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Custom Keyboard Flight Case

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One of the best things about being a carpenter is the ability to build custom items. This weeks customer is me! 

I recently joined Stroud based Dub Reggae band Frankly Skanky as they keyboard player, and after a few months with the band I decided to buy myself an early Christmas present…an upgrade my instrument. I managed to find a good quality used Roland VR-09-B V-Combo Keyboard.  As I want to protect it whilst transporting it to practice and gigs I thought I would buy a flight case but discovered that they cost almost as much as the keyboard so I decided to make my own.  I searched the internet and found the correct spring handle as set of 3 clip hinges, which will allow me to remove the lid, steel corner protectors and clip catches. Using 9mm birch marine ply I build the box and gave it several coats of varnish.  Once the varnish was dry I then got stuck into the interior of the case.  Using upholstery foam rubber and some lovely purple satin I designed the inserts so that the keyboard would be held in place and protected from all angles. 

I am extremely pleased the end result and although I had to invest some of my time the project definitely made in much cheaper than buying one and I know that nobody will have a flight case quite like mine

Old Fashioned Kitchen Shelves

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I have always liked old fashioned styling and as I had just dismantled a solid pine wardrobe I had a good supply of wood with which to build something substantial.  So I decided to make a set of wall mounted kitchen shelves with hooks like the ones I had made for our kitchen several years ago. Once I had cut the wood to size I discovered that I had enough wood to make two sets.  So after a lot of sanding, some fancy jigsaw work to make the curvy sides and a bit of routing to put the grooves in the shelves I was ready for assembly.

As many of you know I don’t normally paint my furniture but I felt that to enhance the country farmhouse vibe I would paint them in muted pastel tones, one is a fresh sky blue whilst the other is a vintage French grey.  The addition of the hooks on the bottom of both units will allow for the hanging of cups, pans etc.  The shelves have been grooved to allow for plates to be stored upright just like the old Welsh dressers. They have been fitted with reclaimed brass wall mountings so that they can be secured to the wall.

I will be taking both sets with me to the market this weekend so if you are looking for a way to brighten up your kitchen pop down and pick up as set if old fashion country kitchen shelves

Good With Wood (Stroud) will be at Stroud farmers market on 11th and 25th of January. 

 

Operation Replenishment

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In order to maintain stock levels after a couple of weekends worth of successful Christmas markets I have spent the last week hidden away in the workshop, like one of Santa’s elves, I have been super busy making a range of my most popular items.  During the year I am always making new items but amongst these are the staples…

Last weeks on

Monday ! made 18 Garden Trugs,

Tuesday 8 Beer Caddies and 4 Wine Caddies

Wednesday 6 rustic caddies and 8 plywood storage boxes

Thursday was dedicated to 4 extra Hall shelves with coat hooks

And Finally on Friday I finished off two sets of pigeon holes and a couple of spice racks

Luckily I had spent a couple of days the week before making 24 chopping boards of various shapes and sizes

This is possibly the busiest week in the workshop yet and whilst I thought it would keep me going for a while after the Stroud Good Will Evening on Friday night I now only have 5 trugs, 2 beer caddies, 2 wine caddies, 1 rustic caddy and no spice racks left so this week will probably be just as busy making stock for the markets coming up in the next couple of weeks

But I am very happy to have this kind of problem, it’s well worthwhile work and I love to think of all the people that will be receiving one of my items as a Christmas present.

 

This weeks special projects

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Thanks to recent markets I have been busy making special orders this week. Along with the normal items that I need to keep the stall going I am often asked if I can make a specific item for a customer to fit their homes and/or their limited spacces.

I enjoy these projects because I know that they will end up being loved by the clients and in constant use.

If you need something special made be sure to contact me and I am pretty certain I can make you something suitable

Busy, Busy, Busy

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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

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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

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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

Reclaimed Wood Pigeon Holes With Built-in Drawers

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The customer is always right… Just lately I have been on a roll when it comes to selling pigeon holes on my market stall.  They are being snapped up as quick as I can make them.  This is great news for me as I love making them. 

I am always on the lookout for suitable donor pallets. As luck would have it there was a perfect pallet outside the stove shop in Stroud earlier this week and they were happy to let me take it.  It was well aged and had nice wide planks that were not too hard to strip.  A lot of sawing and sanding later and I had the layout sorted. I decided to add a couple of drawers to this one and as I picked up a set of antique handles from the Giant Flea in Malvern at the weekend I though they would be the perfect for this project

This set has been designed to be mounted on the wall or they can sit on top of surface if you wish.  I will be taking these to the Stroud farmers market this Saturday 31st August so if you are interested pop down early as I am sure they will go quickly

 

 

Dinner for Six

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One of my good friends recently asked me if I could replace her current garden table with something a little bigger. As she only has limited space, it needed to be compact, fit in with the look of her garden and not cost too much.

As I love working with reclaimed wood I decided that this project should be made from a hardwood pallet for the table top and I already had some pieces of 2 by 4 that I had salvaged earlier along with a couple of shorter pieces left over from another job.

Taking the pallet apart without loosing any of the seven top slats is a skill in itself but over the years I have discovered which pallets come apart the easiest and so I knew that I had to find a two way hardwood pallet without hook nails and in good condition.  After removing the nails and sanding down all the slats I was ready to go.  I built the base using glue and dowels on the end sections and combined them with lap joints and pocket screws on the sides. I then found the centreline and fixed the six slats using galvanised countersunk screws. To tidy up the ends of the table top, I used a ripped down slat on each end to add strength.   All the screw holes were then filled and the whole table was sanded again.

Even though I like the natural wood look my friend wanted it painted to protect it against the weather and to go with her existing garden furniture so I gave it a coat of sage exterior paint.  I delivered later the same day and she was very happy. It will be tested next weekend with a dinner for six (Me included so I will update the story with a picture)

As tables are quite large I generally don’t bring them along to any of my craft markets, so if you are after a table, big or small, please send me a message, email or text and I will be happy to make one to suit your requirements.

Email  martin@goodwithwoodstroud.co.uk

Mobile 0777551624

 

 

 

 

Simple Storage Solutions

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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)

 

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