MASTER WOODWORKER FEATURED AT ARTISAN MARKET

Please meet David Keller, Owner of Wood N Stuff. After forty-nine years on the job David decided to leave his job and enjoy the “golden years” as he had heard them called… Retirement isn’t for Sissies! After retirement in July of 2016, finding things to do, other than Honey-dos of course, became a necessity. Workdays and nights required being away from home and separated husband and wife but retirement thrusts them together, neither one of them were accustomed to this much time together! Enter the survival mode! David’s father was a master at woodwork. It seems that anything he imagined that could be built of wood, he could build, or rebuild or duplicate! Although not inheriting all of his talent, David absorbed enough of his love for woodworking to pursue a few projects of his own. By including him as a young son in some of his projects, it became his job to “hold the dumb end of the tape measure” and to bring this tool and that piece of wood to the work area. At the age of about thirteen, he realized he was the gopher and the “dumb end of the tape” wasn’t some-thing he cherished. Thank goodness that his junior high and high school offered vocational classes in wood shop, metal, shop, and electrical shop. Although not using this knowledge in his way of making a living, it added to his ability to save a dollar or two and do some things for himself at home. David began to look for woodworking ideas to stay busy and out of his wife’s hair. An idea came to mind to build a bench for our patio, but he wasn’t sure just exactly what he wanted. There are DIY publications throughout the internet on ideas and “how to” for a variety of things so he researched and found a bench idea he liked, building a bench from an unused head and foot board. He secured a set from a garage sale and the project began. David’s wife gave him encouragement in “you are going to build a bench from that? Really? We’ll see!” Oh, Ye of Little Faith! Work began with two and a half days of sanding to remove the old finish and progressed to sawing the foot board into pieces. When the pieces were joined to the headboard at right angles and a “bed” for the seat was added the bench began to take shape. After a few looks from his wife, he heard the words “Is our bench going to be plain wood or painted” and her next trip outside were accompanied by “Are we going to have a plain seat or are we going to have a cushion and pillows on our bench?” and his reply was “WE haven’t given me those answers yet but I’m sure WE will let me know.” Our bench now has a clear finish and outdoor cushion and pillows! David’s wife posted pictures of her bench on the internet. Several of her friends and David’s sister wanted to know “Where’s mine?” Then he got the call that began “Daddy” and the second bench was begun. The idea was popular, and Wood N Stuff was born! I began building benches for people around me and expanded to such things as bird feeders (“recycled” wine and liquor bottles). Wood N Stuff repurposes yesterday’s discards and builds tomorrow’s treasures! You can meet Davis at the Third Annual Artisan and Home Décor Market, September 28, 2019 from 9:00 – 4:00 at The Village at Tuscan Lakes, The Club, 1610 Tuscan Village Drive, League City, Texas 77573. FREE to public, FREE parking, FREE golf cart valet to front door. We will have 4 food trucks and a food court for your shopping convenience.