Hi. My name is Connor Kelly and I am the sole artist of The Grain Mill. I live and operate out of Spokane, WA, a place I have called home for a collective nine years (there was a quick stretch in Colorado). My work is a unique combination of Original Origami and Woodworking, striking a balance between two very different mediums.

I've been folding origami for 22 years since my uncle introduced me to it at a young age. I've always loved origami because it is neither additive nor subtractive. The final result is still just a single piece of paper. It wasn't until 2021 or so that I started designing my own pieces and found the desire to display them in unique and natural environments. I strive to source the highest quality and most interesting papers for my subjects as it can separate a good piece from a great piece.

I've been woodworking for close to seven years now and woodturning for about four of those. Born of an attempted cost savings in buying furniture, the hobby spiraled out of control and now my shop occupies a double long garage. The heart of my shop is a 16x24 Grizzly lathe with a bed extension that increases my turning capacity to 28 inches in diameter and 47 inches long. I source my wood as ethically as possible and mostly use pieces found locally ranging from Birch to Walnut.

Professionally, I am a brewer at Uprise Brewing Company. I started home brewing when a coworker introduced me to it back in 2015. After taking a job at a yeast supplier and microbiology lab, this hobby also spiraled out of control and led to the path of professional brewing. Brewing has been an excellent way of combining my love of making things with my formal education in biology.