Stacey’s interest in woodworking started from the practical (and aesthetic) need for grown-up furniture in a shared dining room littered with ramen-filled storage tubs. She took a woodworking class through Otis College of Art and Design and confidently told the instructor she would build a credenza as her first-ever project, to which he replied, “No. That's too much for a beginner.”
Never one to listen to the words “no” or “too much,” Stacey stubbornly power[tool]ed on, panting and wheezing all the way up the steep learning curve, silently—and almost tearfully—admitting he was right. Nevertheless, she persisted, and now has a beautiful credenza. That she will be buried in. Beneath a tombstone that reads, “Her perfectionism finally got the best of her.”
While the credenza solved one area of clutter in her apartment, it made another with a pile of leftover walnut scraps. In true artist form, Stacey said, “I can make something with these!” and thus began her 11-year journey down the woodhoarder’s *rabbet* hole, filled with countless unfinished projects, which she briefly tried to turn into a furniture business Mill45. But life got in the way with its pesky bills and other nonsense like jobs and chores and minimal introvert-level socializing, so Mill45 never got past the expensive hobby stage.
Throughout the years Stacey made several pieces of furniture and art. In August 2023, she had a solo exhibition in Los Angeles. Several pieces sold, but the ones that are still available for purchase are listed on the shop page. To inquire about any of the items, please email stacey [at] mill45 [dot] com.

Follow @mill45design on instagram to see Stacey's new works. To view her photography and other artistic pursuits, visit her personal portfolio.
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