I’m Al, a craftsman based in Portland, Oregon! I was raised in North Carolina and have lived in New England, Brooklyn, Spain, Germany, and New Zealand. I spent years as a composer and musician, then a decade as an investigative journalist. Woodworking was a hobby, but in 2023 I decided to make a career of it and have been full-time since then.

I’ve been a woodshop instructor at Made Studio, a Sacramento nonprofit, and a woodworking teaching assistant at U.C. Davis.

WHAT DEFINES MY WORK

  1. TOP QUALITY — I use the best hardwoods (and redwood for outdoor items) and use wood joinery whenever possible to create sturdy, long-lasting pieces.

  2. AESTHETICS — I’m a creative, and it shows in my work, which highlights the beautiful and diverse colors and grain patterns of natural wood.

  3. CUSTOMIZATION — I work with each client to design and produce furniture, butcher blocks, planter boxes, and more that are customized for the client’s specific space, function, and aesthetic preferences.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch for a free consultation. We’ll work together to design the perfect piece of furniture or kitchen item for you.

Local. Sustainable.

Unfortunately, as manufacturing outsourced and big box stores ballooned, the quality of furniture plummeted. Now most affordable furniture is made from particle board and other synthetic products that won't last you two years, so you'll have to buy another flimsy item to replace it. Many consumers are locked into a cycle of buying low-priced, low-quality furniture manufactured across the globe. This means they'll end up spending more money over time, and they'll be part of a wasteful and environmentally taxing system.

Buying high-quality, solid hardwood furniture is a much better long-term investment. The furniture I build will last generations, and it adds beauty to your daily life. Plus, you can feel good about supporting independent makers like myself.

Email me for custom items! And thanks for checking out my store.

how i became a woodworker

My dad always built furniture, and we made an Adirondack chair together once. I always wanted to build things, but I doubted I'd be good at woodworking and waited a long time until I really gave it a shot. Once I began, I absolutely loved it and realized I'm good at it, too! After doing music and writing for so long, it was amazing to work with my hands to build tangible things that have concrete functions.

Since then, I've made beds, tables, benches, desks, and smaller items like cutting boards, lamps, guitar wall mounts, and even a menorah, all out of high quality hardwoods. I figured it was about time to start selling my work, so here we are. I truly appreciate your business!