Sam is a nice man who used to live next door. “Good Neighbor Sam” I called him. Sam is a big ol’ Texas boy who is always willing to lend a hand, and the rest of his anatomy, to help a friend. Sam comes by to see my chairs while they are in progress, and I always have him sit in them to see how they fit and give them a bit of a strength test.

I make furniture that is intended to be used. Carol and Mary and Steve and Leslie and Ted and Matilda and Tom and friends of all sizes unknowingly test my chairs. I watch people sit in a chair to see how it fits and how they react to the shapes and the wood. It's important that my chairs fit people and feel good. I’m out to make not conversation-piece furniture, but furniture that gets used, even if it is interesting to look at.