Earlywood: How to Get Mildly Famous in Woodworking

Publisher’s note: Good morning, and welcome to Earlywood, a free excerpt from one of the thousands of pieces I’ve written since 1996. Sometimes, it’s from a magazine article. Or a book. Or (in this case) a blog post published in 2018. Each entry has been updated or annotated with some modern context or point of view. Enjoy!

A couple of years ago, while on my way to Europe, I was summoned on the intercom to the airline’s desk at the gate. The attendant asked me to switch seats so a husband and wife could sit together. I agreed (of course).

Then the attendant said: “I know you. You’re on Ray Underwood’s TV show – ‘The Woodsmith’s Shop.’ I love your work.” I thanked him. And for two seconds, I thought he was going to upgrade me to first class for the coming nine-hour flight. But no joy.

And that moment is the most famous I have ever been.

At that point, I think I had been on six or seven episodes of Roy Underhill’s “The Woodwright’s Shop,” and working with Roy was one of the highlights of my…