Located about an hour west of Kansas City, in the beautiful town of Lawrence, KS. Red Poppy Studios stands alone as a woodworking establishment dedicated to the objective of creating superior quality solid wood home furnishings and stained glass originals for the discriminating buyer.

Michael, an exceptional artist who has dedicated his life to the woodworking trades, heads up this husband and wife team.

A “real” hammer and saw for Christmas at age ten would launch Michael’s career in woodworking.He never attended a formal woodworking school, never studied beneath an acclaimed master, nor can he lay claim to any formal training or guidance.  Today, some 50 years beyond that long ago Christmas, he assert "with the knowledge acquired through self teaching, lies the gift of the  ultimate experience".

Michael's philosophy is that the artist must learn each and every facet to the craft on his own, absent or direct bias or influence.  In so doing he develops a methodology, a distinction, a style unique to his individual perception.  Devoted to and loving his work, ever appreciating the fact that any given board is a fingerprint. That th

ere is no other like it.  That it is his challenge to fabricate a creation of warmth, beauty and longevity equal to that of the individual board, he will through the years experience a subtle metamorphosis.  The artist and his work, ever so slowly, become one.  Fused, inseparable.  Therein lies the gift.  It is subtle, involuntary, a product of the subconscious.  Within each creation, regardless of simplicity or complexity, absent of focused effort, will be expressed his heart, his hands, his mind.  The ultimate declaration of individual self, in form and function.

Kathrine, wife and devoted apprentice of 30 years, provides invaluable support and assistance with antique restoration, and furniture designing, as well as being the stained glass artist in the studio.  She believes that as a  self taught craftsperson, she has learned to work stained glass, upon the same philosophy.  When Kathrine id creating an art glass project, she sees and feels each piece of glass.  Its warmth in color, infusion with light and its shape as a part and whole of a creation.