My Biography

I attended schools in Modesto and Oakdale, California and have an AA degree in art from Modesto Junior College and a BA in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco. I retired from the City of Modesto Police Department after having attained the rank of Captain and Interim Chief of Police.

Creativity has always been a part of my life. For many years I have painted with water colors, acrylics and oils and have enjoyed making one of a kind elaborate Christmas gift wrappings.

What started out as creating recipe boxes for Christmas presents for family members has turned into a small business. I built wooden boxes and sketched a design and then etched it with a wood burner and then hand painted the design with a variety of colors and shading. They went over extremely well and before I knew it, I was making more recipe boxes for acquaintances.

My wife mentioned that she would like some kind of container for her reading glasses so they wouldn't get misplaced. I sketched out an idea with a nature scene and made an eyeglass caddie with felt on the inside so the eyeglass lenses would not get scratched. I was commissioned to make Fifty eyeglass caddies as gifts for a function at a country club..

That led into making serving trays with European village scenes and memento and treasure boxes, recipe boxes and many more custom orders. My designs are also on display and sold at a decorator shop in Modesto. In 2011 I started my business, Tom's Designs and have been very busy attending Arts & Crafts Shows and creating custom designs.