At age 5, I watched in awe as an enormous pile of lumber and other materials became our new custom home. My love of tools and carpentry grew while working in my fathers' hardware store on weekends. Building "things", forts, go-carts or anything requiring wood kept me happy as a kid. In my teens, the mid 60's had Danish furniture at the forefront of " stylish furniture", and I began making chairs and furniture in that tradition from teak.

After a year of college toward a criminology degree I went on a 2 1/2 year world sojourn. The camera was my main tool, cataloguing the architecture and furniture styles of many cultures. I took odd jobs in some countries (usually carpentry related) where at one point I experienced a powerfully exciting, yet calming epiphany that building was going to be my life. "From foundation to the roof and everything inside,...Shelter and Service" became my M.O.

I began my carpentry apprenticeship in 1972. The experience and learning in the subsequent decade of home construction was invaluable. It included a 2 year sabbatical of custom log home building and teaching (with B. Allan Mackie and Art Long). Next was the high end custom home market where finishing became my forte. Requests to make custom furniture became the norm.

Respecting my limitations at this level of fine quality craftsmanship I enrolled in the 3 year furniture and design programme (under Don L. McKinley and Michael Fortune)) at Sheridan College in Toronto. The film industry was my next stop, prooving to be an excellent learning ground in speed, accuracy and " thinking on your feet". It also provided enough money and time to make "show piece" furniture where I won design awards and profile write-ups.

I moved back to my native Vancouver in 1988 to establish my own custom furniture business, TLC Design, (Time Lasting Craftsmanship). Its' success prompted me to expand and in 2001 I collaborated with Ann Sexsmith & Michael Petersen to form Jabez Fine Furniture. In 2003, my 31st year as a professional, my pursuit of understanding, challenge & excellence has taught me that Mastery does take a lifetime. My craft & purpose remain as intriguing and as much fun now as when I first realized "This is my Life".

Contact Joe at: Joe@jabezfurniture.com