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lowfatroubo

Full time furniture maker, tool maker, writer and Furniture Lead at London Design & Engineering UTC
First cohort. First finish line. This week our Y First cohort. First finish line. This week our Year 13 T Level Furniture students headed to the Furniture Makers’ Hall @furnituremakerscompany to receive an award recognising them as the very first cohort in the world to complete the T Level Craft & Design Furniture course. After six relentless weeks of assessments, it was a chance to stop, reflect and celebrate everything they’ve achieved — not just the grades, but the growth, resilience, professionalism and confidence they’ve built along the way. Proud doesn’t even cover it. Congratulations Year 13s — you’ve helped create a path for others to follow. And yes… they went to the pub afterwards. Of course they did. 🍻Looks like my work here is almost done #tlevelfurniture #furnituremakerscompany #ldeutc
From Japanese joinery and marquetry to stick chair From Japanese joinery and marquetry to stick chairs, carving, upholstery and CAD — LIWF 2026 is bringing together an incredible line-up of woodworking and furniture-making courses this October. Whether you’re looking to refine traditional skills, explore new techniques, or learn from internationally respected makers, there’s something for every level. We’ll even help you find your accommodation 📍 London International Woodworking Festival 📅 26–30 October 2026 🎟 Courses, masterclasses, talks & more now live #LIWF2026 #Woodworking #FurnitureMaking
“More bull$%it than you can shake a Welsh stick at “More bull$%it than you can shake a Welsh stick at…” …and apparently now we’re fluent in stick chair. 12 months ago we posted a similar video when this group were building stools. Since then they’ve taken on Welsh stick chairs, shaker-style doors, kitchen cabinets, joinery, finishing, and more than a few workshop debates along the way. Not everybody smiles for the camera — but every one of them has put the work in. Come September, around 15 fledgling furniture makers will be heading into employment, apprenticeships and university. That feels pretty special. Huge thanks to @lostartpress for the support and generosity shown to the programme and our learners along the way. At @ldeutc we don’t just make furniture.We make furniture makers. #FurnitureMaking #ChairMaking #Woodworking #CraftEducatiion #tlevelfurniture
In other news, the base for the LowfatRoubo HQ rel In other news, the base for the LowfatRoubo HQ relocation is coming along nicely. Joists and insulation down in two bays… one more to go. Of course, with this being a woodworking project, everything gets put back into sticks at the end of the day. You can never be too careful. #lowfatroubo #workshopbuild
When it comes to baking, I’m a one-trick pony: ban When it comes to baking, I’m a one-trick pony: banana bread. That’s it. That’s the repertoire. Over the years—yes, years—the main ingredient I’ve discovered is tenacity. Whole grain silos have been reduced to dust, and entire fields of bananas have been sacrificed to get me here. My “spin” on this classic? Diced prunes (no particular reason), sliced dates, and chopped walnuts. Only today… I forgot the walnuts. Guess I’m not a natural baker. Still, it never lasts more than a day—so I’ll take that. On the other hand, should you ever need a cricket table… I’m your guy. Currently (and possibly mercifully) the only author of a book on them. Know your limits. #bananabread #crickettables
The incomparable Dr. Lynn Jones - @dr_lynn62 - cha The incomparable Dr. Lynn Jones - @dr_lynn62 - champion of budding furniture makers and true industry expert - paid us a visit today @ldeutc In a frank, inspiring session, we covered everything from nailing your CV to building a portfolio that actually represents you… and yes, even “how did you meet your husband?” made the cut. Too many takeaways to list, and a day that will stick with us for a long time. Never shy away from an awkward question - that’s often where the best learning happens. #tlevelfurniture #DesignEducation #CreativeCareers #PortfolioTips
Lowfat Roubo HQ is relocating - to the end of the Lowfat Roubo HQ is relocating - to the end of the garden. Slab and base are done. Now on to the timber work. #lowfatroubo #workshopbuild
When Gen Z gets into technology… they start recrea When Gen Z gets into technology… they start recreating the 17th century. Naysayers be gone—we’re in good hands. Heritage isn’t going anywhere #tlevelfurniture #stickchair #lowfatroubo #notmyworkobviously
Probably the most photogenic and photographed row Probably the most photogenic and photographed row of terraced houses in the whole of the South East of England. And that’s why they’re in every period drama that’s ever been on the telly. Fact.
