From Tree to Tool: The Quiet Power of Woodwork
There’s something poetic in the arc of bent wood, each curve holding tension, memory, grace. At Woodsmything, furniture becomes more than form, it becomes a feeling. A chair that supports you just right. A lamp that softens the evening light. A bar crafted without screws, only joinery and instinct.
Behind it all is Lauren Wood, a maker whose tagline says it all: “Wood is just my thing.”
Each piece she creates feels grounded in honesty and intention, a celebration of nature, skill, and the quiet satisfaction of building something with your own hands.
Rooted in Teaching, Grown Through Craft
Before launching Woodsmything, Lauren was a design and technology teacher, introducing students to the wonders of woodworking. She studied Furniture Design and Making at Ryecote Wood in Oxford, where her love for timber deepened into vocation.
But it wasn’t until 2022, encouraged by her wife Martha, that she applied to Channel 4’s Handmade: Britain’s Best Woodworker. The result? A resounding win, with her “pure joinery” curved bar stealing the show.
That same year, Woodsmything was born, a brand built not only on talent but on values: inclusivity, craftsmanship, sustainability, and making space for women and families in the woodshop.
Lauren isn’t just shaping furniture—she’s reshaping the future of the craft.
The Art of Honest Joinery
At the heart of Woodsmything is a philosophy of form meeting function. Lauren works primarily with sustainably sourced hardwoods, crafting chairs, tables, and decor pieces that honour the grain and movement of the wood.
Her signature techniques, steam-bending, hand-planing, pure joinery, require both precision and patience. Every curve is intentional. Every joint seamless.
“People should sit in my chairs and feel the comfort—feel the angle,” Lauren explains.
The result? Pieces that feel at once sculptural and deeply human, inviting rest, touch, and admiration.
A Modern Voice in a Historic Craft
Woodsmything stands on the shoulders of traditions like the Arts & Crafts Movement, which valued honesty in materials and method. Lauren embraces those same ideals, crafting furniture without shortcuts, no screws, no glue, just skill and vision.
Yet her work speaks in a fresh, contemporary tone. Her curved forms and minimalist lines feel right at home in modern spaces, while her deep respect for wood’s natural beauty keeps her pieces timeless.
Each item continues a heritage of craft, while quietly redefining who belongs in the workshop.
Inside the Woodsmything Workshop
Tucked in the countryside of Kent, Lauren’s workshop is more than a place of production, it’s a place of presence. Sunlight spills across benches. Tools hang like instruments. There’s a softness in the space that invites curiosity and courage.
She opens her doors to the public through Axminster Tools events, carving demos, and community drop-ins, bringing people into the rhythm of making and demystifying the craft along the way.
This is woodworking for everyone, gentle, skilled, empowering.
Shop, Learn & Connect
Shop the Collection: Discover Woodsmything’s handmade chairs, tables, and wooden homewares—DM @woodsmything on Instagram or visit local markets and showcases.
Join a Workshop: Explore events via Axminster Tools or connect with Lauren directly to learn the craft.
Follow the Journey: For builds-in-progress, behind-the-scenes joy, and honest reflections, join Lauren on Instagram and TikTok.
Why Handmade Still Matters
In an age of allen keys and flat-pack builds, Woodsmything reminds us that slow craft still holds power. That there’s meaning in the grain. In the cut. In the curve.
Supporting Lauren means supporting:
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Women and LGBTQ+ visibility in trades
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Sustainable materials and heritage craft
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Functional art made to last a lifetime
Every piece is more than furniture—it’s a statement.
In Lauren’s Words
“I am most passionate about woodworking being an inclusive hobby…
I just feel like that for me is the beauty of woodwork.”
— Lauren Wood
Wood is just my thing.
Spotlight Credits
This story was curated by The Aartisian — shining a light on the world’s handmade talent, one inspiring story at a time.
#Woodsmything #TheAartisian #WomenInWoodwork #HandmadeFurniture #MakeWithHeart
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