A Lake Country woodworker is in the running for Wood Review鈥檚 Maker of the Year, World category.
Zach Bell started woodworking as a hobby when the COVID-19 pandemic prevented him from travelling for his professional sports job. Now, Bell runs the Bell Pepper Mill alongside his father-in-law and entered a pair of end tables in this year鈥檚 competition.
鈥淸My father-in-law] has some self-taught skills, so I picked up some stuff during the pandemic with him and then I attended the program at Okanagan College鈥t鈥檚 just been growing from there.鈥�
Bell found the woodworking magazine鈥檚 contest through the social media accounts and woodworkers who inspired him.
鈥淚 figured it鈥檚 an open call, so I鈥檒l just put my piece in there. I entered one last year as well because if you enter a piece they share it on their social media so I was like at least I can put my name out there and somebody will see it. A good way to get started and it鈥檚 not a big expense.鈥�
Bell had been commissioned to build two unique bedside tables with drawers hidden in the design. The uniqueness of the piece and the easy exposure prompted him to enter it into the 2023 contest.
鈥淲hen I got the email last month that I was in the top 25 of the category I was like 鈥榳hoa, that鈥檚 a bit of a shock鈥�,鈥� Bell said.
The side tables took about four months to complete. Bell said the pieces have a mid-century design with a modern edge and two drawers that appear hidden in the woodwork when closed. He commented that he loved the pieces so much he didn鈥檛 want to part with them, but they were already spoken for by a client and friend.
Bell鈥檚 work can be viewed on along with his competition. Voting for the contest is open until Dec. 13 with winners announced on Dec. 15. The most Facebook likes will win the People鈥檚 Choice award for the category and a one-year subscription to Australian Wood Review.
The new business venture has been good, Bell said, adding that less work-related travelling means more time spent with his young kids.
Bell Pepper Mill has a varied selection of wood pieces available for purchase through their . A gallery of Bell鈥檚 work, including the bedside tables, can be found on .
