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Women in Woodworking
Meet Megan Brantley

by Andrea Ramsay
Seattle, WA

Click on any picture to see a larger version.

This month Megan Brantley shares her story and reminds us how the creative process of working with your hands can be transformative.

Megan has always been a visual artist, she received a degree in art education and then focused primarily on painting and photography. Megan was lucky to grow up with a neighbor who exposed her to woodworking. He was a carpenter and she more or less lived in his workshop as a child.

When I asked Megan how she came to woodworking and why it played such an important role in her life she shared this story: "After marrying my husband Shannon, he became immensely interested in the world of woodworking so it was all around me. About two years ago I suffered from a miscarriage, which is a word that scares many people but it is really where my story began. To leave it out would deny why I fell so hard for the art of woodworking. To get away for the weekend and get our mind off of things we traveled to Atlanta. I knew I wanted to create to keep my mind off of things, yet painting was too emotional. I decided to give spoon carving a try. We made a trip to Highland Woodworking and I purchased a hook knife and simple carving knife . I was immediately hooked. My first spoon attempt was not a complete disaster but let's just say it was a starting point. I became obsessed with carving back the layers of wood and taking a simple shape and transforming it into what felt like a functional sculpture. My brain became delighted with the quietness of the woodshop. I fell in love. That first spoon literally saved my life."

Her love for woodworking continues to grow. She is drawn to learning about different species of wood and all the related characteristics. "Nature's palette is so wondrous and I enjoy experimenting with which woods carve and finish the best." She loves taking an ordinary slice of wood and transforming it into her own creation. She says "When I am adding finish to a piece, and I get to send the finished product it is immensely satisfying." Megan is also inspired by the woodworking community, "It is so welcoming and on fire. It has been such a pleasure to meet others with the same passions you have and they are also a wealth of knowledge."

I asked Megan her thoughts on being a female in a male dominated field: "I wear being a woman in the woodworking field as a badge of honor. It really is odd to me that more women are not in the woodshop. In my community, I would say I am one of the few, if any, women in woodworking. Thankfully, I have been able to meet some amazing women in the woodworking world through social media and continue to be inspired by them." Megan shared that she feels many women and men are actually intimidated when they hear the word "woodworking" and automatically think of table saws and giant dangerous power tools.​"I think educating more women about the broad variety of means that can be created in the woodshop and diminishing the fear is a big goal of mine." She shared that when she and her husband go to shows and customers are browsing their creations, which are made by both of them, many times she get asked, "So did your husband make all of this?" "It is nice to say, no, I made much of it with own two hands." The truth is she knows more about woodworking than most of her male friends, which she says "...is quite awesome."

Megan is currently working on a supply of inventory for the next few months of shows she and her husband will be attending. She is enjoying a bit of downtime to create new things, taking ideas that she has had on paper for sometime and now bringing them to life. She and her husband are collaborating on some furniture designs over the next few months. Together, Megan and her husband Shannon are Flannel and Floral .

Megan's advice to beginning woodworkers is straightforward, "Don't be afraid. The best way to learn is to start, and if you make mistakes (which you will and if you're like me you'll make a ton) you will learn what not to do." She also recommends making friends with fellow woodworkers as they are a wealth of knowledge. She cautions "Don't compare yourself to others" and encourages us each to "...constantly learn, research, and grow." As far as a good beginner project Megan recommends starting with a spoon as it only requires a few tools and you can start with a small amount of wood. She has a demo on her blog and descibes some of the tools she prefers, check it out: http://flannelnfloral.blogspot.com/ . She also recommends a simple carved tray, "just grab a small slab of wood and use a hook knife or gouge to carve a few layers off the top. These are great for storing keys, or any small objects around the shop or house."

Finally, Megan offers this creative inspiration "Find something you're passionate about. Your life will definitely be enriched in ways you'd never imagine by building something with your hands."

Follow Megan on Instagram @flannelandfloral .

If you are a female woodworker and are interested in sharing your story please contact me . Thanks! ­ Andrea



Andrea Ramsay is a dedicated student of hand tool woodworking since attending Port Townsend School of Woodworking and completing their three month intensive program. She left the technology world in 2014 and is happy every day that she traded in her laptop for a chisel. She does commissioned work out of her shop in Seattle's Equinox Studios.

Andrea can be reached directly via email at andrearamsay@gmail.com and you can check out her website at www.andrearamsay.com and follow her on Instagram at @andrearrr .



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