I can totally do that.

Leatherworking

Prior to my wedding, I spent a lot of time looking for the perfect gift for my groomsmen. After hours of searching, I kept coming across leather goods. Because I had 17 groomsmen, I didn’t want to spend too much money. 
This got me thinking, why couldn’t I learn leather working and build personalized card wallets for each of them. Over the span of two months, I was knee-deep learning about leather, tools, processes, and all the best practices. I’ve made over 30 wallets now and several field notebook covers for our vendors. I use full grain leather and make everything by end, down to the last stitch. These are some of the leather goods I’ve made.

In 2022, I launched my leather business called DAK Leather!

Woodworking

I’ve always loved working with my hands. I would always help my dad build things when I was a child (there is even a video of my at age 5 hammering a nail!). My wife wanted a new coffee table that was an epoxy river table. I took on the challenge to build it for her! Check out the table I built.

Home renovations

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we bought a house. The bathrooms needed some work so I took on the challenge to learn how to tile, change hardware, and more. Over the span of 6 months, my wife and I renovated four bathrooms. We still have a few projects on our to-do list! Here are some before and afters of the bathrooms.

3D printing

My friend designed, built, and kickstarted his own 3D printer! And I was one of his first testers. This got me into 3D printing. I have used the printer to print things from a pencil holder to sanding blocks for my leatherworking.  

DIYing everything

My wife and I are both big DIYers. We like to do things ourselves first than if we fail, spend the money to buy. For our wedding, we DIY’d a lot of the decorations. I built stands for signage, learned how to solder and create a LED neon sign using flexible LED and acrylic backboard, designed the invitations, wood hashtag signage for photobooth, and much more! Pictures coming soon. 

Nova Labs

I wanted to give a huge shoutout to a maker space I am a member of. Nova Labs is located in Virginia and has given me the opportunity to learn all the things above thanks to the people and tools available. I have learned how to use a laser engraver, CNC machine, leatherworking tools, and so much more!

He is the perfect swiss army knife designer – he can transition easily from 3D printing, to wireframing, to service blueprinting, and back again.

Gabriella Jacobsen

Design Strategy Lead at Ford Motor Company