Elizabeth

4 layer Tommy Shelby facial portrait made by me I painted the painting for my art account back in April and love how both pieces turned out. I used tracing paper to trace the watercolour painting and I then used the tracing paper as a stencil. To cut everything out I used a coping saw. This took 16 hours across 3 days (not including drying time) and I only broke two blades (it was my first time using a coping saw so I think that's fairly impressive). The last photo was my original reference, this was from Pinterest. (This piece was originally just to prove someone wrong but it turned out much better than expected) #carpentry #copingsaw #carpentryskills #carpentrywork #carpentrylife #15 #facialportrait #tommyshelby #peakyblinders #peakyblinderwoodwork #woodwork #peakyblinder #Thomasshelby #theshelbyfamily #peakyblinderart #peakyblinderfanart #newtoinsta #newtoinstagram #smallartist

It's been a while since I last did any sort of introduction post so I thought I'd reintroduce myself to anyone new! Hi, my name's Elizabeth, I'm a UK based woodworker and my work can be anything from boxes to 3D portraits. I started out working alongside a carpenter at age 13 after a teacher recommended carpentry as a career option during my schools career week. After lockdown, school made me more anxious so I fell in love with being in the workshop and on site in my spare time. I left school at 14 due to a condition called Functional Neurological Disorder that weakened my arms and hands alongside many other symptoms. I used carpentry as a way to build my dexterity and strength back up. I was home educated and completed all of my schoolwork alongside working on site and building some amazing friendships. For the first time since lockdown, I began to finally thrive. I usually avoid talking about the issues I faced with my hands as I do not wish for this to have any relevance to my current work, whether that be positive or negative. I now simply want to explore my work further and connect with like-minded people. When I was 15, I set up my own workshop and was able to put FND behind me. I discovered a whole world of finer woodworking after visiting some furniture schools and found somewhere I could aim to go to once I turn 18. Tools can be expensive so I started restoring my own and exploring different styles - I ended up totally falling in love with using my coping saw. This year, I've been fortunate enough to travel to many different places to explore my craft further - whether that be through training, talking to people at events, teaching, or shadowing. I've also been able to spend more time in the workshop whilst also figuring out how I wish to balance my work and personal life. This led me to stepping away from site work in July to prioritise my own goals. Bramble Carpentry is my own business, I take on commissions now and then in between big projects. I plan to go to a furniture school after turning 18 and from there I think I'd like to teach part-time at least. I love my work and look forward to seeing where the future takes me.

Exciting news!!! Firstly, I'm very pleased to share that I've been awarded a place in the Trinity Hall of Fame for overcoming challenges throughout my Silver Arts Award! Applications are open to anyone worldwide who has completed a Trinity qualification and my mum recently successfully nominated me. I put a huge amount of time and work into creating my portfolio and at times it felt like there was always something in the way but somehow I completed it! I'm really proud of my work so it was such a lovely surprise. Thank you so much to everyone who helped me through it and to my mum for nominating me❤️. Secondly, my work has finally been shared! Thank you to @voicemaguk for featuring my portfolio on their website! I'll have links to both the YouTube videos of my sketchbooks and the my article in the Trinity Hall of Fame in my 'Silver🥈' highlight for you all to see. And finally, I would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone I interviewed. Now that my work has been shared, every Thursday for the next 11 weeks I will be individually sharing each person's page to make sure everyone gets the opportunity for their stories to be shared. In conversation post dates: UNIT 1 - Parts C & D (focused on Bovey Tracey Craft Festival): 03/07/25 - In conversation with Sarah James (@craftfestival ) 10/07/25 - In conversation with Katherine Dunleavy (@qestcraft ) 17/07/25 - In conversation with Jo Grogan (@jogrogan_sculpture ) 24/07/25 - In conversation with Hanny Newton (@hannynewton ) 31/07/25 - In conversation with Bizz Fretty (@elizabeth.bizz.fretty @heritagecrafts ) 07/08/25 - In conversation with Laura Wasley (@makesouthwest ) 14/08/25 - In conversation with Paul Ward (@pjwwoodworks ) 21/08/25 - In conversation with Jo Weaden (@studioarvor ) UNIT 2 (focused on the first box for Mika) 28/08/25 - In conversation with Deb Koma (@mikafanclub ) 04/09/25 - In conversation with Michelle (@holdingyourdrink ) 11/09/25 - In conversation with Max Taylor (@maxtaylor_music )* Thank you all! I couldn't have done it without you. *I didn't get permission to share Max's page before Voice Magazine shared my portfolio so it's this will be the first time it's been shared.

Staying Alive exhibition at @makesouthwest ! Pauline Cochrane started teaching my brothers and I lace when we moved down to Devon. Whilst Alex and I didn't stick with it, it's been a 13 year long passion for Nick. Pauline has played a vital part in introducing so many young people in our area to lace making. However, even after travelling the world to study lace, she has never been recognised for her work. To see Pauline be recognised after over 50 years practicing lace was such a moment for both Nick and I. And then to see my very own (super cool) brother exhibiting along side her was an extremely proud moment indeed! Well done Nick for always sticking at something that requires so much patience and skill and for working so hard to create an opportunity for Pauline to have her moment in the spotlight at last. I've included some photos of us all doing lace at our local craft club. Pauline taught everyone I went to primary school with (we learnt from Year 2 and up). Lace was even the start to my Arts Award journey, being my first project in my Discover Award! Thanks you so much to @heritagecrafts and @makesouthwest for showcasing two people I look up to so much! I hope this is an opportunity for more young people to discover lace😊

