Custom work comes about when a client has a need for a unique item created from wood, or desires to enhance and make more beautiful what already exists in their home or in their place of work. This opens the door for creative solutions.
Custom work is interesting and rewarding for both client and woodworker. The collaborative process puts wood in the forefront, and allows for the creation of beautiful unique items. I confess to having passion for this work.
Most wood objects that are broken or have been compromised usually have a story, and the owner can’t imagine throwing them away, because memories live in them. And the object may have true monetary value.
Over the years many people have come to me to ask for help with repairing these objects. My favorite repairs have been older hand crafted tables and chairs, or unique one-offs handed down through generations. Each table, rocking chair, cabinet, small hand made pencil box, or precious toy reveals the skills and techniques of the craftsman who made it. These were once beautiful. Wood can be unforgiving however, and can suffer wear, and might even break. Usually something can be done to bring what was hand-crafted back to life and luster. This is what I do.
Click here to see a gallery of some of my recent restoration and repair projects.
Most of the furniture that I have made has been custom designed fulfilling specific needs. I have developed particular skills for making tables and benches of many sizes and with a variety of woods. Some examples are a 14 1/2 foot long farm to kitchen Douglas fir table that seats 16, and small kidney shaped hard maple tables for kindergarten students to sit around with their teacher. I have made large outdoor cedar benches for students to sit on while waiting to be picked up from school and small oak and maple benches to sit on in a mud room. White Lotus Farms in Ann Arbor wanted a large hard maple butcher block commercial prep table with low storage platform, and a large hard maple serving table to stage event meals from. The intention has been to make this furniture strong, beautiful and lasting. This is what I do.
Click here to see a gallery of some of my recent furniture projects.
Wood is an artistic medium and when worked properly, it’s innate beauty can be fully displayed. This is the reason I enjoy working with wood. Over the past 18 years I have made an assortment of hardwood projects for public and private use. I have also taught woodworking to hundreds of students, for the purpose of giving them skills not only with how to work with wood, but also to have reverence for this living material. To make and bring to life a project from hardwood is a satisfying and rewarding experience. When I work personally, I ascribe to the essential qualities of form, function and beauty. These qualities, when created from and in wood, bring lasting results.
If you are interested in having me make something from wood or in need of a repair or restoration of some wood item you value, please contact me. I can be reached by e-mail or by phone. I live in Dexter, MI and have a large wood shop nearby. You may choose to visit, or I can arrange to meet you where you live or work.
