My first visit to Devontry Fine Woodworking was, honestly, a bit naive. I thought I was just dropping off a desk for restoration. What I stepped into was a journey—a transformation in how I saw craft, care, and the intersection of talent and purpose.

The Desk That Started It All

The desk belonged to my Aunt Margaret. As she prepared to leave this life, she left me this well-loved piece as a kind of blessing for my work. Years of use had worn the varnish and dulled the gold-leaf leather workspace. Hidden in its design were clever mechanical details and a built-in typewriter cabinet—a desk that was as much a story as a tool.

Jim Tudor and his team at Devontry approached it with reverence. He walked me through every step of its restoration, explaining decisions about aesthetics, function, and investment along the way. The process wasn’t just about fixing a desk—it was about understanding its history, its purpose, and its future.

Meeting the Craftsmen

On that tour, I met the team, Jim’s “boys,” each with their own mastery. They shared stories of the pieces they were working on—a tree stump turned heirloom for a grown child who wanted to preserve childhood memories, cabinets revived with inventive problem-solving, and countless other projects where care and creativity converged.

Jim’s own story is remarkable. Passion ran in his blood. From early apprenticeships in furniture stripping shops to years under a mentor at Devontry, he combined innate talent with relentless curiosity. He wrote letters to master craftsmen, studied techniques obsessively, and learned by doing—building both skill and discipline.

The Principles Behind a Lasting Business

Jim’s approach to business mirrors his approach to craft:

• Use your natural gifts, then refine them with discipline and skill
  
• Care deeply for people and projects, seeing potential in both
  
• Learn from others and create environments where those lessons can spread
  
• Balance creativity with practical execution, letting solutions emerge naturally
  
  

By the time I received my restored desk, I had witnessed more than craftsmanship—I had seen the principles of building a sustainable, human-centered business in action. Each craftsman had left a bit of themselves in the piece, sharing hidden knowledge and passion that couldn’t be taught in a classroom.

Conclusion

Jim and Devontry exemplify what I see again and again in innovative, successful entrepreneurs: the combination of innate gifts, disciplined skill, deep care for people, and a willingness to let curiosity guide action. These principles are universal—whether in woodworking, startups, or corporate innovation.

You don’t need a fancy title or large team to apply them. Start with your gifts, nurture them, and let them guide your work. The craft of your business, like fine woodworking, begins with attention, care, and love for the process.

‍