Hello, I am Darcy Machnee An interview with Darcy
Where did you grow up? Saskatchewan, Canada
How did you get into woodworking? My Father is a cabinetmaker and his shop is on my parent's yard so I grew up playing in there and "helping" him. Fortunately I still have all my fingers!
What kind of education do you have? Besides learning from my Father, I went to trade school after high school. It was a four year apprenticeship program consisting of classroom and on site learning. In the end I earned my Journeyperson's ticket in carpentry, that's the Canadian way of saying general contractor's license.
How did you end up in Santa Cruz California? I fell in love. I met my wife while traveling in California in 2004, we got married in 2006. After living in my home town, Saskatoon for a year, we moved to her's in the Santa Cruz mountains and have been here ever since. She is my number one helper in the shop, we love working together.
What's the best thing you ever built? My favorite piece of woodworking would be a redwood kitchen I built from reclaimed old growth. It was one of those jobs that you think to yourself, "I'm not sure if I will ever get another chance to work with wood like this again". The boards I was reclaiming were from trees that stood for 1000 to 2000 years before they were logged in the late 1800's. Thankfully, today trees of that age are protected for the benefit of the environment and so that future generations can experience the beauty and size of these majestic giants.
What are your goals for Machnee Custom Woodworking? It's not just about money, although my first priority is to provide for my family. I love carpentry, I love how creative and artistic yet practical it can be. I get a lot of satisfaction out of helping people make their homes more functional, more beautiful, more personalized. I also go through great lengths to ensure the lasting quality of all the work I do. My goal is to provide for my family in a way that brings others happiness through beauty and function.
What ideals do you run your business by? Built to last, minimal waste, the use of sustainably and responsibly harvested or reclaimed wood. I strive to create pieces that are timeless and don't become dated after 10 to 15 yrs.
How did you get into woodworking? My Father is a cabinetmaker and his shop is on my parent's yard so I grew up playing in there and "helping" him. Fortunately I still have all my fingers!
What kind of education do you have? Besides learning from my Father, I went to trade school after high school. It was a four year apprenticeship program consisting of classroom and on site learning. In the end I earned my Journeyperson's ticket in carpentry, that's the Canadian way of saying general contractor's license.
How did you end up in Santa Cruz California? I fell in love. I met my wife while traveling in California in 2004, we got married in 2006. After living in my home town, Saskatoon for a year, we moved to her's in the Santa Cruz mountains and have been here ever since. She is my number one helper in the shop, we love working together.
What's the best thing you ever built? My favorite piece of woodworking would be a redwood kitchen I built from reclaimed old growth. It was one of those jobs that you think to yourself, "I'm not sure if I will ever get another chance to work with wood like this again". The boards I was reclaiming were from trees that stood for 1000 to 2000 years before they were logged in the late 1800's. Thankfully, today trees of that age are protected for the benefit of the environment and so that future generations can experience the beauty and size of these majestic giants.
What are your goals for Machnee Custom Woodworking? It's not just about money, although my first priority is to provide for my family. I love carpentry, I love how creative and artistic yet practical it can be. I get a lot of satisfaction out of helping people make their homes more functional, more beautiful, more personalized. I also go through great lengths to ensure the lasting quality of all the work I do. My goal is to provide for my family in a way that brings others happiness through beauty and function.
What ideals do you run your business by? Built to last, minimal waste, the use of sustainably and responsibly harvested or reclaimed wood. I strive to create pieces that are timeless and don't become dated after 10 to 15 yrs.