Having grown up across the street from Mr. Konsella's sawmill in a small farm community in north central Wisconsin, I have always been drawn to the smell of wood and sawdust. Whether playing on the mountainous pile of sawdust, or hiding from my brothers in the stacks of logs awaiting the skill of the sawyer, I was at home.

During my many travels around the world as a merchant mariner, I saw many marvelous woods and knew that one day I would work with many of those same woods.

I spend countless hours in my workshop creating original one of a kind turnings that have seen their way to all areas of the United States, plus Japan and Canada.

I have two lathes. One is a ½ hp mini lathe and the other is a 2 hp lathe.

I turn bowls, bottle stoppers, pens, fountain pens, pepper mills and salt mills, Christmas tree ornaments and other items.

I work with local woods that have been reclaimed or salvaged from old pianos, burn piles, junk piles, damaged trees, sawmill leftovers, wind storms, and urban cuttings. They include black cherry, red oak, white oak, black oak, elm, black walnut, hickory, birch, apple, catalpa, sumac, ash and maple. The exotic woods are fun and very interesting to work with as well.

To take a piece of wood and turn it into something more useful that an object in a landfill is very fulfilling and satisfying.  To find the beauty inside that piece of wood is exciting and stimulating.  To have someone else see that beauty is very rewarding.

Give me some Neil Diamond,  Marty Robbins,  Ray Charles, Dave Brubeck, or Tchaichovsky and I can disappear into my little shop for hours on end knowing that my creations will bring happiness and joy to someone in the future.