About DIY Pete
Hi and thanks for checking out my site! My name is Pete Sveen and I run the DIYPETE.com website and Youtube channel from my home in Bozeman, Montana. I love to inspire others to create and try new things. I am an average "Do it Yourselfer" just like many of you. I've created a number of projects over the years in my garage and have documented the process to help others learn and build.
The DIY Pete mission
My mission is to help and inspire as many “Do it Yourselfers” as possible. I feel that every project can be accomplished by taking one step at a time. The hardest part is often taking the first step. The video tutorials on my Youtube channel are some of the most in-depth DIY tutorials online because I try to break down each step to show everyone that building basic furniture and fun projects really is doable. I'm not a fine wood worker or the best welder on the block. But I'm not afraid to try new things and to share what I've learned along the way.
Born and raised in the Midwest
I grew up in Aberdeen, SD, and attended the University of Nebraska - Lincoln where I studied Entrepreneurship. I've always loved working with my hands and thought it would be fun to share what I've learned with others. I bought my first tool box with money I made from my snow cone stand on the sidewalk in front of my house in Aberdeen, SD. My dad and I would work on projects in the evening and on the weekends. Wood, steel, and concrete are all mediums I truly enjoy working with.
Life in the mountains
I currently live and play in Bozeman, Montana. Bozeman is located in the Gallatin Valley at an elevation of 4800 feet. The town is surrounded by mountains in all directions and is an amazing place to live. In addition to all of my hobbies out in the garage I enjoy skiing, kayaking, running, flying airplanes, and hanging out with friends and family. International travel has become a priority in my life the last couple years I've traveled to Scotland, Costa Rica, and Tanzania.
How I make a living
Many people who come to the site ask what I do with the projects and what I do for a living. Most of the projects are things I need for my own home or gifts for family and friends. Other times I'll donate projects to charities.
For a living I run the ThinkEntrepreneurship.com blog and DIYPETE.com site. These sites generate revenue through advertisements, sponsorships, Youtube, affiliate revenue, and digital products. I rarely take on commissioned projects but will from time to time if they are a good fit for the DIY audience. Here is a cool metal project I did in coordination with my good friend John Dumas from EntrepreneuronFire.com. If you are interested in learning about how you can turn your DIY hobby into a profitable online business please answer a few questions on my survey so I can better serve you.
My shop AKA the garage
I do the majority of my projects out of my garage. It's a 2 stall garage that doesn't get parked in because that's where projects get done! Nothing fancy but I've added tools over the years, become more organized, and improved the setup.
New opportunities
Documenting my projects and sharing them with other DIY'ers around the world has been extremely rewarding. The video tutorials and projects have inspired thousands of people to try new projects and to build furniture and art that will last for lifetimes. Building an online presence has opened the doors to numerous partnerships and fun opportunities. Projects have been in the Make Magazine Print Publications, featured by Bobvila.com, and even done in coordination with a number of companies and organizations.