Conversations with the Inspiring Whitney Nelson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Nelson.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Whitney. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
So much of my story is rooted in wanting to learn and — if I’m being honest — stubbornness. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had this “I can learn that” attitude. I don’t mean it flippantly, I’ve just always been curious and eager to develop new skills, so I guess I shouldn’t be shocked that I stumbled upon woodworking in a similar fashion.

In 2008, I was deep into my major (English) and needed a place to store my books, but I didn’t want to buy flimsy, overpriced furniture. Instead, my dad and I headed to Home Depot and built a bookshelf in his garage. It was a really empowering moment, especially because I was living in Utah and woodworking felt like a small but significant transgression. After that, I was offering to build everyone a bookshelf, and things snowballed from there. When I moved to Boston for my full-time teaching job, I had to adjust to a cozier living space (read: tiny!), so I scaled back to smaller pieces: cutting boards, utensils, utensils and decorative wall-hangings. I really love what I do.

Aside from woodworking, I have an affinity for good coffee, good books, dogs, flannel shirts, combat boots and whiskey sours, not necessarily in that order.

Has it been a smooth road?
Like a lot of makers, self-doubt is likely the biggest obstacle I’ve dealt with. It’s tough to see perfectly curated Instagram feeds and feel like you have anything unique to offer, especially if you’re like me and not so adept at maneuvering social media. And like a lot of women, I’ve dealt with sexism from folks online and even people I know, but I’m learning to let it go — or snap back — and I’ve been really lucky to have supportive, encouraging people in my life.

And speaking of a supportive, encouraging community, I’m reading Your Art Will Save Your Life by Beth Pickens and can’t recommend it enough. She encourages every artist to find and foster a community of artists. I have a terrific circle of friends but would love to invest in relationships with other makers. It’s also so valuable to find other people in similar fields who can offer an honest, critical eye and/or support when necessary. So I’m on the hunt for my tribe now.

In terms of advice, I’d encourage young women to prioritize and invest in their craft or passion — nobody else will do that for them. Second, take time to take time to understand your process and what inspires you, to experiment. Third, rest and take care of yourself. Finally, find the joy in your craft! From day one, carving lit me up inside. Sitting at my table with my chisel and file makes my heart sing.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Whitney B. Woodshop story. Tell us more about the business.
I specialize in handcrafted wooden wares: cutting boards, serving boards, charcuterie boards, and a variety of serving and cooking utensils. I’m likely known for my geometric aesthetic and play with negative space and clean lines. My work ranges from minimalist to a bit more architectural, but the function is always at the heart of my pieces.

In terms of what sets me apart? I’m a one-woman operation. Everything is designed and hand-carved by me, so each piece is quite time-intensive. One of the customers told me that each of my pieces “had a soul,” which I suppose is the upside to being super fussy and it made me way more emotional than lumber should ever make anyone; it was truly one of the kindest compliments I’ve ever received.

For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
Women, in my experience, are so resourceful and find ways to balance life and work and side-hustles and relationships and activism—women are incredible. I also think women are uniquely qualified to support each other in real, substantial ways. The women in my life are strong and thoughtful and smart—they’re some of my best resources. One philosophy that has really resonated with me comes from media strategist Aminatou Sow and journalist Ann Friedman, hosts of the podcast Call Your Girlfriend. They coined the term “Shine Theory,” which encourages women to support and surround themselves with other strong, capable, talented women because “When you shine, I shine.” Instead of seeing formidable women as competition, see them as assets, as a talent to celebrate and encourage. Women coming together to support each other is incredibly powerful and politically radical and I’m so on board.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 801-369-7153
• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WhitneyBWoodshop
• Email: whitneybwoodshop@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitneybwoodshop/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitneybwoodshop/

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