My journey to becoming a master woodworker

I started out in woodworking like most do…in middle school wood shop in the late 70’s. Making boxes and simple projects to learn the skills under the guidance of an entertaining, half-crazy teacher who treated me like a son. I carved my first bowl from a scrap piece of black walnut and I knew right then, I was hooked on the smell of wood and the feel of working with my hands in the shop. Later, in high school wood shop, I created my first live-edge coffee table from a large piece of black walnut. This was before live-edge was in vogue! This table is still in my Mom and Dad’s living room today.

 

After high school, I had to put my woodworking days on hold for several years to earn my engineering degree at college. Then, I married my darling wife Wendy. A few years later we built our own home in rural Rochester, Michigan. One year after moving into our new home, we thought it would be a good idea to start a family…twins, a boy and a girl! That really put the woodshop projects on hold!

 

Through the years of raising a family and upgrading the house, I slowly outfitted my shop and my collection of tools increased. Thanks to my wife, each Christmas and Birthday included a new power tool, or clamp, or chisel for my latest project. I now have a respectable wood shop; a small and very efficient one where projects of all sizes and shapes are hand crafted. Most of those projects were built for our home. And some projects for relatives…my mom and dad, brothers, uncles and aunts, friends. I also have been commissioned on several projects too. One I’m particularly proud of, is a wall-to-wall bookshelf with a built-in desk for the pastor of our church; a nice way to share my gifts and talents.

Another is a mission-style writing desk of quarter-sawn white oak and hard rock maple for a client in Rochester. Including several custom designed bookcases, coffee tables, and Amish-styled display cabinets of solid cherry.

 

Well, the kids have grown up and moved on. And these days, with Wendy’s help and inspiration, I’m devoting much of my free time continuing to create various woodworking projects and posting on my new Etsy shop. Watch for new items in my shop.

 

If you have a special project in mind that you don’t see in my shop, let me know. I can assist you with the concept and a personalized design for anything you have in mind. I’ll provide pricing and timing that we can agree on, and then we can get started!

I look forward to working with you.

 

Sincerely,

Steve Andridge