Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucinda Coblentz.
Hi Lucinda, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a wife, mother, and entrepreneur. My husband, Luke, and I moved to Texas 10 years ago to start our woodworking business. Luke is a 3rd generation woodworker, having learned from his grandfather and father. We both grew up in Amish communities. When we left as teenagers, we wanted to get as far away as possible from the traditions and restrictions we grew up with. I had the desire to further my education, and have only had the opportunity to go through grade 8, which is traditional for Amish, I got my GED and attended a community college. Luke worked in logging and retail for several years with a plan to attend college and become a doctor. Little did we know that we would move to Texas and start our own family business. Luke is a creative and talented designer, and he and our team have done some exceptional projects for families and businesses across Texas.
Along with designing and building, we now offer detailed plans and consulting for individuals who want to build their projects but would like guidance. Luke loves teaching, and this past fall, we, together with our shop team, had the honor of teaching a woodworking class in our shop for a few local students. As we’ve grown, we have become passionate about the value of passing down our skills and knowledge, including woodworking, farming, and community. We feel a tug on our hearts to buy land and create a space for others to come and learn. I want to learn how to self-sustain by growing a garden, raising a few animals, and connecting.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been some excellent years and a few tough years. We have experienced that starting something new from the ground up takes a lot of grit. There have been times when we thought we were crazy for starting a business and starting a family simultaneously. We have 3 beautiful children. Finding the balance between work and family is challenging but also rewarding.
As you know, we’re big fans of JH Woodworks. What can you tell our readers who might not be as familiar with the brand?
We build custom chicken coops, storage sheds, greenhouses, play structures, tree houses, and carports. We are known for our quality construction and good customer service. When a client from Taylor called us after a tornado touched down on her farm, we were pleased to learn that although her chicken coop was flipped over onto its roof, it sustained minimal damage. With a little repair, it was as good as new. Over 10 years, we’ve crafted many projects, and some of the most exciting ones were custom play structures, including a full-scale Apache helicopter we built for the VA Hospital in Temple, TX, and the full-scale P51 Mustang we built for a WWII museum. With our wide array of woodworking experience and the unique projects we’ve crafted, we can now offer detailed plans and expert consulting for homeowners and DIYers to build their dream projects.
What were you like growing up?
I was curious and hardworking. As a young Amish girl, there was no significance put on who I was as an individual, which meant I didn’t know myself or my interests. I was expected to work hard and obey the rules. This left little room for leisure. I was quite imaginative, and on a Sunday when my chores were done, you could find me hidden away in my favorite tree, reading a book and daydreaming.
Contact Info:
- Website: jhwoodworks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jhwoodworks.tx/#
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jhwoodworks
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOw_abtUK5kqYCSKRU9sOQw
