Newtowner Johnny Williams Finalist in Martha Stewart's 'American Made' Contest

Johnny Williams runs a one-man woodshop in Newtown, Conn. making one of a kind handcrafted furniture and wooden homewares. Williams is a 2014 finalist for Martha Stweart’s “American Made” contest and needs your votes to win. As of Wednesday morning, Williams had the second most votes in the design category for the contest.

Williams described his work this way in his bio:

Back in 2009, I quit my cozy job in marketing with the plan of making furniture. I told my boss how I wanted to work with my hands - a mighty notion to a white-collar worker, albeit vague and romanticized. At night, I sketched in broad strokes, unacquainted with the details of joinery, material or proportions. By day, I admired images of graceful tables while hunched over in a creaky office chair. Then I moved to Maine to take an intensive furniture-making course. There I toiled for weeks on a modest step stool and grew discouraged by the lack of tangible progress. But one day, snap! The stool clamped together and I was able to appreciate its joinery, material and proportions — the details I had once overlooked. It was that day that I fell in love with woodworking. Today, I run my own woodshop, building heirloom furniture, cutting boards and wooden art. Ultimately, I aspire to produce a full line of furniture and continue to challenge myself as an artist, a craftsman and a businessman.

The American Made contest showcases the maker and supports local, handmade crafters and artists. “Through American Made, Martha Stewart and the editors of Martha Stewart Living are spotlighting the next generation of great American makers: entrepreneurs, artisans, and small-business owners who are creating beautiful, inspiring, useful products,” Stewart said on the contest website.

Williams needs your votes to win. In an email to supporters he said: “I thought this was a long-shot but thanks to you, we could actually win this thing!”

The entrant with the most votes will win the competition. Fans can cast six votes per day every day until Oct. 13.

Click here to vote.

Follow Johnny Williams on Facebook by clicking here.

Photo: Johnny Williams