Meet Leon Fanning | Woodworker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leon Fanning and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leon, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started to think about starting my own business because I wanted to be more available for my wife who is disabled. I have always enjoyed woodworking but never had the time to fully dedicate to it because of a work/job schedule that most often was over 60 hours a week.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
There are a lot of woodworkers in our area. Most do larger items such as cabinets tables etc. I tend to focus on smaller items such as cutting boards, lazy susans, trivets and awards. I have been able to donate awards to EMS , cutting boards for local schools to provide for trips and have designed the Ice fishing tournament trophies for the Granby Chamber of Commerce. I am excited and proud that when I started in 2021 80% of my business was continuing to do contract maintenance in the community. It has now become that I do 60% maintenance and 40% woodworking and art. The goal is to fully rely on m woodworking and craftsmanship. I have honed new skills to where I do not purchase items to just laser engrave. I work and ready my own wood and start creating from scratch. It is all me doing it now. It has been a lot of hard work, and research is the key as well. What are people wanting right now? Is a question I ask myself. I have noticed having something that is both useful and decorative really draws people in. I have had mess ups with wood which with current prices is not and easy loss, but then I have learned to use even the smallest pieces of wood for cutting boards and other things. I call them my chaos pieces. In this economy I have learned that people may love your items but they can not be astronomically priced. I figure a profit into the pieces I make taking into consideration materials and time. Pricing is key in crafts, as I am sure it is with everything. I have learned that even though I see something similar to mine for sale, it doesn’t mean sell it for the same price. It something I sell doesn’t get sold in a year, I lower prices, but luckily the majority of my work sells rather quickly. Each and every piece I make has my love and attention to it. I completely enjoy creating items.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We have family that has started to come up and visit, who have never been in the area. Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the must sees for anyone coming here. The town of Grand Lake and its local shops are also a must see. In Grand Lake the Sagebrush is a must eat place great food and great prices. Adams Falls is a must do hike, all the way to the meadow . When we have company we take them on the hike and then have a packed lunch at the meadow. a jeep ride on County road 4 is also a fun adventure. Fishing on lake Granby in a boat, or kayaking on Shadow Mountain and Grand Lake is also a must do. The views are amazing. We have so much to do outdoors here, and even though the fire ravaged so much of our county, it is still beautiful. Monarch Lake is a beautiful hike and not at all difficult. When we are in Granby on the Weekend the Fat Cat Cafe is a must. The buffet with all home baked cakes pies as well as Scottish eggs and bacon is wonderful! Everyone should try it. If not staying with us then Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountains is the place to stay. Either in your own RV or renting a Villa. Great amenities there. In Winter the Fraser Tubing Hill is a must, and if you ski Granby Ranch and Winter Park Resort. For those of us that do not ski, snowshoeing in the winter nearly anywhere is wonderful. My wife and I snow shoed into Rocky Mountain National Park and got married there.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Most companies would not be supportive if you were leaving or after you have left. I have to credit Sun Outdoors Rocky Mountains and the General Manager Dave Huber for giving me a launching pad. Even though I want to be a full time woodworker, that doesn’t happen over night. Sun Outdoors continues to use me as a contract labor for maintenance off and on. They have also graciously allowed us to start having Craft fairs at their amazing facility which not only helps my small business but those of others as well.

Facebook: k and l creations limited

Other: We advertise many of our items on local sale sites such as Grand County Online and Marketplace with facebook.