Check Out Brendan Pozsgai’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brendan Pozsgai.

Hi Brendan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up in the Boston area, half of my childhood basement was dedicated to my dad’s wood workshop. I slept every night in an oak bunk bed he built. I would sometimes help him with his weekend projects as he made gifts for friends and family. Job responsibilities varied from holding the flashlight to maybe driving in a screw or two. It’s been in the back of my mind for a good while that I wanted to pursue this artistic passion as well.

The COVID pandemic afforded me that opportunity in terms of more time on my hands. All this time at home, I took the plunge and entered a battery tool ecosystem (team lime green, if you know, you know) and sought to learn from more creatives in the Atlanta area. I am learning so much about the different woods from around the world and right in our backyard from my friends on the lumber supply side. Recently, I had the immense pleasure to attend WorkbenchCon (the country’s premier maker conference) right here in Atlanta, where I learned all about exploring new avenues on social media for my business, different mediums for art (I got hands-on with epoxy and leather), and I made some lifelong friendships with some of the coolest people from all over the country that I still keep in touch with today.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Yes and no. It’s been a little challenging working in a small space (on a couple of porches in a three-story walk-up condo) and balancing my full-time job, but the whole experience has been rewarding, fulfilling, and uplifting. I’d say it’s been smooth because my clients and friends have been understanding that this is not my full-time job so they know my timelines will be a little longer on projects or that I am just learning new types of joinery and they have afforded me plenty of grace as I improve on my journey. For that reason, I’d say it feels like a smoother road thus far. I’m certainly enjoying the ride.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a woodworker in the beginning of my woodworking journey. I’m still finding what I really want to focus on, but I would say thematically; I’m building things related to a person’s bar or kitchen (cutting boards, bottle openers, clocks that prefer to show 5pm). The name for my business was inspired in part by my love of wordplay but also by my recent attendance in a mixology class. I enjoyed the thought of pairing a completed project with a nice cocktail for the marketing photos. I also love incorporating exotic, colorful woods into my pieces, specifically bow tie inlays which I insert by hand. While there are more and more machines that do this kind of work in an automated fashion, there is something incredibly calming about using hand tools that adds another layer of satisfaction for me. I would also say that this personalization is what sets me apart from others. I really enjoy talking with my customers and brainstorming something that they are going to love looking at every day or something will get them a reputation as the “absolute best gift giver.”

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
The War of Art has been motivating to get up and put something out into the world in a creative sense. It can be tough to open yourself up to possible criticism, but any connection, validation, or inspiration derived from it makes it all worth it. The 4-hour workweek and Tools of Titans by Timothy Ferriss were helpful in focusing on the important things for a small business and automating wherever possible to really make the most efficient use of your time.

Lastly, the Alchemist & Tuesdays with Morrie are great books that have contributed to my views on life and keeping everything in perspective.

Contact Info:

• Website: varnishandgarnish.com
• Instagram: @varnishandgarnish

Image Credits
Daniel Bonsu