DREAMS DO COME TRUE

After 17 years this woodworker is making up for lost time.

SHOP OWNER: Sam Rowles

LOCATION: Dayton, OH

I'm an entry-level woodworker (two years hardcore). At 35 years of age, I finally got my own workshop I've wanted since I was 18. I lived in an apartment after I was married in 1993 and until two years ago, I could only dream about one day owning my own shop.

After buying a house with a 1- car garage, which I set up as my woodworking shop, my dream became a reality. For about a year, I built shop fixtures, bookshelves, picture frames, etc. As things progressed, I started making the nice stuff.

Since I visit this site often, I decided I wanted to show off the first nice piece of furniture that I made here. It is an oak dry sink with dovetailed drawers and cope-and-stick raised panel doors. It took me 120 hours to build. I will cherish it forever as will my only child when she has a family of her own some day.