Making a timber Surfboard Stand

Frustrated at the lack of options for our beautiful timber surfboards, Stuart created his own timber Surfboard stand to securely keep the beautiful boards in place .

Using solid timber (and recycled whenever we can) Stuart designed a classic yet sturdy stand that is quite at home in the pool room, the deck or wherever our beautiful wooden surfboards are stored.

Our stands are lightweight, yet sturdy and are made to hold whatever weight the surfboard is .

Clean lines for our surfboard stands

The elegant way to keep boards secure

designed and made by Stuart

Our surfboard stands are custom made, to ensure correct fit and strength , starting from $390 they are the essential addition for any quiver.

Retro Restoration

We have been so lucky being able to undertake so many beautiful restoration projects.

Each and every piece of furniture we repair, repolish and restore has a unique history, its own blueprint from which we are sure many a good story could be told

Oh if only the walls could speak.

Our latest restoration provided so much joy and came all the way to Brisbane from Wyong (Central Coast of NSW) and dates orginally from Austria circa 1940’s.

Our suite of retro furniture comprised of many glorious pieces, including a funky kitchen console, a buffet table, mobile daybed and kitchen dining room table and chairs to name but a few in this wonderful collection.

Each piece was repaired, restored and repainted as close to the original colour scheme as per our client request.

Our retro sideboard definitely got the special treatment , as seen some extensive repairs were needed to make those drawers glide effortlessly as well as a thorough sanding before application of the finish.

How utterly fabulous is this TV Unit, the wonderful shape, the original handles, the colour what is not to love about this iconic slice of history.

The finished result was nothing short of spectacular.

Two beautiful examples of the power of restoration , we often say adored and restored but really it is true. These family heirlooms have been given a new lease of life and now take pride of place in the family home. Ready to be used enjoyed and passed down through the familly.

There are more wonderful pieces in this collectoin we cant way to share

#lovewhatwedo

A new seaon ...

Spring is the time of plans and projects.

After a long winter for many reasons , its time to embrace the new month , the new season the perfect weather and begin the last few months of the year with optimism and joy.

A new dawn

We are all for embracing the little things,

That moment before the sun makes its appearance when the air is still crisp and so fresh.

Colour is a many splendid thing.

Mid morning coffee walks, strolling through the neighbourhood enoying the gentle warmth of the sun and the abundance of blooms that just seem to pop up over night.

Its berry season

The sweetness of fresh fruit, move over apples and oranges , sometimes you need a berry or two

The art of getting away, even just down the road

Planning an escape route, locally and even just down to the local park. The chance to breathe in some fresh air and take some time for a little surf, a read on a blanket, a snooze in the park or to finish that book.

The joys of being out in the great outdoors , we will never under estimate.

Life’s too short to not eat the cake.

Picnics and pastries, I cant think of a better way to plan new seasons projects.

Stay well

stay happy

Daniele

Making Absolutely Beautiful Wooden Surfboards

We have been combining our love of Woodworking and surboards for over 10 years now 🎉🎉

During this time we have honed our skills, refined our techniques to offer our students the best possible workshop, so that in our 4 Days they come away with that wonderful sense of satisfaction knowing they have created something wonderful with their own hands …

A little trip down memory lane to enjoy some past student work

We've come a long way baby ..

Our winter workshop is the perfect time to create your own stoke, so for detailed information on our August 26 - 29 Workshop, send us an email and we will forward you our 2021 Surf Pack

Restoration Magic

Its been a while, since we last updated on the wonderful projects we have been completing in the workshop.

So many restoration makeovers, some truly unique custom made furniture pieces and the wonderful joy of sharing our passion and knowledge in our woodworking classes…

But first some restoration.

These gorgeous Bentwood chairs have been in our client’s family for generations.

You just have to love the boldness of these curves, the laidback ambience they evoke, many a story they could tell .

Considering their age circa 1930’s these chairs are in fair condition, but we knew we could take them to the next level.

Our gorgeous Bentwood Chair all ready for its makeover

To begin the restoration process, we dismantled the chairs, and repaired and reglued where necessary

In situ, our fabulous chairs getting the 5 star treatment

Our client chose an elegant beige pinstriped fabric to contrast beautifully with the rich grain of the timber

and as you can see the results are truly beautiful.

Just waiting to for a PImms and a good book

Our restored Bentwood Chairs

#lovewhatwedo

Things we love in Autumn

Every sunrise and every sunset is a magical time of day.

The miracle that happens everyday without fail, if we are awake or not, it still still just happens.

