Sweet Chestnut Laptop Stand

 As you know, I'm always making something! This was a project for a magazine article (in Woodworking Crafts soon), but also was something we needed. 

I managed to find a nice piece of sweet chestnut for the project and thought it would work well for what was in my head for a simple stand for my wife. 

I'm quite pleased with it. Looks modern and fits in nice with other stuff we have in the house. 

Wheelbarrow Soil/Compost Sieve

So another product added to my range. This one is another that has come about due to wanting the product myself. 

Store bought compost seems to be getting worse and worse, so I'm either making more of my own or I'm having to sieve out big chunks of wood from the compost I buy. This sieve goes on the wheelbarrow and lets me sieve it easily. 

Wooden Compost Sieves

I'm always looking for new products to make and sell. One that people have asked about is sieves. I wanted to make some that were quite chunky and would last a long time. 

I made them so the bottom is completely rebated in and held with a bead. This should make them strong and durable. 

Carved Wooden Axe Cover Video

 I've put together a short video on the axe cover I made. 

It's tricky to get the shots when you're carving on your own, so this is a mixture of pictures and videos, with instructions on what I did to get the results I got. Hopefully easy to follow. It will be in woodcarving magazine soon with step by step instructions as well. 

Thanks for watching! 

They Keep Getting Older

 So Middlest turned 12 last month.

When you have children you always get a lot of people who love to tell you how hard it is, how it's going to get harder. Lots of "Oh, you wait."

Got a two year old, "You wait until they're three - woohee!" they'll tell you with glee. Got a five year old "Ohh Seven is harder." 

I sometimes wonder if these people enjoy moaning about their children more than having them. 

Each step has it's challenges, but each step is completely amazing and brings different joy. I love the people my children are turning into, I love spending time with them, and I know I'm very lucky with the sheer amount of time I get to spend with them. 

You can't help missing some bits, when they're small and scrunch up on you, or when they run into your arms after a day at school, but also the later bit are just as good. When you sit round the table and they tell you something funny that happened, or when they're together and they all get the giggles and won't stop laughing at something that's just with the three of them. 

We now have a nine, twelve and thirteen year old in the house. The last decade or so has gone in a blur, but what amazing people to share it with. 

Middle daughter is smart, clever, cuttingly funny, good at everything she turns her hand to. Life is better for having her in it, and I know those that know her think the same.