Jchon Paradise

I woodwork and do all sorts of other hands-on stuff under the name 1/2 Past Eight.

1/2 Past Eight? Huh?

What’s the significance of 8:30?

Well, that’s when it’s time to learn something new!

Actually, not really. Half Past Eight is a tongue-in-cheek reference to my eight and a half remaining fingers after a woodworking accident I had on October 25, 2011.

I mean really – that’s funny, right? The name. Not the fingers. Losing fingers isn’t really very funny at all. Don’t do it. The extra attention, though nice, isn’t worth it.

Anyway, an IT professional by trade and woodworker (and potter and baker and photographer and . . . ) by choice, I enjoy the process of learning, experimenting and creating one-of-a-kind items in my shop (or kitchen or wherever).

I especially enjoy learning new things. I like seeing something – whether a woodworking project, a pastry or process – and saying, “hmmm – I can do that!” even if I’ve never done it before.

From a pencil sketch or picture I see on the internet to a finished product, the joy comes from knowing I learned something new, helped my boys experience something unique in today’s digital world and hopefully that my work will be used and abused by someone in their daily life.