Hello…Is Anybody There?

by | Jan 7, 2014 | 33 comments

Preparing to filmGetting ClearedFor the first time since we started Maguire Workbenches we’ve had a nice long break over Christmas and this has kept us a little distant from here. But now we’re back and the focus of this next year is all about creating new videos and stepping things up on this blog.

Over the past year Maguire Workbenches has been bursting at the seams with our workload. Add to that the complication of purchasing the barns and for both of us the year became such a blur that we can barely remember it.
Spending this bit of time away from the workshop has been a good marker to us of the changes ahead. The short break may not seem like such a big deal, but to us it’s huge because it feels like we’ve taken the reins off a child that no longer demands our attension every waking hour.  We’ve no ambition to grow Maguire Workbenches beyond what the two of us can manage alone and so we’ve reached a point where although it is small and humble we are content.
We’re not good at having spare time though so when we realised several months back that the hours we put in to Maguire Workbenches could be easing off it timed very well with the forth coming venture with the Barns. As our focus switches to creating videos and content for this blog we now have plenty of space available for making it happen.

When we dabbled with making our first vidoes we enjoyed it even more than we’d hoped so we’re both itching to get filming again. The start of this year now marks the start of a new bench building schedule that we’ve created to allow us time to tackle the new challanges so we’re very excited and looking forward to this year ahead.

We’d like to wish everyone a very happy New Year and thank you for all the support that you bring to this little corner of the internet .

Richard & Helen

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About Richard Maguire

About Richard Maguire

As a professional hand tool woodworker, Richard found hand tools to be the far more efficient solution for a one man workshop. Richard runs 'The English Woodworker' as an online resource and video education for those looking for a fuss free approach to building fine furniture by hand. Learn More About Richard & The English Woodworker.

33 Comments

  1. Dave

    Yes we can hear you! Thank you for your hard work so far, and we’re looking forward very much to your future blog posts and videos, which have been truly excellent!

    Reply
  2. Ken

    Happy New Year guys. Looking forward to whatever you come up with this year. Best of luck whatever it is.

    HaHa time, I’m still looking for my first day off. 😉

    Reply
  3. Vic Tesolin

    Happy New Year folks! Looking forward to seeing what’s going on over there across the pond.

    Reply
  4. Daniel

    Happy New year to you both. Look forward to your future blog posts.

    Reply
  5. Ian Elley

    Happy New year and good luck with ventures !

    Reply
  6. Chris Buckingham

    Happy New Year Richard and Helen, you are winning at last,it will seem a very long slog, but you will get there in the end, it just seems never ending while you are getting there. Then when you do finish it all,you go back to the start and do it again !!!
    Chris,
    France.

    Reply
  7. Paul Chapman

    Happy New Year to you both. Looking forward to seeing how things develop with the barns.

    Reply
  8. Steph conduit

    Happy new year to you both. I look forward to see your new videos you shoot in the barn. I bet the sound will be echoey in the and you can make as much noise as you like with no complaining neighbours (unlike me) or there noisy music in the back ground. I wish you all the best for 2014 and hope the year is another success for you.

    Reply
  9. Eddy Flynn

    Happy new year to you both and all the luck in the world with your upcoming venture

    Reply
  10. Cas Sedgwick

    It’s a pleasure seeing talent and hard work pay off. I’m looking forward to seeing your transformation of the barns and your continued progress in your core business in the future. Happy New Year to both of you.

    Reply
  11. John S

    Welcome back and best wishes to you both!

    Reply
  12. Kevin Mello

    Happy New Year to you both! It looks like a huge project, but also a lot of fun in the offing. I do love the little shed built into the barn. Perfect spot for the Shop Gnomes to live. You know, the little buggers who come in at night and move your tools so you get to spend hours looking for them! Good luck, can’t wait to see more vids.

