'The Nest of Tables' series is now complete!Find full details & watch the intro HERE. This nest of tables is based on a design where they'll each come together with a lovely sliding fit, so it was certainly the kind of build that benefited from working through a prototype before jumping … [Read more...]
Vision, Design, Build
(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...]
New Project On The Way
It's felt a bit back to roots of late as we've been talking a lot about workbenches, but for those already set and ready to build you might be relieved to hear that we're now well on with a new furniture build. After giving thought to everyone's requests and looking to come up with something … [Read more...]
Timber Movement & Workbench Design
If you know anything about the way that I work then you'll know that I don't like to faff. I will always do a proper job though, in fact I tend to do things somewhat overkill. But when it comes to the tools and techniques used I'll always find the most basic and simple route. I'm no different … [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...]
Chair Building Basics – New Video Series!
https://youtu.be/NBTqW5t3HGs In our latest series we learn how to build a chair. Chapter One is already live. This series can be purchased by Clicking Here. If you're already a Member then you may need to Login First. Chair building can require specialist tools and joints that are less … [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...]
Prototyping. Yay or Nay?
For most pieces I don't prototype. It's something that often isn't necessary or which time has not been allocated for. So normally I isolate prototyping to areas that I consider to be particularly troublesome or unusual, and make a mock up of those bits alone so I can analyse. I break this rule … [Read more...]
Designing Furniture With Umph
I'm designing a chest at the moment and thinking about all of the usual pointers to guide me; scale, proportion etc, along with considering it's educational purpose (a new one for me). I thought I'd share with you an extra design dimension that I have within my palette which I've learnt from working … [Read more...]
Dead Old Inspiration
If I were taught about fire breathing dragons in science at school then they'd be as real to me as dinosaurs. They told me Pluto was a planet and I wasn't going to question it. Our young minds can accept facts printed in a text book, but I realise how little of things we can really … [Read more...]