I have been an ardent fan of all things guitar for most of my life. At first, I only wanted to jump on the bed and pretend to be Ace Frehley. (That's the spaceman from KISS, you guys.) When I heard Edward Van Halen and his band, I wanted to know how to make those sounds for myself. Check and check.

I settled in Minneapolis in 1995. For fifteen years, between band projects and love affairs, I worked the craft of hairstyling. I loved the process, but wanted fireworks in my lifework. After years of admiring the beauty of stringed instruments, I decided I wanted to be able to make those for myself too. When I enrolled in luthiery school, my hands were ready and I was seeing sparks.

It has been said that Energy moves all by itself. We have only to get out of the way. This getting out of the way process entailed, for me, graduating from the Southeast Technical Guitar Building and Repair program in Red Wing, Minnesota. Besides the regular diploma, I hold an additional certificate in Electric Guitar Building and I'm currently working towards an Archtop Building Certificate. Follow the story at www.timbuildsguitars.blogspot.com.

I volunteer with MPR's Play It Forward program and with Guitars 4 Vets to help share the joy of making music. You can too. Visit the Contact page for details.