Clint Daniel has been working with wood since high school. After a long career in construction, working as a contractor on many grading projects in the Atlanta area, he now spends much of his free time turning wood - a more specialized technique for shaping wood.

"This is something that you enjoy by yourself, to separate you from everything else," Daniel said. "It's more of a relaxing hobby."

His basement is proof of his enjoyment. It is full of projects such as bowls, pepper mills, pens, tiny vases he calls weed pots and even baby rattles and tiny bird houses.

Daniel said the bird houses are his favorite items to make and he often uses them as Christmas ornaments.

Each item is unique, and he uses a wide variety of woods. Some of the items use exotic wood Daniel has purchased, other items use native wood he collected as a contractor when grading sites. He has many pieces using ambrosia that shows a star pattern caused by ambrosia beetles in the wood.

Daniel said he does the work simply for his own enjoyment. He rarely sells any of his handiwork, but he gives away many pieces.

"It gives me a chance to make things to give away. I give it from the heart," Daniel said.