There is something magnificent however about an Autumnal sunset or sunrise. When the cloud cover combines with the sun at just the right angle… pure delight , such theatre, such drama

Night drama

The sky is on fire

A golden start to the day

Autumn also brings with it, a cast of flowers, smells and sights to delight in

The wonders of camellia bushes in full bloom with their fabulous array of petals that make for a spectacular display both on the branch followed by their graceful fall to the ground.

In awe of Colourful Mother Nature

The air is cool the sun is clear and bright, perfect weather for walking in the fresh air and taking in the beauty around …

The first flush of Golden Fistulas

The happiest people are woodworkers ...

The smile says it all !

So much fun to be had in our workshop;

The smile from our Saturday Student says it all !

For the last two weekends we have had the joy of running our Introduction to Furniture Making Workshop.

During the last two Saturdays our wonderful woodworkers have learnt the fundamentals of good furniture making, including design and construction methods, proper use of machinery and power tools, and essential techniques to begin the wonderful journey of timber furniture making.

A fun productive Saturday in the workshop

Woodworking in action

Safe and proper use of machines and power tools is vital and Stuart with over 30 years in the industry is only too happy to impart his knowledge and experience to our eager participants.

A good polish is dependant on proper sanding, Jes doing a fabulous job on her table top

When it all comes together …

The wonderful thing about custom making is the choices you have to make the piece exactly as you want, whats the point if your gorgeous piece of furniture is only going to sit in the shed if its “too big, too small, not the right colour or I dont like that design”

Prior to the class, our eager students chose their timber , finalised their design preference and dutifully measured at home the exact requirements needed for their very own custom made piece of furniture.

Our April class students each chose different styles and sizes to fit in exactly with their own home requirements .

And as the photos reveal, our students have made beautiful timber furniture additons to their home.

Our happy April Furniture Making graduates

It is a joy and a privilage to share our wealth of woodworking knowledge with such enthusiastic woodworkers.

The energy and comraderie they bring to class makes our Furniture Making Workshops truly a wonderful experience for us all

Working from home

The home office is an integral area of the home for our client . A place to be able to work productively with minimal disruptions whilst still remaining an extension of the home .

The brief was simple. Ample desktop space and maximum storage facilites . The overall aesthetic had to be clean elegant and minimal.

Before the home office makeover

More storage required here

The features included a pull out desk caddy on castors for ease of movement if needed.

A fitted bookcase with adjustable shelves, a floating shelf above and painted white with dulux beige royal quarter to blend in with the existing decor.

The overall result is a harmonious workspace offering maximum productivity and storage capabilities .

elegant but functional working area

custom made to clients exact requirments

A myriad of storage solutions

Wooden Surfboard Classes for 2021 have begun...

This year we have hit the ground running with the Bywater Design School of Learning .

We have already had 2 amazing Surfboard Making Workshops that has seen some wonderful wooden surfboards produced from our eager students, many of whom have had no prior woodworking experience .

In the 4 days our newly minted woodworkers have learnt the finer points of shaping, the importance of a good glue up and the fundamentals of sanding their board to perfection.

There has been lots of laughs along the way as well as the opportunity for friends to take some time out together and enjoy something different from the every day and to also be able to forget about phones, computers and work and discover the thrill of learning something new …

Essential prepping before the board class

Stuart , taking our students through the integral first steps of board construction

Teamwork and camraderie in action

The foundations of a good board

Its all coming together, our hardworking crew learning the finer points of shaping their board

The best board meeting ever. Our March Surfboard Making students with their beautiful new boards.

The beautiful boards are now in the polishing booth for Stuart to create his magic and glass the boards in readiness for our crew to try them out in the surf !

Summer Vibes only, what we are loving already .

Well here we are in the last month of the rollercoaster known as 2020 !

We are working busily away at projects to complete before Christmas, when we will take some time out to rest and recharge .

But as the days get longer and the nights warmer , its always nice to take some time and appreciate the little things around us.

Summer blossoms making those blue sky days even more beautiful

Those early morning walks capturing the freshness and quiet of the morning sun

What is a Sunday without fresh fish and chips ? and perhaps a scallop or two

Long days and balmy afternoons are the time for a cocktail or two !

December is always frenetic so we hope you get to capture a few moments of quiet and peace.

Daniele

Taking our Surfboards online

Its been a wild year, no doubt about that and through the last few months, many people have voiced their frustration at not being able to attend our Surfboard Making Workshops for one reason or another.

We heard, we listened and after many hours working away in the workshop we proudly introduce our new baby

Wooden Surfboards Australia.

The place for our new surfboard making DIY kits.

Our kits are just like our boards ( and our furniture ) made to our exceptionally high standard of craftmanship.

Now you can make one our beautiful boards in your own workshop.

The kits come with everything you need to make your own Bywater Surfboard.

The range is exactly what you choose from in our classroom situation except you get to make the board at home or in your workshop in your own time and at your own pace.

