Blind Woodsman and Honeybee

I’m no expert in identifying wood, but I try my best. With John being totally blind, he’s got to rely on others to assist him with tasks like these. Sometimes he marks them with a tactile marking gauge so he can keep them organized in piles, but sometimes he remembers by blank size and shape. I’ve learned a lot about woodworking since being married to him! Video description: John enters the living room holding blocks of wood. They vary in color, grain and blank size. #marriage #teamwork #fypage #woodworking #couplegoals

May is Mental Health Awareness Month And we want to remind you: you are not alone. Mental health is something we care about deeply on this page. John is a childhood suicide survivor, it’s how he lost his sight and sense of smell. His story is a powerful reminder that behind every smile, every kind post, every moment of connection, there may be pain that isn’t visible. Struggling with your mental health is nothing to be ashamed of. When you have a cold, you reach for remedies. When you scrape your knee, you use ointment. When you’re hurting inside, emotionally, mentally, you deserve care, too. Your brain is part of your body. And just like any other part of you, it deserves attention, healing, and support. There are so many paths to feeling better, therapy, community, creativity, medication, movement, stillness, laughter, rest. You are allowed to try. You are allowed to receive help. You are allowed to keep going. We’re walking this path with you, not from a distance, but from within it. #MentalHealthAwareness #YouAreNotAlone #HopeIsReal #HealingIsPossible #Hope #Love

This is an older video, but it covers a really fascinating topic. John is totally blind now, but he had sight until he was 16. He experiences something called Charles Bonnet Syndrome, which causes vivid visual hallucinations. For some people, especially those with a bit of light perception, these hallucinations can be intense or even unsettling. Thankfully for John, he’s been able to use his hallucinations creatively, visualizing people, places, and even designing the woodworking projects he builds. It’s a remarkable way he’s turned a complex condition into a tool for imagination and art. #blindness #CharlesBonnetSyndrome #blind

Replying to @Denise Burlingham He’s got a built in safety squint 😄

People sometimes ask if John has ever seen me. It’s a question I used to think about a lot, especially in the early days, when I wished I could look into his eyes during a quiet joke or a tender moment of empathy. But over the years, we’ve built a different kind of connection, one that doesn’t rely on sight. We’ve developed our own tactile language: subtle hand squeezes, the way we lean into each other, little gestures that no one else would notice. It’s a body language made of touch, and it’s deeply intimate in its own quiet way. We also connect through words, John makes me laugh daily, teaches me about nuclear physics, and retells his favorite Star Wars stories with such joy you’d think they just happened to him. Last year, I commissioned a tactile scroll saw art piece from Lady Wood Goods. It hangs in a spot John walks by every day. I wonder if, over time, the paint will fade where his fingers find my face again and again. Because knowing what someone looks like is such a small part of loving them. It’s knowing their heart that matters most. 🫶 Description: John feels a tactile wood art piece of the two of them. In the piece, John is tenderly holding Anni’s face, both of their eyes closed. #specialmoments #soulmate #TrueLove #sweetlove #couplegoals #aww #sosweet #greenflags

John and I have been together for 13 years. Most of that time, we’ve been in survival mode, he struggled to find work, and I once juggled three jobs just to keep us afloat. If you look at us and don’t see a happy couple, you’re missing the full picture. If I’m with John for his money, then he must be with me for my looks 🤣 (spoiler: we’re both out of luck). The truth? I’m a working artist who also runs our business. We’re a team. Always have been, always will be.❤️ #TrueLove #marriage #couplegoals

Replying to @Sam Lawton John spends so many hours in the woodshop, I’ve honestly lost count. Sometimes I catch myself wondering just how many pieces he’s made over the years, and then I remember, he probably doesn’t even know either because, well, he’s too busy dreaming up the next one. What makes his work so special isn’t just that it’s beautiful (which it is), but that it’s 100% original. Since he’s blind, he can’t copy anyone, every design comes straight from his imagination. He jokes that he’s got a computer-aided design program in his brain. It’s like he scrolls through mental blueprints and picks one to bring to life. One of my favorite things he says, after finishing a new piece, is: “Now you see what I see.” And that always gets me. Because with every creation, he’s sharing a little window into that amazing mind of his. Description: John, a blind woodworker with his eyes closed, shows off original pieces he’s made. Bowls, platters, a honey pot, more bowls… of varying colors and designs like stripes and geometric patterns. #artistsoftiktok #creativity #handmade #woodturning

A lot of people suggested we try an app, so here is our attempt at using one for the first time. 1/2 ain’t bad! I’m kind of proud of myself for getting one correct, though I know that one was fairly easy. You’d think I would be more of an expert after 13 years together! Oh well, there is always room to learn new things. #marriagetok #marriage #woodworking #couplegoals #husbandandwife

Reading with sticks is a new one! 😎😄 Description: After the clip, John, a blind man, pulls open his white cane and pretends to read a book with it. #humor #silly #funny #comedy #comedyvideo #funnyvideos #humortiktok

You might think being a blind woodworker means John is constantly getting hurt in the shop, but believe it or not, he’s only had a couple of bad injuries in 20 years of woodworking (knock on wood!). Bumps, bruises, and splinters happen to all woodworkers, sighted or not. It’s just part of the craft. But with skill, practice, and a deep respect for safety, John proves every day that disability doesn’t equal danger, it just means doing things differently (and more carefully!). #woodworking #couplestiktok #leatherman #marriagelife #fypviraltiktok

(Excuse the filthy phone, John gets sawdust on it out in his wood shop) Did you know blind people play video games too? John’s showing off how Land of Livia and Blindfold Games are designed with accessibility in mind, no vision needed, just sound, strategy, and a whole lot of fun. Blindness doesn’t mean boredom. It means adapting and imagining! Description: John shows the games on his smart phone by tapping and swiping using the screen reader setting. #landoflivia #videogames #accessibility #interestingfacts #uniqueexperiences #curiosity #gaming #gamer

After our video yesterday about why John’s eyes are closed, a lot of you asked whether John would be able to see if he opened them. Here is the answer! video description: John has his back to the camera, but when he turns around he is wearing large googly eyes. He removes them, underneath his eyes are closed. #TheMoreYouKnow #QandA #FAQ #questions #curiosity

Replying to @Obsessive_bubble<3 Every year for my birthday John makes something handmade for me. I feel so spoiled! This year he made a “kitchen witch” magic wand spoon for me. I found the perfect spot for it in our kitchen. #marriagegoals #handcrafted #leatherman #handcarved #lovelanguage #couplestiktok #coupletok #fypage

Replying to @oliverireland1 The short answer is because his face is still made of face. The long answer is because he is protecting the skin, muscle, bone, and tissue of his face. And though his eyes don’t work, he still has them and they can still feel pain if something were to injure them. PPE is a vital part of woodworking, ESPECIALLY if you can’t see what you are doing… an added layer of protection seems like common sense. Thank you for coming to our Ted Talk. But I’m sure we’ll keep answering this question until the end of time. 😆 ID: John has a shiner. #funnymoments #humor #osha #woodworking