September 2026
Phil’s work is so popular he is already producing Christmas items. This will hold someone’s Christmas cards.
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September 2026
Lee can adapt a laser design, in this case for the Keel Row in Blyth. However complicated they are, he gets the technical detail sorted then they are cut in just a few minutes.
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September 2026
Brian made this full height gate in just a couple of hours. This half-made picture does show the shape.
September 2026
Keith drills a steel tube ready for the Cambois Church Remembrance Day service. Ken has the essential job of maintaining perfect horizontal positioning.
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September 2026
Ken, Garry and Rob have been painting and rebuilding two water walls for Toby Henderson autistic centre. This is the moment we got to play with water and test every single funnel and moving part.
September 2026
Lee’s dramatic Halloween house. It looks so complicated, but apparently assembly is the only really tricky part!
September 2026
Kat and Marie have been quietly improving their expertise with resin. They now have lots of designs, which sell as quick as they can make them.
September 2026
Lee makes so many items we often miss them, but this was awaiting collection by the Horticulture Training Unit so I managed to get a photo.
August 2026
Ken took charge of the impossibly complex plumbing for the Toby Henderson Water Walls. We hope the children enjoy playing with it!
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August 2026
Brian painting the replacement funnels to start the refurbishment of the Toby Henderson water walls
August 2026
Bobby made this clever adjustable phone holder.
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August 2026
This slice of log took some grinding and sanding to get it smooth. Dave’s expertise with the laser cutter however made the lettering easy and he then used resin to keep the weather out.
August 2026
Graham sharing another joke. He is so precise in marking out and cutting – even when all the angles would have most of us tearing our hair or just guessing! Well done Graham.
July 2026
Brian responder to a request – could we repair this bird table? He did a right neat job and also sorted out a metal feeder with a new base!
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July 2026
Dave has livened up these sets of drawers and lamps with a high quality finish.
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July 2026
The shed was asked could we repair a little hole in some decking? A few boards were beginning to deteriorate, but the hole in the corner was caused by the structure underneath completely rotting away! Then came the tricky decisions – some of the other beams were less than perfect. To do a proper job the whole structure should be replaced, which would be too big a task for us. The owner only wanted the corner repaired. So, Rob and Brian ordered some treated timbers and built a new strong structure and finished it with just a few new boards. The owner was very pleased with the result.
July 2026
Could we stop a pet rabbit weeing on a bed? Rob’s first best answer was to extend the bed legs, this partly worked, but the next idea to fit a mosquito net may be even better.
June 2026
Some people like nothing better than a challenge full of complications! Five of the keenest shed members spent a whole day fixing a swollen floor at Earth Balance Well Being Studio.
In some places it was easy to just cut 10mm from the edge board. However, at the corners, in front of the door and under the radiators we somehow had to lift the boards before cutting. In the end we successfully relieved pressure the whole length of one side, also around four radiator pipes, one pillar and at the door we fixed a new step.
The floor was still not perfectly flat, but Jayne the owner of the business said the result was wonderful.
June 2026
Andy quickly turned this bowl and got it nicely finished all in one session.
June 2026
Cutting a 10mm gap around the pillar.
June 2026
June 26
We had an exciting visit to Koast Radio building to discuss helping upgrade to their studio. They want the layout changed so the presenters and visitors are facing each other. We were very impressed not just by the technology, but also by the charming welcome, all whilst and between John and Glenda broadcasting.
May 2026
Mel’s Mud Kitchen! The great thing about Earth Balance Shed is that there are always plenty people to talk through ideas. Mel got a little guidance from Phil and asked lots of us for ideas. We think he has ended up with just about the best play kitchen ever. I bet his grand child is going to have endless fun with it!
May 2026
Ed made two pairs of shelves, these two he kept natural softwood colour the other two are a deep purple colour. We wait with eager anticipation to see how they look in position.
May 2026
Katrina and Maurice have only been coming to the Shed for a few weeks, but already they have made two of these smart planters.
May 2026
Peter is going to a fancy-dress party in Marseilles, (as you do). He’s made this fearsome looking axe to add to his Viking costume – it is safer than it looks and just carved from wood!
April 2026
John used our laser cutter to make several ‘build a house’ kits for a dementia group to assemble and decorate.
April 2026
To commemorate the life of a very special person Peter made this framed plaque. The hardwoods he used add quality to an important message.
April 2026
Rob made a bluetit nesting box using donated timber and quite a lot of donated roofing felt!
