This is the official Tom’s Bright Ideas - Knits Division (aka Tom’s Bright Knits). A US Army Veteran Owned Business.

I've been a straight knitter since September 29, 2007. I'm a creative person and I like to improve upon designs that already exist or create something new that doesn't exist and is needed from a new ball of yarn.

In December 2019 I decided I was going to make items to sell at local craft fairs starting in Spring 2020 in the Twin Cities. Well you know what happened. I set up an X/Twitter account under the same name and I said my website was under construction. It was, it's a Wordpress account that I never finished. I write for a few political sites, as well as my own.

In late 2020 I decided to start for my business a giving project for Vets called, "Hats for Heroes," where I'd knit balaclavas and other cold weather gear for Vets. One of the Pastors I gave the finished items to distribute asked if he could give to other people beyond Vets and I decided to start up a giving project for non-Vets called, "Knits for Neighbors." Since I'm the only knitter here those giving projects take me away from making for profit items to sell. So if you contribute here in a membership you'll be buying me the yarn to make giving items for Vets & Neighbors I don't know yet.

I got permission from the President of the Green Bay Packers to sell Packers themed items without paying them a fee. I'm a Packers Shareholder since 1997, which is just voting stock not a financial dividend unfortunately. I make other sports themed items of other teams in the Pros, or in College, or High School. No logos yet.

I'm a US Army Veteran. I served with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment from 1988 to 1989. I got an Honorable Discharge on Veterans Day 1989. My MOS was 13 Foxtrot, Fire Support Specialist. The photos of military vehicles were from my camera back then before the modern digital age.

In May of 2026 I finally got a service connected disability rating of 30% for physical issues.

I was diagnosed with Depression from the VA-Minneapolis. It is a disability. I didn't have to tell you this but I thought other Vets who are having problems need to know it is okay to seek help and be vulnerable. Through teamwork we can overcome anything.