SONG OF THE BLACKSMITH
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Encouraged by a local children's book author to express my passion for blacksmithing, I set about crafting a story that captured the beauty of working with red-hot steel in a way I thought young children would enjoy.
Along with the help of a local artist to illustrate, my book “Song of the Blacksmith” has now been published. I was surprised to find that there has not been another book on blacksmiths ever written for the young reader, so my hope is that "Song of the Blacksmith” will become a staple in every library. 
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BLACKSMITHING
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I started blacksmithing 15 years ago while volunteering at Black Creek Pioneer Village in Toronto. I enjoyed it so much I built a forge of my own behind my home. Since that time I have crafted many items from steel, taken several commissions, given lessons and numerous demonstrations at Fairs, Festivals and Museums. To find out more, visit my blacksmithing page.
WOODWORKING
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Woodworking has been a hobby of mine since I was very young, carrying a pocketknife with me so that I can carve whenever I had a spare minute. That passion for whittling evolved into working on Naval Crests, family shields and Welsh Love Spoons. While serving overseas in the Canadian Navy I started carving little heads in my cabin.
I gave many of these heads away to people who used them as zipper pulls which led me to make a display of a wooden zipper for the head. The response to the display was mostly for the zipper so I was encouraged to expand my work in that direction.
Throughout my carving career I have never used paint , relying on the natural colour of the wood to accent the piece.
Only recently have I blended my blacksmithing with my wood carving in making metal fittings for a wooden zipper.
I gave many of these heads away to people who used them as zipper pulls which led me to make a display of a wooden zipper for the head. The response to the display was mostly for the zipper so I was encouraged to expand my work in that direction.
Throughout my carving career I have never used paint , relying on the natural colour of the wood to accent the piece.
Only recently have I blended my blacksmithing with my wood carving in making metal fittings for a wooden zipper.