Today we’d like to introduce you to Philip Morley.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I am from London, England. I struggled significantly with dyslexia throughout school. Woodworking was offered at one of my schools and proved to be one of the first things I was good at and could excel in. I ended up in trouble at 15, and I was encouraged to focus on my vocational program. I completed the City and Guilds NVQ level 3 in carpentry and joinery. While studying in London, I spent a summer in Maine as a camp counselor teaching woodworking to kids from inner-city Boston. There I met my wife. While dating, I spent a summer working for a graduate of RISD, with whom I worked throughout the summer. This began my interest in more specialized woodworking. After my wife and I married, we ended up in Florida, where I worked with a well-known furniture designer. We moved back to Texas in 2008 after the birth of our first child. In Wimberley, I worked with renowned furniture master Michael Colca. During this six-year apprenticeship, I truly honed the skills of the craft. Michael’s attention to detail and appreciation for the integrity of every element of the piece, whether seen or not, has stuck with me. Michael also introduced me to the Austin Community College, where I began teaching furniture making. I began working in my shop in 2013. Around this time, I was introduced to Instagram and discovered a wider woodworking community. I have since built many pieces and traveled around the country teaching woodworking. I was introduced to Austin Waldo through Austin Community College, which established the Austin School of Woodworking and created the Texas Woodworking Festival. I have been honored to be a part of both ventures.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Many, many struggles. First of all, of course, my early and continuous struggles with dyslexia. It can be quite an obstacle for many business-related activities, like writing emails or creating descriptions for my website. I have been very thankful for technology, and it’s making some of these tasks much easier through programs like speech-to-text. However, most writing-related activities take me much longer to complete than they would for others. I am most at home in the shop and business as its skill does not come naturally to me or my wife. So, we have made numerous mistakes along the way. Furniture is often not highly valued because it can be obtained so cheaply through various large corporations and can be viewed as temporary and disposable. Of course, such furniture is not built to last. So, helping people understand the value of well-made furniture and the atmosphere it can create in a home has also been a part of our learning process.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in free-standing furniture. I am known for combining vital design elements (often drawn from MidCentury Modern and Scandinavian influences) and traditional furniture craftsmanship. I like clean lines and subtle details that the clients discover over time, whether it is an edge profile, the selection of grain to complement the design or a finishing detail. I am always striving to be better at the craft. I am always hoping to learn more and more. I am currently a fellow at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Maine, which has allowed me to surround myself with furniture makers who similarly continuously push themselves.
We’d love to hear about your fond memories from growing up.
My father worked on a construction site and used to bring home old construction materials, and I would build forts in our back garden. I spent loads of time building.
Pricing:
- I think people often don’t have an understanding of the hours spent building. They assume that the materials are the expensive but really it is the labor that goes into each piece.
- Pricing is my least favorite part of this craft. Obviously, you don’t want to price yourself out but also need to be able to survive. 🙂 It is a difficult balance.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.philipmorleyfurniture.com
- Instagram: philipmorleyfurniture
Image Credits
Paige Wilks, Erin Gray, Hall Puckett
