Upcycling is my passion. I grew up with the smell of freshly sawn wood while hanging out in both my grandpa's wood working shops or 'the shop' which is what we called it for short. One grandpa made furniture like Muskoka chairs (a Canadian dock chair http://www.muskokachair.com/), clocks and Christmas reindeer while the other did the most amazing Intarsia and whittling. I would help out in any way
I could; sweep the floor or sort nails just so I might be asked to hammer one in or saw a piece of wood! Going through high school I took Industrial Arts which allowed me to learn to use a lathe, draw architecturally, strip furniture and use just about every piece of woodworking equipment I could get my hands on. I absolutely loved every minute of that class and that's where it ended, until now. After becoming a mom 9 years ago I now realise now that I cannot go back to being an Event Coordinator because it takes too much time away from my 'mom duties'. So I've taken up the reins again and am now loving every minute of my time in my 'shop'. I love:
- big, bold, bright patterns and colour
- Strong, straight lines
- Paisley and mandalas
- Recycling or reusing everything! Waste not, want not
- Shopping for a bargain
So my love of reducing waste has whittled (ha ha!) its way into my work as I love scrounging around the tip or charity shops searching for that slightly quirky item that I can breathe new life into. Or getting off cuts from a local oak framer and trying to figure out what each piece will become. I've purchased a pyrography machine and have been dabbling in sign making and burning wood, it's brilliant fun. I have proved to myself that I could tackle the design and building of something as big as a 30 sq m shed made out of pallets, with a lot of help from a proper carpenter to cut the roof! Since it's still standing I thought I'd try bits of furniture as well so watch this space...
