Harpers Handcrafted was born from a lifelong love of making—of working with your hands, solving problems creatively, and building something meaningful from raw materials and good ideas.

I come from a family of makers. I learned my way around the kitchen and a craft table from my mom, power tools and problem-solving from my dad, and creative curiosity from watching my brother build graphics, websites, and computers from scratch. Somewhere along the way, I found my people in the arts—and there was no turning back. Why buy something when you can make it? Why stop at one table when you can build it and justify buying new tools?

My love of craft runs alongside decades in corporate and agency marketing, where I learned how brands grow, how stories connect, and how thoughtful strategy creates consistency and longevity. That experience shapes everything I build today—but the work itself is deeply tactile. Wood, fabric, finishes, tools, and time. Designing, repairing, restoring, and creating pieces meant to be used, loved, and lived with.

My DIY journey truly took off in a tiny high-rise condo in downtown Chicago, not long after Pinterest launched. Armed with little more than a drill, determination, and a willingness to figure things out, I turned my living room into a workshop and my balcony into a build site—hauling lumber on public transit and carefully timing projects around HOA noise rules. That reclaimed pallet bench changed everything. It proved what I’ve believed ever since: you don’t need perfect conditions to make something—you just need the commitment to start.

Over the years, I’ve heard it all: I could never do that. Power tools are scary. You make it look so easy. And my answers are always the same—Power tools aren’t scary, they’re POWERFUL, and yes, you absolutely can. Craft isn’t about talent or fearlessness. It’s about curiosity, patience, and taking it one step at a time.

At Harpers Handcrafted, my goal is to create beautiful, functional pieces and to help others feel confident enough to try. Whether I’m restoring furniture, upholstering a favorite piece, or teaching someone how to build something themselves, every project is rooted in care, craftsmanship, and the belief that making things matters.

Let’s make something meaningful.