How’d I get here?

Hello! I'm Jeanne and it's a blessing to want to be known, so thank you for visiting Bench Cat Woodworking. 

Oddly, this started long ago. You might recall coupon catalogs from the 70s. I wanted this kid-sized tool kit with hammer, screw driver and a few other things I can’t recall. Could I get my Mom to collect enough stamps to get it? Answer: nope. But, here I am.

So, throw in three brothers and the mind of my DIY Dad and let's say I was influenced. But it was my condo purchase a few years back that wet my appetite to go beyond the DIY projects I'd been doing. I wanted to save some bucks during a complete gut of my new home so I decided to do my own baseboards and swap out the three inch for five inch boards. So onward my Mom, daughter, and I went, borrowing my contractors large miter saw and air compressor nail gun (after a quick lesson) and I was hooked!

Years later and I have a fully functioning workshop in my garage and I'm project building like a weekend warrior. A few lathe and safety classes later and practice makes woodworking perfect. 

As a full-time marketing executive, a creative outlet was in order. Can't really think about anything else when you're staring down a saw blade!  I've always enjoyed working with my hands and wood is so beautiful! The wood smell, textures, and unique swirls in the grain and that's it!  Now, I’m a woodworking enthusiast and spend as much time as I can in the shop.

So, why Bench Cat? Because the traditional bench dog that allows clamping to a woodworking bench seem so... well, masculine. I've had cats my whole life and of course, they're feline and feminine. So why not? A cat lady who loves wood. 

Psssst: I love dogs too!