About Sam

Sam Thomas’s hippie parents put him in an experimental elementary school in the 70s, where his education consisted largely of welding, woodworking, ceramics, and playing the tuba. Later, Sam worked for a custom furniture maker, learning the finer points of design, milling, joinery, and finishing. Sam has been making furniture in Southern California since 2006, and in 2020 he founded Wildbird Woodworks.

Sam’s designs and shop processes are influenced by Tage Frid, George Nakashima, Sam Maloof, James Krenov, and other iconic makers who have prioritized wood grain, strong and elegant joinery, clean lines, and an organic sensibility.

With graduate degrees from both Yale University and the University of Notre Dame, Sam is also a professor of religious studies and environmental studies. People often ask him how religious studies, environmental studies, and woodworking go together, and he has about 17 different answers to this question. Contact him to find out which one you like most.