Precision hand tools course @williamsandcleal ! A couple weekends ago I had the most amazing opportunity to be back training at Williams and Cleal. I went in with very little knowledge about how to do things properly so it's been a huge jump to my skill set. To go from only ever using a plane once or twice before to being able to set, sharpen and use one to within a super small margin was unbelievable! Since, @richarddonkersleyfurniture and I have been building upon everything I've learnt. I've bought and set up my own set of chisels and a low angle veritas plane, made my own paring block and planned a list of projects. For now, I'm focusing on sharpening, chisel work and other sit down practice things as I'll be off my feet for a few weeks due to a knee injury. This has totally transformed my work, to know what to do and have a foundation to build on has been a chance to take a big step forward in my work. Justin is an excellent teacher who adapts his teaching well for every individual! I'm looking forward to hopefully being back soon🙂🙂

I've been back working with Richard developing some of the work I did over the weekend with Williams and Cleal. Here he is shaping up the final spice rack of two for a kitchen pantry!

Finished at last!!!! After what feels like an extremely long 18 months, I've officially finished my Gold Arts Award! Creating something totally different to my Silver Award (very similar specification) whilst keeping it at to the same high standard was a challenge to say the least. However, in the end I managed to create a totally separate piece of work that followed the same line of progression. Here's what it includes: UNIT 1 (Personal Arts Development) PART A - Extend own arts practice: Researching and creating a dollshouse PART B - Career development opportunities in the arts: A years worth of volunteering with @heritagecrafts and @qestcraft as well as researching future pathways PART C - Research practitioners and review art events: Review of QEST 30th Anniversary Reception PART D - Form and communicate a view on an arts issue: Are we failing future crafts people before they even start? UNIT 2 WHOLE UNIT - Leadership of an arts project: working with Sally Angus running a @qestcraft workshop at @craftfestival 2025 This has been a massive amount of work! Once moderated, I'll be happy to share it all. Thank you to the teams over at HC, QEST and of course Sarah (@craftfestival ) for always providing me great opportunities. The biggest thank you goes to my amazing advisor, Anna Aroussi, over at @thelmahulbertgallery for guiding me all the way through! Can't belive its actually finished!❤️❤️❤️

My dollshouse! This year has been one life change after another for me so I'm quite late to posting this. But, like this dollshouse, some things you just can't plan. However, redirection can be for the best! Making the dollshouse was not my greatest experience so I took it slow and made sure to really enjoy making the furniture. I followed wherever my brain took me and I think it turned out rather lovely! Plus all doors and drawers open. Even if long term training at a furniture school may be out of my reach due to funding constraints, this dollshouse has taught me sometimes a different path gets you exactly where you want to be. A big thanks to @richarddonkersley for the moulding that ties everything together and @lemaitre721 for some of the decorations! Everyone has been so supportive of this project, it's pushed my skills to the max and I love my dollshouse for real this time🙂 Ps. There are more soft furnishings to come, however it's nice to appreciate my woodwork first!

New on the website: Interview with Elizabeth Jarvis 🪚✨ We’re delighted to share a new interview with Elizabeth Jarvis, a talented young creative who recently joined us through a bursary placement as part of our Quiet Places wellbeing programme. Elizabeth’s journey into the creative world began when she discovered carpentry in her early teens. Since then, she’s gone on to work with heritage craft organisations across the UK - proving just how powerful creativity can be in building confidence, connection and new opportunities. During her placement, Elizabeth has been working alongside artist Julia McKenzie (@julia_mckenzie_art ) to deliver printmaking workshops at Chard Community Hub. Together they’ve been helping participants explore creativity in a relaxed and supportive environment. Bursary placements like this are an important way for us to support young people to develop skills, gain experience and learn alongside established artists. 🌟“I desperately wanted to gain more teaching experience, particularly with adults and to understand how other people approach sharing their skill. I think this placement has been really beneficial for those reasons, sometimes just seeing how people work, what goes well, what doesn’t, is really helpful as it gives me more confidence to know how I can approach teaching in the future.” - Elizabeth Jarvis Read the full interview to discover more about Elizabeth’s journey, her passion for heritage crafts and the advice she’d share with other young people looking to explore creative opportunities: somersetartworks.org.uk/2026/03/interview-with-elizabeth-jarvis/ #QuietPlaces #BursaryPlacement #YoungCreatives #HeritageCrafts

Chard together! Julia and I joined forces for the final time last Saturday, running a print making workshop for Chard Together. Following our themes developed during our time with @chardcommunityhub , we once again provided textured wallpaper and paints (this time washable) as a base for anyone dropping in to create whatever came to their imagination. It was a successful day all round, with close to 40 people giving it a go. We had dolphins, butterflies, Minecraft creepers and more! It's been a real privilege to work with @julia_mckenzie_art for @somerset_art_works ! I'll share some more about our work together soon❤️

Five years of carpentry! Today marks 5 years since I did my first ever radiator cover with a local carpenter on the 21st February 2021. Lots can change in five years, you can go from being miserable, unable to use your hands and feeling lost to finding confidence and a huge amount of support thanks to pursuing something you love. A big day for me, thank you to everyone who's watched me grow up with my craft so far❤️

Life in chairs #miniatures #miniaturechairs #woodwork #handmade #handmademiniatures