My journey into woodworking began in a guitar shop. Growing up playing guitar, I fell in love with music at an early age. This passion led me to Austin, Texas, where I took an entry-level position building acoustic guitars. The smell of the shop, the individual craftsmen’s benches, and the busy nature of the small workshop were enticing. Despite moving on to other interests, the guitar shop haunted me with unresolved issues and literal nightmares for years. The demanding pursuit of perfection in woodworking was something I later encountered while working in kitchens, where the fine details mattered immensely.

As a new father, I received some tools and began building small projects for my family and home. This artistic outlet brought peace to my soul, and the nightmares vanished. My passion for woodworking grew, leading me to move to Asheville, North Carolina, where home renovations set the hook. I enrolled in a local professional craft program, spending days learning from past masters and being inspired by new frontiers in technology and art.

After completing the program, I continued working in the kitchen, cherishing the time I had to create lasting art. When the quarantine of 2020 forced most people home, I seized the opportunity to pursue woodworking full-time. Since then, I’ve been creating heirloom-quality pieces for appreciative customers who find joy in these new additions to their lives.

One memorable moment was when a fellow woodworker, a woman, made a table for a family. They were so thrilled with their new table that they brought her a fresh loaf of bread a week later. This gesture showed how much the handmade item meant to them, and it inspired me to continue creating pieces that bring such joy. I often say I do it for the bread.