Uncommon Craftsmen

Today in our series of highlighting the talented woodworkers around the shop, meet Teresa.

Teresa started woodworking in 2010. In addition to keeping things moving in her business, which has been open for 12 years, she teaches. (She’s currently leading an 8-week class through Fall on Spoon Carving.) You can pore over a variety of wonderful wooden objects she’s made on her Instagram

What she’s working on: Just finished a chair, and now it’s on to jewelry and bandsaw boxes.

Her favorite finish: Old Fashioned Milk Paint (in Bohemian and Providence colors), and Tried and True’s Varnish Oil

A fun fact: Until just recently, we were lucky to get to hang with Teresa at the shop in Hazelwood, but she’s now moving into her own studio in Wilkinsburg, and we’ll miss hearing about her national travels and watching her prep for big events.

Ever wonder how we get old doors stripped to be restored and refinished? We take them to Dip 'n Strip. Every door we've taken them has come back looking nearly good as new. It can be hard to find folks who will do a great job and stand and look at a thing with you when they're finished to make sure you're happy, but these are just those kinda folks. Probably why they've been in business for almost 50 years!

This one was special; a custom light fixture for an old friend (Dave's former acting professor - did you know Dave has a theater degree alongside his union carpentry training?).

Wood type: Cherry, from Dave's family's property
Joinery: Mortise and tenon, lap joints, domino, spline
Finish: OSMO PolyX3054 - Clear Satin

Designed to allow for lower panels to be removed for easy light replacement.

This one's been in the shop so long, we're going to miss it. 6' x 5'7" Custom game table made with oak and walnut, featuring 8 fold-out player desks and drink caddies with lids that can turn over to be miniature dice or game piece trays. The table's top has a center medallion that lifts to reveal a gaming pit with a removable red velvet insert. Legs are joined with mortise and tenon with a nod to a medieval tavern look, per the client's request. They are held together with a removable wedge tusk on either side, making them collapsible. We had a great time doing this one; happy gaming!