Master of none?
In my experience, a man who is good at one thing is usually good at many.
1 Like
Greetings!
Pay no attention to the scars, life has been good to me
Across 60 years I have followed wherever inspiration or stupidity leads.
Jewelry - gold/silver casting, rolling/pulling
Lapidary - mineral wet cutting, grinding
Ferrous metal - plasma cutting, welding, grinding
Mechanics - aircraft A/P, automotive
Woodworking - soon to expand to laser manipulation!
Tinkermiester!
U.S Navy Veteran, Grandfather!
Intoespective. I am comfortable with solitude, and often talk to myself (frequently I need an expert opinion) 
Strong mechanical aptitude, Scuba diver, rabid science reader with a creative streak that has rewarded me (and my Wifeās jewelry armwoire) with many artistic expressions - not to mention a shop/studio loaded with all of those fine tools I absolutely had to have for whatever it was I was trying to do!
A GlowForge! - here we go againā¦ 
8 Likes
Done! Itās amazing how many of these are going to be out there. Looks like we are building a pretty solid DFW presence!
Professionally, I am a photographer for a fashion school and manage a DAM (Digital Asset Management) system in Los Angeles, Ca. Iāve been a professional artist and problem solver all my life, including being among the earliest to build websites for the film and TV industries, building tracking databases in LAMP, founded a company that used fractal math to convert digital images to analog, thus allowing low resolution images from first generation digital cameras to be used professionally, was the CTo of a small photo agency who hired stringers around the world, selling into magazines such as Marie Claire, Elle, etc.
Personally, I continue with photography, personal projects from fine art nudes to documenting people who have interesting jobs. I like to experiment with and learn about emerging tech, which hopefuly include working with the new Glowforge.
Professionally ā I spent the previous 27 years in various grade-level classrooms in Palm Beach County Florida as a teacher of everything digital, including video and film production, photography, 3D design and fabrication, and just plain making stuff. Iāve taught Kindergarten through 8th grade. In my final few years, as a teacher of Middle School students I knew I wanted them to build things, so we took an empty room and a bunch of old pallets (Probably 30 or so) and built a TV studio complete with a desk, wall unit with shelves, and a control desk. Kids with drills and saws makes me happy. Recently, I left that job to open my own Maker Space, along with another builder/tinkerer - Kris Swanson. I now spend 10 to 14 hours a day at Young Makers Lab - preparing activities, teaching small groups of kids, building and tinkering around in the space. I chose this path because it is what inspires me! I love seeing kids create amazing things, stretching their limits, discovering new outlets for creativity. In the 18 months of YMLās existence we have have grown from a two man operation and 1500 SQ FT, to a staff of 15 part time, 1 full time (me) and 3700 SQ FT. Three 3D printers, drill press, CNC machine, tons of handtools and lots of technology connections.
Personally ā I am a father of three wonderful children; two grown daughters - Alyssa, 27 and Breanna, 23 - and one son - Cameron, 15. You may have noticed that their names begin with ABC in that order. One year ago, Breanna gave birth to my first granddaughter and named herā¦Dylan. She told me a few weeks ago that she is pregnant again and is planning to name the baby girl, Ellie. The alphabet name game rolls on! The mother of my children is a lifelong teacher and learner - a crafter, tinkerer, maker. She is very handy with a scroll saw, any hand tools, and loves having kids access their creativity through making. Because of our three kids growing up in this environment, they are all three creative, fun, and unafraid to try on new things. Alyssa is a big time tinkerer, Breanna and Cameron are more focused on technology than their sister. And I have a dog named Riley who is jealous of anyone who shows me affection. Sheās quite the love!
1 Like
Hi all of you interesting people!
Professionally:
I am the artist minority (so far). I have a BFA and an MFA and I am actually using them!
I make immersive paintings inspired by natural phenomena and biological sculptures that look like glass in my art studio in Philadelphia. I have exhibited my work in museums and galleries and plan to use my Glowforge to help make my work more immersive and 3D! Immersive installations here I come!
I plan on going crazy laser cutting my 300lbs roll of yupo paper!
I am also getting into product design and was part of an awesome health hackathon where I formed a team around an idea I have had for a while. We are in the beginning stages, but the GF is really going to help me with my prototypes.
Here is an example of my immersive paintings.
And here is a chandelier in progress.
@dan I would be happy to trade a cool chandelier or painting to live at GF headquarters for my Glowforge! Hmmm?
Also, I think you guys should do artist residencies!!! How cool would that be!?
Personally: I am a wife to a wonderful husband who believes in me enough to buy the GF for me even though we have so much student debt. I love him dearly! We also have a 7 month old boy that is so cute everybody thinks he is a girl. I let them off the hook by responding, ādonāt worry, he is a pretty boyā. I bring him to my studio with me and canāt wait until he is big enough to make giant beautiful messes! Seriously! My personal life is pretty much my professional life because I am always planning projects and ideas. I just applied for a fellowship to help me take my career to the next level and my GF is going to be a huge part of it!!!
I am always posting in progess images and videos on my Instagram
and here is a link to my blog.
My website is being redone, but will be amazing when it is finished!
Thank you so much for inventing this!!!
Happy holidays to everybody and I love reading about our amazing community!
