Home Page
Mark's Workshop
812-825-7629
"Specializing in fine wood boxes"
Hello and welcome to my web site. All of my boxes are made by hand and just a few at a time. I love woodworking and creating something that will be cherished for many years. What makes my boxes even more special is that I'm legally blind.
I only use fine hardwoods and do all the art work myself. Please visit my web site again to see what's new. Custom boxes are welcome, just ask, and I will do my best to make it.
Because of my vision impairment and the way I like to work, my boxes are made in limited quantities. Sometimes if I'm doing a new design and it is time consuming I may only have 3 or 4 boxes to sell. Or I might have an exceptional piece of wood and can only get a box or two from it. The boxes with the pyrography, also known as wood burning, are unique. No two boxes are exactly alike.
Legally blind means my vision is not like most people. I can see, but have limitations. I use magnifiers, bright lights, and wait for a clear area in my field of vision. Think of looking through an aquarium with dirty water in it and a large dark mass that floats back and forth. That is what my vision is like in my better eye. Nothing in my totally blind left eye, but some light and shadows.
I always liked making things and being creative. I was about 12 when I discovered how much I loved wood. The possibilities are endless. Its a wonderful medium and a treasured natural resource that should be protected. I normally don't use too many exotic woods. They come from the rain forests of the world and to harvest the trees the forests are being destroyed along with all the creatures of the rain forest. Besides, just look at what can be done with stain, dyes, wood burning and local hardwoods that are still abundant and renewable. I ask that other wood workers to consider the consequences of depleting the world of the wild places. Lets leave them for future generations and for the health of the planet.
One thing I always wanted to do was have a place where people could come and see my wood working. Not just boxes, but furniture, wood model cars (I used to make them) or anything that interested me. A gift shop or retail store that people could always find something unusual and different. A place like an old time country store where the wonderful smell of cherry or red oak fills the room. And a place where the customer gets to meet the artist or craftsman. And know that the product is made with care and attention to detail. That is hard to find in our modern, computerized, mass produced world.
I hope my web site can be a substitute for the real thing. Thank you for visiting and do come again. Mark D. Hale
page 2
RR 3 Box 586
Solsberry. IN 47459
marksworkshop@yahoo.com