inmysparetime

I've been a hobby woodworker for a little over a year now and I'm hooked. I'm always looking for projects and excuses to get me into the shop. Last winter I built a workshop (bench and bought some tools) in the basement at my parents house because it was big enough and not really being utilized. I live in a townhouse so the unfinished area in our basement isn't big enough for me to work in and our neighbors are touching on both sides so the noise would be an issue. The only problem with the setup I have now is my parents live 70 miles away so I have to plan projects for when I visit. Unless I have a small project like a cutting board or a clock I have very long build times. I've started building projects and then bringing them home with me to hand sand and finish, that's about all I have room for in my basement.
So far I have only really given my projects away as gifts to friends and family, but I would like to start selling some of it. To date I have yet to build the same thing twice because I like the engineering and uncertainty that comes with building something you've only seen a picture of or thought of in your head. I don't make plans; rather my strategy is start building with an idea and cross every bridge when you get to it. My projects range in size from a small WoodWhisperer clock or cutting board up to a 6ft tall Oak bookshelf I built and traded to my older sister for a couch. I'm hoping that being on this site will allow me to grow as a woodworker and get my projects out there and hear what some really talented people think about them. The only critics I have to learn from right now are myself and my family so it ranges from the constant, it can always be better to "how did you build that".

-- Mike from Mass