Meet the Maker/Our Story
JUDY BENSE, JBENSE WOODWORKS' MAKER
Working with wood comes natural to me. I grew up on a small dairy farm in Panama City, as the oldest child. I tagged behind my dad, Herbert "Bud" Bense, Jr., from the time I could walk on my own. There always is something to do on a family farm, so I learned how to do lots of chores, one of which was "helping" him repair and build things in the barns and house. I have always had a curiosity about how things are made and how they work. At first, I learned to build simple outdoor furniture like benches, picnic tables, side tables, and chairs. I always looked at the lumber needed for a project and how interesting it was to turn it into something useful. From there, I learned to build buildings such as barns, stables, and sheds. Building things gives me great satisfaction when I look at a completed project, knowing I built it with my own two hands.
Archaeology involves setting long-term goals, arduous and tedious work, patience, and stamina. As I progressed in my academic career as a professor, administrator, and senior executive, I kept building things that were useful that required concentration, and gave me a sense of accomplishment. After I stepped down after nine years as President of the University of West Florida in 2017, Ito archaeology to pull together my long-term research on the Early Spanish Period in West Florida. As I settled down to do the research and writing for the synthesis, I finally had the time to improve my woodworking skills. I took several woodworking classes from professionals that first focused on the basics, such as making square, plumb, and flat. I then applied those fundamentals and learned to make furniture and home accessories. .
About 2018, I met a fellow woodworker at a wellness center I attended who made beautiful cutting boards, charcuterie boards, and other household accessories and personal items. We began working together a bit and put our products on display in the wellness center lobby, and people began to buy them. I was pleasantly surprised that others wanted to have the things I made and enjoyed sharing them. I learned how to make many other things like Lazy Susans, serving trays, and trivets, and learned how hardwoods can be combined for beautiful effects . I began to get private commissions to build specific, one-of-a-kind items.
Recently, I completed my academic research and publishing, and have the time to expand my woodworking. I increased my shop, expanded the kind and number of products, and learned to make more complex items such as keepsake boxes. This web store is a product of the expansion. I really enjoy knowing that others will enjoy and appreciate the things I make. A local popular gift store also carries my products now.
I am continuing to expand my skills and make new items or improve on existing things. For example, the new technique called "weaving." This involves placing thin strips of contrasting wood within items such as cutting boards, charcuterie boards, and even coasters. Another new idea is making "collections" of items that match exactly from the same wood, such as a cutting board, Lazy Susan, and cheese slicer. This is a very pleasant part of my journey through life, and I look forward to sharing useful and beautiful handcrafted items.
