Thirty-five years ago, a friend taught me to play the five-string banjo. We both enjoyed woodworking and decided to make our own banjos. My first banjo was made entirely of wood. Life and work intervened until I retired. Finally, I had the time to return to the woodworking I enjoy most. Since retirement, I’ve made seven banjos and one mandolin. That created a new problem—where to put them.

I began making banjo stands—not just any stands, but caricatures of people and animals designed to hold my banjos. That solved the issue of display. Now I have a different problem: I no longer have room for my banjos and stands. So, I’ve decided to sell some of my creations to make space and continue the woodworking I love.