Why woodworking?
Honestly, I guess it was that I felt it was time for me to get an education.
I've worked with a lot of different things in the past, always with my hands, jobs where you're not just sitting still. So I knew it had to be a craft trade. Exactly how it came to be woodworking, I don't know. I think it was because I hadn't really worked that much with wood, but had liked it the few times that I tried it. I wanted to dive deeper into it. And that’s still the case, haha.
So yeah, the choice was made and I started as an apprentice here at the company. I'm happy with that decision. I'm still here.
What do you love most about your job?
Uh... that’s a big question!
I think it's really cool to end up with a physical result. There's something magical about starting with a raw plank of wood and ending up with a beautiful finished drawer, a piece of furniture or a large kitchen. And yeah, I guess I'm just as excited about the process as I am about the result.
That has a lot to do with the fact that I have an eye for detail and really enjoy putting on the finishing touches. I enjoy tinkering with things.
I'm a real princess when it comes to finesse. Hahaha! So much so that I’ll straighten my friends' cabinet doors if they're slightly askew. I can't help myself. Equally, I think it's nice to share that with my friends: "Let's tidy this up a bit!"
I'm also really happy with my work here in the workshop. We get along really well here at the shop.
And the smell!
What's the first thing you do when you arrive in the morning?
Coffee. Very basic, but important! For me at least. As craftsmen, we start at the crack of dawn. Hahaha!
Then we check in with each other at the workshop. Just for 5 or 10 minutes.
All in all, it's a good way to start the day for me.
What aspect of your job would surprise others the most?
That things take time! There is no 'can you just do this real quick...’ Doing something well takes effort.
Materials are also more expensive than people realize, and we're working with a raw material that requires treatment with multiple different processes. Again: That things take time! So it's great that I enjoy the processes and the development.
What’s your favorite tool? And why?
Finishing a drawer with a wood plane is really satisfying. The small imperfections are smoothed out.
And it's a classic tool that’s still in use today. So yeah, the wood plane is my favorite tool.
I also have a huge soft spot for our Omec dovetail machine.
How important is your clothing to you? And why?
It's important!
For me, there's a certain ritual in both putting on my work clothes and taking them off again when the day is done. My work clothes get dusty, dirty and worn out pretty quickly. So they need to be durable, practical and comfortable. They’re probably the clothes I wear the most, actually.
I sometimes use workwear elements in my personal style, but honestly, I enjoy just throwing on a comfortable set of joggers.
And hey, now you’ve taken pictures of me with my hair both up and down. When I'm working, I always wear my hair pulled back with a hair-tie. This big hair needs to be kept in place. For practical reasons, and also for safety reasons. Fun fact: I haven't had a haircut since I was 12-13 years old. Not even a trim. Many people may be surprised by that ;-)
[GALLERY]
