THE STORY
I found my calling in life rather late. In 2011 I was a stay at home dad who was umpiring High School sports and supporting my wife's wedding flower business from home. I was her "go to" guy any time she needed something made, whether it was a White Birch arch or a simple wood pillar or table stand. I had a knack for building things. Then one of her brides made a request for an acrylic Chuppah. I started looking for a place I could get one but had no luck, so I did what I had done with all the other projects she'd thrown at me: I figured it out. I found a local supplier, watched several videos on how to adhere it together, and built an acrylic Chuppah in my garage. The couple loved it, and it was the talk of the wedding. We took pictures, put it on her website, and I decided to make my own web page advertising my creation. Within a month I got a request from a company in Aruba for a structure, so I made another one. Then an event planner in Atlanta wanted one, and it soon became apparent that working in my garage was not going to cut it.
I rented a storage shed and started adding a few other designs: a modular table and some pillars. Then a couple other local florists found me and started challenging me with other designs, and one after another I quickly mastered my art. The reality of what I had hit me when I put my products on ETSY and began getting requests from all over the country not only for wedding designs, but for furniture as well. I soon learned that there were very few people anywhere doing affordable custom acrylic work. I turned in the umpire gear, signed a lease on a shop and decided I'd take the leap of faith and try to make a business out of my new found skills.
Someone asked for a waterfall console table, I had to do an internet search to even know what one was, but I once again sought out free online education and learned the process of bending acrylic. Two years later I have sold over 250 waterfall tables and just about every one has been unique. The more I put myself out there, the more I learned I could do, and working the craft day in and day out, I got very good at it. Today, I have over 40 different designs to my credit and am getting more requests for new pieces and ideas on a regular basis. Looking forward to where things go...and now the fine print:
Due to the handcrafted nature of my pieces, each one is unique and no two are ever exactly alike. Each piece will be made to order in your exact size specifications. You are ordering a piece of furniture “art” and as such, some minor imperfections in the folds, seams, drawers, glue seals, and/or connections are to be expected. While I strive to make each piece as perfectly as possible, I cannot control certain aspects of how acrylic responds to my handcrafted processes. Every piece will be fully functional for its intended use and made to the size desired.
Company Standards – Who I Am.
I Pride myself in creating beautiful, handcrafted, custom acrylic creations the way you want them at a price you can afford. From the simple to the spectacular, I’ll create the perfect look for your decorative eye. While I do pride myself on doing high quality, custom acrylic work, I am not perfect and have yet to make the perfect piece. I am a single man working with hand tools in a shop. I’m more the Amish man in the barn than the foreign man in the factory.
Acrylic is a very difficult product to get perfect as every little flaw can stand out. On thicker material glue seams will show minor air pockets and veins along the edges, but nothing is sloppy. I hand sand and polish all of my work to get the best possible finish to this beautiful product. Drawers may not align perfectly every time. With every piece a different size it's nearly impossible to create that perfect line on a matched set of drawers, but they will all work well and slide smoothly...every time.
While my goal is to have happy customers, you must understand that my pieces are designed to be practical, affordable, and beautiful as a whole in the size you want. Unlike companies that use expensive UV lighting systems and produce the same piece over and over again, my products are handmade, and my customers come to me for handcrafted works of art. Slight imperfections, such as spots, misalignment, and air pockets or veins in glue seals, are a natural occurrence when handcrafting with acrylic. I strive to create the best work possible, but cannot create a “perfect” piece like machines do, and variations are part of purchasing a handmade product.
DESIGNERS NOTE : While I will happily work with designers, it is imperative that you and your client understand the handmade nature of my pieces, as noted above. Your client will be receiving a one-of-a-kind, handmade work of art. Additionally, please understand that at this time I am unable to offer any trade or industry discounts to designers.
