Workshop Tour

French Cleats, neat battery tricks and nifty organisation hacks help maintain the usability and organisation of the workshop.

Walking you round my workshop consists of standing still and turning round until you are dizzy! Three years since its inception and the tiny 8x6 workshop has seen some new tools, minor tweaks and major changes. In this video I bring you up to date with all the changes that have taken place.

Since this video was made I have added the facility to vent the dust extractor out through the wall in the summer months and only reverting to the cut down collection bag in the winter so I do not lose expensive heat to the outside!

Scrollsaw and Woodworking Magazine

I was well chuffed to be invited to write a feature about my 8x6 workshop for Scrollsaw Woodworking and Crafts magazine.

A six page article appeared in their Spring 2020 edition and the full feature is available to read on their website.

I do hope this article will inspire others to have a go and develop their own small spaces be it woodwork, craft or knitting!

Wood Carving Repair and Restoration

Restoring an old wood carving. The owner of this ornament asked me if I could repair all the damage and re-finish it for her. I pointed out that the work would drastically effect it's value (estimated at less than £100) as it would no longer be original, but she wanted a nice piece for display rather than a tatty object stuffed in a drawer. Although the carving only stands at around 225mm (9 inches) it is exceptionally well carved and obviously not the usual run of the mill production piece. I was honoured to restore this and thoroughly enjoyed the process which was carried out over the course of a few weeks. 

The character, named Mr Pickwick, reminded me of a childhood obsession I had with the television programmes of Trumpton and Camberwick Green, both written and produced (along with a third series called Chigley) by stop motion puppeteer Gordon Murray in the mid 1960's. Brian Cant, a popular children's TV presenter narrated the action and all the music was written and performed by the British classical guitarist and composer Freddie Phillips. It gave me a good excuse to pay homage to these talented people.