The tops of all pages look the same so be sure to manually scroll down each time you go to a new page. And check back periodically, as new pieces are being added all the time!
Welcome to Frowning Fish Woodworking!
My Story, in Brief:
I am Gary Meffe of Brandon, Vermont and I am the founder, owner, and chief (and only) wood turner of Frowning Fish Woodworking. I was a Research Professor in ecology and conservation biology who became a serious woodworker in retirement. After doing traditional woodworking for several years I wanted to try my hand at wood turning. I was warned by several turners that this is a very addictive activity, and if I dared try it, I should be prepared to be sucked into the vortex. I did not heed their warnings and sure enough I was sucked in, beyond all my expectations. Turning wood on a lathe is a fascinating and endlessly creative activity that simply draws you in. Now, if I don’t spend part of each day at a lathe, it seems like something is missing in my life.
My approach to wood turning is simple. I love wood and I wish to honor it in my work. I try to use local wood as much as possible, and of course it must be sustainably harvested. I waste nothing and I try to feature the most interesting and compelling aspects of each piece of wood. The wood usually directs me in my work and tells me what to do; I cannot force what nature does not provide, so I let the wood speak for itself and take me where it will.
I started selling my items locally less than a year after I began turning, and folks seemed to like what I produced. Now I have expanded to this website and hope you will take a few minutes to look over what I have. If you like something, you may buy it. As I produce new items–which is pretty much all the time–I will put them on the top of each appropriate page, so come back often and see what is fresh off the lathe. However, I don’t always keep up-to-date on the website, so if you don’t see something you want, ask; I may have it or may be able to make it for you.
My philosophy in selling my products is straight forward. I love to turn wood, so of course I have to do something with the items once made; there are only so many bowls and rolling pins you can have around the house! Because I am not trying to support myself with my work I am able to price things quite reasonably; that way, I get something back for my time and investment while you get a nice item without paying art gallery prices.
Now what about the name of my business, Frowning Fish Woodworking? How did I come up with that one? Well, in addition to a long Vermont tradition of funky and earthy names for businesses (e.g., Woodchuck Cider, Long Trail Ale, WhistlePig Rye Whiskey) there is a story here. Several years ago I built five pieces of furniture–beautiful red oak and black walnut–for our living room, and a couple of them needed handles. In addition to having spent much of my career as a freshwater fish ecologist, I am also an avid fly fisherman, and when not turning wood I am often out somewhere on a gorgeous Green Mountain stream, casting flies to brook trout. So I just had to fashion trout handles out of walnut for that furniture. When a friend saw them she said they looked like frowning fish (you can decide from the photo above). I loved it and just had to run with that idea, so to honor my passion for freshwater life, I am indeed “Frowning Fish Woodworking.”
Hard at play in the lathe room!
Frowning Fish Woodworking 