We bring it all to you, including Stuart’s wonderful video tuition to guide you along if you so wish.

We are very proud of our new endeavour , we have taken the time to carefully curate all the necessary componenents and elements to give you the smoothest DIY experience ever.

We happily ship all over Australia and use 100 % plantation Paulownia and Australian timbers.

If you have any questions at all please dont hesitate to drop us a line so we can answer any queries asap

See you in class :)

The things we leave behind ...

Our love of furniture restoration runs deep, the process of restoring, repairing and bringing back to life a treasured family heirloom is one of we find immensely rewarding.

The work is often labor intensive and intricate but we gladly face up to the challenge in the name of preserving beautiful furniture .

We were lucky enough to be involved in the restoration of this beautiful 1880’s inlaid box. Handed down through the generations it was time to restore what was needed , preserve and make original once again…

Complete with the original 1880 day stationary this box had beauty in the detail.

Cornered veneers in need of some TLC

Such a beautiful family heirloom

Complete with the 1880’s stationary

We carefully repaired the external veneers before reg re glueing any areas that were in need.

For the internal area, we restored and kept the original purple lining.

Beautiful details before restoration

Beautiful repairs on this family treasure

All in the detail

more glorious detail

A beautiful finished product …

Stuart finished the restoration with beautiful polishing … the icing on the cake.

A glorious end result for our lovely client, so that this treasure can be enjoyed and passed down through the generations just like it was meant to be

Our Wonderful Woodworking Student Projects

Our Monday and Thursday evening woodwork classes have been going in earnest for well over 15 years and every week we are just blown away by the creativity , craftmanship and dedication that our students continually show.

Each project is unique and the planning, the care that goes into each one is so admirable

Chair excellence from Peter

Monday night Student , Peter has diligently designed and created his exquisite dining chairs and the reading chair above is the perfect spot for Peter to relax and while away the hours. Made from Qld Maple and Jarrah , this stunning chair is testament to Peter’s skill and patience.

Gerry has always wanted to create his own cellar and during his woodworking classes he is doing just that.

Made from Kwila, this custom made cellar is heading in the right direction of perfection

The beginning of something wonderful !

Dining distinction

An extensive journey to source premium camphor laurel Mike has worked with the natural grain to create this magnificent dining table.

Elegant yet sturdy this table works beautifully with the dining chairs and is just ready for a fabulous dining table.
A wonderful example of student skill and tenacity.

Delightful details

Sally designed and made this specia momento box using Lemon Myrtle, Jacaranda and Red Cedar.
A beautiful box for a friend and including beautiful splines on the corners, false bottom and floating top.

Gorgeous detail and craftmanship Sally

A project of skill and thought

Considered detail

For the romantic

Chris from our Thursday night class , has gone above and beyond for this most beautiful present for his sister’s wedding.

A board games console complete with handcrafted markers and including beautiful detailed images this was definitely a labor of love.

A one of a kind wedding present that is now a cherished family heirloom.

We never tire of the amazing work our students create.

Their enthusiasm for their craft never ceases to amaze and delight us.

#lovewhatwedo

We loved in July ...

The Second month of Winter in Brisbane was generous in its sunny days and abundance of colour

Winter mornings are crisp and clear.

Cool nights made for perfect tea weather

No weekend is complete without a trip to the beach . Even when the weather is less than ideal, the water is perfect escapism . The chance to recharge.

May August be kind to us all

#staywell

Restoring Heirlooms

The past month we have been restoring some beautiful pieces of furniture for our clients …

Perhaps one of our favourite pieces has included this beautiful inlay treasure box.

Beauty in the detail

Dated from the 1900’s this gorgeous box comes with history and character.

Our Client was wanting to pass it to her grandson and wanted it restored back to its former glory.

So we happily obliged

before restoration

beautiful finished results

After carefully repairing the veneers and the mother of pearl, Stuart applied a new lining (whilst keeping the original underneath for posterity) and polished to a bring out the gorgeous detail in the inlay

The details in this box are just exquisite

Projects like these give us so much joy, where we are able to help a family carry on their traditions and heirlooms

#lovewhatwedo

What we loved in June

The days have been clear and sunny for the first month of Winter. Brisbane is a wonderful place to be right now.

Blue sky days and cool evenings make for a pleasant change …

Blue sky mornings make for a wonderful backdrop against the vibrant penda

Bouganvillea never fails to disappoint with its vibrant bold hues

Moon gazing

Beautiful clear winter evenings are the perfect chance to gaze at the night sky and take in the breaktaking sight of a perfect full moon.

taking it one step at a time

Taking the time for a beach escape… breathing in fresh salty air, taking a swim in the chrystal clear water are the simple moments that we never take for granted.

