Recently people have been asking about my story. It then occurred to me that I am supposed to be posting regular blogs. So, here it goes! Back to school.After working in an office job for nearly 10 years, I decided that I didn't want to do the same thing for the rest of my life. I was lucky enough to have a very supportive wife and take a day off a week to explore other avenues. I had always wanted to work with wood and this is when I started volunteering at Boathouse 4 in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. It was very quickly apparent that I had found my path and in March 2018 I joined the course at IBTC Portsmouth (Also in Boathouse 4), and become a boatbuilder. This is where I met Paul (He is an important character in the story). Starting A Company.On completion of the course I knew that I wanted to start my own company and be my own boss. The skills learnt from boatbuilding were transferable and with a new confidence I set out in search of work and a workshop. In the beginning I was offered all sorts of work from friends and family from building porches and fitting gates to installing doors and repairing leaks. All in order to save up for the machinery and tools I would need to go on. When I wasn't working on projects in the day time I was learning about tax, insurance and social media in the evenings. Even now, I am working evenings to help pay bills. For those of you who are considering it, its not easy. But its fun! Our Big Break.In Autumn of 2019 I was approached by Paul (the handsome chap I mentioned earlier and now going by the name Salty_Dog_Does_Wood on Instagram) with an opportunity that was impossible to refuse. The Makers Guild wanted our help on converting some church pews (see blog 29.11.2019) which we have recently completed. We will be auctioning the items on 12.02.2020. If you would like to attend, please email!
The Search.Social media has been a very useful tool for me. Not only has it helped me to raise my profile (along with the church project and networking wherever possible) It helped me to find people in similar situations in Portsmouth and it turns out we were all in need of something. A workshop, but more on that later. The search for the right workshop was a difficult one. The first one was in an idyllic location but miles away. The second one was with a lot of support in the form of the amazing George from Pallet Project but again wasn't the right location. Was I ever going to find the right place? Last weekIt was then that I started to think about all the other makers who were looking for a space. I really wanted to find a home big enough for all of us so that we could collaborate on projects and share ideas. I created a group on Whatsapp with all the people who were interested and this is how I got to know Craig at Spin 360. A talented young man who spins metal. Unfortunately, we never did find a space big enough for everyone but last week Craig phoned me up with some exciting news. He had found a place for at least 3 of us. I am happy to say that Paul and I are now sharing a workshop in Fratton just behind Portsmouth Fences and next door to Spin 360 and Recover Upholstery. We hope to collaborate with these very talented craftsmen from Portsmouth. What Does The Future Hold?Currently, am carrying out some work for a couple of restaurants in Albert Road. Ideally, I would love to start working on gifts and small furniture so that I can fulfil my dream of being creative with wood. The future is looking bright! To keep up with my story, make sure you follow me on social media!
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Back in September 2019, I was approached by The Maker's Guild Portsmouth to see if I would be interested in helping out with an amazing community project that was, frankly, impossible to refuse. We were commissioned by The Host Space to turn Saint Luke's Church's dusty old pews into new furniture that could breathe fresh life into the church and create a space where people would want to meet. That challenge was undertaken by myself and Paul Tipping, my class mate from IBTC Portsmouth and three weeks later, we had some amazing results: With 15 pews left over, we had no choice but to create as many exciting things as possible. Since then we have made many more beautiful items that we will be selling to raise funds for the church. Tables, beds, mirrors, tea trays. The only limit is our imagination.
Here is the best bit! This weekend Paul and I will be displaying some of our items at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard's Festival Of Christmas! That's right! Now's your chance to purchase a piece of Portsmouth's genuine Victorian History lovingly repurposed by two Pompey locals. You can find us in Boat House 4, the place where our new lives as joiners and boatbuilders began. I hope to see you there! |
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