I remember as a small girl going out to my grandfather’s workshop, smelling the fresh scent of sawdust, and being enthralled by the beautiful things he crafted from wood. His passion for woodworking was passed down to me, but his had been passed down to him from his father. One of the things my great-grandfather had made was a game table with a checkerboard on one side and a Chinese checkers board on the other that sat in my mother’s office for as long as I can remember. It was on this table that I spent many happy hours playing games with my mom, despite the fact that she always seemed to beat me in Chinese checkers. These experiences were what inspired me to take up my own journey in fine woodworking. I wanted to create something that would bring joy and memories to others, just like that old checkerboard had done for me. That is why I have chosen to call my craft “Wooden Checkerboard”.
