Daily Inspiration: Meet Marc Kray & John Metcalf

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marc Kray & John Metcalf.. They and their team shared their story with us below:

John and Marc first met and became friends in 2012 during a young professionals business networking event where they discovered they are both musicians with similar interests in musical genres. Their friendship grew after a couple of basement jam sessions, with John on guitar and Marc on drums. Soon they started a 90s rock band, Cable Ten, with a few of their buddies and spent the next several years performing all around Northern Colorado.

They came to realize they had a lot more in common than a mutual interest in music. They both love good craft beer. They have similar tastes in movies and TV shows (they are equally and aggressively capable at Friends and The Office trivia). They are active artists in other areas besides music (John is a graphic designer and sculptor and Marc is a stained glass artist). They both enjoy camping, a good hockey game, a fine meal, and a lively discussion of the greatest songwriters of the 90s over a glass of whiskey.

John & Marc’s interests dovetailed again around the end of 2020 when both were looking to make some changes in their lives. They both knew of each other’s experience in woodworking but hadn’t before considered turning it into a business. The idea began as a whim but after a few “business” meetings over coffee and beers, it blossomed into a full-fledged effort to fill Marc’s existing workshop with tools.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This venture was a huge risk. At that time, we were both self-employed but looking for other job possibilities. We both had previous experience with woodworking and we’re building some projects on our own. We filled Marc’s existing workshop with John’s tools and with some clever rearranging and some insulation, we had a woodworking shop!

We knew we worked well together because of the band, but that was a side job. Over the past few years, we’ve had to learn how to use our current woodworking skills, hone new ones, and learn all the ends and outs of running a business partnership. We still have a lot to learn, but now that we’re 3 years into the business, and are making some great strides. We are thrilled to be creating interesting products!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We create bold, creative products ranging from small furniture, home and office decor pieces, and attractive artwork. Materials range from domestic and exotic woods to glass and poured epoxy resin. In addition to woodworking, each of us has always had other creative outlets. Marc is a drummer and stained glass artist. John is a guitarist, graphic artist, and sculptor.

We incorporate some of these other disciplines into our woodworking—using our music knowledge to create windchimes and wall art based off of music waveforms, inserting stained glass into wood sculptures, and using graphic design to create striking images.

With all our creative knowledge, we approach each project with a unique perspective, an eye for detail, paired with fine craftsmanship. We love having a variety of products, from clocks to games, kitchen tools to epoxy resin wall hangings, and high-end jewelry boxes to everyday cheese slicers. Additionally, we love working with customers on carefully crafted commission pieces. We can be found on Etsy, at art festivals, and perhaps at a local brewery sampling their craft.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting.
Probably our biggest piece of advice is practice, practice, practice. When we were setting up our shop, we had to build shelves and storage boxes, and other shop jigs.

We used these projects to hone our skills from hand-cut dovetails to bowtie inlays, mortise, and tenon joinery to bridle joints, and the list goes on. We also practice scrap wood between projects. We spend a good deal of time developing each product before putting it into production, making sure all the techniques create a well-crafted piece.

Pricing:

• We have products that fit a range of budgets.
• Cheese Slicers: $70-$90
• Flower Clocks: $145
• Epoxy Resin Artwork: $150-$325
• Small furniture: $350-$600

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mountaincraftsmen.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/mountaincraftsmen
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/mountaincraftsmen
• Other: www.etsy.com/shop/MtnCraftsmenCO 

Image Credits
Mountain Craftsmen