I’m not going to lie, most days I pinch myself that I get to do what I love for a living. Don’t get me wrong, its not all great. There are things I dislike doing (like sanding and staining) but for the most part, it’s just me in my happy place, listening to music, dancing and making art!
A great day starts with coffee, which is a must have to do all the thinking and not loose important fingers. Then I head to the shop, where all the wood pieces are prepped and ready to go (sanded and stained the day before of course). I turn on the music and I’m ready to start! Now if it’s a new piece, with a new design or I’m playing with different materials, I usually stand and stare at the materials for a very long time (haha) I group it into shades, and tones I like. I agonize over where every piece will look its best.
Because I work with a lot of reclaimed wood, there are just some shades/tones/grain I can’t duplicate. So if I have a piece of barnwood, that I took from a farm, and the color and grain is unique, I want to showcase the beauty as best I can, because I usually have a limited supply of it. Once I’ve got and idea of where I want things to lay, it’s cutting and pinning down! I change my mind a million times, and I move things around if they don’t feel right. But at the end, when I look at the piece and I do a happy jig, I know I’ve nailed it. I put absolutely all of myself into each piece, and I usually have a really hard time letting it go. Even if it was a custom order for someone else. But, once the piece is finished and ready for pick up, I put it in my living room and I get to enjoy it for however long it takes for the client to pick it up, or I deliver it.
My living room is constantly changing with each piece I make, and I love that. I enjoy the delight and awe I get from my family when they see what I’ve been working on. At the end of a great day, I’m sitting on the couch staring at my work of art and planning the next piece for tomorrow.
