Meet Michael Jury

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael Jury. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Michael, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

In my previous career I was a professional musician and served for 20 years in The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, D.C. Musicians are the most dedicated and hard working people I know. They have a relentless commitment to the daily pursuit of perfection. I have taken that motivation and high standard and applied it to my current craft.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Michael and Amanda Jury operate M. Jury Woodworks, an heirloom furniture studio, in Springfield, Virginia. They design and build hardwood furniture and decorative woodwork inspired by Shaker, Japanese and Danish designs. Their work is elegant in its graceful proportions, heirloom construction and subtle ornamentation. Their award-winning furniture designs can be found in galleries and private collections throughout the country and have been featured in local and national media. Michael and Amanda are both classically trained musicians and U.S. Army Veterans. 

We employ furniture making techniques that have been in use for many hundreds of years. Each piece is built one at a time and starts with carefully hand-selecting the finest hardwood lumber for the most beautiful color and grain. Thoughtful grain selection is critical to building a well composed and harmonious piece. The lines of the wood grain, which are the annual growth rings of the tree, are creatively used to gracefully highlight the form of the piece. Mortise and tenon joints and dovetails are the structural elements that hold it all together. I fit the joints by hand for the utmost precision and beauty. When appropriate, the joinery is left exposed as a subtle ornamentation and evidence of fine craftsmanship and honest construction.

Our work is often decorated with Japanese kumiko or veneer marquetry. Kumiko is a centuries old Japanese craft using individual hand-cut pieces of wood to form geometric patterns in shoji screens. We most often employ the asa-no-ha (hemp leaf) pattern in our furniture. In door panels, the kumiko is backed with crinkled Japanese momigami paper. In table tops, there is a glass insert on top of the kumiko. Marquetry is also a centuries old art form in which individual pieces of veneer are very precisely cut to fit together and form an image. We use marquetry in tables and cabinets to create a scene from nature such as flowers and tree branches. Rather than using artificially dyed veneer, we use the wide range of natural colors found in different wood species to create the forms. Pieces are also shaded using hot sand to create depth and shadows in the designs.

We will be exhibiting at American Craft Made Baltimore February 21-23 and the Smithsonian Craft Show April 23-27, 2025

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I started my woodworking journey 25 years ago when I built a blanket chest as a wedding gift for my wife and immediately became consumed with the craft. My professional training as a musician instilled a desire to be creative and that passion has continued to grow and inspire my current work. I now find inspiration in anyone who is passionate about their work, especially those in the creative and performing arts fields. I’m able to appreciate the countless hours that goes into honing one’s craft whether it’s a musician, an artist, a chef or an athlete.

I would encourage someone early in their journey in the fine arts/crafts to seek inspiration from not only your field but from a broader perspective. Continue to challenge yourself to grow and learn new skills so that you can stay inspired and passionate. I particularly like this quote from the Zen writer Shunryu Suzuki: “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few”.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

I’m struggling to keep a healthy work/life balance lately. I’m eager to create and grow my business and that often leads me to over schedule myself which leaves little time for anything else. I’m trying to focus on more manageable lead times and also committing to an end of the day so that I can have time to exercise and spend time with my family.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mjurywoodworks.com
• Instagram: mjurywoodworks

Image Credits

Personal photo by Kevin Gebo
Portfolio photos (8) by Greg Staley