Inside Bud’s Workshop

If you’ve ever wandered through Bud’s Warehouse, you may have noticed beautifully handcrafted wooden furniture tucked into a corner or perhaps small wooden signs etched with festive messages. These pieces aren’t just merchandise—they're a testament to creativity, craftsmanship, and second chances. 

Behind double doors in the back of Bud’s Warehouse is a surprisingly tidy and organized workshop where making becomes play. Thanks to Jim Simon, the Workshop Training Director, this space isn’t just a workshop—it’s a place where people have the opportunity to reignite their inner child.

A Lifelong Passion for Woodworking

Jim slowly uncovered his own passion for woodworking early on. At just seven years old, he began whittling with a pocket knife. By the age of ten, he built his first real project—a wooden box with a hinged lid to store his whittling tools. He even stamped the words “Whittler’s Box” into the lid with metal letter stamps.

Growing up in western Texas, Jim spent countless hours in his father’s garage-turned-woodshop. He and his brother had permission to use select tools, sparking a childhood filled with creative projects, from gravity cars to elaborate forts. Years of self-teaching led him to a pivotal moment at age 21 when he first began to seriously consider woodworking as a career. His biggest influence: A book he picked up at a bookstore one day. This book, A Cabinetmaker’s Notebook, opened his eyes to the artistry and soul behind woodworking.

More Than Woodworking—A Mission

Today, at Bud’s Workshop, Jim hopes to foster an environment where making isn’t just about building objects—it’s about building confidence, skills, and a new outlook on life. 

Jim has spent more time in this building than most, long before Bud’s Warehouse arrived. “I’ve been in this building longer than Bud’s has been in this building,” he shares with a warm smile. Before Bud’s Warehouse called this space home, Jim worked here with another nonprofit. Over time, the workshop evolved through several iterations before becoming what it is today—Bud’s Workshop, a place dedicated to building both fine woodworking and brighter futures. “My real goal is to help adults reignite their inner creativity so that they discover their lost inner child.”

Jim’s philosophy on woodworking is simple but profound: “To me making is like play and it should be… and that’s how making gets better all the time. If it’s play you’re engaged and you have a passion for it.” More than just sharing his love for woodworking, Jim wants to help others rediscover passions and creativity they may have overlooked.

Since Bud's Workshop was established, Jim has created festive and spiritual signs, heart-shaped designs for Valentine's Day, and is currently working on upcoming projects. If you’re interested in any Bud’s Workshop products, please visit our store or shop the website. Custom orders can be placed in-store by filling out a custom order request form which can be obtained at the front register.