Halfway — Glimpse inside of Dale Davis’ Davidson County workshop on any provided day and it appears to be like he’s in there by himself shaping wooden into parts of art as the miter and round saws grind and excitement.
But if you sit down to speak to him about his craft and his time invested in the smaller workshop driving his household in Midway, he’ll notify you he’s not in there on your own. God is there with him, the similar God that pulled him out of his habit to opiates and has stored him cleanse for 15 several years.
A 1996 graduate of North Davidson Significant, he has a background in graphic arts and owned a couple of companies, together with Watermarkd, a indicator business in Arcadia. A knee injury was the beginning of his addiction to opiates and painkiller.
“I acquired to the level where no a person could assist me but God,” he claimed. “One working day, I at last reported, ‘I’m yours whether or not I live or die.’ That was 15 several years in the past.”
He has saved his eyes and coronary heart with God because, listening to His designs and assistance, Davis reported. He also sales opportunities a Rejoice Restoration group at his church, Pinedale Christian.
Though he credits the present of a woodworking kit from his wife, Jill Koonts Davis, with acquiring him commenced with woodworking, he explained he is aware of it was God’s whispers to Jill that created her give him the reward and nonetheless evokes him everyday to make artwork.
“God is quantity one particular in my lifetime,” he stated. “That is my major occupation, … making disciples and spreading the phrase. I like the solitude of the workshop. We build so quite a few points when we are in there.”
When requested about his use of “we,” he stated, “You know, I say we a good deal,” with a smile spreading throughout his experience.
“We is God and me. I really like the solitude of functioning in my store, but I am not in there alone. Solitude and currently being on your own are two distinct factors. I operate with Jesus,” he said.
When his previous career began phasing out, he took a leap of faith in October 2022, opening Odd Knot Woodworks, promoting his creations at Missions Pottery and Extra in Lexington and from his business Fb page.
Davis was hunting for a spot to sell his work and required an concept for one thing abnormal he could promote. It was just ahead of Christmas, so his spouse prompt a star. Davis had no notion how to make 1, with all the cuts and points it would take.
He joked that the first a single he produced looked like a sand spur. Each individual try enhanced right up until the remaining product seemed like a star. He did not mean to make it glimpse like a Moravian star, even so.
“It’s truly just a star,” he reported. “People started off calling it a Moravian star. “It’s the gentle of Jesus in our planet. Any time I make some thing, I have to determine it our, but not on paper. I do it in my head. I’m not a math human being figuring out angles on paper. I’m an artist.”
He known as quite a few studios and stores to see if they ended up fascinated in marketing his creations. Joyce and Tommy Davis, no relation, entrepreneurs of Missions Pottery, were being the 1st to achieve out to him.
“Joyce named and mentioned to convey my things to the keep,” he claimed. “I’m so grateful.”
The 7-inch and 12-inch wide stars flew off the shelf. It was tough to hold up with the demand from customers.
Davis also produces jewelry and memento boxes, slicing boards and ornamental art these types of as sunflowers. In addition, he takes advantage of chainsaws to make home and backyard garden decor this kind of as gnomes and owls.
“A large amount of time, I will be out there in the store and I really don’t know what to make,” he said. “I pray about it. I just know that this is where by God desires me suitable now. I do this to remain shut to God. It makes it possible for me to make. I’m building one thing that brings pleasure to somebody else.”
