Shelves crafted by Craig Slingerland of Maple Bay Woodworks. Photo Courtesy of Craig Slingerland
Craig Slingerland, owner of Maple Bay Woodworks. Photo Courtesy of Craig Slingerland
An end table and creation of Maple Bay Woodworks. Photo Courtesy of Craig Slingerland
Most of us grow up learning a bit about the hobbies our parents love, but we dream our own dreams, plan our own careers, and chart our own paths through life. We may never anticipate that those same hobbies our parents spent time sharing with us might one day become something we cherish.
That’s what happened to 29-year-old Craig Slingerland of Kimball, Michigan. A husband and father of two small children working a full-time job in information technology, Slingerland remembers his childhood years when he was always with his dad who had a passion for creating things out of wood.
![]()
An end table and creation of Maple Bay Woodworks.“I always thought that he could make anything I ever wanted - and really he did,” he says. “He made me a rocking horse, a gumball machine, and all kinds of unique items out of wood. Then as he got me in the shop and showed me how it happens, I realized how difficult it is.”
Slingerland’s father, Todd, shared this love for his hobby with him early on in his childhood. Having remodeled their family home, Slingerland recalls that every detail had his father's personal touch, from creating all the trim to custom building every cabinet.
“Now being older and having gotten into it more myself, I have a deep appreciation for what he can do and always go to him for tips or advice if I need it,” he adds.
Slingerland remembers his dad’s excitement while he instructed him on small projects of his very own to practice creating things from wood. Over the years, Slingerland’s father helped him to hone and perfect his skills.
After Slingerland’s high school years when he says sports and typical teenager activities were a priority, he eventually realized the love he had for woodworking. Re-visiting the skills that his father had taught him as a young boy, Slingerland began to create custom projects with some of his favorites including coffee tables, wall art, and other home decor.
Slingerland laughs and says that it didn't take long before things began to pile up at his home, and the idea of marketing some of his products soon became a reality.
![]()
Craig Slingerland, owner of Maple Bay Woodworks.“I could only make so many things and I figured if I liked doing it, and there is a market for it, why not go for it,” he says.
So he began marketing his projects on a few social media platforms and has now launched his own small business which has helped to create additional income for his family.
A steady, local community client base including relationships with furniture stores as a potential supplier, as well as markets that feature Michigan-made items are some of Slingerland’s long-term goals for the future.
Following in the footsteps of his father, Slingerland plans to teach his children how to woodwork. He hopes that not only will they also find enjoyment in making their own creations, but that they remember and cherish having spent time working alongside their dad — just as he did with his father.
See more of Slingerland’s creations at
facebook.com/maplebaywoodworksmi or on Instagram @maplebay_woodworks.
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.
Rita MacDonald is a U.S. Army veteran and a full-time registered nurse who claims that her Irish and Scottish heritage is the reason for her love of storytelling. She is the mother of two adult sons, “Gummy” to her three grandchildren, loves talking with anyone who will engage in a conversation, and “eats life with a shovel!” In addition to her work with The Keel, Rita is a contributor for the Thumbprint News, an author of three books, and writes a blog at
kitchentabledevotions.com.