Long-time member
A Maker who has been a valued part of this community for several years.
Fast shipper
Customers say that this Maker ships promptly after completing a project.
Great service
This Maker has consistently demonstrated excellence in craftsmanship and customer service.
Important update: On January 14th, I lost my shop cat when he suddenly died in my arms while my son and I were watching a movie. My son was upset over losing our pet, and upset over the impact it had on me. On February 9th, I found him, my only child, on his bedroom floor after he shot himself in the head with a 9mm he had smuggled from his grandfather. He would have been 15 in March. I have not been able to bring myself to work in the woodshop since then, but I hope to regain that passion one day. The following profile was written when I was first accepted as a Maker. One day, when I am ready, I will rewrite it and resume working, but I've no idea how long the wait will be.<<<<
I live in Walker, Louisiana, near Baton Rouge, where the humidity is ridiculous, the food is delicious, and the bugs can get just plain scary. My educational background is in nuclear engineering (seriously), courtesy of the United States Navy, but I was eventually drawn into the family's ironworking business, established by my grandfather in 1947.
I thoroughly enjoy creating things with my hands, and it didn't take me long to learn the tricks of the ironworking trade. I made many driveway gates, New Orleans style columns, balcony railings, and some of my fencework has been featured in Southern Living magazine.
I began my woodworking career with the intention of making Christmas presents for family. What better way to show someone you care than presenting them with an item made with your hands and heart? In doing so, I inadvertently stepped on a path that "wood" (haha) take me from metal shavings and burns to sawdust and cuts. My background with iron fabrication and layout enabled me to pick up on woodworking quickly, and I slowly built my arsenal of woodworking tools a piece at a time.
Now, all of my woodwork is done inside a garage, powered with rockin' music, and supervised by my shop cat, Agilarr, who has become so unmoved by the noise the machines make that he'll just sit there and let sawdust rain on him rather than move from wherever he's basking.
I put a lot of heart into everything I make. Some projects might take longer than others, but it rarely seems like work; imagining how pleased the intended recipient will be with whatever item I am crafting at the time keeps my spirits perpetually high. The only regret I have in sending my products through the mail is that I don't get the privilege of witnessing the reaction when they're viewed for the first time.
My relationship with a customer does not end when the purchase is delivered. I don't send anything out that I'm not proud to put my name behind, and I strive to offer unparalleled customer service.
More from this maker
6 products
What people are saying
- RO
rin oostdyk
For Butcher Block "The Wall" End Grain Cutting Board / Chopping Block5.0This maker was very helpful, willing to answer all my questions and even custom make the product to my measurements. Would recommend him to anyone for any project!
- RP
Roger Pinell
For Cigar Stars And Stripes Inlay Pen5.0The overall experience with this project was total satisfaction! From all of the communications, the professionalism, and the end product. The quality of my pen is superb, and I couldn't have asked for a better outcome! I highly recommend WoodenExpressions if you are looking for a great craftsman with great customer service, and a great product!!
STShelley Tiemann
For Pens, Pencils, Letter Opener5.0Brian is always a preasure to work with. If you are looking for a work of art made by someone who really cares about making it right the first time then you have found the right person. Brian took the time to make sure I was getting exactly what I wanted. The quality of the work was absolutly beautiful. I know I will be ordering more from Brian.
- OL
Olivia Lehman
For Olivia's Sunglasses display case4.8Brian has been great to work with, he is very professional & friendly. He was constantly communicating with me during the construction process of our project. He always asked me questions about what I wanted to ensure that I would be happy with the product. Although he admitted he had never created a display case like this, he did an excellent job. I could tell he went out of his way to make sure this it came out great. His pricing was very reasonable too! I highly recommend him.
MTMichael Tam
For Segmented Wood pens5.0Brian is a wonderful craftsman and an excellent communicator. A pleasure to work with.
TKTyler Kemp
For Butcher Block "The Wall" End Grain Cutting Board / Chopping Block5.0Just recived my new cutting board and man is it nice. It's extremely well made and will most likely outlive me. Brian was really helpful through out the project, making sure every part of the board was how I wanted it. The project was done quickly and was also shipped to my house fast. Brian wriote a letter to go with the board going over all the details of it and how to maintain it. Also with it he put in some extra butcher block conditioner and a pen he made with the scraps from the board which I thought was an awesome little bonus. I would highly recommend this site and wood worker for any projects you might have. I'll will be coming back for my next one.
- SB
shafa baniani
For Personalized Magnetic Brass-Hinged Business Card Holder / Case5.0Brian was an absolute pleasure to work with! I ordered 5 Personalized Business Card Holders on a Tuesday night and they arrived with priority shipping on the following Monday. He did such a great job with very short notice. (He did it through a storm where the humidity hampered the ability to spray lacquer on the wood. Very impressive.) Timeliness: I started a project through CustomMade's website on a Tuesday night, and he replied back early the following morning. The timeliness/customer service was on point! As I mentioned above, he made these and got them delivered in less than a week's time. He also very timely in communication throughout the project with status updates and answers to my questions. Communication: He gave me his personal cell phone number and texted me status updates throughout the project so I knew exactly what was going on. He was prompt with email communication as well, he sent me many pictures as the project progressed. Professionalism/Personality: Brian knew all the answers to my questions and always communicated in a very funny and upbeat manner. The wit he employed in his communication helped ease any worries I had of the project completing successfully. Expertise: Brian knew the types of wood necessary for a quality end product. I am not very experienced with different types but he was very gracious in asking for my preferences. He was able to give me various customization options that were exactly what I was looking for. Shipping/Delivery: Very prompt delivery! He shipped them priority so they would arrive early! He was great in clarifying the date I needed the products by, and was especially accommodating to my schedule. Value: I feel that I got a good value for the price. The holders feel well-made and they look great in my hands. He proposed a fair price with the rushed shipping included in the total.
BWBen Wooldridge Wooldridge
For Magnetic Brass-Hinged Business Card Holder / Case5.0I was very happy working with Brian. His card holder came out beautifully, and QUICK! Very, very good in the communication area too. I would definitely work with Brian again.
- EL
Ernest Lew
For Magnetic Brass-Hinged Business Card Holder / Case4.8Brian is great to work with. The card holder he made is quite nice. He practiced quick and transparent communication throughout the project and he even provided pictorial updates. He finished this project much more quickly than I had anticipated, as well.
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