    Reply
  13. Dave

    Happy New Year to you both, with continued success in 2014 and beyond. Looking FWD to your new films and watching you get your place squared away. I want you both to have fun and enjoy what you are doing. You bring a lot to our lives.Thank you

    Reply
  14. Graham Haydon

    That barn is going to make a stunning backdrop to your videos. I cant wait to see the topics within the videos.

    Reply
  15. Paul

    OK loud & clear here, reorganizing shop, added some new cabinets, etc.
    Good to have you back.

    Reply
  16. owen

    looking forward to the next videos!

    Reply
  17. Christopher

    Yep. Right here, following you with interest, and waiting (maybe forever) until you start exporting your workbenches to the US for a reasonably affordable price.

    Reply
  18. Gary P

    Happy New Year Richard and Helen. Waiting,,,,,,looking forward to it. still waiting,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,with a smile,,,,,

    Reply
  19. Scott

    I love your videos, they are very well done, entertaining and educational. If you did a regular paid series, I’d sure subscribe!

    Cheers!

    Reply
  20. Dick

    Great to hear from you again. Hope the New Year is your best yet, and wish you great success in your endeavors.
    Best regards,
    Dick

    Reply
  21. johnnie skears

    Happy New Years to you both,best wishes for the forth coming adventure and the future. regards john.

    Reply
  22. Tom

    Your plans for more video and blogging are good news. I’ve particularly enjoyed the hand tool videos and look forward to more. Thanks for doing it.

    Reply
  23. Richard

    By the number of replies here it seems we are all here and are very happy the “settling in” is going so well. Can’t wait to see more.

    Reply
  24. Lukasz Budzynski

    Helen and Richard!

    Best wishes for the New Year! I wish You both good health and strength, to keep the company and blog so well going. Thanks for the blog and great videos 🙂 I love the traditional and effective approach to the woodwork, the camera handling and music. The inputs on the company, barn etc. topics makes one keeps his thumbs up for your projects. I’ve also had the pleasure to meet You both at the EWS this year and You’re very nice people 🙂
    For us, the blog followers, I’d like to wish more and more of The English Woodworkers’ videos 🙂

    Take care,
    Lukasz.

    Reply
  25. mark williams

    Happy New Year to you both.
    Nice to hear from you, was beginning to think that you had got lost in the undergrowth! 🙂
    We’re here and eagerly awaiting the first video from the new studio.

    Reply
  26. Mihai

    Howdy,
    Tender thoughts and a very Happy New Year .
    May all your whishes come true !

    Reply
  27. Gary Cook

    Really looking forward to seeing more posts about the barns, Richard. I dream about buying some property like this, but now much around Hackney! Now I’m wondering how far I need to drive to find one, hahaha. Probably Lincolnshire….

    Reply
  28. oscar lind

    Yes, there are lots of out here cheering you on and wishing we could roll up our sleeves and pitch in.
    Have a fine new year and three’s no doubt that you will accomplish a great deal.
    Oscar Lind
    Port Townsend, WA

    Reply
  29. Michael Forster

    Yes – still here – awaiting developments with bated breath! I think it’s safe to say that none of us is going anywhere, any time soon!

    Reply
  30. Michael O'Brien

    Yes, I can hear you. Congratulations on your new location and Happy New Year.
    Looking forward to more videos from you this year.
    Thanks,
    Mike O’Brien
    Valley Head, AL, USA

    Reply
  31. robert putman

    oh yea, things are looking good, get rid of the spider webs and sweep up the dirt , add a few lights and boom…new videos staring richard and helen…yea hooo…bring it on 2014, its getting kinda weird to type these numbers…i was born in 1957, which means…im getting OLD…but i would not trade my years or want to be any younger, cant wait to see what you guys bring to us….

    Reply
  32. Richard Olson

    I hope you will find time to show how to mount the old cupboard door without hardware.

    Richard

    Reply
  33. Rhoda

    Keep up the great work 🙂

    Reply

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