03/03/2026
A couple years ago, I decided it was time to start taking my art more seriously. I began this project with the intention of doing just that- testing my boundaries and waging myself against patience.
At the same time, I was growing weary of a few of the setbacks that came with my old shop, and knew a move was in the near future.
But then a few months after starting this project, our rent went through the roof, and my fiancée and I decided it was time for the house hunt to commence.
For a while this project sat stagnant, half completed. Searching for a house, and consequently moving both our home and my business, took up most of a year. We're still unpacking, turning the house into our own; and the shop is coming along too.
It's been as much a pleasure to have my home and business in one place as I could have hoped.
I spent most of last year settling into the new space, and just before the holidays, returned to this project.
The lack of updates between are partially due to the chaos of the move; and partially due to this project's nature as a gift, so that many photos and updates I was unwilling to share on a public forum where the surprise might be spoiled.
There were some minor setbacks- and heartbreaks- that came from moving an ongoing project from the climate of one space to another. One of the side panels began to split, and the doors took on some warping.
But I let me anxiety take a backseat to the experience I've garnered, as well as to continued learning.
And so, more lessons were learned; and that- to me- is a large part of what this craft is about.
In the end, I am tremendously proud of this piece in its completion. I tried to showcase an array of skills as well as my own lens for design. Even the "complications" were dealt with in a way that either rectified or highlighted them.
I hope to have the opportunity to do similar builds in the future and even improve upon this work.
I'm thankful every day for the opportunities I have been given.
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