Are you a little daunted by DIY? Would you like to boost your confidence and learn how to do ‘simple’ DIY tasks yourself? This workshop is designed to empower the female DIY beginner. In a relaxed and informal atmosphere, and in a small group of four like-minded women, you will build your own coat rack (or key/cup rack – the choice is yours!) that you can take home with you. In the process you will be learn basic skills involved in woodworking, wood restoration and drilling. These are transferable DIY skills necessary for attacking many DIY projects around the home.

Each participant will make her own coat rack from reclaimed wood. During the FIRST PART you will learn BASIC WOODWORKING SKILLS:

– use of saws and how to saw in a straight and true line

– drilling into wood with different kinds of drill bits (hole saw, forstner bit, flat drill bit)

– working with a drill press

– using a mitre box

– how to countersink holes and disguise them altogether with plugs

In the SECOND PART you will learn skills involved in BASIC WOOD RESTORATION:

– how to use different sanders (incl. orbital power sander) and grades of grit

– how to use stains, oils and varnishes to treat and preserve the wood

Finally, in the THIRD PART of the day you will learn DRILL SKILLS:

– how to mount your coat rack so that it is level

– how to drill into different kinds of walls (such as brick, stud wall and tile), looking at different drill bits and rawl plugs and learning how to determine the appropriate sizes

At the end of the workshop there will be time for any questions you may have regarding your own DIY project. So if there is anything specific you’d like to get advice about, bring some pictures and I will try to guide you in the right direction.

Upon completion, every participant will have a handmade coat, key or cup rack as a testament and proud reminder of her newly attained DIY skills – or simply a nice Christmas present for someone near and dear!

The rack we will be making will be similar to this: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/637956668/hook-rail-made-from-reclaimed-wood

The workshop will start at 1pm and last until about 5.30pm. All tools will be provided. Please wear clothing that is ok to get a bit messy (and no jewelry, please).

There will be tea and biscuits as well. 🙂

I am fully insured for this workshop, you will be reassured to know.

About me

I’m an interior designer, craftswoman, woodworker and furniture designer and in the last 9 months have been refurbishing a 3-bedroom Victorian house on my own. I have done my own bricklaying, plastering, plumbing, tiling, cabinetmaking and joinery in the process and would like to encourage and empower other women to increase their competence and confidence in different areas of DIY.

More about me on www.anjalobert.co.uk