Mother Nature offers many inspirational ideas, such as the shapes and forms from the appearance of stone and many types of plants. Artisans of many disciplines inspire the work that I desire to make. The ability to combine different materials with wood has become a very large part of drives me to step outside of the box. Setting higher expectations and  goals to achieve works of art that I would have never tried or thought possible. Learning, teaching and sharing knowledge offer a broad view of what others are doing or thinking about. Sometimes it’s being able to see what the wood is telling you through the grain and texture that you discover with each pass of the tool. Occasionally though, it’s just a design opportunity that presents itself unexpectedly.