Jerill Vance

Cabell County

Wood

A.A.S. Fine Woodworking (New River Community and Technical College); licensed to teach woodworking by WV SOS; OSHA certified on woodworking machinery; LOTO and fork truck license; certified to operate a kiln by NCSU via WERC

Website

I design and build custom furniture from native wood. I have the logs milled to my specs then air dry followed by kiln drying in my own commercial kiln. This allows me to control the process “from forest to furniture” to get the results I desire. I use unique wood, design and build one at a time with the client in mind.

I love wood – the grain patterns, the colors, and the textures. When I walk in a forest I see tables, boxes, chairs, and all kinds of furniture. I am drawn to trees that are in their final stage of life or are already on the ground. By harvesting what the forest gives I am able to convert debris from the forest to furniture. Not only do I love to design and build furniture, I enjoy teaching other the craft. I mentor others and demonstrate woodworking when possible to keep this craft alive. My motto is “From forest to furniture, leave the smallest impact on nature as possible.”

More at www.appalachianheritagewoodshop.com and www.jerillvancewoodworks.com

Biography

In 1990, I joined the Valley Woodworkers of West Virginia, and, in 1993, I was awarded Best of Show at the Mason County Craft Show. From the years 2005 – 2012, I joined the Society of American Period Furniture Makers as well as Mountaineer Woodturners and began teaching woodworking for Promising Futures Program in Vanceburg, Kentucky. I have received grants from both the Tamarack Foundation and West Virginia Division of Culture and History for period-specific woodworking hand tools and a kiln, respectively.I began demonstrating woodworking with hand tools at Heritage Farm Museum and Village on a continual schedule in May of 2014.