I grew up on 100 acres of peaceful farmland in North Easthope Township with two little brothers in a family of tradesmen. My Dad is a tool & die maker by trade, and in many ways, my hero and my benchmark for quality work. 

Childhood visits to my Opa were spent engrossed in various woodworking projects in his cozy workshop. I got to do all of the 4H classes for baking and bread making, but luckily got to tag along with my brothers to the woodworking classes as well. I loved it all. There are so many things to try, so many things you can learn...I just love to learn!

I studied German in university (because women didn't go into the trades back then) and had the opportunity to live in the Saarland region of Germany for a year afterwards with my now-husband. When our daughter was born, I started a photography business, which I ran for 7 years. I was blessed to shoot so many amazing weddings and precious families. I loved the creative outlet, but the evening and weekend work eventually wasn't such a great fit for family life, so I went back to school and attended a Women in Skilled Trades program for General Carpentry. A teacher's strike led to an unexpected job offer with an amazing group of general contractors and I opted to work with them instead of returning to class when the strike finally ended weeks later. Learning about all of the facets of renovations and additions was incredible and overwhelming. I loved doing finish work, although demo-ing things was also pretty fun and a great workout too! A new job opportunity presented itself and then didn't end up living up to what it was presented as, and I was launched unexpectedly back into the self-employed world and Trim & Thistle was born.

It was wonderful. For these reasons:

I adore working with people. Old farmhouses and wide open fields inspire me. Working with my hands is a must. Creating. Building. Doing. That feeling at the end of the day when you look around and see a physical transformation. And best of all, the relationships you build along the way. I love working one-on-one with homeowners and working exclusively on detail and finish work, where my strengths lie. There's a good chance you landed here on the advice of a friend - most of my clients become good friends by the end of a project, and most of my business is built on referrals from happy customers. 

So. Feel like you know me yet? The funny thing is, it's not about me. It's about you. Your projects, your dreams, making your house a home. I can't wait to hear from you!



Want a second opinion?
Take a look at some reviews on Google or Facebook

martina wendland,
owner/trim carpenter