15 Likes
Professionally I am the Director of Operations at a startup company after having worked at Boeing in the defense side of the business. I was an Industrial Engineering manager overseeing the manufacturing/operations business systems and process integration.
Personally, I live in Normandy Park, WA and I am helping to mentor the Raisbeck Aviation High School Vex Robotics team. I also am working on an astromech with my son in our home shop. Of course itās an R2-D2 unit, just havenāt finalized which version yet. I also enjoy woodworking of all sorts, photography, and vegetable gardening. Might have to hit you up about your bee experience as I have always been interested, just havenāt taken the leap yet.
Drew
1 Like
I would totally apply.
5 Likes
Count me in too
Professionally I am an instructional designer. I am also a stone carver. I graduated college with a degree in studio art. My husband is a machinist and was a music major in college. I am currently dabbling in wearable technology.
2 Likes
Your work is amazing. As a non artist GF has really expanded my horizons.
Professionally I own The Tiny Human, which offers custom-made accessories and embroidery services. I make a wide variety of accessories, mostly for women and children. I also work with small businesses embroidering their logos onto apparel and promotional items.
I am also at home with my own two tiny humans. Info spend the majority of my day at home with them. They do inspire many of the work and designs I create.
You are too modest. Saving everyone else the search for your wonderful goodies:
https://squareup.com/market/the-tiny-human
2 Likes
I love designāgot started with Web Design but found myself drawn to graphic design & typography. I spend my time teaching at a community college, freelancing, & helping part-time with creative arts & communication for my local church. I married my best friend and we have two young kids.
Used to be if I wasnāt designing or hanging out with family I was reading or playing video games. However, recently I find myself looking for stuff I want to do with a Glowforge when it get here!
1 Like
I have a degree in biology and Industrial Design from UW. Iām a mad scientist at heart and I own a startup design company. Right now we are designing a new super suit for Phoenix Jones. For extra working capital, I drive for UBER on their beta services as a design consultant. Request uberEATS or uberHOP and you might see me!
My personal and professional life are hard to separate, because my brain is always in āinventor mode.ā My husband is also a designer, so he understands my obsessive need to critique and ideate. Iām a mom to three kids, two with high functioning aspergerās. Which means the curiosity and questions never end in our house. No really, Iāve caught my 7 year old daughter asking technical questions in her sleepā¦
We also have an autism service dog, named Carbon, who is a big ham and keeps things from getting too serious/stressful. We take him to Magnuson offleash park to ārun his face offā when the kids are at school and we need some down-time from work.
1 Like
Professionally: Consultant in episerver/asp.net web development. Basicly a c#-programmer.
Personally: Husband and father of two (well, second to come in feb). Iām into computers and anything RC, but mainly 1/12 WW2 air combat. I dabble with electronics and Iāve built a CNC mill.
One of the few Swedish buyers 
Professionally: Iām the owner/designer of Luv Of Mine Designs. I started creating designs on maps and it has really come a long way. I also am a fitness instructor on the side. I teach Cardio Kickboxing
Personally: Mommy of 2 girls and a pilot wife. I love sewing for my girls when I am not busy with my shop.
Professionally I have been a lab technician since about 2001 in various industries including electronics, racing, aerospace, and now an R&D lab for a metallic seals company that sort of combines all of it. The lab I currently work in began as a resource room for our engineers and eventually became large enough that they decided someone needed to run it. So I have had the interesting opportunity to not only develop product but also develop the lab itself. I find it very enjoyable that often Iām presented with a test request where someone needs certain data but we donāt have a method to obtain that data. I may have to experiment with a test method just to find out if it can or canāt provide the data we are after before moving on to the actual testing. Currently Iām going back to school and donāt plan on stopping until I have at least a masters degree. Iāve gotten way farther than an associates degree should have gotten me and am pretty much against a wall without something better.
What I do for enjoyment typically involves building things in some form or another, they could be plastic models, mechanical art pieces made out of wood, robotics (autonomous sumo competition, remote control combat), repairing or modifying my 1973 Honda CB500, those sorts of things. Recently Iāve started attending science fiction conventions after discovering being around a few 10 thousand people with similar interests is a lot of fun. I also enjoy the outdoors, hiking, and roller skating (used to play roller derby!)
Of coarse Iām totally stoked about the Glowforge and have spent the last few days thinking about if I should apply for beta testing since finding the quarks of a new device being developed can be just as fun as using the refined piece.
1 Like
Professionally, Iām a Biochemist and an Army Reservist with a (currently) hobby fiber business.
Personally, Iām a fiance, with two dogs. I love crafts of all types and canāt wait for all the things I think Iāll do with the GF. If weāre lucky, itāll come in time to make our wedding invitations next year.
2 Likes
Professionally: Watch repair tech. Fixing quartz watches.
Personally: Wanna Be Artist. I do metalsmithing, Jewelry design, 3d modeling for 3d printing, stone carving and āhandyā crafts of all sorts. I"m really looking forward to all of the possibles of having a laser cutter in my own home will do both for my art and for starting my own business making awesome and beautiful things!
I also just got engaged to my wonderful boyfriend and Iām SUPER THRILLED that we can legally get married now. 
Excitement all around!
3 Likes