It starts with a vision he cannot put on paper, but in David Siebanthaler's hands a hunk of black walnut he turns on his lathe looks almost like velvet, taking on a beauty so exquisite it is as close to art as a piece of wood can be shaped.

From his unique wall sconces and curved-dovetail boxes that could double as museum pieces to the simple elegance of his plant stands and custom, handcrafted cabinetry, Siebanthaler has carved more than a niche for himself as one of north Idaho's premier craftsman.

In hardscrabble Boundary County - where a market for buckeye wall pockets and turned maple bowls is difficult to find - Siebanthaler has been able to earn a living as a cabinetmaker and woodworker for more than 25 years.

His works - which are exhibited at the Groove Studio in Bonners Ferry - combine simple, natural elegance and smooth shapes with clean lines and polished finishes.

"Ceramic wall sconces from Nippon with their neat glazes that were popular in the early 1900s caught my imagination," said Siebanthaler, who was raised in Wisconsin. "After the lathe became my favorite power tool, I fell in love with wood-turning."

Siebanthaler - who for years has operated a home repair business called 'Honey Do'- walked away from a lucrative carpentry business in the Silicon Valley to move to north Idaho more than 20 years ago, where he and a partner were making stained-glass front doors for $3,000-$4,000 apiece.

But to Siebanthaler, leaving the big money for Idaho - he had worked in the mines in the Silver Valley years before - wasn't a difficult decision.

"When you're making big money, you're also spending it just as fast," he said. "I was really missing the mountains up here. So for me, it wasn't that big of a choice to make."

When he had lived near Wallace, Siebanthaler began restoring antiques, repairing and making furniture.

"It was a great experience," he recalled. "I learned how cabinets were made and how old things were put together. A lot of what I learned then I still use today. I know there's not a big market here for custom woodworking, but I just want to get my work out because I love it."

About 80 percent of Siebanthaler's paying jobs come from his handcrafted cabinetry. He has also custom-designs entire kitchens, from high-end to mid-range projects.

One of the most remarkable and extraordinary aspects of Siebanthaler is his name. Christened Kerry Hadler, he adopted the name David Siebanthaler from a carpenter and woodworker who taught him a great deal about the craft before he died in his mid-30s.

"It seemed like a good way to honor someone who helped and inspired me early on," he said. "To this day, all my friends know me as David. Plus, I couldn't think of a name for my woodworking business at the time, and David Siebanthaler just felt right. It still does."

For more information on Siebanthaler's work, call 267-2155.