Paul Riley, owner of Dorfred Woodworks, creates live edge and regular Charcuterie/cheese boards, wooden baby rattles, coasters, and wine caddies in Norwood, Ontario. "My Dad used to do some woodworking when we were growing up, and when he retired from dairy farming, he built his workshop in their basement. After he passed away, Mom gave me his tools to add to my workshop. So, when I started doing craft shows I used our family farm name Dorfred as my business name to thank him."
When asked which item he has the most fun creating, Paul says, "Mostly the charcuterie boards. I spend time looking at a piece of wood, figuring out how to showcase the grain.And I do enjoy turning the baby rattles, taking a rectangular piece of wood and making to into something for a child to enjoy."
"My workshop is in my basement, which required installing a dust collection system and air cleaner to cut down on the time spent dusting upstairs." While creating, Paul usually has the radio on. "Most days it's classic hard rock."
"I really enjoy looking at a piece of wood and trying to picture the best way to showcase the natural grain, and create something useful. The hardest part is waiting for the glue to dry."
"My favourite piece is a live-edge charcuterie board I made out of a piece of a olive wood. The grain on it is awesome." When asked for a memorable response to his work, Paul says, "One of my best friends gave me some boards from their family farm and asked me to make a cutting board for his Dad. My friend called me after, and said his Dad was a little overwhelmed when he found out where the wood had come from."
"Unfortunately, doing woodworking as a hobby doesn't pay the bills, so I do have a day job and I am involved with my church. I'm a firm believer in buying local. All the wood I use comes from one of two local lumberyards/ sawmills,one in Peterborough, and the other less than an hour away. Each one has different species of wood, so what I'm working on making determines where I go.I can't expect my neighbours to buy from me when I don't buy from them.And all my cutting boards and baby rattles are made with food safe glue and finishes.
You can meet Paul and buy his gorgeous creations at The Artisan Fair on Dec 9, 2018 in the Evinrude Centre (Peterborough, ON), 10am-2pm!
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