I am an accomplished craftsman offering handmade creations of wood. Offerings will vary as my interests are broad and imagination unlimited. From photo props and doll furnishings to custom full size furnishings and everything in between. What I make:
My initial efforts here on Etsy are focused on unique photography props and heirloom quality doll furniture tailored to the American Girl doll colle
ction. I have two beautiful daughters age 6 & 3.5 that inspire and test many of my designs. How I make it:
All of my creations are crafted using proven quality furniture construction techniques. I never simply rely on a nail to endure the test of time when it comes to structure. More often than not the centuries old method of mortise and tenon joinery is employed. Working with a natural medium such as wood I take great care to insure the stability of my raw material. I respect the fact that wood leaving my workshop will act differently in your home and allow for seasonal movements. Why I make it:
Shy of being a Father of two beautiful girls, I find working with wood to be one of life's most satisfying experiences. I enjoy the design process equally as much as putting on the finishing touches. I rarely see only a piece of lumber in the pile, but a minds image of what it can be. To me there is nothing quite like seeing your imagination take shape from a once anonymous tree in the forest. I suppose this is why I have made it my life's work. What makes me:
For as long as I can remember I have been making things with wood. My fondest childhood memories always involved something being built or sewn. Both of my Grandfathers were good with their hands and at one time or another paid the bills by "making sawdust". My grandmother clothed her children with sweat and tears at the sewing machine. Rumor has it some of Mamaw's clothes were even crafted from empty feed sacks. I doubt in her day they called that "upcycled" or "repurposed", but resourceful none the less. My Mom and Sisters have succeeded with their handmade children’s clothing businesses, Fairies n Frogs, Sarah’s Kids and Sassy Kats helped inspire me to take this plunge. My extended family includes talented builders, crafters and artist of all types. As the saying goes this is truly in my blood. My experience:
I have extensive experience in fine finish carpentry and design. From elegant stairways to massive Amish style hand chiseled timber frames, antique telephone cabinets to the arbor I was married under and my first home, I've designed and built it. I have made a career of crafting some of the finest custom homes anywhere, bringing client’s imagination to life and creating a home that exceeds even their grandest dreams. These experiences have taught me that "attention to detail" and a willingness to "go off the map" are the essence of "custom". My workshop then and now:
High in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina, nestled in a quiet high valley is where I called home when this journey began. Close to Highlands, a small but very popular summer vacation destination. Both the Appalachian Trail and Bartram Trail traverse the mountains close by. My home and workshop were surrounded by huge growths of rhododendron and mountain laurel and closely bordered by Turtle Pond Creek, hence the name Turtle Pond Wood Works. I recently relocated to the Atlanta area to begin a new chapter in my life, a rebuilding if you will. My workshop is small, but well outfitted and works well with the scale of my current projects.
