How’d I get here?

Hello! I'm Jeanne.

It's a blessing to want to be known — so thank you for visiting Bench Cat Woodworking.

Oddly, this started a long time ago. You might remember coupon catalogs from the 70s. There was this kid-sized tool kit I had to have: a little hammer, a screwdriver, a few other things I can't quite recall. Could I get my Mom to collect enough stamps to get it for me? Answer: nope.

But here I am.

Throw in three brothers, a DIY dad with an answer for everything, and let's just say I was influenced early. Still, it was a condo purchase a few years back that really ignited things. I decided to do my own baseboards during a complete gut of my new home — swapping out the three-inch for five-inch boards to save a few bucks. So off we went: me, my Mom, and my daughter, borrowing my contractor's miter saw and nail gun after a very quick lesson. And I was hooked.

Years later, I have a fully functioning workshop in my garage and I'm building like a weekend warrior. A few lathe and safety classes later, and practice makes woodworking perfect.

As a full-time marketing executive, a creative outlet was non-negotiable. And there is truly nothing like staring down a saw blade to clear your head of everything else. I have always loved working with my hands, and wood is just beautiful — the smell, the texture, the swirls in the grain. That's all it took.

Now I am a woodworking enthusiast who spends as much time as possible in the shop.

So why Bench Cat?

The traditional "bench dog" is a clamping device used on a woodworking bench. It always struck me as... well, masculine. I have had cats my whole life. They are feline, they are feminine, and they have an opinion about everything — which felt right.

A cat lady who loves wood. That's me.

Psssst: I love dogs too.