How did we get here?

In August 2018, my family and I moved to British Columbia so I could study at the Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking. This is not the logical next step for a registered nurse with a good job, about to turn thirty, who has just started a family.

What happened?

A few years ago, Lara and I found ourselves taking care of a farm. We had not previously met the owners ; it was only through a mutual acquaintance that we arrived at this odd circumstance. For a few short days, we lived in the farmhouse, took care of the animals, and completed other daily chores. As we spent time around the home, I found myself drawn to the furniture. The natural, graceful lines of each piece imbued every room with a sense of warmth and harmony. I had never guessed that furniture could carry so much feeling, and was surprised at my own response. I knew the owner to be a craftsman. When we met him a few weeks later, I told him about my response to his furniture and presumptuously asked if I could shadow him for a day in his shop.

He graciously accommodated me. After spending a day in the shop, I was hooked. Fortunately, he found my company tolerable, and I proved to be of some help to him as well. I made a dozen or so trips to the farm that summer, during which I learned some rudiments of woodworking. More importantly, I discovered an engagement and enthusiasm for the work, which I had not experienced in any previous endeavor.

Alas, this opportunity did not prove to be a lasting one, and I returned to the normal pattern and pace of life. Hoping to pursue woodworking on my own, I set up a crude shop in our dilapidated garage. I spent most of my discretionary time there for a couple of years. During this time, I decided to pursue cabinetmaking professionally. (This is a big decision, obviously, and was not arrived at overnight. Explaining how I came to this decision is the work of another blog post, or three. For the moment, suffice it to say that this career change fit a number of goals I'd been working toward and that we'd hoped to achieve as a family).

A monumental shift was required to make the leap from casual hobbyist to professional. European cabinetmakers serve a five year apprenticeship before being deemed competent. Could I reach a similar level of competence in an hour after work, reading woodworking books and watching Youtube videos? While many excellent craftsmen are self-taught, and I greatly admire the courage and steadfastness it takes to pursue woodworking in this way, I felt I simply could not do it. I went in search of a more robust means of education.

Why Inside Passage School? IPSFC is dedicated to the teachings and work of James Krenov, arguably the most influential cabinetmaker in the last century. I was drawn to his emphasis on the sensitive and efficient use of hand tools, and his general approach to the craft. He writes powerfully about these themes in his first book, A Cabinetmaker's Notebook.

I started this blog for two reasons. The first is to share with my family and friends (and anyone else who is interested) the experience of this year in a unique and intense school, nestled away in the tiny town of Roberts Creek, BC. The second reason is to develop my thinking about woodworking, furniture and craft. In a time and place which prizes practicality and efficiency, what value is there in slowing down to craft something with care and intention? In addition, is there a compelling reason to live among objects made this way, as we did for those few short days on the farm? Over the coming weeks, I'll explore these questions and others. I invite you to follow along, and to share your thoughts as well. Stay tuned...