Our Story
About Me
Imagine a young boy, filled with curiosity, exploring the vast woods of Michigan, my childhood playground. Each towering tree whispered tales of strength and resilience, each fern delicately illustrated lessons of elegance and adaptability. This is where I fell in love with nature, where the forest became more than just a mass of trees, but my sanctuary, my teacher.
As I grew older, my hands began to mirror my heart's passion, shaping and molding wood, translating my admiration for nature into tangible forms. I found a guiding light in the ethos of master woodworker George Nakashima, who revered nature as the finest artisan. He taught me to see not just a fallen tree, but a story waiting to be told. Inspired by his philosophy, I adopted the practice of giving these fallen trees a second life, allowing their silent tales to be heard through the art of furniture creation.
So here I am, not just a woodworker, but a listener, a storyteller, giving voice to the silent narratives of nature, narrating tales of strength, resilience, and elegance through every piece I craft. I invite you to join me on this journey, to experience the love and respect I hold for nature, reflected in each piece of bespoke furniture from "The Fern and Tree".
The Fern and Tree
While on a hike in Vermont's Green Mountains with my wife, we found ourselves off the trail. Guided by the subtle pointing of fern fronds, we discovered a solitary, majestic tree standing in a clearing. The elegance of the ferns leading to the comforting aura of the tree struck a deep chord within me. This profound connection between the guiding elegance of ferns and the comforting strength of a tree inspired the creation of my woodworking business, "The Fern and Tree." It's a tribute to the forest that raised me and a testament to my journey and learnings from nature.