I first met Whitney Miller when she was a reporter at WCPO-TV in Cincinnati, right as the pandemic was cranking up. Whitney worked with my wife, Lucy, and Whitney was really into making anything and everything.
She’d made her own dining table with the help of some friends. And she’s made almost everything else in her life – her clothes, curtains, sweatshirts for her friends, masks for people she knew, stickers for everyone. The woman just makes and makes.
She wanted to get better at woodworking, so she took a Dutch Tool Chest class with Megan. Whitney hadn’t done much hand joinery, but she has what we call “good hands.” Put a tool in her hands, and she will make it work. And work well.
During the class, Megan came to me and said: “Whitney’s form isn’t classical, but you can’t argue with the results.”
Her dovetails were fantastic. Her entire chest was crisp. Whitney might be a natural, or she might also be someone who works with her hands all the time and can make them do her bidding. (I vote for the latter.)
When we built a workbench for the Henry Boyd exhibit at the Cincinnati History Museum, Whitney led the way on its construction. She is simply an outstanding craftswoman – no matter what the tools she is using.
And her energy and enthusiasm for making things eclipses most of the goober YouTubers.
So when we thought about making a video on building a Swedish tool chest, we decided to make it for beginners and have it hosted by someone who wasn’t your typical over-trained and textbook-perfect woodworker. Someone who could get it done and make it look awesome (look at the dang photos) and wasn’t an intimidating host.
Whitney was my first choice.
We’ve been posting clips from her video on Instagram this month, and the response has been both great and depressing. Some people get it. Look at this bada$$ person putting this chest together, even without the classical education and the requisite stick up their butt. Awesome.
And others who make it about gender or race or denigrating Whitney’s work.
What does Whitney think of all this? She generally kills people with kindness, but I think you should look at her work. She might not hold a dovetail saw like you. Or plane boards like you. Or drive a chisel with the confidence of someone who does it for a living. But she knows what she is doing. And she knows how to get it done.
And if there’s not room in your world for people like that, please find another world.
— Christopher Schwarz
Well if I can speak on behalf of Whitney’s hometown of HTX, go Whitney go!
Passion for the craft? Check! Skills to here and back? Check! Cool results from both? Check!
That’s a slam dunk in my book. Whitney, you’ve got another fan!
I’ve still only watched about half. One section at a time, for dessert. Literally. I think it’s great. She might actually be too good for you guys.
Make the craft bigger. It’s good for us all.
I’d never heard or seen Whitney until I saw her course. I’m only two videos in and love her!!
Hard to be an anarchist with a stick up ya butt, I imagine. Who gets to say who does things this way or that way or by who? No one worth listening too is who.
I thought she was a pro woodworker based on the pictures of the tool chest she built. The fact that she’s not makes it even more impressive.
“And if there’s not room in your world for people like that, please find another world.”
Amen
I think back to all the times I’ve held back, worried about perception, no matter how ill-conceived. There’s such loss in that line of thinking. Whitney once told me, “Don’t be afraid to try.” Whitney, I repeat this simple mantra to myself constantly. I will always be impressed by what you make, how you live, and what you say and do. Maybe tack on life coach to your list of accomplishments, too.
I have little regard for people who need to have things about race – which is stupid when you share 99.9% of your DNA with every other human being on the planet – or gender – as though that could determine your ability to create with eye and hand and brain. I’ve had those negative reactions from people in my life and just left them behind to eat my dust. From the photos I’ve seen I’d say Whitney is a fine creative craftsperson. You go, girl! Keep it up.
The fact that in 2024 you even need to write the last three paragraphs is just… woof.
I’m on here now to buy that video, and the Boyd book for my kids (I hope there are still stickers available!!) – thanks Whitney for all the hard work on both! and I saw that tool chest in person – gorgeous work.
And yep, sounds like there are still lots of sad, lonely trolls on the internet. They seem to collect there, maybe because there’s not enough space in their moms’ basements to hold a proper gathering.
Schwarz has surrounded himself with good employees. He must be very lucky , or very good. I suspect the latter.
