Here you can see some of the things that I've made in the past. I love to make unique things, or to put special touches on older designs
I love to do custom work.
Have you seen something that you'd like duplicated?
Want something memorable from a special piece of wood or tree?
Let me know, I may be able to help.
I'll list some things for sale here.
Please remember this is just a hobby for me and I don't often have things for sale. If you see something you like, you have to mive fast.
I'm just a hobby craftsman in rural PA
It all started years ago.
My dad, Don, was a woodworker as long as i can remember. He would spend all his time in the woodshop that he built. I remember him saying how he couldn't wait to retire so he could spend
even more time in the woodshop. He got that chance, when he retired, and he did indeed spend much more time in the woodshop.
I have to admit, I never really understood his love for the craft. Sure, he made some really
amazing things, and if I needed something made from wood, he always came through. His train sets were always his pride and joys. It was his signature item, and always the one that people fawned over at the craft shows.
They were all hand signed and numbered. He even made a book where he recorded who purchased each set, and where they went in the world.
He sold his wares at some various craft shows, with the New Centerville Jubilee being
the one that meant the most to him. But, he gave away to family much more than he ever sold. To him someone appreciating his work was worth much more than what he got money wise from selling his crafts.
Then, one day
it all changed. In 2009 my dad was diagnosed with stage 5 cancer. I remember he told me that he asked the doctor what chance he had of beating this and the doctor told him "absolutely none". It was a real kick in the
stomach. My dad was always the rock, the one that we all counted on when something was wrong.
I took my dad to his chemo appointments, and watched him fade slowly away, getting weaker and weaker.
One day when I was
visiting him, he was really down in the dumps. When I asked him what was wrong, he explained that he started two trains. One was for his doctor and one was for our pastor. He explained that he would never be strong enough
to complete them.
I said "Dad, I'm not good with that stuff, but if you help me I'll do my best". He trusted me, and I started working on completing the trains.
I remember when I completed one of the cars, I took it
up to his house to show him, just so proud of what I made. He looked it over appraisingly, and told me, "it's not good enough". There was a joint that had a small gap that I hadn't even noticed. He told me to remake it,
and I did. To this day, I have that train car in the woodshop to remind me that whatever I make it needs to be up to my dads standards.
Together we completed those trains, and both his doctor and our pastor really appreciated
them. I even got a video from the pastor of her daughter riding the train around her bedroom. It meant the world to both of us.
The time I spent in the woodshop working on those trains really showed me why he enjoyed
it so much. Over the following years I took after him and spent much of my free time working in the woodshop.
Sadly, we lost my dad in 2010.
But, I honor his memory by "spending time with my dad". That's how I
talk about working in his woodshop. Although I own the property now, I will always think of it as his woodshop.
I kept up going to craft shows through 2018, but I just don;t have the time to make enough product to sell at
these anymore. So, I think I am going to retire from craft shows, and concentrate on making a smaller number of things to sell on my website, or to give to friends.
Thank you for spending the time to read this, and for appreciating
the things I make, Like my dad, it's your appreciation that keeps me at it!
--- John (November 2018)