Busy, Busy, Busy

/in , /by

   

This week I have been busy making items for my up coming markets and filling orders for customers.  I have been busier making more garden trugs this time I have just completed 22 in total. A dozen were pre-ordered for a new garden centre in Dursley called Leaf and Ground which is due to open at the end of this month. I also made them half a dozen beer caddies and a couple of sets of pigeon holes. I still have a few more display items to make by the end of the week so Ill be busy in the workshop for the next few days.

I have also been busy making a big wall cupboard out of reclaimed wood for a lovely little cottage in Summer Street Stroud which I will be fitting later in the week ( you can just see it in the background)

And Finally I have upped my production of pizza platters, chopping boards, hall shelves, boxes and carry-alls

I will be at the Tewkesbury High Street Fine Food and Arts markets on Sunday 20th October, Stroud Farmers Market on Saturday 26th and Suffolks Sunday Markets on the 27th so if you are after some early Christmas presents or items for the home or garden pop on down and ssay hello

How Green Is My Valley

/in , /by

At the end of last week and for a couple of hours this morning I was lucky enough to be working at 1 Woodbine Cottage in the Slad Valley.  For those of you who are not from the Stroud district it is a beautiful part of the Cotswolds that has been immortalised by the words of the famous author Laurie Lee, whose classic novel ‘Cider with Rosie’ is known and loved all over the world. This green and tranquil, hidden valley can be found near the towns of Stroud and Painswick.  Many of the locations in the book are still recognisable today. The tiny village of Slad centres around the Woolpack Inn,  where you can see the seat where Lee used to sit and the church where Laurie Lee is now buried. A stained glass window commemorates this most famous author.

The original part of the cottage dates back around 300 years with an extension of sorts around 200 years ago and it has recently undergone some major renovations to bring it back to its original glory.  I can certainly confirm that it is absolutely beautiful inside and very authentic, a real slice of the cotswolds.

I was asked to make a new gate befitting of this wonderful cottage and to build a suitably large log store with a kindling shelf to ensure that it is kept nice and cosy through the winter.

Woodbine cottage is available as a holiday rental and if you would like more details please check out their website 1 Woodbine Cottage, Slad

If you would like to have a custom built gate or log store please drop me an email or message and I will be happy to discuss your requirements

 

Rustic Hall Stand

/in , /by

Many of my projects are led by customer requirements, this was definitely the case with the hall stand I have built this week.  My client has a large family and needed a storage solution for coat and scarfs but could not use the traditional method of fitting coat hooks and a shelf on the wall in the hallway.  They had previous bought a free standing hat/coat stand from a leading furniture outlet but it has proved to be to flimsy and unstable.  

The stand is designed with a larger base than its top so that it is much stronger and more stable.  The eight hooks will allow plenty of hanging space and the extension of the frame allows for storage of hats and scarfs. The middle and the lower shelf will also facilitate the storage or shoes, umbrellas etc.

Whilst this one has been made especially for a client if you would like to take a stand just like this or something similar please let me know via an email or message

Simple Storage Solutions

/in , /by

  

This week I have dedicated a day to utilise all the plywood offcuts I have from the last couple of big jobs. It will make a lot more room in my workshop and it will also give my a change to increase my market offerings with a selection of open top storage/display boxes.

After sorting through the offcuts I discovered that I had 9mm wisa spruce ply and both 9mm and 12mm birch ply, this helped with the design decisions as the 12mm will make great bases. The rest came down to the size and shape of thee pieces.  Once completed the insides were painted with vibrant colours and coated in a clear varnish whilst the outsides were varnished with a vintage oak stain.

So watch out for these boxes at the next couple of markets or drop me an email or message if you would like one (or more)