Originally from Maryland’s eastern shore, I grew up hunting, gardening and working on the farm. After studying painting and photography at Pennsylvania School of Art and Design in Lancaster, PA. I hit the road spending several years hopping freight trains, dumpster-diving and practicing primitive skills. During that time I began to make and repair my own clothes, backpack, and sleeping bag - it became an obsession. Eventually I worked up the nerve to tackle gloves … and then shoes.

With no money, no home, no car or phone, (internet didn’t exist yet..) and limited access to resources … I made my first pair of moccasins with a few simple hand tools, and a ‘bartered for’ brain tanned elk hide.

I spent the next few years traveling and trading for what I needed, making shoes, bags, clothing, armor, bow and arrows.. I even spent a year living, working and teaching at a boat building school just outside of Anacortes, WA.

Eventually ending up in Ashland, Oregon, I met and apprenticed with Bill Shannor; who filled my head and hands with lessons i’m still using today. I worked for the next several years developing and refining my craft taking orders for custom made historical footwear which became Laughingcrowe. With a growing family, I wanted to stay a bit closer to home so I started teaching at my home studio in Portland, Oregon.

For the past 13 years I’ve run group and private shoemaking classes with students making well over a thousand pairs! In the past few years i’ve also begun building shoe lasts as well as helping others with footwear development projects. I now offer …

Private Shoemaking Classes - Product Development - Custom Last Building.