About Us

Welcome to Turning North!

Turning North began as Nick’s vision, inspired by the strength of his wife, Allie, after she suffered two traumatic brain injuries on the job that ultimately ended her 15-year career in law enforcement. Allie was also diagnosed PTSD and anxiety.  Before her injury, she worked full-time and ran her own sewing business, Minnesewta Handmade. Her injuries and deteriorating eyesight made it impossible to continue, so she made the hard decision to close her business and focus on healing both physically and mentally. 


While Allie was on her journey to healing, Nick and Allie discovered an AMAZING non-profit  that offers therapy services and resources to the law enforcement and military community, like art therapy classes. Nick and Allie went for their first class and made beautiful cutting boards, something Nick always loved to do and could not really get Allie interested in. After the cutting board class, Allie set up her second class to make a turned pen on the lathe. Allie came home that day and described the complete sense of peace and anxiety relief she had when she worked on the lathe. After that class, a passion was formed and Allie and Nick soon owned their own lathe and took off turning and learning everything there was to know! 


A few months passed and many projects later, Nick had the inspiration to start Turning North in honor of Allie's journey in mental health and to show how much he supports her. 

The business name was derived from both Nick and Allie's love of the Boundary Waters and Northern Minnesota and the direction they see both of their journeys through mental health healing and learning. The tree stands for strength and stability within their lives and marriage and the rings around the logo symbolize the rings of growth in a tree, the growth they have had the past few years, and the growth they aspire to have and see others have through their classes . 

Thank you for visiting! We hope you take a look around and drop us a line! We would love to hear from you!!! 

Learn how to make your own cocktail smoker!