Today we’d like to introduce you to Barry Smith.
Hi Barry, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up spending countless hours watching my paternal grandfather work in his wood shop when I was young. My favorite class in high school was woodshop, and I’ve always enjoyed working with wood. Poppa Bear’s Wood Shop started with just a passion for woodworking. I found my niche in working with reclaimed materials in my builds. I use reclaimed barn wood, fencing, pallets, and other sources. Working with old, reclaimed wood comes with its own challenges. Very rarely are they smooth, straight, or square, so the first challenge is disassembling the wood, removing all nails, screws, etc., and then milling the wood to a usable form. My favorite part is taking a piece of wood that would have normally been thrown out or burned, cleaning it up, and being amazed at the beauty of that particular piece. Because of using these reclaimed materials, each of my builds has its own unique characteristics and imperfections that give each build its own personality.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Making mistakes is all part of the process. The important part is learning from those mistakes and expanding your skills.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My use of reclaimed materials in my projects as much as possible. I specialize in country, farmhouse, and primitive pieces but never back down from a challenge. I like the process of taking a build from a design or sometimes just a picture from a customer and building their vision. I have made everything from plain old boxes up to furniture pieces.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My paternal grandfather is my biggest inspiration. My wife Stephanie is my biggest cheerleader, and I also have to credit Christin at Hometown Furniture and Decor for keeping me motivated and challenged all at the same time.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: facebook.com/poppabearswoodshop
Image Credits
Poppa Bears Wood Shop
Hometown Furniture and Decore
