I first made a "Chaffinch" cabinet about 3 years ago, so it was nice to revisit the design and make some alterations for a new bedside cabinet. What changed?
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Octagonally Legged Desk
Moving on quickly from the Character Oak Chest of Drawers completed in the first half of August, the next piece I had been asked to make was this lovely desk in oak. First task was to make the octagonal legs. I laminated oak to make the leg stock which improves stability and also means that thinner boards of oak can be used. To make the octagons the edges were routed using a large 45 degree chamfer bit – with the key being to ensure that the depth of cut was precisely the right amount to give 8 faces that were all the same size. Next up was the grooved detail…
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Character Oak Chest of Drawers
A short wee post to talk about this chest of drawers that I was asked to make at the start of August. I have only got this one photo so I'll just describe it for you.
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Walnut July
In both 2023 and 2024 my July’s were ruined by sciatic episodes where I could not walk. So for July 2025 to be free of sciatica and back pain was a very welcome relief. July had a trio of projects that used walnut. The first was a desktop for a standing desk that was to replace the existing well-used original top. I made the top from multiple staves of walnut of varying width and the edges were folded under to give the top some greater thickness and this also allowed the desk mechanism to be hidden underneath in the recess. A stand was required for two monitors and would allow…
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Oak and Ash Fitted Wardrobe
A fitted wardrobe and chest of drawers installed in a bedroom with heavily coombed ceiling. The wardrobe has half-height hanging space, removable shelving in the lower half and a separate cupboard space above. The chest of drawers unit has six deep drawers with generously sized shelving above for either books or clothes.
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The “Nightingale” Bedroom Furniture
The brief: to replace an existing chest of drawers and bedside cabinets. The new furniture would fit into the existing spaces and provide additional storage. The wood was not to be dark and soft-close drawers were requested.
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Two Artists and a Furniture Maker Walked into a Cafe…
In an exciting development, I will be exhibiting at Dukes of West Barns (nr. Dunbar) over the long Easter Weekend, from 17th to 21st of April 2025. I will be supporting two artist friends, Judy Dale and Leonard Mair, who will have a range of fresh-on-the-market pastel and oil paintings featuring landscape and still life subjects.
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“Eider” Sofa Table (#5)
At the Glenkinchie Christmas Fayre I had a couple of pieces of furniture on display and one of the visitors liked my “Eider” sofa table and so commissioned me to make another. I used some of my own 200 year old Dumfriesshire oak and the client chose to have the legs in walnut to give that crisp contrast on the top surface. Dimensions: H 540 x W 240 x L 445 mm.
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January and February recap
First job of the year was a 2.7 metre long desk in beech. To allow easier transportation and because of the limitations in available sizes of sheets, it was necessary to make the desk in two parts. The first part was the desk plus drawer cabinet, and the second part was the rightmost drawer cabinet.
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Merry Christmas Everyone
Just a quick “Merry Christmas” message with two weeks to go before Christmas. Anything which I didn’t sell at last weekends lovely and warm Christmas Fayre at Glenkinchie Distillery will become available on Etsy. Please take a look at my shop ChapelhillCraft and if you are in East Lothian you are more than welcome to pop round and have a look at any item – just get in touch. If you are nearby I can also deliver.
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Creepies #13, #14 and #15
I moved workshop towards the end of the year and that finally gave me the impetus to use up some yew, elm, maple and ash that I had been hoarding for a while. A wee bit snow in the Lammermuirs gave me a nice festive photo shoot location for two of them. The first one, shown below, is book-matched Scottish yew flanking a piece of reclaimed mahogany on the top and the sides are mitred and rounded with the live-edge used at the bottom of the skirts. The legs are maple with a very simple semi-circular cut-out and the sides are affixed with walnut pegs. Size is approximately L 425…
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Glenkinchie Christmas Fayre 2024
This Christmas market season, I will be having a stall at Glenkinchie Distillery’s Christmas Fayre on 7th and 8th December. I’ll have a selection of creepies, chopping boards, bowls and other wooden items for sale. Over the 7th & 8th there will be 20% off at the distillery gift shop and there will be other local artisans, hot toddies & winter cocktails at the bar. Book a spot on their Festive Flavour Experience while Newton Grange Silver band will be spreading the festive cheer on Saturday 7th & Pencaitland Community Choir on Sunday 8th. The fayre is open from 10 am until 5 pm each day. Head to their website…
