Murray was born in Galt (Cambridge) Ontario in 1949. He first learned the fundamentals of woodworking from his father, a professional carpenter. His first memory of “helping” his father was on a project to build a new porch when he was 7. His family moved to a farm in the area where he furthered his education of working with his hands.
Professionally Murray worked in labour relations in Cambridge for 20 years. With his family raised and retirement approaching he looked for something to keep him busy. With the support of his wife he turned his garage into a woodworking shop. For Christmas she bought him a lathe and tools, but it was not very long until the garage became too small for his endeavours and experiments. Although supportive but with winter approaching, his wife said that the garage was intended for her car, thus Murray started looking for a new location for his shop. He found exactly what he was looking for in Elora, Ontario. He now had the space to add many additional tools and machines.
One of Murray’s first purchases was oak wine barrels which he promptly proceeded to rip apart and play with the staves. He enjoyed the challenge of turning a beautiful piece of wine stained wood into votive candle holders, fruit and cheese trays and wine bottle stoppers. His wife thought he was crazy, but she had to admit that he really had found a unique way of creating a little piece of Southern Ontario wine country that could be taken home and enjoyed long after the visitor had returned home.
Murray and his wife have since retired and moved to Stratford where they operate a Bed and Breakfast. One of the enticements of the property was the two story shop. Murray moved his tools into the bottom while his wife has taken over the top floor for her fused glass studio. Check out the link to Torrie S Designs
Murray has since expanded his creations to include other wine and cheese accessories, which include cork trays, cork trivets, wine coaster for glasses and bottles, floating wine bottle holders and tiled cheese boards. He intends to continue to use salvaged wood from wine barrels, skids and banisters to create his crafts.
Along the way, he has also found time to turn pens, candle holders and bowls with the lathe his lovely wife started him off with. Turning on the lathe has become his main occupation. He turns wooden pens, bowls, candle holders, bottle stoppers, Christmas tree ornaments, and bracelet helpers among other things. He has recently started to use acrylic, gemstone and metal to turn with as well. All of his turnings are unique.
Murray dearly enjoys working with wood and takes great satisfaction in producing one of a kind woodcrafts that will be taken by visitors and locals into their homes for their enjoyment and remembrances of a lovely time in Stratford.
