Shetland Arts & Crafts Association launch Shetland’s first ever Craft Trail

Shetland Arts & Crafts Association launch Shetland’s first ever Craft Trail

Saving the world's resources

Driftwood coffee table, a photo by Paparwark on Flickr.

One of the other strong benefits of bespoke furniture is that it can add value to something which might otherwise rot or be used for fire wood. The driftwood coffee table was made from a piece of timber that for most people had no value. Thankfully my client had the vision to see otherwise.

So instead of using new timber we split a driftwood log and turned it into a stunning table top. I wonder just how many pieces of waste timber and other materials if we could just find the time and creativity could be turn into either something useful or beautiful and help reduce our never ending thirst for stuff!! By having it made this piece now hopefully has real value attached to it and will last a lifetime and should help to reduce our wasteful consumerist tendencies.

Inspired by everyday images

pony and kist, a photo by Paparwark on Flickr.

This was one of my first pieces which used a strong Shetland image in the design. The Shetland pony is one of Sheltand's most famous icons and the flowing lines lend itself really well to producing a very elegant chest. This is a real statement piece in any room. The photograph was taken near to our workshop and has a stunning view south along the cliffs. When living in a place for a long time you take the images for granted. I was inspired to design this when living in Glasgow and feeling a bit home sick. During that time I was inspired buy other images of home which were seals, cows, boats and Viking runes!

Could bespoke furniture save you money?

burgess table and benches, a photo by Paparwark on Flickr.

We have made several dining room tables with either benches or chairs to match. We realised that after making the last set that one of the selling points is that bespoke furniture will save you money in the long run.
Here's why!

If you spent £3000 on a Bespoke table and benches you should expect it too last for a lifetime. If you take an minimum average of 40 years then you have only spent £75 per year.

If you buy a mass produced product which may only last several years then over 40 years you will probably spend more especially if you take inflation into account.
A set of furniture costing £400 which lasts only 5 years will cost £80 per year.

So, you get what you really need, at better quality and save money!!

Emnet sideboard

Emnet sideboard, a photo by Paparwark on Flickr.

When I was in Norway I was really interested in how they would look for the correct shaped piece of timber to make a component from. When returning to Shetland I was keen to try out this approach. With the lack of timber I decided to tackle the issue the other way round. I asked the local forestry manager if he could find me two pieces of a certain shape. When it arrived I then let the wood do the talking. The piece ended up being inspired from both the Norwegian tradition that I had been learning about and the British tradition which I had been trained in. The uprights are made from local Shetland sycamore and were shaped using axes and a draw knife so you can still see the tool marks. The top and bottom pieces are African bubinga and have been highly polished to a very high standard in the manner I was trained in high Wycombe. So this piece is the combining of two traditions to make a beautiful sculptural sideboard

driftwood shetland chair

driftwood shetland chair, a photo by Paparwark on Flickr.

The tradition was to made the Shetland chairs from driftwood. We general make the chairs from quality hardwoods because driftwood is much harder to find. This chair was made for a good friend who had a stock of driftwood near his house! Unlike the traditional craftsmen we have tried to keep the interesting wormholes wherever possible to give it a real unique rustic charm For more info one the range of shetland chairs which we do check out or webpage at http://www.paparwark.co.uk/Shetlandchairs.html

Form follows function or function follow form

Timber stool, a photo by Paparwark on Flickr.

One of the big questions in design is which comes first, form or function. Sometimes we let the wood do most of the designing!

This stool is one ot the products which we are producing from the interesting timber which we sometimes have left over from larger projects. The stool really is a one off as it is made from the natural shape of the timber. The seat is carved for extra comfort and more fun for the craftsman producing it!