Loren’s
father was a woodworker, as well
as his grandfather and great-grandfather; it seems to
be something that is “in his blood”. His first
woodworking experiences started in his Dad’s basement
shop as a young child. Experimenting and child’s
play taught him many of the basics. As he reached teenage
years, he worked with his Dad. From whom him he learned
many of his traits including the ability to figure out
construction.
After high school, he worked at National
Woodworks he refers to has a working museum. There, he
worked with a couple of real craftsman who taught him
more of the art. Lars was an old Norwegian who had a background
in boat building in Norway and John was a craftsman from
Lithuania. Their skill and patience in creating something
with handwork impressed Loren and created a desire in
him to perfect his own skills. They also taught a great
deal on joinery, how to look into a piece of furniture
and see the sequence of construction and how a structure
supports itself by joinery.
Loren left National Woodworks in 1977 to open
his own woodworking business in partnership with a good
friend. When the partner decided to return to teaching so
Loren and Jane started out on their own. These were the
years that Loren learned so much about building furniture
with just hand tools. Their so-called “back to nature”
phase. His skills with hand tools were honed and he developed
a deep satisfaction for building something with his hands
and a few simple tools. He developed the skill so see an
object in a piece of wood and to know just how much to take
away for that object to surface. During these years, he
worked out of a small shop connected to the house, or, in
one location, in an upstairs bedroom. Of course, as time
went on (and the family grew) there was a need to improve
the efficiency of the business. The needed power tools and
technology have gradually been added, but he still sticks
to the same “old fashioned values” in producing
a beautiful piece of furniture and in doing business. After
several moves, Loren and Jane have settled down in a small
rural town of Pierson and purchased a building to house
their business.
Jane is the designated bookkeeper/office manager,
as well as the finisher. Over the years, the finishing process
has evolved to blend the old methods with the new. We stick
with what has always given the “truest” finish,
which is a hand applied stain and a topcoat rubbed out to
a beautiful sheen. There are various options available but
whatever finish we choose for a particular piece will bring
out the best characteristics of that piece and the wood
as well as protect and beautify it.
Loren and Jane have been blessed with a fairly
quiet and simple life as well as four children; Emily, Pete
(a fifth generation woodworker), Sam and Jess, one dog,
Sassy, and one shop cat, Smitty.
Loren’s hobbies include playing guitar,
writing music, bicycling, reading, and gardening. Jane enjoys
spending any free time she has planting and maintaining
the flowerbeds at their home. |
