In the shop with Mike Daniels

You can’t be afraid of catching a few sparks when you’re filming with Seattle veteran welder Mike Daniels in his shop on Jackson street. His killer welding work will be featured in a process video for Beacon Hill Wood, a live-edge table company.

The video will follow the journey of a dining room table from the forests in Oso where the fallen tree was sourced to the family’s home where it takes on a new life.

The office mascot takes shape

Meet Coby the Bear. Coby is the office mascot I designed for staff newsletters, events, and general good cheer. After appearing in a variety of 2 dimensional forms (below), it was time for Coby to a papercraft form (above).

I modified a few existing bear papercraft templates and added some of Coby’s signature features.
Meet Coby (1)

A hidden gem in the Oso forests

Tucked along the path in a forest in Oso, Washington, this old saw mill is a haven for grafitti artists to get their craft on.

Summer night shoot with Tape Stacks

Seattle summers are full of magic. Sunny days stretch into long sunsets around campfires, good food, music and conversations you don’t want to end.

So for Tape Stack’s new EP release, we brainstormed a photo for the band that wrapped them in that magic.

We planned to do a series of more casual shots of the band (below). But at the end of the night, I winged a couple painting-with-light shots by running around the band with a LED light panel (above). And those ended up being our favorite takes.

See, magic.

Busting out the tools for a live edge table

I don’t always custom build solid wood tables from fallen walnut trees in the Northwest. But when I do, I make live edge tables. There’s a fine craft to the endless hours of hand sanding, chipping, sanding, more sanding and staining. For my first table, I learned alongside master table maker Thao Tran in Seattle.

Mapping the layout for the spring issue

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We’re working on a mental health theme this issue, with stories on caregiving for clients with PTSD, depression resources for caregivers and how to find support.

Spotted on San Juan Island

If you time it just right, you might be lucky to spot one of the San Juan Isalnd’s precocious foxes. This one was stalking rabbit nests near Fourth of July beach.

The island’s hostel (second image) invites you in like family and the views (the third image shot through a telescope) make it hard to ever leave.

This is how DIY galas are made

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The oversized photobooth props may have eaten my tiny apartment, but the crafting glory is totally worth it. A hand-painted boat and buoy centerpieces are ready for the 2014 Globie Awards.