What is a Twig Pencil? The Story Behind h.m. Peavy’s Handmade Apple Pencil
In a world of mass-produced stationery, there’s something quietly revolutionary about picking up a pencil made from a real apple tree twig. That’s exactly what artist h.m. Peavy set out to create — a writing tool that tells a story before you’ve written a single word.
What is a Twig Pencil?
A twig pencil is a handcrafted writing instrument made from a natural tree branch or twig rather than conventional milled wood. Each one is shaped, fitted with a graphite or colored core, and finished by hand — making every pencil genuinely one of a kind. No two are exactly alike in shape, texture, or character.
h.m. Peavy’s twig pencils are crafted from sustainably sourced apple tree twigs — specifically Winesap apple wood — chosen for their density, natural beauty, and connection to American orchard tradition.
Why Apple Wood?
Apple wood is prized for its fine grain, subtle warmth, and durability. It holds a natural fragrance and a tactile quality that mass-produced pencils simply can’t replicate. Holding an apple twig pencil feels like holding a small piece of the natural world — because it is.
For h.m. Peavy, the choice of apple wood is also intentional: it connects the pencil to themes of American craft, orchard heritage, and the kind of slow, deliberate making that defines his broader artistic practice.
Eco-Friendly by Design
Every twig pencil in the collection is an exercise in sustainable creativity:
- Made from sustainably sourced apple tree twigs — not harvested timber
- No synthetic coatings or mass-production processes
- Minimal waste — each twig is selected and shaped individually
- A natural alternative to conventional pencils for artists, writers, and nature lovers
The Collection
The Apple Pencil: Twig Pencil Collection at Re-psychles includes:
- Single No. 2 Graphite Pencils — for everyday writing and sketching
- 7" Graphite Pencil in Clear Case — a longer format for artists who want more control
- 7 Color Choices — pick your favorite hue for a personalized twig pencil
- 7 Mixed Colors Bundle — a full spectrum set for the color-curious
- 7 Mixed Colors in Classic Tin Box — a beautifully packaged gift set
- Apple Juice™ Natural Dye — an eco-friendly fabric dye inspired by the same apple orchard aesthetic
Each piece is signed and labeled by the artist, ensuring authenticity and making every pencil a small collectible work of art.
More Than a Writing Tool
Like all of h.m. Peavy’s work — from his upcycled Carhartt wearable art to his American-Immigrant Worker Series — the twig pencil is an object with intention. It’s designed to make you pause, to feel something, and to connect the act of writing or drawing to something larger than the page.
If you’ve ever wanted a pencil that feels as considered as the words you write with it, the Apple Twig Pencil Collection is waiting for you.
Shop the full Twig Pencil Collection at Re-psychles →
Apple Pencil Trademark Disclaimer
Apple Pencil is the brand name for my handmade wood pencils made from Winesap apple tree twigs since January 2015. The domain names applepencil.com and applepencils.com have been owned by h.m. Peavy since June 2015, before Apple Inc. introduced its electronic digital stylus to the U.S. market in September 2015. Apple offered to purchase the domains during their opposition to my unsuccessful 2015 *U.S. federal trademark application for the mark under U.S. Class 16 for art supplies including wood pencils. Apple’s non-disclosure agreement was not acceptable to me as an artist, and I declined the offer due to my concerns about censorship.
*The U.S. Trial and Appeal Board ruled that consumers would likely be confused between a natural wood pencil and a digital electronic stylus and denied U.S. federal trademark registration. I could not afford to appeal. Since I was making and selling pencils made out of apple wood in good faith and had registered the domain names before Apple introduced its digital electronic stylus to the U.S. market, I was able to successfully retain ownership of the two domain names and the descriptive brand name and Winesap apple logo for my pencils, and indirectly prevent another wood pencil manufacturer from using the brand name worldwide.
In addition to the Apple Pencil, I am currently working on construction/assemblages, a series of art prints, and a short story book, all inspired by an apple that fell from a tree.
The apple wood twig pencils and domain names are not owned, affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized by Apple Inc. Apple Pencil® is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. for its digital electronic stylus. Apple Inc. does not make pencils made from apple wood. I make handcrafted pencils only from apple wood. I do not make or sell digital styluses or other electronic products.