About Me

Hi! I'm Kirstin Hensley, the artist behind Cedar Lake Workshop.

My journey into woodworking started in a makerspace—Maker Works in Ann Arbor, Michigan—where I took nearly every class I could and experimented with all the tools. I quickly gravitated toward small, precise work, and with my background as a computer programmer, CNC tools became my favorite—especially the laser cutter.

The piece that started it all? A Portage Lake Lift Bridge ornament. From there, I fell in love with the process of designing and making, slowly figuring things out (with plenty of mistakes along the way). In 2020, we moved to Houghton, and I brought along my ever-growing stash of pretty scrap wood. The next year, I created my first small wood inlay designs and brought them to local art fairs. Seeing people light up as they mix and match their own combinations—and hearing the personal stories behind their choices—reminds me why I love what I do.

When I’m not designing or working with wood, you’ll find me out exploring the Keweenaw—hiking, snowshoeing, or biking (very slowly). I’m also helping to build a community makerspace with Superior Fab Lab, where I can keep learning new tools and help others do the same.