By Julia Bailey  

Becoming a craftsman is not as easy as simply being talented – it’s something that takes an ample amount of time, resources, passion and diligence. Choosing to be an entrepreneur as a craftsman requires not only these attributes, but many more as well. One individual who has excelled in this industry is Dirk Sanford, the founder and owner of Soulcraft Goods.

The business is located in Leander, Texas, and is owned and operated by Dirk and his wife Rebekah. 

They have done an excellent job to interweave faith, quality and careful craftsmanship into 

every item they create. Though Soulcraft, as it currently exists, has been a working entity for 

several years, its true beginnings started to emerge decades ago in the upbringing and 

interests of a small boy. 

At a very young age, Dirk could be found “tinkering” and creating.

Around 2012, as a sophomore in high school, he began constructing wooden lacrosse sticks for himself; and before long, friends began to request he make some to share. He started selling his lacrosse sticks at local lacrosse tournaments. What began as a personal endeavor and hobby, grew into Dixon Lacrosse Company. 

As he sold more lacrosse sticks, he saved up enough money to buy more tools. His skill set organically sharpened by experimenting with making little things from the hardwood scraps of the lacrosse sticks, like business card holders and ring boxes. Eventually, he was asked to take on various custom wood and leather projects like cabinetry, leather journals and furniture by friends and family. For the first several years of doing custom work, Dirk hardly turned down the opportunity to try his hand at creating something new. Undaunted by continual failure, Dirk’s desire to more deeply explore the realm of craftsmanship was influenced heavily by his great grandfather, who was a very talented wood carver. 

As high school came to an end, Dirk chose to attend and play football at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. Dirk’s family has a long, rich history with the university. Most notably, Dirk’s great grandfather, John Prock, and his grandfather, Ronnie Peacock, coached football there. Dirk’s sister, Darcy, graduated in 2021, and holds the school record for the heptathlon. When Dirk was attending Harding in 2016, his great grandfather passed away. Coach Prock’s old workshop was dilapidated and sadly, no longer being utilized. So, between football practice and his studies, Dirk took advantage of every spare moment he had bringing it back to life. As Dirk stated, “I really started to connect with the Lord through being in that woodshop, especially late at night by myself. I’d get away from my phone, get away from everybody else, and just talk to God. I made lots of things and in the process of using my hands and exercising my creativity, I took steps with God to figure out who I am as a human being. I think that’s really where Soulcraft came from.” 

Dirk moved back to Texas and proceeded to make a life out of the wood and leather business. In 2017, Dirk was accepted into Texas A&M university, where he played football and met his now wife, Rebekah. In 2018, Rebekah and Dirk (dating at the time) worked as a team to expand the business. Between football practice and classes, Dirk took shifts managing the work floor of the Texas A&M wood shop. This was similar to what he did previously between classes at Harding, but this time on a much grander scale.  

That said, Dirk had access to a practically infinite number of high-quality tools and hardwood to use. This gave him the confidence to take on any and every project requested of him, no matter how irregular or intricate.

High standards and self-expectations of quality pushed Dirk forward on every project, even after failed projects or ones that resulted in the payment being an incremental improvement in an intangible skillset. Dirk continued to toil in what seemed to be an ongoing theme in his life…the value of patience, diligence and consistency. 

Today, Soulcraft Goods creates high-end products from wallets to handbags, and ships worldwide. With every purchase of merchandise Soulcraft donates 10 percent of its earnings to a Christian organization called Compassion International, which provides quality education to children and families all over the world. 

So, what’s the method behind their creations and what makes Soulcraft unique? A typical day in the workshop for Dirk starts after an early walk with his dog. Computer and leather work are fueled by a good cup (or two) of coffee, and of course gospel and country music to boot. When needed, Dirk’s friends assist him with order fulfillment. Just like any growing business, each new day has troubles of its own. Dirk says 70 percent of the time he works on the business is spent handling 30 percent of the issues. 

Dirk feels these challenges are conquered day by day, through “strength that God provides.” He firmly believes that “God never gives us more than we can handle.” Setting boundaries and being mindful of the workload on their shoulders, allows Dirk and his wife to work efficiently in hopes of a long career. 

To Dirk, his work is more than a craft, it’s a form of art and of worship. In his words, “Art is the pinnacle of human existence. [It] is similar to worship in the way that there’s really no plans, it doesn’t have to be structured, you’re just doing it to the best of your ability. [As] Christians, that’s really our main calling…to worship God and give Him what he deserves, which is our whole life. And I think the best art takes that…the purest intentions that we can give…that’s where the best art comes from.” 

In the journey of establishing Soulcraft, Dirk and his wife have been firmly mindful of the Hebrew word “Chokmah” meaning “creational wisdom.” This creational wisdom that Dirk is blessed with is something he’s been able to recognize in himself, as well as use to bless others. For Dirk, creating something from raw material with his own two hands, something high quality and durable that people know they’ll use every day is the rewarding result of the effort put forth into his creations. 

Put simply, the Lord crafted Dirk’s soul and Dirk crafts for the Lord. Such is the embodiment of Soulcraft Goods.