My Grandfather, Fred Hooper, was born in 1929 and as far back as I can remember, he was always teaching me to make, fix or break things in an effort to save here or there or simply to improve upon what was already in front of us. Before going to college, my grandmother made sure I knew how to cook, iron clothes and sew. We never had much growing up, and if we didn't have the money to buy, he'd fin
d a way to make it. From porches to shelves, finishing basements to simple electrical wiring, he has and continues to teach me new things each and every project we work on together. My mind always wanders, thinking of things to make, improve or tear apart to figure it all out. For me personally, making things is my outlet. It frees my mind from the daily stresses of work and is my creative outlet. I started my maker journey painting and drawing and a young age and would always go over the top on projects for school, break most of my toys trying to take them apart and I was obsessed with model making at a young age. Over the years, I have put good use to these skills. Fixing and making things I otherwise didn't have or couldn't afford. Whether it is painting, creating Halloween costumes for myself or my nephew, dresses for my niece, bow ties, custom bookcases, and very much in between, I love to make. Fred+Alan is a tribute to the skills and wandering mind that the generations before me has passed down.
