Meet Man Podger David.

I’m SO SO excited to be introducing two gentleman who will be doing projects around here every Tuesday – the Man Podgers.  I have been wanting to get more “male-inspired” projects on this blog, just for a little variety.  There are so many great Man Podgers out there and I have found two of the best!  The second Man Podger I’d like to introduce is David Cheney.

Here’s what David has to say about himself:

Hi!  I’m David and I think of myself as a reluctant crafter.

I grew up the youngest of four and the only boy. My mother is an amazingly creative woman – there is nothing she can’t do. My dad is a self-taught carpenter and my sisters all followed suit From the time I can remember all of them have produced oceans of astounding and beautiful homemade items.

As I child I spent what seemed like endless hours being dragged to needlework stores or the dreaded “Cute Little Shop” (of which there seemed to be millions) and I eventually began breaking out in hives if the phrase “we’re going to stop by the fabric store” was uttered.

In the course of this I, naturally, absorbed all this knowledge. I knew about glue guns and chenille pipe-cleaners, and decoupage and the wonders of felt. But I pretended I didn’t (knowledge of pinking shears is so not cool in a teenage boy) and suppressed all my crafty instincts.

Until recently.

I realized a few years ago that my 9-5 office work was leaving me completely drained and totally bored. One day I was in the garage fixing up some furniture for my fixer-upper home and realized that I was humming, smiling and truly, for the first time in a long time enjoying myself. I determined to make a big change and began to embrace my inner crafter.

I started out fixing up and painting furniture and then slowly expanded into more “from scratch” handmade goods. With the encouragement and support of family, old friends and new friends like Amy (she totally inspired me!) I opened an Etsy store.

I named my shop CheltenhamRoad in honor of my family. Cheltenham Road is the street I grew up on in Columbus, Ohio and the place where they taught me everything I know.

And now my brain explodes with ideas for projects. The staff at Michaels is starting to recognize me and I even, occasionally, venture into fabric stores of my own free will. I am, in short, reluctant no more.

Amy has asked me to share some of my ideas for projects with you and I hope you find them useful.

Isn’t David great?  Among the awesome things in David’s Etsy shop are his vintage coasters.  Check them out!

Find more David in the following places:

• Etsy shop
• Furniture before and afters
• Blog (brand new!)

Come back on Tuesday the 28th for David’s project and a very special Man Podge giveaway!