We were thrilled to get Forest & Filament‘s FirstBank scholarship application a few months ago. This program is about giving emerging makers a jump start to grow their businesses, and emerging makers like Scott inspire us with the story behind the goods they’re making.

In Scott’s own words, Forest & Filament started “when my wife, dog, and I, devoid of any prior remodeling experience or previously owned homes, purchased a worn out 1960′s brick one-level + basement with the full intention of turning it into a home.” From this, Forest & Filament was born and now strives to give people heirloom quality pieces that tell a story. You must check out his booth on Saturday and see his amazing work!

Tell us about your art or craft and how you got started creating.

So in a nutshell, Forest & Filament is a one-man operation, building quality furniture out of reclaimed wood and steel, with the aim of showcasing the inherent beauty of any given material through minimal processing and simple forms.

F&F was kind of an extension of remodeling our first and current home (a serious fixer upper). We had big Dwell Magazine-influenced aspirations, but also the tiniest of budgets, so we had to get creative, and we had to get DIY. After countless hours scouring Craigslist for tools and materials, reading innumerable forums and books on carpentry and remodeling, and years of blood, sweat and tears, we ended up with a pretty cool little house that we’re happy to call ‘home’. The problem was that we had no furniture.

Similar to our remodel, we loved the super cool mid-century/mod stylings, but didn’t have the cash to make it happen. So I took the skills learned from remodeling along with the fond memory of a high school wood shop class, some welding basics, and applied that to building things that I’d want to sit, eat, and store things on. Eventually friends were asking me to build a few custom items, and my business has slowly grown by word of mouth since then.

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What’s your favorite thing(s) about being an artist/creator working and living in Denver and Colorado?

Well, everyone says it, but Colorado is so beautiful. You can pull inspiration from just about anywhere. I love that I can drive just 15 minutes out of town to get some fresh air and one-of-a-kind sweeping vistas. I feel pretty fortunate to be a part of Denver’s burgeoning ‘maker movement’. Whether they’re in apparel, furniture, brewing, coffee roasting, the artisan community here is super knowledgable, friendly, and open to sharing advice. I think there’s a ton of opportunity for craftspeople and small business in Denver – I’m excited to see what the future holds.
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What about the Horseshoe Market are you looking forward to, and what will folks find at your booth?

It’s my very first market, so there’s a little trepidation there, but mostly excitement. I’m looking forward to chatting with friendly folks supporting local business, and connecting with/learning from local makers. As for what wares I’ll be hawking – I’m trying to cater to the market crowd with some smaller to mid-size items. I’ll have an assortment of dog food stands, coffee and side tables, a few coffee pour over stands, benches, coat rack, and maybe a record player stand. So swing by, say hello, and help me with product testing by taking a seat and hydrating your furry friends.