About Me
A Lifetime in Woodworking
I grew up outside Minneapolis in the house my grandpa built. As a result of spending most of my childhood in his old shop, the only thing I ever thought of becoming was a Carpenter. I worked construction through high school, took a 5 year detour in the USMC, then headed back to rough and finished carpentry for another 5 years.
A Detour of Service
I served in the United States Marine Corps for 5 years as an Airframe Mechanic on the KC-130J aircraft. I still did a small amount of woodworking during this time, but spent most of my time performing aircraft maintenance, to include metal working; a skill that I carried over into my woodworking later on. I also spent a great deal of time kayaking and fishing off the beautiful coast of North Carolina.
Fine Woodworking
Once I returned back to Minnesota, I started to delve into the world of fine woodworking. I challenged myself by entering into the State Fair woodworking competition a few times. I was fortunate to have taken home a few ribbons, to include Judges Choice and the Jack L McGowan Award for Distinguished Craftsmanship in Wood in Scandinavian Traditions.
A Renewed Focus
In 2020, I decided to make fine woodworking a career. I attended the 9 Month Comprehensive at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, ME. There, I learned a great deal about furniture making and had the chance to meet and work with a number of very talented woodworkers. I focused on 2 parts of my life that influenced my woodworking the most: My Americana Line, influenced by my love of country and my time in service, and my Traditional Scandinavian line, influenced by my time spent around Minneapolis - especially the American Swedish Institute.