(By Helen)Ending up with a nice piece of furniture that you've made yourself is pretty satisfactory.But there's more to worry about than just cutting the joints or polishing up the finish.Sometimes the hardest part is choosing what to build. And often it's easier to come up with something from … [Read more...]
About Helen
All Running & Happy Christmas!
I want to ask how on Earth it's Christmas already? But I recon you've probably heard that at least three times this week. I'm not ready yet, never am. But I kind of like it that way. Uncertainty seems to keep more of that child-like magic than having everything all in hand. (or I just never got … [Read more...]
Scavenging Timber – Sourcing Good Timber In Smaller Sizes
Buying timber can seem to be some sort of secret club that you've yet to be initiated in to. I'd like to say that after all these years of sourcing timber I've been through that initiation, but if I'm honest I'm often still stumped. It's not the technicalities that get to me, I'm pretty good now … [Read more...]
Want To Design, Can’t Draw?
Design is a balance between function and looks. It won't work if you focus too much on one and ignore the other. But if it involves both art and science, then surely design must be skill that only very few are capable of? The truth is, anyone can do design, and the secret is just having a bit of … [Read more...]
Updates & What’s To Come
You may have noticed that the website's had a bit of a re-design. I set out to make a few tweaks to help me with some design decisions, but ended up continuing and doing the full job. I suppose it felt right to put things in to action whilst they were fresh in mind. The end goal with the … [Read more...]
What Makes Good Design?
When you set out to build a piece of furniture do you look to someone else's work for inspiration, or perhaps wait for a suitable plan to take your fancy? It can feel limiting when you have the motivation to crack on, but aren't sure what to build. Or you know what you want you're furniture to … [Read more...]
Getting Focused
We're getting a lot of questions about what's coming when, so here's how it's looking: - Next Premium Video - Pre-launching Next Week - The Hand Plane Build - Coming Next Month - Mystery Project - End Of The Year (hopefully) - Book(s) - Completed Next Year (possibly!) Building Your Own Hand … [Read more...]
Why Make Your Own Paint?
I enjoy making paint. It's messy and childlike, and can also seem like alchemy. I don't make it a strict or scientific affair, it's more a case of going by feel, the kind of approach I expect an experienced baker takes with a batch of cookies or wholesome loaf of bread. But why would you bother … [Read more...]
Photos and Feedback
Since our first fuzzy sounding project videos that we made for Youtube a few years ago, we've enjoyed receiving photos of clinched together chests and small cupboards with all manner of door styles. The best part of course is always the story that's written out … [Read more...]
Learning Through Limitation
I'm in a unusual position for a learner. I can observe Richard working, then pick up his tools and try for myself. I know the tools work well, and you could envy that. But the thing is, it takes away the one excuse that all novices need. I can't blame my tools. When things aren't working I get … [Read more...]
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