Author: Gary

  • The Rubio

    The Rubio

    The squeaky wheel gets the oil. A Wednesday evening at the dojo, a friend of mine, Steve Rubio, handed me two sheets of graph paper, it was a table that he’d like me to build. The dojo was quite busy so I placed them on my desk, and we both got busy teaching. (Steve -Sensei,…

  • Ambrosia Maple End Table

    Ambrosia Maple End Table

    While in the process of making this end table I was actually seeing ambrosia maple every time I closed my eyes. The patterns, the light and dark stripes, and even the little beetle holes in the wood. They just came alive when I closed my eyes. Yes, you read that correctly beetle holes… some maple…

  • Sapele Dining Room Table

    Sapele Dining Room Table

    Ever since I started dabbling in woodworking it was a dream of mine, much prompted by my wife – mind you, to make a statement piece, a dining room table. I started a few years back with cutting boards, then benches, picture frames, coffee tables, vanities and tons of lil speciality items along the way.…

  • Picture Frame with Stand

    Picture Frame with Stand

    Not everything works out as you initially envisioned it, knowing when to abandon an idea and go with something else, doesn’t mean failure. Dena, a dear friend, asked me to make a picture frame as a gift. She didn’t describe how she wanted the frame to look, the woods to use, or anything about the…

  • 2 Custom Vanities

    2 Custom Vanities

    Kristi and I had an addition added on to our home, our contractor, Chris of Graves Design and Remodeling was awesome and we are very happy with our new sunroom/ conservatory :). Chris took note of some of my woodworking and when he needed a rush job for 2 custom vanities, he gave me a…

  • A Plant Wheelbarrow

    A Plant Wheelbarrow

    Made of Sapelle and Maple, this was more of a fact learning mission to see how workable the wood that I’ll be using for our dining room table is.

  • Custom Cabinets with Shelves

    Custom Cabinets with Shelves

    A friend (Ali) reached out to me with a few drawings, the goal? To make better use of the space beside her fireplace. We exchanged ideas, me sending her an ideas from Sketchup and she would send back another drawing, and soon enough we settled on a plan and started the build. I worked on…

  • Console Table

    Console Table

    Judy needed a table to hold her television, and all the electronics that go with it. She sent me a drawing of what she was looking for along with the dimensions. Going over the plans with her, she asked if I could make the top and base contrast each other for a two toned look,…

  • Repairing Antique Child’s Rocking Chair

    Repairing Antique Child’s Rocking Chair

    When a young adult sits in a rocking chair that was made for a child, then add that it was probably built, generations ago, bad things can happen. We have all been there, things break, however some things have sentimental value. These items are not discarded. They are repaired to be loved, treasured, and rocked…

  • Wall Art, reclaimed wood with resin

    Wall Art, reclaimed wood with resin

    Often I’m asked to make something, be it as small as a baseball holder to as large as a built in cabinet, I try to make everyone happy. I made this for me. Now this piece is hanging in a dear friends office and that makes me very happy.

  • Mardi Gras Picture Frame

    Mardi Gras Picture Frame

    A wonderful Christmas from Kristi’s sister, gave me an opportunity to make a frame with some amazing hardwoods. What was the present? A limited edition print by Terrance Osborne, thanks Jenny! As soon as I opened it I started thinking of how I would make the frame and then of wood types to use. Purple…

  • Shou Sugi Ban Plant Stand

    Shou Sugi Ban Plant Stand

    My favorite projects are when clients give me free will to create. My goal in these circumstances is create a unique piece that meets their needs is functional and perhaps, be a conversation starter (in a good way). This post is all about a simple plant stand, that I hope will stand out. Johnny; who…

  • Entryway Bench

    Entryway Bench

    A bench to sit on and leave your shoes behind. Made of pine this simple design is perfect for small entryways the long flowing lines is attractive to the eye and very stable. It can be easily modified to any size, plus it looks great sitting just underneath one of my coat racks 🙂

  • Ethan Allen Chair Rebuild

    Ethan Allen Chair Rebuild

    I recently got a text from a neighbor (Ashley) saying: “No rush, were not entertaining any time soon but we would love to have our dining room chair repaired.” To which I replied, “How broken is it…?” It was really broken with a vital section missing. I figured I could not make it any worse.…

  • Coat Rack with Swiveling Arms

    Coat Rack with Swiveling Arms

    One of my most popular builds! This coat or hat rack features arms that fold up when not in use, it’s pretty neat and gets a lot of comments when people first use it. I made my first one more out of necessity, I run a dojo and my students needed a place to hang…

  • Lawn Mower Caddy

    Lawn Mower Caddy

    A few years back after nearly falling through the floor of my shed I decided to build a new space and to make it big enough to also double as a woodworking shop. Not thinking that I would ever do a lot of woodworking I decided on the shop size, and made it big enough…

  • Kristi’s End Tables

    Kristi’s End Tables

    My wife, who has been home now for almost a year, started a simple conversation with her friend Jennifer who is an interior designer with Haven Home Solutions. Which lead to overhauling our living room and plenty of honey do projects for me. Now mind you, I completely enjoyed each and every one of these…

  • Cutting Boards

    Cutting Boards

    Kristi and I enjoy having people over, and as you know everything revolves around the kitchen, and the kitchen is centered around the cutting board. I use many hardwoods in my cutting boards, from maple, walnut, ash, red oak, white oak, maghony, purple heart, cherry and padauk. I love combining these woods with their natural…

  • Picnic Table

    Picnic Table

    I love the outdoors and I grew up eating burnt hot-dogs and burgers with family and friends, all centered around a picnic table. A friend of mine wanted a solid picnic table so I set to it, it made for a fun weekend build.

  • Twin Auburn Diploma Frames

    Twin Auburn Diploma Frames

    When a couple trust you to make frames for their college diplomas, you actually do measure everything twice! I started with mahogany and maple and ended with 2 identical frames. I met Melissa and Joe at one of our Jefferson Manor neighborhood events where I told them about my small woodworking shop. They reached out…