Woodbutcher:
"a woodworker who aims too high and teeters always on the brink of failure."
-as defined in Fine Woodworking ®
In the quest for equilibrium and clarity, a Woodbutcher's Guide offers techy trailblazers an extraordinary escape via the art of woodworking. Here, with just a handful of trusty tools and ageless wisdom, you design your own way to enlightenment—or at least a nice cabinet you're proud to pass on once it outlasts everything else. This creative odyssey doesn't merely de-clutter your mental attic but reshapes how you tackle everything else. Think of us as your manual for mastering more than just wood; we're your authentic companion in a digital cosmos. When things are the craziest they've ever been in your life we're here to remind you, don't panic, the journey can sometimes be more restorative than the most exquisite destination.
I'm Jeremy Welch, and I help driven tech professionals seeking balance & focus. We use woodworking to create high quality furniture in a small shop with limited tools.
As a passionate, educated, instructor and creative problem-solver, I bring a unique blend of experience from game design & development into woodworking. My journey has allowed me to develop insights in resilience, iteration and the creative process.
I have spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours on classes of frustrating little value. Then I have had other classes that over-delivered. I was lucky enough to be one of the students taught by a man who transcended the awards he helped us all win; he would introduce himself as The Woodbutcher Extraordinaire with an unmatched, infectious boldness. I owe it to his spirit to share what he gave to me.
Whether digital or real, games or furniture, I love planning, building and fixing things. But of all the amazing work I've been able to do, the most rewarding part of any project is finding the simplicity on the far side of complexity and lifting up those around me.
After achieving my own dreams multiple times over, I dedicate myself to teaching and mentoring, helping others discover and cultivate their passions in both digital and physical craftsmanship.
Mission Statement:
At a Woodbutcher's Guide, we empower tech-obsessed professionals to find balance and focus through the art of woodworking. Our mission is to create super high-quality, custom furniture using minimal tools in small workshops. We are dedicated to never rushing safety, attention to detail, or the quality of our results. We believe in the importance of doing what you love, and exist to offer an alternative to the sometimes mentally chaotic grind of tech life by energizing creativity and mindfulness through hands-on craftsmanship. We stand firmly against elitist thinking, garbage materials, and disposable furniture, striving instead to inspire enduring pieces that tell a story and reflect the unique spirit of a creator finding their own way.
Join the Movement
Craft Your Dream Projects with Personalized Support & Proven Techniques
Embark on a transformative journey with "a Woodbutcher's Guide," where personalized guidance meets actionable insights to refine your craft. Each lesson builds on essential skills—from tool safety to reliable joinery—offering you a customizable path to woodworking success. With unwavering support and community collaboration, you'll craft inner peace, turning your ideas into tangible, beautiful projects while building yourself into the person who makes them.
What's It Like To Work With Me?
Here's some nice words others have shared in the past.
Luke Harrington
Creative Director, Art Director & Concept Designer
"Beyond his solid AAA level design skills, Jeremy's stand-out quality is that he is always enthusiastic and thoughtful in his contributions to design. He never phones it in and takes pride in his work.
On a long project, people like Jeremy infuse energy into the team and remind us all to stay present and to do our best at every turn. I enjoyed his conversational examinations of our game and would recommend him highly."
Ted Hung
Principal Software Engineer
"Jeremy is one of the rare designers who knows what to ask for and how you ask for it in order to push the product forward within the limitations and restrictions of engineering, art, and production. I found his systematic way of thinking about the design, along with his ability to take mundane mechanics and use them in innovative & interesting ways was pivotal towards defining our product both from a macro and a micro level of detail. Any design team would be lucky to have Jeremy's involvement, and I'm looking forward to being able to work with him again in the future."
Meghan McDowell
Product Lead & Program Management
"Jeremy is a passionate designer who takes his craft seriously. Jeremy worked on my team as a designer creating our regions. He followed through from high level conceptual sketches to turn his ideas into living shippable regions that enhanced the player experience immensely. He was very resourceful while using tools and pipelines that were developing as he used them. Jeremy is extremely dedicated. He worked tirelessly and thoughtfully to iterate on and solve unique design challenges, ultimately delivering great results."
FAQS
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"I'm afraid that power tools would hurt me."
You can use hand tools too but Woodworking involves inherent danger that may not be removed from the craft. Once you can respect that fact, however, I can teach you how to minimize that risk with organization, methodical planning and choreographed procedures.
"I'm worried the course won't offer anything I can't already find for free online."
You should find that stuff, we will share it. So much of it really is amazing that it was an inspiration to do this. Even as traditional shop classes lose funding, free resources are abundant. This craft is not new but there's more to a new hobby than information and the class I had access to was a rare breed. "a Woodbutcher's Guide" just delivers structured, step-by-step instruction and personalized guidance, cutting through the noise to provide my clear, focused, adaptable path to mastering woodworking. Plus, the supportive community and ongoing updates ensure you have influence and access to the latest insights and techniques.
"I don't have the time to complete a full course."
You pay for my experience to accelerate your results but that's not the only value here. This course is designed for flexibility, allowing you to learn at your own pace. Whether you have a few hours on the weekend or small chunks of time during the week, you can progress through the lessons as your schedule permits, and revisit them as needed. This ensures a balance with your lifestyle while still achieving your woodworking goals. It's about progress not perfection & my bet is you'll feel the results.
"I'm not sure if it's worth the investment."
How much would you spend on quality equipment? Your time has value and these lessons never break to work in a sponsor or ask you to "help an algorithm & smash that like button". Be it social media or your next exciting tool you probably don't need my advice on how to use it. Investing in "a Woodbutcher's Guide" provides adaptable, long-term value by accelerating your learning curve and avoiding common pitfalls and mistakes. It's all about equipping you with the skills and confidence to create high-quality projects independently, adding value to your hobby, your personal direction and likely your career as you begin returning to work more clear headed than ever before.
I don't know if I have the tools/space to start woodworking.
Do you have any tools? Do you have any space? Do you have experience running powered equipment? Because if you have any of that, this course is designed to meet you where you are and repeatedly help you evolve.
