Q & A with Bob Kelley, owner of Heavenly Woods:

Bob - when, where and how did you learn the art of woodworking?

My passion for woodworking came from my father, who let me work in his shop with him beginning at age six, building all manner of cabinets and furniture. I continued developing my woodworking skills in woodcraft shops while serving in the Army, and thereafter in building several houses and shops for my own family. I love reading all I can about woodworking techniques, talking with true craftsmen at work, and practicing their techniques on my own woodworking projects.

What have you done over the years to become more skilled/grow your knowledge base in woodworking?

As with almost any craft or skill, the greatest learning experience comes from doing. I’ve never shied away from any woodworking challenge (within reason, of course!). Actually building furniture and cabinets is a tremendous teacher in what produces fine work – you get to look at your successes and shortcomings. Of course, much of the art of woodworking was developed generations ago, and I find great satisfaction in reading about techniques used by the great amateur and professional craftsmen.

What do you love most or find inspiring about woodworking?

It’s really about satisfying the passion of creating something from raw material. Simply designing or working from a set of plans can be challenging in itself, but turning those ideas into a finely crafted product is exhilarating, and requires craftsmanship skills that aren’t shown on the blueprints!

What caused you to decide to build a woodworking shop?

I knew that I wanted to take my passion for woodworking to the next level, but also realized that I needed a much larger shop to be able to do that. I wanted a shop big enough to support a small woodworking business, so with the help and encouragement of a friend and associates, designed a shop that met my needs.

What would you tell someone who was looking for a quality woodworker?

Do your basic homework. Look for someone who has passion for what they do. Their pursuit of excellence will be evidenced in both products and references. Finally, always meet the craftsman if you can. I find that the design process flows much more easily when the artist or craftsman knows the client and vice versa.

Bob Kelley is a professional woodworker living in Kingston, WA. Contact Bob here.