About Us
Link to my eBay feedback ratings:
Woodworking and jewelry making have been hobbies and a small business for me for many years. Judaica is a wonderful way to combine the two and create beautiful works of art. 
On this site you will see examples of Judaica and other handcrafted wooden gifts. As I make pieces, I will display them here to show and sell.
Like many things in my life, this business started out in a fun and humorous way. Here's our very tall rabbi handling a tiny silver yad on Simchat Torah, trying to show the crowd surrounding him various passages from the Torah scroll. I joked that he could use a bigger yad, then the next year presented him a large yad made of Mesquite (a proper Texas hardwood) about 20 inches long. Today, several years later, it hangs proudly on a Torah in the synagogue and is used often. To me, that is one definition of fun.
I am a woodworker and artist living in Clear Lake , TX. I also dabble in jewelry, trains, dollhouses, bicycling,
theater, and all manner of other pursuits. I have a teenage daughter, and my wife enjoys a rewarding position as a
lawyer here in Houston.
I have explored many areas of woodworking. In my small garage workshop
I have created theater sets, bookshelves, furniture, pocket watches, kaleidoscopes, and many
other wooden objects. Of late, I am concentrating on turning. Turning is the only woodworking skill that
is more "Art" than "science", except for hand-work such as carving. On the lathe you are free to make
whatever shape you desire within the boundaries of the wood you are using. In many ways, the wood
shows you what to make. It is fascinating to "open up" a piece of wood to discover the beauty within,
then follow the contours of the natural grain and colors to define the final turning. To me this is much
more satisfying than cutting square corners.
Of course, to enable lathework, you must first master many other aspects of woodworking. Turning
is probably the most intense form of woodworking there is, again, other than handwork. You have
to source the wood, defining the parameters you desire: material, color, grain, size, etc. This can
be quite a treasure hunt sometimes. You need to make a preliminary design. Sizing the blank often
includes work on the bandsaw and tablesaw, and lots of measurement and layout. Preparing the
blank usually means drilling some holes and squaring some ends. Keeping the tools sharp is an
absolute must. Even holding the work can be a challenge.
After you complete the work, there is another entire field of work to master, finishing.
It often is quite a challenge.
Lately, my efforts and interests are in combining some other skills with turning. You can see
the efforts here as they unfold - inlay, composites, alternate materials, multi-form turning,
and post lathe carving (spirals).