I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Penn State University in 1987. However, my formal education provided very few experiences that I credit with developing my skills as a furniture maker. The world has been my classroom. I am blessed with a keen eye. I pay attention to details. In that sense, I have studied my craft since I was a child, as I was always interested in how objects were put together.
In my mid-twenties I started building my own furniture and furnishings. And that is how I learned my craft for the most part. I am a kinesthetic learner so building pieces and seeing the results has reinforced my skills and my style slowly over time. I did take one workshop with a Master Craftsman, Steven Lamont, in 1996. That experience definitely helped me further develop my eye for details and instilled the importance of craftsmanship in making a piece of furniture that will last for generations. I learned my craft very gradually, by making mistakes, taking risks, experimenting with different techniques, working with clients, and getting feedback from others.
My work has changed dramatically over the last 15 years or so. I have found my own style and it is heavily influenced by the American Arts and Crafts movement and individual craftsmen like George Nakashima and James Krenov. Many of my pieces have an Asian influence as well. My home and workshop are located near the heart of Bald Eagle State Forest so I also gain a lot of inspiration from the trees in my environment. Some of my pieces have natural edges, and I always allow the tree to influence the design in those cases.
In addition to working at home as a professional furniture maker I am co-founder of the Blue Butterfly Fund. Our 501 (c) (3) non profit organization provides financial assistance to families whose children have cancer. You can read more about the Blue Butterfly Fund at www.bluebutterflyfund.org
I look forward to sharing my work and receiving your feedback .
John Sterling
-- John , Central PA , www.jcsterling.com on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/JC-Sterling-fine-furniture/104430802928776
25 comments so far
jeanmarc
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1899 posts in 5171 days
#1 posted 08-02-2008 01:09 AM
Welcome to LumberJocks.
-- jeanmarc manosque france
Max
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55998 posts in 5727 days
#2 posted 08-02-2008 01:20 AM
MissionArtisan Sales <missionartisan>
-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT
Paul D
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2134 posts in 5203 days
#3 posted 08-02-2008 02:25 AM
Welcome to LJs!! Glad you have joined us!!
-- Paul D - Lawrenceville, Georgia
trifern
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8134 posts in 5221 days
#4 posted 08-02-2008 03:48 AM
Welcome to LJ’s.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
ND2ELK
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13494 posts in 5228 days
#5 posted 08-02-2008 04:04 AM
Welcome to Lumberjocks. The projects are an inspiration, the information is priceless and the people are supportive. The only problem is, the site can get addictive.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
Scott Bryan
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27248 posts in 5276 days
#6 posted 08-02-2008 04:38 AM
Hello John,
Welcome to LJs. I hope that you will find this to be an rewarding and informational aspect of your woodworking adventure.
-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine
rikkor
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11294 posts in 5329 days
#7 posted 08-02-2008 11:59 AM
Welcome to LJ. You will like it here.
TedM
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2002 posts in 5187 days
#8 posted 08-02-2008 12:28 PM
John, great looking furniture!
Welcome to Lumberjocks! It’s a great place with great people, and, oh yeah, there’s the woodworking! Have fun and keep safe! :)
-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - Please visit http://www.woodworkersguide.com and sign up for my project updates!
Max
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55998 posts in 5727 days
#9 posted 08-02-2008 10:04 PM
Glad to see that you have made Lumberjocks a part of your Woodworking experience… Welcome
-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT
Grumpy
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26811 posts in 5305 days
#10 posted 08-02-2008 11:08 PM
Welcome to Lumberjocks John. This is a great community of people with like interests.There is much to learn here & you will have the opportunity to share your skills & ideas with others. I hope you enjoy LJ’s as much as I do.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
Karson
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35300 posts in 5855 days
#11 posted 08-03-2008 03:01 PM
Welcome to LumberJocks. Glad to have you aboard.
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Appomattox Virginia [email protected] †
jcsterling
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476 posts in 5039 days
#12 posted 08-04-2008 07:32 PM
Thank you all for your warm welcome
-- John , Central PA , www.jcsterling.com on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/JC-Sterling-fine-furniture/104430802928776
Beginningwoodworker
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13345 posts in 5127 days
#13 posted 02-07-2009 06:40 PM
Welcome to LumberJocks!
xylosapiens
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198 posts in 5069 days
#14 posted 09-13-2009 06:04 PM
Welcome, I’ve just discover your projects “rolling the dice” in the homepage of LJ. I like your style and your projects. Sorry, what is a “kinesthetic learner”?
-- Alejandro Moreno alias xylosapiens, CANARY ISLANDS
jcsterling
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476 posts in 5039 days
#15 posted 09-23-2009 04:26 PM
A kinesthetic leaner means that I learn best by actually physically doing the task vs. reading about how something is done or listening to a lecture.
John
-- John , Central PA , www.jcsterling.com on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/JC-Sterling-fine-furniture/104430802928776
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