Craft Appreciation Post

The longer I work in the industry, the more I appreciate skilled craftspeople and their ability to modify, use, and finish materials. From metalworkers to welders, painters, and carpenters, I am in awe by the skill and patience required to achieve their final results.

When I attend shows like NeoCon, I focus on the use of materials, such as the application of veneers, the joinery of two pieces of wood, the thicknesses of boards, or the unique ways components blend or are manipulated.

As my appreciation has grown, so has my desire to achieve these results myself. I recently completed my first wood tabletop. After locally sourcing rough, rift-sawn white oak, I was able to plane the boards, glue and join them, and finish them as a new table for my home.

Like any designer that DIYs, I can point out every single imperfection in the finished product, but for my first attempt, I am only encouraged to keep learning and improving my craft and knowledge that I can incorporate into future designs for clients.