How Marc Got His Groove Back!

Article - November 30, 2012

The last year has been pretty disruptive from a woodworking perspective. Moving the shop, renovating the old shop, moving the shop again, working in a makeshift shop, building the new shop, and then moving the tools into the new space. Yikes, that’s a lot of work!

Well finally, with the new shop mostly set up, I can dive back into building a project. Specifically, the Dogon Platform Bed for the Guild. Let me tell you friends, it feels good to get some sawdust under my fingers again! It may sound weird, but I really haven’t felt like myself for most of 2012. It wasn’t until just the other day that the full realization came to me. I had just spent several hours milling up some 8/4 Bubinga stock and it was time to call it quits. Mateo came home from Grandma’s house and Nicole brought him into the shop to say Hi. Such a simple thing, but in the span of a few seconds I suddenly realized my groove was back!

That’s not to say I was in some sort of depression (far from it), but that I really had some serious pent-up creative energy that was now finding a healthy release. Seeing my wife and son walk into the new shop to let me know the work day was over was just the icing on the cake.

Life won’t always be perfect and there will certainly be many more curve balls ahead, but right then in that particular moment, all was right with the world.

Somehow, as long as I can exercise my creativity in wood, everything in life tastes just a little bit sweeter!

Discussion

Chuck Timber November 30, 2012 10:27 am

I know the feeling. Most would feel interrupted by family. Having a woodworking hobby or business is good, but having balance in life and happiness is the great

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Tom Iovino November 30, 2012 10:31 am

You go, man! Just remember, there will be times when it ebbs and flows, but it’s great to see you back in the saddle again.

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Rob Davis November 30, 2012 10:33 am

Way to go Marc! I bet it’s nice to see all that planning and upheaval (both the shop and life in general) finally start paying off. Enjoy my friend and have a Happy Holiday!

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Ryan Mulford November 30, 2012 10:43 am

About a month ago I really got into woodworking and I have spent as much time in the garage as possible. Until yesterday I was not able to get out there for about 5 or 6 days and I could definitely feel some withdraw (I can see why it’s so hard for people to quit smoking or stop doing drugs, lol). I hope to see some more free content on the site!! I wish I could join the guild but I don’t have a job. The only reason i’m able to get started in woodworking now is because I’ve been getting early christmas gifts from my parents (I’m only 22, so it’s not that weird, I hope). Keep up the awesome work. It has been your influence that I have decided to get into woodworking and to hopefully do it for a living one day.

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Sean November 30, 2012 11:03 am

It was this time last year that I took up this hobby. And since then, I have been out in the garage non stop working on something. In the past year, i have made 2 sets of end tables (1 set I designed in google sketchup), a big blanket chest, a small cabinet and a spice rack. Every time I think I want to take a break, I find myself right back out there doing what I love. It’s hard to imagine what life was like before woodworking. I only wish I had picked this up earlier. It took until age 28, and me buying a house to have enough room to do something like this.

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Russ Whitney November 30, 2012 11:05 am

Glad to hear! Looking forward to seeing what that newfangled shop can produce!

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Vic Hubbard November 30, 2012 11:41 am

I just getting my stride back, too. The shop is nearly perfect and fun to be in again. I’m happy to see you back at it! Speaking of, it’s time I submit my shop for ya. I’ll get new photos this weekend.

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Sergio Croquer November 30, 2012 11:48 am

I love that last sentence, it describes the pasion we have for creating and building anything.

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Bill Akins November 30, 2012 12:10 pm

Good for you my friend. That title has reminded me of an old Kiss song “I’m back, back in the New York Groove”. It’s stuck in my head now.

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Dale Halvorson November 30, 2012 12:35 pm

I spent all of 2012 away from home on business or in the hospital or in recovery so last weekend was the first time in the shop all year. I did not do much but it felt good to just sit out there and do a little clean up. I fully understand what you are talking about. THere is something magical or theraputic about sawdust and tools.

Looking forward to a shop tour video and am extremly jealous of your space.

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Lon November 30, 2012 12:36 pm

In the words of Jimmy Buffett, “Life throws us curve balls we never can reach.” As long as you’re fouling some off and keep swinging, eventually you’ll nail one! If you live long enough, you’ll have years like that. Without a 2012 for comparison, you’ll never truly appreciate the really great years.

Here’s to making more sawdust in the years to come!!

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tom buhl November 30, 2012 12:59 pm

Happy Groovin’ to you and your lovely family.

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Mike P November 30, 2012 1:58 pm

I really like teaching; love it, actually. But I spend nearly my entire weekend in my shop. I probably should teach woodworking. That actually would make some sense.

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Stanley Denning November 30, 2012 3:44 pm

Your a lucky man, Marc. You have a beautiful wife and child, a nice home and a wood working shop to die for. Yes, it has been a rough road for you this year. But, look at what the trail has led you to. Man, your a luck guy !
OK. Now that your all set up to start working again. How about something Christmas ? I can’t think of too many things that are Christmas inspired. Decorations are the first thing that come to mind. but, what else can be made out of wood ? I thought about a pine Christmas Tree. ( Ho, wait a minute. They have those at the store.) Never mind. LOL

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Justin November 30, 2012 5:26 pm

I know just how you feel. It has been over 2 months since I have made 1 piece of wood into 2 or more. Between traveling, WIA, minor health issues, Thanksgiving and other crap, it has really taken its toll on me. Come hell or high water, I WILL make sawdust this WEEKEND!!!!!!!! :)

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Roger November 30, 2012 7:30 pm

What a blessing. You have realized what many do not until they are many years your senior, never realize until its too late or, not at all. Cherish every day best you can Marc.

