JEFF VOLLMER was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended the College Conservatory of Music and the University of Cincinnati. Jeff was always a hobbyist woodworker who enjoyed making really fun and weird projects. In 1989, he made his first puzzle box. This was the beginning of Royal Woods, his own part-time business. In 1992, he made a full-time commitment to making bandsawn boxes, and Royal Woods really took off. Today, Jeff and his wife, Lynn, work together making puzzle boxes and selling them at art shows and in fine galleries. Their work is represented in all 50 states and in Europe. Jeff has written articles for Popular Woodworking, and in 2010 he authored his first book Puzzle Boxes Fun and Intriguing BandSaw Projects. Jeff says working with wood is much better than having a job!