Woodworking in a garage shop can be many things.

Sometimes it's beautiful.

Sometimes it's a struggle...

However you look at it, by design, woodworking in a garage shop is lonely... But it doesn’t have to be.

Or it can be if you want it to be.

Sometimes I like to be in the shop alone. Put on some music and get in the zone. It can be therapeutic.

I am proud to have collected the tools I want/need to create the things I want to make.

On the other hand, I also like having friends stop by and hang out in here too. Have some laughs. Visit.

At one time I was a full-time one-man-garage-shop.

Building cabinets and built-ins all by myself. My dad is retired and sometimes would come by and hang out while I worked on client projects. It was really nice to just have someone to work with and talk ideas through.

And it was quality time with my dad which can be few and far between at times...

As I was working through these projects I would post instagram stories of the building process. Especially if the client follows me on Instagram.

This does two things: gets the client stoked on what they are getting, and shows others what I am capable of building to hopefully become future clients.

So in the midst of posting on instagram you end up getting followers and you end up following some people.

Sometime those people end up being "Internet Homies."

These are people I have never met in real life but after a few DM's either initiated by them or me, a conversation starts and it's cool… Or I guess refreshing to know that there are others out there outside of your garage doing the same kinda thing you do - making cool stuff.

Maybe it’s not the exact same sort of stuff I was building, but still cool to watch them do it.

Social media is a weird one... some people blow up and really "make it." A Bajillion Followers, Sponsored Posts, Free Tools, Trips, Maker Camps, and what seems to be some really cool perks.

For me I use it for inspiration. Back in the day, before social media became the advertising monster it is today, there seemed to be a lot more variety in the feeds.

You would see stuff and be introduced to a lot of new things. I don't want to blame the algorithm but it seems you get kinda jammed into a box where you really only see the same things over and over.

Sorry. That was kind of a rant.

So Internet Homies are the people you see online and even though you don't know them in real life you actually really like their stuff and have a relationship with. Not just a "like" here and there but there is some back and forth in your messages and there would be a real connection outside in the real world.

When you have a question you reach out to the Internet Homie directly and not just a quick "that's awesome!" in the comments.

Maybe you noticed them not posting much lately so you check in.

Even though social media is really just a barrage of nonsense, it is still a way to connect with some really cool people on the other end of the screen in a garage doing the same kinda things we do.

So thank you Internet Homies. I appreciate you.

Your Internet Homie,
Brian Lee