The day is Sunday, at least it is as I write this. The sun is also really shining. It’s also my first day off in quite some time.I’m sat with my notebook on a bit of beach that may as well be Mars. I come here quite regularly to write, think, sing? And in the countless hours I’ve spent here I … [Read more...]
I’m Sorry For Using Power…
(...YOUR WORDS NOT MINE) Can't Be Bothered To Read, Click Play:https://www.development.theenglishwoodworker.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/power-tool-guilt.mp3 We've come to the end of the workbenches so today I'm grouping my machines in to a corner of the workshop as tightly as they'll allow. … [Read more...]
Ever Wish You Were Your Dog?
It just sits there, dreaming in its bed, which is a suitcase. A lovely vintage suitcase, my lovely vintage suitcase. He gets out every now and then for some grub or a walk of which he takes himself, and can shit were ever he likes. How lovely it must be, to be that dog. I'm sat swinging in my … [Read more...]
Working For Woodworkers
Over the past few months I've been building up some commissions for furniture. I'm picky over the type of pieces that I'd like to build and since I'm not looking to be building furniture full time (been there, done that) I feel I'm right to be choosy and go with pieces that really interest me. It's … [Read more...]
Questions About The Future
Last week we went away to see family for a few days which is always good for reminding you just how important family are. It also meant that I got to sleep in a proper bed and had running water for a short time - what a luxury. I even got to go in a sauna and almost killed that lovely family in the … [Read more...]
Not Quite Three Minutes
I've been particularly quiet myself of late, especially on the YouTube type video front. Life these days has become very much about multi-tasking (although for me that's kept to one job at a time). I'm doing work for the blog, our Premium Videos, the Workbenches, The Book and become quite busy … [Read more...]
How Not To Earn A Living
I'll be the first to say that I'm crap when it comes to small scale box making. I could never make a living at it because it takes me a tremendous amount of time to create something that is much too small to command a decent price and turn a profit. That's the problem with earning from small pieces … [Read more...]
The Price Of A Craftsman
Craftspeople don't go in to their work with the anticipation to earn lots of money. Making things tends to come without the desirable salary of other professions, and if it's yourself you're working for then there'll be no so called 'ladder' to climb or the perks and security of a company job. Want … [Read more...]
It’s The Weekend, Crack On.
There's a time for fettling, restoring and swatting dates in old books. In fact it seems that we spend a lot of time doing these things. Sometimes we need to make the time to build stuff. It's easy to think, "I'll be able to build that once I've tuned this up some more", or "if only I could have … [Read more...]
The Traditional Workshop
Early last year I signed for a large mysterious parcel. It was clear from the labelling that it had come from far and distant lands, but there was no hint to what lurked within. Opening the box (like a savage) revealed a collection of books, each beautifully covered with canvas; not old but … [Read more...]