See a Need, Fill a Need: The Beginning of Something Great!

This has always been my favorite line from a much underrated movie, Robots, starring Robin Williams and Ewan McGregor. It tells the story of a young robot who helps fix up the poor neighborhood inhabitants, since nobody else would. This always resonated with me because it mirrored my own beginnings with my creations.

My family was definitely not poor, but like many other families, we did not have extra money to throw around when things broke. And let's face it, in a house with a teenage boy and his teenage sister, with all the friends that passed through it's doors, things broke often. As there was no one else in my family who was mechanically inclined, I decided one day to pick up some tools and figure things out. And thus began my lifelong obsession with making things.

I learned quickly how to patch walls, find studs and rehang shelves early on. I once patched a hole in the wall I made so well my parents didn't notice it for three years. (They only found out about it when I pointed it out bragging because they said I could never get away with anything! That'll teach them to underestimate me!) Next I started delving into auto repair, because let's face it, who can afford to get their car worked on. I got good at fixing minor repairs and replacements, and this I did by just taking things apart and putting them back together. YouTube wasn't then like it is now. In fact, it was this process of taking things apart and putting them back together that drove me to start making changes. If I could fix something, I could make it better. And if I understood how it worked, I could create it my own way.

Today the experimenting of the past has turned into my favorite hobby, and from it my shop was built, and my collection of tools has expanded tenfold. There is not a problem I cannot find a solution for, and given enough time and materials, I can definitely make that solution happen. All of my friends and neighbors come to me for ideas when tackling DIY projects. In fact, my first project for the spring has come from my next door neighbor, who wants me to make a demonstration table to create cooking shows and how to videos for his food truck business. Keep an eye out for that, and much more, coming to you soon on B_Random Creations!