partnership. Today, Fresno Forest Creations is proud to be the exclusive representative for Michael Frazier Designs throughout Central California.
It is an honor to work alongside a craftsman whose commitment to quality has remained steady for more than four decades. Through Fresno Forest Creations, customers across the Central Valley now have a local way to learn about, order, and arrange delivery for Michael’s handcrafted furniture.
Every piece is built to order
Nothing is mass-produced or pulled from an assembly line. Michael builds each table, bench, and custom project specifically for its owner.
Customers can choose dimensions, seating arrangements, and configurations suited to a home, patio, cabin, tasting room, or outdoor entertaining space. The goal is not simply to sell another patio set. It is to build a piece that belongs in the space where it will be used.
A folding design that gives the space back
One of the most distinctive features is Michael’s folding design. The tables and benches fold neatly for storage while remaining strong and stable when opened for use.
That makes the furniture especially useful for patios and outdoor areas where people want a full-size gathering place without permanently giving up the space. Open it when family and friends arrive, then fold it away when the gathering is over.
Why Michael works with Coastal Redwood
Michael crafts the furniture from Coastal Redwood, a beautiful wood well suited to outdoor furniture. Redwood is naturally resistant to moisture, decay, and insects, and it develops more character as it ages.
With proper care, a redwood table can continue to look richer and more distinctive over time. Its warm color and visible grain are part of what makes each finished piece feel personal.
The story behind Sunshine Oil
Michael also developed his proprietary Sunshine Oil to help preserve and maintain the furniture. This all-natural finish brings out the redwood’s color while helping protect it from the elements.
It has a pleasant natural aroma and is easy to apply, giving owners a straightforward way to care for their tables and benches for years to come.
Photo coming soon
Sunshine Oil and redwood finish detail
A close-up of the finish being applied, or a side-by-side wood detail, would work well here.
Helping carry the work forward
When you purchase a Michael Frazier Design, you are investing in more than outdoor furniture. You are supporting more than 40 years of craftsmanship, problem-solving, and experience.
Michael is a woodworker, an artist, and an inventor. His designs combine beauty, function, and durability in a way few pieces can match. Fresno Forest Creations is honored to help carry that work forward and make it available to more families throughout Central California.