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Pro Portfolio: Hank Holzer and Judith Ames: Labor of Love

comments (3) July 29th, 2009 in blogs, videos

Jon Binzen, consulting editor

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Produced by: Jonathan Binzen

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Anyone who has tried to make a living as a woodworker knows it helps to have a spouse with a real job. For Judith Ames and Hank Holzer, who are husband and wife and also shopmates, that has never been an option. Since they met 25 years ago, both have been full-time furnituremakers.

It has helped that they live in Seattle and have long been members of the Northwest Fine Woodworking Gallery, a co-op founded in 1981 that has helped make Seattle one of the premier places in the country for custom made furniture.

Holzer and Ames have worked in group shops throughout their careers. Several years ago, after their long-time shop was damaged in a fire, they designed and built a new shop, which they now share with half a dozen or so other woodworkers.

The new shop is featured in this audio slide show along with outstanding examples of furniture by both Holzer and Ames. Holzer describes his zig-zagging, cantilevered Akira chair and related pieces, which feature an unusual application of the spline miter joint. And Ames discusses some of her furniture decorated with marquetry and inlay.

To contact them or see more of their work, go to their website: www.holzerames.com

posted in: blogs, videos, pro portfolio, profile, furniture maker

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