Whitney is delightful! The last thing I needed was another video on making a tool chest but I bought it because of her. Wish may wife and I could meet her in person. I know we would be blessed.
I hope this is selling like crazy for you guys. The vibe of the videos is spot-on, and I’d love to see Whitney come back for another build. I was, however, shocked—shocked!—to find people being miserable old turds in social media comments.
I think having Whitney do it was great. Encouragement for my daughters. The first project video I have purchased from you.
When I saw the first video I thought to myself – “who is this woman?” Followed quickly by “how is she doing that with those nails??” So thank you for the back story. Nice work Whitney…looking forward to seeing more of your work!
I’ve watched about half the Swedish tool chest videos and already have the Henry Boyd book, which I bought for my son. Learned a ton from the book. Learning a ton from the videos. Whitney is awesome. Period!!!
I came here to say the exact same. Whitney Keep it up.
I love the short videos you have been posting. I think her work is awesome.
Diversity & Inclusion makes the craft so much more …so very much more
Hi Whitney! Make more videos! You’re an excellent teacher, a joy to watch, and I need more of your good vibes in my own work and learnings.
Whitney did an excellent job at both teaching and building her Swedish tool chest, you can’t argue with the results. I can’t wait to build one.
Love it. I’ve been enjoying the ’gram posts and sharing them with my high school carpenters (none of whom are crusty old bearded white dudes such as myself). Good to know a bit more about this radiant person. All I knew before was that she looks amazing and happy while doing beautiful work.
It’s odd to hear people who make a big deal about gender and race complaining that other people are making a big deal about gender and race.
Would love for you to expand on these thoughts.
I have to admit, the nails did throw me off when I first saw a clip of Whitney. I wasn’t sure where you guys were going with this, and I guess that’s because I just have never seen anyone in a shop work with nails like that. However, out of curiosity, I watched a bunch of the video clips and between her results and this little backstory, she won me over. The only think keepibg handwork alive today, I read somewhere, is passionate amateurs. 😉
My seven year old daughter, who usually couldn’t be less interested in dad’s woodworking videos or books, LOVES IT. She loves Whitney and she’s glued to the technique explanations.
I love it too. She does a great job of explaining core skills and I feel a lot more confident about finally getting going on dovetails.
So what you’re saying is that there’s a video for sale of a woodworking project for those who need and want it by someone who is competent to deliver it.
So. Um. Where’s the potential problem?
Seems like lots better content than is readily available elsewhere to me.
TikTok meets Wasa! Whitney and LAP have delivered a different kind of woodworking video. Funny, sassy, and definitely not Norm, Rob, Peter, or Chris. Refreshing. She makes the build fun, not an exercise. Keep pushing boundaries. I hope I have half as much fun building my Swedish chest as Whitney.
Now I want to see her make a stick chair!
My comment might hit back to me intense. I find the videos, wich show up on instagram wether much entertaining nor informative. I simply did not enjoy watching them. When the 4th or 5th appeared, I swiped them away. I thought about, what it was, but maybe it is simply, that this is a nother kind of making theses kind of videos.
So if I like the others (inclding Megan) this is just not made for me.
But maybe it is for my daughter, who does not like the mensplaining tome of many videos.
Great for you at LAP to go another route!
I just watched another fe. Most of them are collections of very short snipets. I think that is why I didn’t liek to watch. nearly no information at all. Just snipets of a woodworker working wood.
You understand that the Instagram videos are just short clips from a series of much longer videos, though, right?
I’ve watched the course, and if I had to describe her performance in one word, it would be “charming.” I thought she had great presence in front of the camera, and she did a nice job making a fun presentation.
My great uncle had good hands as does my brother. It’s always a pleasure to see that they built/build.
Pedder, I agree with you about Instagram. I am a member, but rarely use it because my experience is similar to yours. Congratulations to those who do like it.
Cheers,
Michael
I loved the videos and I’m looking forward to making my own Swedish tool chest.
It means a lot to me to see LAP work with and support Whitney. Makes me feel like there is a place for me in the woodworking world too. Thank you.
Thank Ann. We want to help anyone who wants to get into the craft. And representation matters.