About

Michael Bock of Geronimo Woodworks is based in San Geronimo Valley, just north of San Francisco. His wood shop continues to take on residential projects, helping a client bring their ideas to life. More recently Michael returned to the art and craft of furniture building and design, taking on the challenge of creating and building a new design for a rocking chair, all being featured in the “Fine Furniture” section of this web site.
He enjoys the process of building new pieces, and sometimes working with clients, friends and family.

Email: geronimowoodworks@gmail.com

The Beginning

As a kid I was often left to my own devices, whether by myself or with a posse of siblings and neighborhood kids. Having alread learned to enjoy taking things apart to see how they work - it's a wonder I didn't burn my parents house down.

The Early Years

We found our way into trees, creating forts and tree houses, it wasn't a far leap to be sent to an alternative school at the age of 9 where I found solace in the wood shop at Peninsula School.

Isadore

There I was able to build some furniture pieces with the guidance, encouragement, and discipline from my shop teacher, Isadore. He left me with profound pearls of wisdom which have stayed with me to this day such as "that is a fine piece but you could have done a better job with a bit more patience." Isadore is still with me every day in spirit when I'm working in the shop.

First Dose of Apprenticing

By the time year 12 rolled around I was fortunate enough to begin working weekends in construction on a friend's father remodeling project that was under way. This wasn't just any remodel, but a structure composed of four hyperbolic parabolas - it fascinated me and stuck with me to this day.

More than just hyperbolic

The concept of a hyperbolic parabola is simple enough; a compound curve formed by straight lines. It was the experience of working on the roof that pushed my creative mind to work overtime. It appeared, at first, in the backs of my earlier rocking chairs, and continued in the same twisted compound curve seen in the fronts of my desks.

Art

In 1970 my senior year of high school, we were given a month off to work in the community. It was the opportunity I was waiting for. I traveled up to Bolinas to meet Art Espenet Carpenter and was transfixed by the shop and his work. Espenet was of the belief that if someone was motivated enough they would learn what they needed as they went along. Upon hearing this, I set up a shop in my bedroom and began making furniture with whatever tools I could find.

Naturally Pushing the Limits

As we all know, at 19, we believe we know everything. This served me well because I wasn't afraid of taking on any challenge—some of my early desks shows this. In fact, I deliberately made projects as difficult as possible, a habit I still have to some degree today.

Future Thinking

Espenet was very practical in his advice to me in those years. He said it was fine that I was making furniture, but I had better pay close attention to who was going to buy it since I would soon run out of space to store the finished pieces.

Another pearl of wisdom, one I hold to with great appreciation, is this; "The mark of a good craftsman is how well he covers up his mistakes.”

Working On More Complex Pieces

During the 70's I was developing techniques to achieve designs I had in mind. In doing that I let the technique dictate the designs. I also became involved in the idea of making multiple pieces in a series—an attempt to make the production process more efficient. This is evident in both my “desk series” and “rocking chair series”.

I used more complex jigs and templates, and improved the quality of the pieces, plus continually changing the designs and jigs along the way.

Desk Series

Rockers & Chair Series

Learning a New Craft

In the early 80's I made a few kitchens—learning a very different craft than furniture making. Many of the original wood kitchen and bath cabinets are still prominent in the houses they were installed in to this day.

My First Kitchen

This is an example of a house sold this past year, with the first kitchen I ever made. I was happy to hear the buyer is a wood worker, and with the exception of putting in new counter top, they want to keep the cuban mahogany and maple cabinets.

Exploring the Woodworking Scene

I spent many days selling through galleries in San Francisco and Hawaii. I also did my first weekend seminars at my shop through the Baulines Craft Guild and then UC Extension.

Building The Workshop

Vocational Docuseries

Home

After returning home to California from two years in Nicaragua, I was satisfied to be able to return to the shop and Geronimo Woodworks full time. Since then, I have been doing kitchens, bathrooms, libraries, stairs, gates, doors and tables.

Fine Furniture

More recently, I returned to the art and craft of furniture building and design, taking on the challenge of creating and building a new design for a rocking chair, all being featured in the "Fine Furniture" section of this web site. I'm enjoying the process of building new pieces, and sometimes working with clients, friends and family.

A restored chair in Michael Bock's workshop

Get in Touch

Email Me