Shipping out today - 3 knife gauges - 1 x Castello Shipping out today - 3 knife gauges - 1 x Castello Box/Lignum, 1 x rosewood and 1 x pear. There are a few more listed on the website before the Castello/bog oak combos are finished #markinggauges #hamdmade #madeinengland #handtools #lowfatfoubo
Working up to a small batch of making gauges over Working up to a small batch of making gauges over the next few weeks - random lengths. Couple of knife gauges in the mix but mostly pin gauges. These are Castello box and bog oak. Shout if you want to put your name to one #markinggauges #toolmaker #madeinengland #handtools #bogoak
We’ve got a couple of days free of exam tasks so t We’ve got a couple of days free of exam tasks so to relax and reset we’re back on chair making, from bull%$t of course. Every step is one step closer to independence #makeachairfrombull%$t #lostartpress #tlevelfurniture
Permission to rant. Permission granted. Tourist f Permission to rant. Permission granted. Tourist for the day, I found myself in St. Mary’s Church — a deserved stop on any Rye itinerary. What stopped me in my tracks were the carved screens set between the arches in the chapel. Intricate, confident, beautifully resolved work. Craftsmanship of the highest order. Naturally, I wanted to know who made them. So I asked. Nobody knew. Back home, I did a little digging. Still nothing. Well — not quite nothing. The monogram in the top left corner? Most likely not the maker at all, but the patron or church warden who commissioned the work. And that’s where my patience ran out. How can that be? No — how the fing hell* can that be? I wondered if perhaps work of this quality was once so commonplace that it didn’t warrant attribution. But then I realised this isn’t some medieval quirk — it’s a pattern. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to visit 10 Downing Street. The tour was excellent: anecdotes about Prime Ministers past and present, detailed attributions to paintings, artworks, objects. Yet not a word about the furniture — pieces just as original, just as skilfully made, just as culturally significant. Again. How can that be? And then we get to more recent history. I won’t name names — many of the people involved are still very much with us — but it’s striking how often the makers of exquisite objects disappear from the record, while patrons or designers are celebrated indefinitely. So yes. That’s my rant for today. If we value craft — truly value it — then crediting the maker shouldn’t be optional. It should be the starting point. #givecreditwhereitsdue
My T Level Furniture students head into their fina My T Level Furniture students head into their final assessment window on Monday — a design-and-build challenge followed by two make-to-spec projects, all against the clock and to set briefs. To prepare, we took our foot off the learning gas this week and did what makers do best: we made. What you see here are 15 chairs made from bulls%$t — from the Pocket Book series by @lostartpress — levelled and ready for assembly once the dust settles. The next five weeks will be intense. There will be pressure, probably tears along the way — but they’re a hardy bunch: resilient, capable, and they look out for each other. Oh, and they get s%$t done. 💪🪑#tlevelfurniture
I really love this little woodworking / tool-nerdy I really love this little woodworking / tool-nerdy / furniture-designy community. Whenever I can, I try to put a bit back in the pot—something that might contribute to a fellow practitioner’s development or simple enjoyment of the craft. I can’t do it as often as I’d like (far too many plates spinning at the moment), but this one couldn’t wait. Most unusual sale today at my local auction: tools, tools, and more tools. All very reasonably priced. Valuations can be wildly off sometimes and don’t always reflect what something is actually worth—which, in reality, is only what someone is willing to pay on the day. So, community announcement 📣 Hop over to @gorringesauctioneers and check out these lots. Sale’s on Monday 19th January, so I guess that’s your weekend taken care of. Have fun. D
I turn away most restoration projects these days — I turn away most restoration projects these days — simply not enough hours in the day. But I’m a sucker for a truly special piece… and this one was impossible to refuse. George I bureau, c. 1720–1730. Mahogany, original handles, a beautiful original lock plate, and original bracket feet — all in excellent original condition. Even complete with an early 20th-century depository/storage label. Funny to think this nearly 300-year-old piece will eventually sit in the foyer of a brand-new college of furniture making. It’s already been a great conversation starter — even in this dilapidated state. Massive wide back boards, a stunning sweep of mahogany veneer on the fall, and those trademark skinny oak drawer linings. It’s a beauty. #georgianfurniture #georgeI #antiquebureau #mahogany #furniturerestoration #heritagecraft #traditionalcraft #furnituremaker #antiquefurniture #historicinteriors #crafteducation #lowfatroubo #ldeutc #elfi
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