Handmade with Care

My name is Leighton Kaspy. I’m the wood artist behind LK Wood Design and I’d like to introduce myself so you can get a glimpse of the story behind my art.

My journey into woodworking is a little different than most and I’d like to share it with you. Being raised in a family of non-DIYers, my parents and siblings were very not handy when it came to fixing things around the house, let alone building anything. I was pretty sure that I would travel in that direction too, but sometimes life has different ideas. When I found myself needing items for one of my first homes, I decided to get some cheap tools and try to make them. Before I knew it, I’d finished small wood cabinets, paper towel holders and quilt racks.

Surprising myself the most, I found I really enjoyed spending time working with my hands and building a variety of things. It didn’t take long before other people wanted some of the items that I made. Just like that I had a small side business. Making extra money in my free time and enjoying it was a win-win; a necessity turned into a hobby, a small business and eventually a passion.

A few years later, while browsing the aisles of a large woodworking store, I saw my first lathe. It was love at first sight. I was so captivated, I took the plunge on the spot, buying it with a basic set of wood-turning tools. I couldn’t wait to get it home and make something cool. Not as easy as it sounds though. It was very different from what I was used to. Before I ended up hurting myself and landing in the ER, I put the lathe aside and kept making my little wood items.

One day I stumbled across a video online that showed some basic steps that got me going in the right direction. Some classroom instruction led to private sessions with a few of the masters and there was no turning back. Fast forward 14 years and a series of bigger and bigger lathes, I’m now retired and do what I love full time.

I love starting with a log, being anything from native species to a variety of exotic hardwoods and see what nature has in store when her inner beauty is expressed. Sometimes I have an idea of what I want to make; other times I just see where the wood takes me. Every piece I turn comes with a bit of my creative soul. It would be my honor if one of my creations graced your home or business.