JP Spindle Works

I grew up with a love of fixing and creating things. My dad is a carpenter and my mom often had a crochet project in her lap. I drew inspiration and learned lessons from both of them that have provided a solid foundation for my work ethic and creative visions.

Around 2003, I got a mini lathe and fell in love with wood turning. Shortly after, I stumbled into the world of spinning by way of knitting, and made my first drop spindle because I didn't know where to find one. It was rough, and rudimentary, just like my first attempts at spinning yarn, but I kept at it and eventually created my own handspun yarn that I was able to knit projects with.

Many years passed without meeting anyone else who spun yarn or did woodturning for that matter. I had fallen away from spinning, and turning, for several years, and then in 2022, I met the wonderful and amazing Shannon. I had gone to the local yarn store to look for fiber because I wanted to get back into spinning, and there she was, in the back corner of the store, looking at the fiber. We struck up a conversation, then a friendship, and now our lives are plied together in life and in business.

Shannon makes hand sewn project, and spindle, bags, as well as wheel spun yarn that she sells at local fiber events. She is singlehandedly responsible for the fact that I am now making, and selling, spindles as a full-time job. Shannon invited, and encouraged, me to make more spindles and offer them at events where she was vending. Little by little, things grew; better tools were acquired, woods with more WOW factor were collected, skills were honed and polished, in person events expanded into online sales, and JP Spindleworks was born. While my whorl designs are sometimes random and nontraditional, I have developed a unique style that instantly lets you know you are looking at a JP Spindleworks spindle.

It takes a village, as they say, and none of this has occurred without help. I have been blessed with a supportive girlfriend, family, and other people in the industry who have become friends.

Shannon has been my rock and greatest cheerleader. Most days, I can't believe my luck and that she decided to share her life with me.

My family, and especially my parents, have been both supportive and encouraging. They have believed in me, even when I didn't, and gently pushed me to follow my dream.

Mike King (of The Spanish Peacock) has been more than generous with tips and advice, and we have become co-conspirators of a sort bouncing ideas off of each other on a regular basis. I endorse and appreciate his belief that if we all work together then everyone wins; the makers get better at what we do, and the fiber community benefits from the availability of better quality tools. His wife, TJ, has given me her invaluable time and knowledge to help me navigate the labyrinth of web design; I still have little clue as to what I'm doing, but she has been a great help with getting this current website up and running.

Last, but not least, there is the fiber community...which means you, if you are reading this then I'm speaking of you! Without you none of this would be possible. Whether you're taking a peek at my website, or social media pages, stopping by to visit at local events, or purchasing my products, your attention and support is recognized and greatly appreciated. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you and will strive to do my best to make spindles (and other fiber related products) that I am proud of and will make you glad you bought them.