Making — Learning, Creating & Having Fun!

I've always loved the idea of making something out of almost nothing. That's what first drew me to building stick furniture. Taking ordinary branches and turning them into something useful and beautiful was just plain fun!

Then, right after I built my first chair, a tree fell in our front yard. WOW! Suddenly, I had more branches than I knew what to do with, and my garage quickly became a collection of future projects!

Of course, having all these ideas meant I needed to learn how to use some tools. And one thing led to another...

My Making Journey

The Early Days: I started with a battery-operated drill and an electric sander. Then I learned to use our drill press.

2017: GAME CHANGER! I learned to use a miter saw. That opened up a whole new world of possibilities!

2018: I took a woodworking class at Woodcraft and was introduced to all kinds of tools and techniques. I also made what will probably be the most expensive cutting board I'll ever own!

As my confidence grew, I learned to use a router, jointer, planer, and even a biscuit joiner, which I used to connect the wood rounds in my Cherry Round Side Table.

For Christmas that year, I received a really nice planer — one of the few woodworking tools my husband didn't already own!

2019: Another Christmas, another tool! This time it was a beautiful new bandsaw, replacing the old one I apparently kept killing. Now I could really up my game! I also started learning to carve wood.

2020–2021: I learned to paint and started incorporating painting into my projects, adding another dimension to what I could create.

2022: I discovered that I could cut wood veneer with my Cricut. Who knew my Cricut could become part of my woodworking adventures?

2023: I started creating my own designs using Procreate Pocket and bringing those designs into my Cricut projects. It was exciting to go from an idea in my head to something I could actually make!

2026: For Christmas 2025, I received an XTool. Once I finally got it set up and working, I discovered yet another fun way to create with wood and my own designs!

And There's More Than Wood!

My creativity isn't limited to woodworking. I also enjoy working with fabric and fibers, combining traditional techniques with newer tools like my Cricut to make all kinds of projects.

What I love most about making things isn't just the finished project. It's the challenge of figuring out how to do something, learning a new skill, and sometimes discovering a completely different way to make something along the way.

And who knows what I'll learn to make next!