About Cross + Stone | Hand-Carved Indiana Limestone Sculptures

Learn the story behind Cross + Stone, an artisan studio in St. Charles, Iowa, where sculptor Mike Ayers hand-carves one-of-a-kind Indiana limestone and hardwood sculptures designed to last for generations
 

At Cross + Stone, we believe meaningful art should outlast the moment it was created. Our sculptures are designed to become heirlooms—pieces that invite reflection, mark significant moments, and bring quiet beauty into everyday life.

Based in St. Charles, Iowa, Cross + Stone is an artisan studio founded by sculptor Mike Ayers. Every sculpture is individually hand-carved, never cast or mass-produced. Each strike of the chisel reveals the natural character of the stone, ensuring that no two pieces are ever exactly alike.

We chose Indiana limestone because of its remarkable history and enduring beauty. It has been used to build some of America's most recognized landmarks for more than a century. Its strength, fine grain, and timeless appearance make it an ideal material for sculptures intended to last for generations.

Many of our designs are paired with carefully selected hardwoods. The warmth of natural wood complements the permanence of stone, creating a balance between strength and elegance. Every hardwood base is crafted to showcase, rather than compete with, the sculpture it supports.

Our work is inspired by faith, nature, and the enduring values that connect families across generations. Whether displayed in a home, given as a wedding or memorial gift, placed in a prayer space, or passed from one generation to the next, every sculpture is created with the hope that it will become part of someone's story.

Cross + Stone creates original hand-carved limestone sculptures, Christian art, memorial sculptures, candle holders, home décor, and collectible works of art. Every piece is handcrafted in Iowa and shipped throughout the United States.

Our goal is simple: create honest work from extraordinary materials that will still be meaningful decades from now.

When you welcome a Cross + Stone sculpture into your home, you are not purchasing something made on an assembly line. You are receiving a one-of-a-kind work of art shaped by hand, designed to endure, and created to be treasured for generations.