About
Founder & Craftsman, Heritage & Grain
My name is Sam Spencer, and I'm the hands, eyes, and heart behind Heritage & Grain. I'm a 90's kid turned woodworker, born and raised in Vermont—a place where craftsmanship, resourcefulness, and a deep respect for natural materials are part of the landscape. Growing up here shaped the way I see the world: slow, intentional, connected to place, and grounded in tradition.
My appreciation for fine furniture and handmade woodwork started long before I ever picked up a tool. I was drawn to the character of wood—the grain patterns, the warmth, the subtle imperfections that tell the story of where it came from. That appreciation grew into a passion the moment I took my first woodturning course at the Vermont Woodworking School.
Woodturning immediately captured my curiosity—the precision, the patience, the way a spinning block of wood reveals form and texture. But as I dug deeper, I realized something bigger: woodworking is an endless craft. Beyond turning, there was a whole world of joinery, design, shaping, finishing, and problem-solving that I wanted to understand. And I've been chasing that knowledge ever since.
I've been woodworking for seven years, mostly building pieces for myself and my own home, refining my skills project by project. Over time, friends and family encouraged me to share my work more widely. Today, I'm excited to take on customer commissions—creating furniture that's built with intention, purpose, and the highest level of care.
What drives me is simple:
Every piece should be unique. Every piece should be enduring. Every piece should be the best work I'm capable of.
My process always begins with the person who will use the furniture. I take time to understand how the piece will live in their home, what styles they're drawn to, what problems the piece needs to solve, and what emotion they want it to evoke. Clear communication and collaboration guide every step—from initial concept to wood selection, to progress updates, to the final hand-rubbed finish.
Heritage & Grain is more than a woodworking studio. It's my commitment to honoring the material, respecting the craft, and creating heirloom furniture that carries both story and soul.
Thank you for being here, and for supporting the kind of work that's built slowly, intentionally, and by hand.
— Sam Spencer
Heritage & Grain • Vermont