It’s about making things and it’s about a better lifestyle.
I’ve been making objects out of wood for most of my life, starting with the garden dibber I made in my first year at high school back in the 1970s.
Like many others who could have made a career creating things with their hands, I didn’t. Instead, I spent most of my adult life in an office writing computer software. No regrets – there are many worse ways to earn a living, but now it’s time for a change.
Over the years I’ve continued to make things from wood, sometimes with some very dodgy hand tools and, during my router phase, with just power tools. In recent years I’ve become more of interested in furniture design and construction. With the help of the internet, I discovered how I could make those designs a reality. The results of some of my garage furniture are documented across this blog.
In January 2019, I took the plunge and left the world of software development behind. I traded in my railway season ticket for my motorbike and started a year-long course at John Lloyd’s Woodworking & Fine Furniture School, with the objective of turning a weekend pastime into a profession. Then in March 2020 we packed up and left the UK behind for a new life in the French countryside. You may think I’m utterly bonkers, but life is short and I’m fortunate enough to have the time and resources to pursue something new.
This blog started out as a place to post recipes and then progressed to documenting my furniture making. It now also includes stuff about growing vegetables and anything I think might be vaguely interesting.
Simon Baylis
Baylis Handmade 