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Over the course of a semester, we worked with a real client (the university) to design a campsite for a new trail that was under construction at Touch of Nature Campgrounds. This site includes permanent bench style seating, an area dedicated to food prep, storage compartments for firewood and coolers, and a permanent fire pit. After the design phase was completed and approved in the spring, we began construction in the summer. All of the work was done ourselves, including the earthwork needed to level the ground. The location of the campsite proved to be the biggest challenge with the build. It is located along a dirt trail deep in the woods, so transporting materials out to the site was dificult and dependent on weather. Although this was a strenuous project that required countless hours, it was by far the most rewarding project during my architectural studies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cd2d6e392441b8ec5ae987f/1557626586853-LNLXBKO823VIIPLGWVZW/IMG_2368.JPG Projects - Chess Board | 2017 The idea to build a chess board originated from a desire to work with two species of wood and attempt some inlay work. I saw a video of someone making inlay strips and thought, “I have to try that out!” It was another project full of lessons to remember for future endeavors, but nonetheless, I was pleased with the final result. One day, I would like to revisit the Chess Board idea now knowing how to improve upon the craftsmanship of the build. Wood used: Mahogany, Maple, and small amounts of Oak Finish: Teak Oil * Chess Pieces purchased separately. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cd2d6e392441b8ec5ae987f/1557839949401-CVD7X0F2VGXYQMT3DDXP/IMG_1780.JPG Projects - Live Edge Clock | 2019 The idea for this project was actually older than me. My family has been in possession of a handful of wood slabs taken from a tree at my Great Grandfather’s old house. My father and I repurposed one of these slabs into a wall clock for my Aunt as a birthday gift. It was a simple one day project which provided some good bonding time with my father! Now that I know how relatively simple it is to make a clock, I’d like to do another one with a bit more design and complexity to it. Wood used: Black Cherry Finishes: Teak Oil https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cd2d6e392441b8ec5ae987f/1690654390815-FH0Z8EWN2SYJ1Z4PYDIA/A58C2813-443B-4682-8D57-0B44387D88D9.JPG Projects - Rocking Chair | 2020 This was my second attempt at a rocking chair, and also a commission piece for a coworker. The process and design went extremely smooth compared to the first chair attempt done years prior. Most of the project was cut in my apartment using simple hand tools and only took a few days to fully assemble. Materials Used: Oak, Foam and Fabric for the seat. Finishes: Stain and Poly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cd2d6e392441b8ec5ae987f/1690655434401-UMVOM49GNW72ELJM4WW9/4EF5994D-C546-4162-81F5-9F55FB55566C.JPG Projects - Baritone Ukelele | 2020 This was my first time creating a musical instrument. I have been a musician for decades, and combining my love for woodworking and music had been a long term dream. When the Covid lock downs hit, I took the opportunity to really devote to the task. I found the plans online, and after many hours of research on Youtube, I felt confident enough to attempt the challenge. Almost the entirety of the project was bought from the local hardware store, and crafted with hand tools. There were some specific hardware that I purchased online such as the frets and tuners, but the goal was to build as much as possible on my own. The final product isn’t perfect, but it is perfectly playable and holds a tune. Overall this was a lot of fun and I learned so much on this build. Materials used: Mahogany, Bass wood, Maple Finish: Poly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cd2d6e392441b8ec5ae987f/1690656035382-HU1IM98NMR72XSVFA4BF/12520E1A-CB35-40DC-AA1A-F334D6FC1C6B.JPG Projects - How I Met Your Mother Coffee Table | 2023 In the Spring of 2023, I entered into a Makers competition ( The Maker Collab) with a close friend of mine. We both went to Architecture school and loved the sitcom How I Met Your Mother - as most architecture students do. The theme of the competition was TV Shows, so we quickly decided on HIMYM and developed a concept to combine the skills we learned at university with our woodworking experience. As such, we designed a coffee table which doubled as a display case for a 1/2” : 1’-0” model of Ted Mosby’s apartment from the show. This collaboration project was incredibly fun to build and design, and am really proud of the end product. Materials used: Walnut, Bass Wood, Balsa Wood, Plywood, Maple, Purple Heart, Padauk, Plexiglass, Matte Board, Foam Core. Finishes: Poly https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5cd2d6e392441b8ec5ae987f/1557838621034-PLA63CG48I7AK66O1G9M/IMG_1333.JPG Projects - Dining Room Table | 2018 This was the second try at making a table, this time for one of my good friends. He came up with the design, and we spent a weekend knocking it out. Since speed was of the essence, we used pre-manufactured legs. We also utilized a slot cutter bit on the router table to tongue and groove the top boards to create a solid tabletop. All and all, this was an extremely fun project, and we were proud of how it turned out. 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