Annette Amadin “Wood” Like Your Attention

The local maker’s talent for woodworking lands her a chance to create a contest prize for Hearth & Fire.
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Annette Amadin of 513 Woodworks embodies the versatility and enthusiasm of the maker movement. An engineer by trade, she developed her reputation and skillset for woodworking from the ground up—literally.

SEPTEMBER 2022

PHOTOGRAPH PROVIDED BY ANNETTE AMADIN

“When I purchased my home about six years ago, I wanted to try my hand at gardening and wanted to put in some simple raised beds in my backyard,” she says. “I couldn’t find anything that fit exactly with what I had in mind, so I figured I could buy a couple of basic tools and try to make what I wanted by myself. After that project, I realized that I really enjoyed woodworking and wanted to explore it in more depth.”

Back in 2020, just before the start of the pandemic, she decided to create an Instagram account as a way of connecting with other makers. She also reached out to the Cincinnati Woodworking Club and the Ohio Valley Woodturners Guild.

Classes at local hardware stores along with tutorials from YouTube and Instagram helped grow her interest and ability, not to mention her collection of tools. Eventually, she took classes at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking in Franklin, Indiana, to elevate her talent into a craft. She needs every technique and tool she can get her hands on, because she’s always finding a new ideas and challenges.

This month, she teams up with frozen pizza maker Hearth & Fire for a social media contest in which a lucky winner will receive a custom kit, including Amadin’s handmade, one-of-a-kind walnut and maple pizza paddle. The contest runs the week of Sept. 12 on Instagram.

“The agency representing Hearth & Fire knew of me through my Instagram account,” say Amadin, who has more than 31,000 followers. “I was drawn to the idea of a brand that is highlighting the work of artisans. I’ve also never made a pizza paddle before, and I jumped at the opportunity to give it a try.”

SEPTEMBER 2022When the contest is over, Amadin’s Instagram account will remain a hub for woodworks, artisans, and the creatively curious to get their fix. She often juggles multiple projects at once and she isn’t afraid to share her less-than-successful projects along with her best work. It’s all part of the process, and there’s always another project in the works.

“I really do not have a niche,” she explains. “I often refer to myself as a ‘Jill-of-all-trades.’ I enjoy dabbling in different areas and am motivated by learning new skills, so I try not to limit myself. I flow across areas and follow my interests where they take me, learning the skills and acquiring the tools I need as I go.”

Amadin’s advice to craft enthusiasts? She encourages them to try their hands at what interests them, whatever it may be.

“I think everyone should participate in craft in some way, as a hobby, as a side hustle, or as a profession,” Amadin says. “The benefits—creativity, self-expression, organization, satisfaction, etc.—are immense. Don’t hesitate to explore your interest.”

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