MY JOURNEY:

My Woodworking Journey Began

AS a Simple Idea & Christmas Gift

for My Wife

Back in

2018

Patriotism is NOT Political, it’s Our Civic Duty!

Practice it Daily!

The Flags for my Wife, Looks Like our Dog (Opus) Approves!
RIP
So, I was looking for a nice present to give to my wife for Christmas a few years back and, since she’s very patriotic and has always admired these outdoor American flags hanging on our neighbors’ cabins, I figured I’d buy her one or possibly try and make her a flag that’s unique and something special. Only one problem, I was a middle-aged man with 20+ years experience in High-Finance who had never really made anything with his hands other than trouble (lol)! I didn’t know where to start. So, I set out and scoured YouTube and other places like Ebay & Etsy to buy one, it seemed more expedient however, What I found was a whole lot of guys breaking up pallet wood, spray-painting 13 strips of wood and stapling all this crap together and, having the temerity to charge an outrageous amount of money for something that should be stamped “Made in China!” It was cheaply made, fragile and looked like something you’d buy at a flea-market! 
I wasn’t going to buy or make (imitate the competition) a gift for my wife that was so cheaply assembled especially an American flag so, Living in Arizona at the time with it’s extreme variations in weather, I had to teach myself what I thought I would need, the tools I could use and the type of wood I thought looked best to make someting that looked distressed & “old” but solid as a rock and as durable as I could make it! After a few months of testing, reading & learning, I finally put it all together & my family was completely blown away with its quality in product and durability in design. They couldn’t believe I had made it by hand myself!

 

Just because it’s designed to look “distressed” doesn’t mean it’s gotta be a piece of junk & fragile & if I’m going to put my name on each flag

(Which I Do)

it’s going to be well built, sold at a fair price

& last for a long time!

 

After Christmas, and, Based on My Family’s Response,  They Encouraged me to Make a Few More Flags & Sell Them to Help Fund Another Start-Up 

Venture

 I’m Working On,

So I Did!

I Thought They Were Crazy!

But, If I can create something people liked in my spare time, something that I can put my name on and be proud of the craftsmanship and, offer a quality American Made product to my fellow Patriots that will help fund my Start-Up & create jobs……why the hell NOT?

So, I Made Another

And, it Sold Almost Immediately!

So, I made Another, AND IT SOLD!

And Then, Quite by Accident, I made One That Looked Like This

And This One Sold Before it Was Even Completed!

I Was Totally Blown Away!

I Thought, Hmmm, Maybe I’m Missing Something Here and, as if Someone Was Listening & Wanted to Prove His Point, Covid-19 Became the Newest Headline & OUR National Disaster!

With All This Time on My Hands, Maybe I Should Just Make Flags as a “Covid-Career!”

So, If I Can Create Something People Liked, Which I Can Put My Name on and be Proud of the Craftsmanship While Offering a Quality Product to Fellow Patriots and Help Fund my Start-Up, & Possibly Create Jobs at the Same Time……Why the Hell NOT?

Here’s the Original, Which is Currently 7 Years Old (as of 2025), Hanging on the Front of Our House, and Looks just Like it Did the Day I Finished it.

Stars & Stripes RWB

That’s When the Creative Juices Started to Flow & Things Really Started to Get Crazy!

Cliff Room – On the Mesa, Santa Barbara, CA.

Someone Asked How large I Could Make One…….LOL

Now, It’s Time to Get Really Creative!

I Love Old Glory with Her 50 Stars But, Let’s See What Kind Of Unions I Can Come Up With That I would Hang in My House!

I’ve Got a Lot to Say & This Could be a Great Way to Do Just That!

So, please have a look around and feel free to ask any questions on how to build one yourself using my method or, if you’re interested and have the right tools, I’ll send you step by step plans for $20.00 and you can make something you’re proud of as well!

How Much Wood Could a Woodchuck Chuck if a Woodchuck Could Chuck Wood?

Since Then, I’ve Branched out and Made a Few Shadow Boxes, Some Patio Furniture, a Coffee Table and a few Lazy Susan’s. I Love NEW Challenges

Have a look at my

“Portfolio” 

And Then,

Take a Look at My “Competition”

(in the menu)

& You Be the Judge!

Whose Product(s) 

Look Better and Worthy of Hanging in Your Home?

Let’s Build Something Together & Turn Your Ideas In to Art!

Call Me
@ 602-689-7977
or Write
John@HandCraftedbyJohn.com
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