Do you need to find your lane?

I have recently been excited to start some new bench seats, which will match some other furniture I have made in the same space. It will be in the Hamptons style, with some mortise and tenon joinery. I was grateful to find a local timber merchant near me who can supply the right timber I need for the tops. Once I have cleared the little backlog I have, it will be nice to get my teeth into something like this again. But it really made me think, what is the best thing to do for  when you are establishing yourself as a woodworker? Do you need to develop a style, that is unique to you? Should you develop a niche you want to focus on? How do I balance this between my full-time job and my amazing family?

I will be honest I love creating pieces and furniture pieces is an area I just enjoy. But I make more cutting boards than anything else. Cutting boards and serving boards are paying for my woodworking journey. Cutting boards also are an amazing gift I can give to people as a thank you that is personal from me. Cutting boards are the reason I can buy timber to make pieces like the picnic benches I donated to a local school recently. So is this my lane?

Recently Mark Dainer from @dainermade (if you haven’t checked out his work he is on Youtube and Instgram, well worth having a look!) put out a challenge to makers to make things they had on hand. I am one who like to use reclaimed timber/ lumber where I can (yes, I do slow down when I see cast out furniture on the side of the road to see if there is any useful materials I could use!) This has helped with me making a few benches out of old cedar planks and an old pallet. Reclaimed. Is this my lane?

Honestly, having a style, having a staple, having a business sense, at this stage where I am, I do not know if I am there yet. Other than my desire to see what I can do. Whether this is a cutting board, a sign made out of reclaimed materials, or a buffet hutch made to fit a space. I don’t know where my lane is yet. And that is okay with me.

If you have anything you would like me to talk about, please e-mail me on jamie@sawdustandshavingscreations.com It always good to get feedback!