Woodworking has always been a big part of my life. Some of my earliest memories are of my Dad calling me down to the garage to help hold some pieces in place while he sliced through wood with a janky saw. While he had transitioned from carpenter to full-time dad, his carpentered hands transformed the house I grew up in. Every bed, desk and table in the home was a product of his time and imagination. And even though I had front row seats and lended a hand from time to time, I had never thought about making anything of my own. It felt like it was my Dad's thing, with the loud and somewhat dangerous tools...I had my crayons and colored pencils, thank you very much. It wasn't until my freshman year of college when I was sitting at a fire pit across from someone whittling a spoon, that a spark ignited in my self. Woodworking could happen without roaring machinery, in fact it could be quiet enough to carry a conversation or two over a hearth. I befriended the kind stranger, that night, and over the course of the semester he taught me how to carve too. From there, it was off to the races. This past spring, after quarantine began, I found myself without a job and with significant time on my hands. I had made earrings once before but I thought I'd give it another shot. I quickly found myself enamored with the process and always on the look out for inspiration. I started with beads, then moved to clay, and then I realized that I needed to find a way to intertwine my love for wood and jewelry making. Admittedly, I am still figuring that part out. Specifically, how to strike the combination between the rugged and delicate. And technically, how to take images of fine details from my minds eye and turn them into reality. One blessing of these weird and tumultuous times is that I went back home to my parents house to live with them. Not only did I gain access to tools and equipment that I would not have had otherwise, I got to spend invaluable time with my Dad, who coaches me every step of the way and cheers me on. I have a lot to learn, but that is my favorite part and I can't wait to see where woodworking and jewelry making takes me.