Growing up on a farm in Vasse I have always been drawn to the natural beauty that the South West of Western Australia has to offer. After working in Agriculture and Horticulture I decided to do a double major of Youth Work and Addictions. Helping young people find their path in life and overcome adversity became my passion. After having a little boy in 2011 I decided not to return to the high stress work I had previously done and with a slight direction change became an Adventure Trainer, working with groups of young people doing High Ropes Courses, Abseiling and a variety of other outdoor adventure activities. This once again ignited my passion for working with young people and resulted in me getting an amazing job working in a local high school as a student support officer. It was during this time that by chance a mate spoke to me about some woodwork he was doing. I began helping out one night a week and found not only did I love it, but that I had a natural ability on the lathe. I started Heartwood Timber designs 6 months later.
Since starting this journey my little boy has been diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. It is a difficult and often emotional journey that we are on as he learns to understand how he fits into the world. I am back to working part time as an Adventure Trainer at a high ropes course while running Heartwood Timber Designs. My shed is my happy place but I love the balance that having both jobs provides for both me and my son.
You often have to look beneath the surface to find the beauty in things which is something that my woodwork and child have shown me over the past 5 years. As such I am drawn to the unique and ever surprising beauty of timber. When milling a log it is like unwrapping a present to see what amazing grain patterns and colours lie beneath. It is the timber itself that dictates what furniture or artwork it will become. The South West Region of Western Australia is home to some of the most amazing and highly sought after timbers in the world and I am so incredibly lucky to be able to work with these every day and then share this with my customers. As a self-taught woodworker I predominately utilise reclaimed local native timbers to create unique pieces of artwork and furniture for both local and international customers.
As the business has grown, so has the Heartwood Timber Designs team. It is now a truly family affair with Husband, Son and Parents all creating stunning items as a part of Heartwood Timber Designs.