Meet John Furniss: Woodworker

We had the good fortune of connecting with John Furniss and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Being blind, it can be sometimes difficult to find employment. I also work with my hands, on cars and small engines. Employers are not willing to take on a blind employee that works with their hands, they see it as a liability. For many years my wife worked multiple jobs to support us while I also searched for employment. We finally decided to start our business together, she is an artist too so it made sense. She runs the business side of things and I am free to create my woodworking. We make a great team!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am totally blind and have been since age 16. I struggled with mental illness and drug addiction for many years. I learned woodworking in my mid 20’s after losing my sight. It helped keep me distracted from drugs and depression and gave me something to keep busy. Finding a job is difficult for any disabled person but a blind guy with mechanical skills (I also work on cars and small engines) is not exactly employee material. A lot of employers think of a blind person in a physical job like that as a liability. I was unemployed for many years. I met my wife in 2012 and we struggled making ends meet with her working multiple jobs and me trying to find employment. My wife and I decided to start our own business a few years ago (she is an artist too), and it’s very liberating being able to work for ourselves. The project I am most proud of is a table I built while recovering from a broken back. It was great physical therapy and took me hundreds of hours. That table sits in our living room. Being a blind artist means that I just need to find new ways of doing things. Adapt is my middle name, it has to be to be able to do the things I love.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Washington state, which is full of fun things to do and beautiful places to visit. My wife and I have done a lot of searching to find blind friendly activities and locations. I would definitely take a friend visiting us to some of the beautiful beaches that we have here. And the Olympic Peninsula is my favorite part of Washington state besides where I live in Southwest Washington. There are trails we like to visit that have big beautiful trees, waterfalls, and lots of beautiful singing birds to listen to. When I moved to Washington state in 2010 I had never experienced the ocean before even when I had sight. My wife Anni took me there to the ocean for the first time and it was an amazing experience. I was worried it would be bittersweet since I couldn’t see the ocean, but when I put my feet in the water I felt a lot of wonderful sensations. The ocean feels endless and so big and powerful. The pull of the tides and the sound they make is intimidating but beautiful. We also have some really great restaurants in our area with farm fresh food and talented chefs. I am are very grateful to live in an area with so many small farms and fresh food. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I met my best friend Chris over 15 years ago and he taught me how to woodwork. The skills he gave me changed my life in so many ways. My wife bought my lathe for me in 2016 and encouraged me to pursue woodworking as an occupation. I am grateful for all her support and encouragement. She also runs our business. I am thankful for the love of my parents who helped me escape a life of drug addiction many years ago.

Website: TheBlindWoodsman.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/theblindwoodsman

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/John-Furniss-The-Blind-Woodsman-294841723977452/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCf4rVfFNDfYylV4UR4SGo2g

TikTok:  @theblindwoodsman

Image Credits
Photos by Anni Furniss