So, like I said, My interest in woodworking began around 2012, when I was a junior in High School. Though I distinctly remember cutting some pieces of wood with some sort of hand saw in Pre-K, maybe the seed was planted then. However! In the junior year of high school I had a mentor, my U.S. History Teacher. He told one of my best friends and I we should give up our biggest time sink for Lent(which was video games, I was a high schooler, give me a break). I had to find something to fill my time! I thought I should choose a productive hobby. I thought woodworking seems cool. I bought some terrible X-acto carving chisels from an art supply, grabbed some 2x4 bits from the yard, and started making shavings. To be honest I did not really make anything. I could picture objects in the block, but lacked the skills(and sharpening skills) to find those things in there. It didn’t take long to realize I needed some power tools. Dad’s terrifying old chop saw, a small $20 garage sale Craftsman Bandsaw, and an old drill got me going.

Skip a bit brother.

I learned what I could with those, found out what I wanted to do next, took steps to learn and get that one more tool that would help me accomplish one further project. Rinse, repeat. In 2015, I took my first proper woodworking courses at Orange Coast Community College. My then girlfriend, now wife, Hallie came up with the name Melde Made when I wanted to start selling some little craft faire things. I started building more serious projects for clients off and on while working towards my History Bachelor’s Degree and my Social Science Teaching Credential. 2020 rolls around, yadda, yadda, yadda, a story for a different time. In the middle of 2021 I left teaching behind for now and began wood working full time. This is where Melde Made stands today. Just me, trying to grow this business and put some beauty into the world, hopefully for generations to come.