Is it worth it?

In a way, woodworking is an insane hobby. Instead of passing free time at leisure activities, woodworkers end up spending weekends and even vacations working in our shops. Most of us never have quite enough tools, and can't afford as many as we'd like. The wood itself is expensive, it takes a lot of looking to find good pieces, and it can be really cantankerous to work with.

On a recent weekend I wandered around my shop a bit, spent a little time hanging a newly arrived saw, and smelled the scent of wood in the air. Then I went in the house, sat down in my work nook (to work on this page, actually), and looked around at the wood glowing in the beautiful early afternoon winter sun. Over the course of several years and in between house remodeling projects, I built all the furniture in my nook with my own hands from maple, oak, poplar, pine, just a bit of walnut and mahogany, and some old barn wood.

The nook fits me perfectly. At least for me, it is worth it.

The painting you can see on the monitor was done by my beloved, Garima, and is featured on the cover of her book, Kitchen Botany. Her painting helps nudge me toward a more cheerful place whenever I start and finish a session on the computer.

I made a special maple frame for the actual painting with fully rounded edges and corners to give it a softness that matches the feel of the painting, which brings its good cheer into our lives daily.

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