A lot of people have blogs these days. Why not me? I have been tossing around the notion of a blog for a while now, and decided there’s no time like the present. But what should it be about? Would anyone want to read it? Is it worth the time investment? A bunch of good questions with no good answers. So I have decided to just give it a go and see what sticks.

So what do I write about? My passions are God, my family and of course woodworking. Sometimes not necessarily in that order, but pretty close (although my wife might argue that). On my father’s side of the family I recently learned that I am a fourth (Possibly fifth) generation woodworker (I had always known I was a second for sure) so needless to say it’s in my blood. However I still consider me “self-taught.” I am a semi-professional furniture-maker located in Bremerton, Washington, although I grew up in Kansas. I say semi-professional because I still have a full time non-woodworking job, yet I’m in the shop producing new pieces at almost a full time pace, and I sell at local art shows and galleries throughout the year. Even with the success I’ve had, I’m not at the point I am comfortable taking that next big step. A majority of the money I earn goes right back into the business, mostly to new tools, as I am a tool junkie! I try to use a mix of hand and power tools, although I have a full regimen of Festools, so it’s hard not to use them. I love my Lie-Nielsen planes. I should, I have almost the entire collection! I have an “artist statement” that I use, although I won’t bore you with it here. It gives my basic philosophy on how I got where I’m at. Short version is I love working wood, and I can’t think of anything I would rather be doing. It is my passion. Even if I never sold another piece and had to get rid of almost all my tools and lived in my car, I would still be woodworking.

Why start a blog now? Great question. I hope this blog to be about my woodworking experience, but I think it will contain other things I think are important to me as well. I am fairly new to social media (just look at my followers on facebook, twitter and Google+, not many!) But I do follow a bunch of fellow woodworkers on these platforms, some at the start of the path I am currently on. But what a fantastic bunch of guys and gals! The free flowing of information is great and sometimes almost instantaneous. I don’t give my opinion on things I know a lot about, because I am still hesitant to jump in the digital stream, although I am trying to get better at it. But I do follow some really knowledgeable people, and also those with a thirst for that knowledge! This week the blog world is hosting “get woodworking week” hopefully to get people to try this wonderful hobby. So this is my little contribution to their great idea. It’s also a great reason to start this blog! If you’ve never tried woodworking I would encourage you to find other woodworkers in your area to share their enthusiasm and hopefully to push you to just do it, you won’t regret it. The ability to start with an idea and to work that through to a completed project is like no other feeling. I can’t put into words the sense of pride you get. Also the self-discipline, self-confidence and sense of accomplishment it gives you are immeasurable. I think it is one of the things that is greatly missed in today’s schools, and I am saddened that “intellectuals” in the education system would fail to see that as they cut these types of programs out of their districts. (I’ll get off of my soapbox now). I started woodworking because “necessity is the mother of invention”. As a newly married couple, we didn’t have the money for furniture, so I bought or borrowed some basic woodworking tools and away I went. It doesn’t take a lot to get started, mostly just the desire to learn and to try something new. Don’t think about it, just do it. Go now, quit reading, start woodworking! So hopefully I find myself with the extra time to continue this blog. For those of you who, by some miracle, do find yourself reading this, I would really appreciate if you would give me feedback; good, bad or indifferent. I thank you for reading.