About Red Dog Craftworks
Some people count down the days to retirement. I spent mine figuring out what I actually wanted to do with it.
After more than 30 years managing software engineering organizations, I knew I wanted to build things with my own hands — tangible things that don't live in the digital world. I've always been mechanically inclined and creative, constantly tinkering, building, or attempting to learn some new tool or technique. Retirement just finally gave me the time to make it the whole job. That's how Red Dog Craftworks came about.
The shop name is inspired by Kobe — One of our two Shiba Inus. He's my shop dog and chief quality inspector. When I visited the kennel 13 years ago to choose from among his littermates, Kobe had other ideas. He made it abundantly clear that he was choosing me and that there would be no negotiation on the matter. True to his breed, he's self-confident, aloof, and judges you with the disdainful side-eye of someone who has already made up their mind... and found you lacking. He's also my constant companion, hiking partner, and creative advisor. The least I could do was name the shop after him.
Having lived in the Pacific Northwest all my life, the natural beauty of this region influences nearly everything I create, from the materials I select to the aesthetic I continually embrace. I work with any type of wood and incorporate metal when a piece calls for it. Along with traditional woodworking techniques, my shop has CNC carving, laser engraving, and metal welding capabilities.
I'm always chasing a new technique, learning a new tool, a new way of solving a problem. And at the end of the day, what drives me is simple: I want to create something that didn't exist when the morning started.
If that sounds like someone you want making your next piece, let's talk.