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Pete Harbin December 1, 2012 10:45 am

Nicole and Mateo are what it’s all about brother, and they’ll make the shop that much sweeter.

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Dan Drabek December 2, 2012 7:37 pm

My woodworking is my meditation. I dissolves my stress, gives me direction, and makes me feel like I’m making a small but positive contribution to the world in the form of what I leave behind. If I can’t create, I suffer a great loss, and the world suffers a small one. I understand exactly how you feel.

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Danny H. December 4, 2012 8:30 am

There is something about the act of creating that livens the soul !

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Christopher Stahl December 5, 2012 9:34 am

I enjoy when my wife drops in while I’m working down in the shop. I’m not sure if it’s the company or the fact that she enjoys coming down to see what I’m working on.

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Joshua Ross December 6, 2012 4:00 pm

I love your videos they help me a lot from tuning my tools to different or basic ways of doing things. I am 28 and i just rent my property but i have a garage :) about 4 years ago i started this hobby with just a scroll saw and some scrap i found in my father inlaws garage.. i just had a new baby girl this year so i dont get out in the garage as much as i like so i watch your videos and read magazines to help relieve the desire to build something… i appreciate all your effort you put into this so people like me have something useful to watch…. thankls again

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BRUCE STALTER December 6, 2012 4:30 pm

Spend lots of time with your son,even when you are busy with more urgent things to do. They leave the nest all too soon and you are alone in that great workshop left with precious memories but yearning for days gone by.

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Clayton Baldwin December 7, 2012 9:35 am

I bet you can’t wait till Mateo cuts his first board on the table saw. Family tends to put everything back into perspective. Glad the groove is back. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to the hobby/profession. Now go cut some boards.

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Todd December 7, 2012 10:27 am

Marc,

Very timely article. I’m glad you are getting your “groove back”.

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Seth Hoover December 8, 2012 1:43 pm

Glad to hear that you’re “back”!
Very excited to see what new stuff comes from the new shop on both the free site and in the guild!

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Mark Williams December 9, 2012 8:05 pm

I can identify with you as most of my 2012 was frustrating for me as well. I just have returned to the shop and started making some Christmas presents for two of my girls. Last November (2011) I suffered a massive heart attack and the first 6 months after that was spent on recovering and getting my strength back. About the last few months I feel like things are returning to normal. My wife suggested that I finish up some projects I started and give them to my girls as gifts this year. I am so glad she did as it feels absolutely great to get back into my shop and generate some creative dust. I am still very much a novice but it sure is enjoyable to make things with your hands. Marc, how do I go about sharing my work on you site once I have it finished?
Mark Williams

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- thewoodwhisperer December 10, 2012 8:28 am
  
  So sorry to hear about your heart attack Mark. But i’m glad to hear your well on the road to recovery.
  
  As for project submissions, if you look at that Viewer Projects section you’ll see a Submit Project link. But here’s the link for your convenience: http://www.thewoodwhisperer.co.....r-project/
  
  Reply
Jack Baker December 17, 2012 5:31 pm

Dear Marc and Family,
I’m glad you’ve gotten your groove back! In fact, your groove is what inspired me to start woodworking almost two years ago. Our youngest is just over a year old, so we empathize with you and your family–the first year is fraught with sleep deprivation and scatterbrained-ness!

Your videos have been a great help to me, and every time I turn our Apple TV on, our children say “Daddy’s watching The Wood Whisperer Mom!” What is more, your website and podcast have allowed me to make a table, shelves, and tent for my children, a table for my family, and a dollhouse for my daughter. The techniques you demonstrate, as well as the humor with which you do so, have helped me gain confidence and a modicum of expertise. I, too, see woodworking as a family endeavor that will hopefully be a part of many of our memories to come.

Thanks Marc and Family,
Jack

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Michael December 27, 2012 10:02 pm

Marc,
A little late I suppose for this post but your post was one that touched me. Not in a creepy way ;-). I have 8 children and in November of this year we were finally able to buy our first home. I have dabbled a bit in woodworking over the years and my Step Dad is a master of fine woodworking. I’ll have to post a few of his things on your site some day soon. I happen to live in the Phoenix area as well and am in the process of putting my own shop together. I am limited to the 3 car garage however. I understand from your videos (Which have been fantastically helpful) that you do some teaching as well? Perhaps I could get in on a class sometime. I would love to join the guild, but money is just too tight for that and trying to maintain a woodworking hobby. By God’s grace my wife is able to stay home with the children but that of course makes the budget a bit more narrow. I am getting ready to start a project that may be of interest to you; I will be building a combination Miter saw; Table saw; and router table bench on casters so I can move it out of the way for the wifes dreaded minivan :-) This will also allow me to maximize the use of my limited workspace. Any input would be greatly appreciated and I may have a question or two about the build if you are so inclined to answer. God bless you and your family and thank you for the videos.
Sincerely,
Michael

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Texas Ted January 1, 2013 10:00 pm

We all get overly involved, from time to time, in our work, sports, whatever, but your post hits the nail on the head, i.e., it is our family that really counts day in and day out every day.

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How Marc Got His Groove Back!

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