By Alicia Jacobs, Excelsior Life Staff --
The purpose of Excelsior Life’s Passionate Pursuits is to help shine a light on faculty and staff successfully balancing work, home and family – just like our students.
Learning can occur anywhere. Hands-on learning can be passed down from one generation to the next. Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing at Excelsior College, Craig Maslowsky feels education is important in your career and personal life. Growing up, he spent time with his father using tools in his workshop. Years later, Maslowsky learned the do-it-yourself skills he inherited from his dad had the ability to turn into a furniture building hobby with creative and meditative benefits.
Excelsior Life: Are building skills a family trait?
Maslowsky: My grandfather loved to build and had all sorts of woodworking tools from the 40’s, some of which I still have in my workshop today. My father was always working on projects around the house as well. I think seeing the satisfaction that goes along with building something for the family to enjoy was carried through the generations.
Excelsior Life: I understand you have built a variety of wood furniture items. How did you get started in building?
Maslowsky: It all started with building a vegetable planter for my wife (pictured above). I loved the fact that I could make it exactly the way I envisioned it (well almost). I added wheels, a special compartment for gardening tools, and stained it. As I tried new projects after that, I always included a new feature or technique to keep each piece unique and interesting. I especially enjoyed the satisfaction of giving the furniture to the person I made it for. I always use my own designs and think about the person I am making it for as I build it. It has really become a creative outlet and meditative process for me.
Excelsior Life: What is the most unique item you have built?
Maslowsky: An Ash coffee table. The plan evolved as I built it and I ended up using two stains to create a contrast that I think worked well.
Excelsior Life: Do you have a favorite piece of furniture you built?
Maslowsky: Besides the Ash coffee table, last year I built an Adirondack rocking chair for the son of one of my closest friends. He was born prematurely and it was a difficult time for the family. I was able to express my love and support for him and the family through building of the chair. I personalized it by carving his initials into the wood. A project like that one takes dozens of hours and gives you time to process the situation and the emotions surrounding it. It gives a special meaning to the end product that cannot be duplicated.
Excelsior Life: If someone was looking to pursue this hobby, what would you recommend to get started?
Maslowsky: Get a table saw and a drill. As far as wood, I started with pine because it is a soft wood and less expensive than hard woods. If you mess up, you can always start over and it won’t break the bank. Start with easy designs and keep your expectations realistic. There are a ton of resources on YouTube if you want to learn the basics or build upon your skills.
Most important for me is accepting that the plans change as they go. The outcome isn’t always what you expected it to be, but that is what makes each piece unique. Just have fun and watch those fingers!
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