Introducing Simon from Black Wattle Creations. Where every item is handmade!! From his home studio in the Southern Highlands, New South Wales, Simon loves to create beautiful handmade chopping boards and timber pieces you can be proud to show off.
Find out why Simon started creating and why he is so passionate about the value of handmade.
Tell us about your creations and your handmade process.
The process of making is what's important, in a world where everything seems fast paced and instant it's very nice to slow down and make something with your hands, not that long ago everything was made by hand. It's like that old saying "they don't make them like they used to". I believe that having something handmade is beautiful, you know that care and time has been taken.
When I started Black Wattle Creations I had one thought in mind and that's everything that goes out the front gate I have to be proud of it, no shortcuts, no trying to cut corners. I want my craft to be appreciated by its owner so the onus is on me to create chopping boards and other items that others are proud to show off.
Tell us a bit about your journey to becoming a handmade artist.
When I retired from working full-time a few years back I knew that I didn't want to keep working in the profession that I was working in, so like many I had come to a crossroad and needed to decide what I was going to do. I was too young to fully retire and I felt like I still had plenty to contribute. What I was certain of is that I needed to do something that wasn't a job and also met this criteria: gave me great pleasure, and could be done on my own timetable.
I didn't know I wanted to be a handmade artist so I just started creating, and soon I was giving chopping boards away to friends and family. Pretty soon after that I had friends and family telling me I should sell them. At first I was a little sceptical, but when the first customer left me a nice review, everything changed and I realised I could sell them and enjoy the process immensely.
What is your inspiration or where do you find inspiration?
When I was a kid my father worked in the metal trades, so I wasn't exposed to the beauty of timber craft until much later in life. When I look at a beautiful piece of timber it's not hard to be inspired, the first time you apply an oil or a wax to it and see the end result, it's like magic, suddenly it's not just a piece of wood, it's a work of art.
When you cut a beautiful piece of Red Cedar and the smell is just divine, or see the wavy grains in walnut, this never fails to make me smile.
Chopping boards are fantastic because the kitchen is the heart of every home, and a beautiful board on display just makes a stylish kitchen look even better.
Where did you learn your craft?
I was very lucky, when I was nearing retirement from my paid job I started attending the local men's shed, mainly because I wanted to help make a difference in my community by volunteering. What I got was a whole education in timber and timber products, everything from turning fruit bowls on a lathe to end grain chopping boards and CNC machines. Whilst I still did lots of volunteering and BBQs at Bunnings, what I really got was a whole lot of mates and a whole lot of knowledge from skilled craftsmen who had been doing it their whole life.
Why is handmade artistry so important to you?
Handmade is a bit of a lost art. In a fast-paced world of everything just in time, we've perhaps lost our way a little and forgotten that when someone takes the time to make something bespoke for you, they are putting a lot of themselves into it. As a craftsman, one of the best experiences you can have is handing over your product in person and seeing the reaction, this shows the customer the value of what they've purchased, it's not just another item, it's kitchen art, it's beauty, and it's made for them. This makes each item feel special.
Simon is a much loved member of the MadeIt Collective, posting regularly in our Facebook Group ~ MadeIt: Handmade not Massmade Australia ~ and sharing his new creations as they are released. If you haven't connected with Black Wattle Creations make sure you join our FB Group and say hi!
