Some inspirational design

recycled metal sculpture

cristina covello: recycled design

tegu: kid’s sustainable hardwood blocks

Specialism...

Got in the workshop today, YES!

First job, renovating an old piece of furniture before concentrating on new designs. Thinking of specializing in sculptural clocks and occaisional tables.

Had only a couple of hours sleep last night and been up early doing a car boot sale this morning...zzzzz but a beautiful sunny day makes all the difference :)

'Furniture with balls'

I started using salvaged copper pipes and balls when I was at college, exploring the natural and man-made verdigris effects and loving the contrast it made with wood. Now, using salvaged copper balls in my designs has become synonymous with my work.

Why 'eco'?

Why do I want to make furniture that is classed as 'eco', 'sustainable', 'environmentally conscientious', 'green'....?

Think of any product, how it is made, what it is used for, and what happens to it at the end of its life? Think of the energy and fuel that went into each stage of its production, from raw material to deconstruction or decompostition. In other words its embodied energy.

I want to make furniture where the raw material has come from the most natural factory; a forest. Making furniture using minimal power, and more emphasis on hand tool work. Preferring to use locally sourced English or Welsh hardwoods to minimize transport and to encourage the re-planting of our woodlands, beneficial to wildlife and to the local economy and lessening the impact on rain forest timbers.

When I was studying Furniture Design at Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology I set up a 'Tree Group' in my second year, where we raised money to plant trees in the college grounds, to try and put back some of what we were using on our course. This was March 1996, they have now grown up into a small woodland, a little wild oasis in the corner of the field.

I use reclaimed wood, metal and other materials in my designs to re-use 'waste' and for design aesthetics, creating a piece of original contemporary design that will be used and appreciated for generations. And at the end of its useful life, it can be disassembled, re-used, or ultimately return to the earth.

More repairs!

Sorting out the shed/workshop today and discovered the rot in the window!

Grrrrrr!

Sitting here, with my cat on my knee purring...

Last year I went on a business course with WiRE (Women in Rural Enterprize). This helped me to write my business plan and to forecast income and expenditure.

I'm still on maternity at the moment, but once my workshop is useable I want to start making new work for future exhibitions and galleries.

I have no money to put into this venture. I applied twice for a set up grant through the local council but was not lucky. I think setting up in business is also about determination and persistence.

Workshop in progress...

My workshop, ivy removed, weatherproofed, and almost ready to go!

Workshop renovation

Small and snug, walls still need sealing and insulating, shelves putting up, putty round the windows, and a good tidy up!