About 10 years ago, Ronda and I renovated a 125 year old home as part of starting a bed & breakfast. It was there that I was exposed to history and preservation in a tangible way for the first time and part of that experience included repairing, purchasing and caring for antiques. European antiques were the mainstay at our Inn, but over time we studied a wider range of furniture styles and began to fall in love with the simple yet elegant early American pieces of the William and Mary, Queen Anne and Chippendale periods. Of course, these for the most part were out of our price range, but I already enjoyed wood working and turning as a hobby, so the quest to be able to build these from scratch started and will likely continue for the rest of my life.

The guiding principle at the top of this page is often ignored in wood working today where there appears to be adulation for the self-taught -- I couldn't disagree more. I have had the pleasure of working with many giants, but none more influential than Gene Landon. The quality and breadth of his work is simply astounding. His works are on display in the White House, Independence Hall, Milwaukee Art Museum, and in numerous private collections throughout the United States, yet he takes time to share knowledge with students every year.