I create objects from wood because I find satisfaction in taking an actual log and turning it into a functional piece of art. As I mill each piece of wood, I begin to see what it can become and so I design objects that accentuate its natural beauty. The unique color, grain, texture, and even aroma of the wood reveals the story of the tree’s age, growth, and health. All of these characteristics impact the way I select the wood and construct the piece.

Woodworking became a respite for me during a particularly difficult season of life with the woodshop becoming a studio that engaged all of my senses. I lose myself in the satisfying sound of a plane gliding across a board, the intricate craft of hand cut joinery, and the beauty of grain showcased by an oil finish.

As a pastor, I often recommend that people find something that they can make, because the simple act of creating can help each of us find joy as we navigate the demands of life. By interacting with what I have made, I hope that other people will be inspired to make something themselves and to find the satisfaction of handcraft as I have.

My wife Glenda and I grew up in Tennessee and throughout our lives we have found solace in the woods of Appalachia. That is why we prefer to use locally sourced lumber for our projects, often milling it from trees that have fallen in the hardwood forest that surrounds our Cookeville home. By doing this, we hope that our creations will not only bring beauty to the lives of others, but will remind them of the great biodiversity of the Upper Cumberland. May our forests be preserved and celebrated for generations to come.