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.