April 2026
Phil likes to keep his acrylic paints in order so he made this perfect rack. Looking closely, he has each shelf located with two tenons at each end! Most of us know we couldn’t manage such accuracy, but it is great to know if we ever wanted to try Phil would be there to give advice.
April 2026
Lee has taken this Fishes in a Frame idea and developed it to suit a special person’s home.
March 2026
Peter’s turning and interesting radial markings receives a little input from Graham. The tricky part of this project was keeping the bark intact.
March 2026
Keith is new to the shed, but he is impressively competent and quickly made this made this fine shape for a much loved pet.
March 2026
John made these hooks as part of a lanyard project for the Chrysalis dementia group in Hexham.
March 2026
Worried by a rising wind a determined team from the shed replaced the plastic on the Bedlington Community Allotment poly tunnel. We were each armed with a broom, but the first task was to lift the weighty roll of polythene up to a high bracket. Then a lot of pulling and running up ladders using a careful push with a broom to ease the plastic over each hoop. This was the moment of maximum jeopardy! Maybe we were lucky. There were a few sharp flaps, but luckily the worse of the gusts waited until we had the plastic safely dragged down at each side.
March 2026
This is a second attempt to add castors to the medical style treatment plinth at the Earth Balance Well-Being Studio. Let’s hope the new 120mm long oak plugs are strong enough!
March 2026
An Easter basket by Lee. Somehow the laser cuts 3mm ply into delicate patters.
February 2026
It is a privilege at the shed to actually see the astonishing accuracy some skilled people can achieve. Phil just keeps getting better and better! These two creations of his in oak are much admired.
February 2026
Some repair jobs are not so easy. A leg broken in two places had lots of us puzzling. The tenon joint resisted all attempts at dismantling. Old casein glue stains were scraped off – but then looked even worse! One member who used to work professionally as a furniture maker suggesting rejoining the broken pieces with added tenons. In the end Brian bravely drilled and added a pin for strength. Then quite a bit of detailed staining and varnish.
February 2026
Making raised beds for the church at Cambois so the children in the school next door can do some hands on growing. With Keith organising the logistics, Brian giving the benefit of his allotment experience and Neville providing transport its amazing how easily the first 3 raised beds came together.
February 2026
Getting a really good look and a perfect finish can take time, but Mark has a steady hand painting detail and is brilliant with stain and spray finish – transforming normal old plywood into something special.
December 2025
Dennis answered the request to make a yoga mat rack for the Earth Balance Dance Studio. We think he has made a brilliant job.
December 2025
Keith thought it was time to properly display this First World War medal given to commemorate a brave family member. As it says on the medal He Died for Freedom and Honour.
December 2025
Phil wasn’t happy with the accuracy of this star. Mind, no one else could find the slightest imperfection!
December 2025
Most people who join Earth Balance Shed are not as skilful as Alan. In fact, there are only a handful of members who can consistently be this accurate and use their knowledge to produce items of this quality. For the rest of us it is great to have expert advice when we want it.
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December 2025
Phil’s quality Christmas figures – another three completed just in time to meet demand.
November 2025
After just about a year in the making the rocking horse is finished and delivered to a new home with St Oswalds Hospice, where bereaved children receive support.
The project started last year when Tracey gave the shed the stylishly carved horse head. Many people in the shed helped. Amy drew a full-sized plan and started choosing wood, we quickly realised we’d have to make it hollow to save weight! Dennis made the rear right leg, Brian made the rockers and Rob took it out in the summer sunshine to do some shaping. We painted it grey, but everyone said it looked too cold so Mark helped with the airbrush and surprisingly, we found spraying transparent pink made the grey look much better!
Joan and Don gave lots of advice on saddles and bridles, Joan sewed and donated a saddle and some horsy fixings. Jenny donated several leather belts to make the bridle and reins. Finally, we used some brass donated by the widow of a clockmaker to make the stirrups.
November 2025
Brian is high on the 4m ladder putting up Adrian’s bat box at the Earth Balance site. We have seen one bat, let’s hope there are a few more looking for a new home!
November 2025
Dave made a long shelf to go up high in a bathroom. It will not have to hold much weight, but there was discussion about the design of the brackets.
November 2025
Peter puts timber found on Cambois beach onto the woodwork lathe, sometimes not quite knowing what can be made. Lots of people really liked the colour and look of this arty object – not quite a bowl!
November 2025
Phil’s super Christmas items are made of expensive hardwood skilfully cut on a scroll saw and carefully painted. We just think they are fabulous!
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