The little things are often the big things and in a chaotic world they are the things that keep us grounded , they keep us centered, they give us the energy to keep going.

Here’s to July, may it be filled with health , happiness and contentment for all

Daniele

Introduction to Furniture Making Workshop - Our June Class

It was with much enthusiasm that we re commenced our Woodworking Classes this month.

We welcomed a very happy group of students to our Boondall Workshop on Saturday Morning June 6.

Stuart began the day with an introductory talk about design , construction methods and the various tools used to construct solid timber furniture.

Prior to class commencement, the students nominated their timber of choice along with their individual dimensions that would enable each student to create the table that would suit their home perfectly.

There is little advantage in offering a cookie cutter project as the joy of woodworking is being able to create something beautiful that suits you, your home , your decor your personal taste…

The first day saw students prepping their table parts, including working out the grain pattern, glueing up the tops and then working on the underframe .

A productive morning on the bandsaw

Shaping is a good arm workout

Graeme enjoying learning new skills

Its all in the construction

Check twice, mark once,

A productive day for our students

The second day, saw our students complete construction on their tables, cutting to the desired length, hand planing to ensure the edges are smooth.

This was then followed by sanding all parts to ensure smooth even grains, route edging if so desired.

The final stage was the application of a polyurethane lacquer to protect and ensure longevity of the tables.

Megan, quite rightly proud of her woodworking skills

Our graduating students of June Introduction to Furniture Making Class

A beautiful table made by Megan , featuring Tasmanian Oak ans Cambia for the legs

Congrulation Graeme on a beautiful coffee table made from Surian Cedar

Cheers Harry, we love your Tasmanian Oak Hall table

It was a wonderful workshop, where we were able to share our love and knowledge of woodworking with such a wonderful bunch of people

To encourage their creativity, and to step away from the day to day and do something wonderful for yourself is a beautiful thing to do.

We can’t wait to welcome our August Intro to Furniture Making Students into our workshop and help them realize their woodworking dream

Designing custom made stools

Our lumbar support Bar Stools have brought breakfast to a whole new comfortable level for our clients.
Made from American Ash , Stuart designed these for maximum back support and to blend in with the clients existing dining chairs.
Upholstered in a blonde vinyl to withstand kitchen use these stools were a joy for Stuart to design and make.

Prepping for the shaping of the legs

Fine tuning

The beautiful finished product

Taking pride of place in their new home

Furniture Restoration

It has been an absolute joy to complete some beautiful restoration projects over the last few months.

We love providing a source of joy to our clients when they receive their recently restored piece of yesteryear.

Needing some love

Beautiful end result

Beautiful silky oak table restored

This gorgeous 1920’s Silky Oak Dining Suite with its classic shapes had “good bones” and needed some love to bring out its orginal glory.

We repaired, sanded and Stuart colour matched the finish of these to match the clients existing decor, so these pieces would blend seamlessly to their surrounds and not look new.

Our client then chose some bright floral fabric for the chairs to give a beautiful contrast to the silky oak timber.

A glorious end result to this wonderful era of furniture.

Beautiful blanket box

Blanket boxes are a wonderful practial addition to any home. Our Silky Oak friend here was in need of some TLC and we happily obliged.

Our restoration process included some major repair work to both the internal and external surfaces of this gorgeous 1920’s piece.

Our client once again chose exquisite fabric to complement the warmth of the Silky Oak Grain.

A beautiful old yet new addition to this family home

What we've loved in May

We have to admit, its been a rather weird month (again) but gathering the gratitude for the little things is what we find helps when things seem less than normal.

For me , one of the standouts this month has been the flowering of the ever beautiful camellia trees.

Their fluffy blooms are in abundance and they make such a gorgeous display of happiness. Coupled with blue skies , you can instantly feel the happiness factor elevate almost immediately

There is nothing nicer than a crisp Sunday morning with a good (strong) coffee and some home baked treats. With nowhere to be , and just taking time to sit and read and embrace some peace is what makes a Sunday perfect

What wonderful delights bougainvillea are at the moment. Gorgeous pops of colour are sprouting up everywhere and their happy bright hues are just sensational .

Being able to take day trips to the ocean has been a wonderful treat. The invigorating sea air, the sand between the toes , gazing out at the horizon is a perfect tonic for any day .

everyday miracles …

Breathtaking sunsets are truly a gift and this month there has been spectacuar endings to the day. Mother Nature has surely been dabbling in the paintbox with truly vibrant colours for us to enjoy.

Whilst this month may have not gone according to our original plans ,its been a peaceful month, taking stock counting our blessing for healthy family and friends and enjoying the every day moments that make us grateful for where we live .

Daniele