NB365: Mike Parker Woodturning In Weldon
This is part of a year-long ‘Love for Local’ series called NB365: portraits of New Brunswick entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations. Huddle is a media partner with Love for Local. Today, we hear from Mike Parker of Mike Parker Woodturning in Weldon.
Woodturning is a dying art and there are few craftspeople out there who still practice. Over the last few years, I have become known for my work, both artistic and in heritage building restoration pieces.
My custom and restorative designs can be seen all through the province in the hands of those who truly appreciate and value my work. There is certainly a shortage of woodturners in the area and I have resorted to offering classes as a way to reignite the love for the craft, and discovering some new talent along the way!
It is a great feeling when I get to help out a client with a project and create the exact piece they have been looking for rather than an off-the-shelf solution. Classes are another source of motivation for me, watching people receive my decades of knowledge with gusto. Watching someone use their own hands to create something beautiful and even practical like a bowl or a pen is truly wonderful.
Owning a business becomes your life in many ways. You are constantly networking and growing, even if it is unintentional. I do have a slow season in my work and I take advantage of it for personal projects and other activities.
The support from New Brunswickers not only supports my livelihood but also keeps the craft alive. In New Brunswick, we see more and more a trend of buying local, and I love to see it.
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