About Amy Savoie

Carpenter, Teacher, Business Woman, Artist, Wife and Mother of 2... Not neccessarly in that order

Dominating the DIY: A Modern Woman’s Guide to Being “Handy”

What you need to Dominate the DIY Project? A Woman's Guide What does it take to be considered "handy"?  To be a useful source for the skills and cleverness it takes to be a fixer of things; Crafter of Function, Rigger Upper or Maker of anything? The truth is, most of us aren't "handy" anymore. [...]

By |2020-10-17T20:32:09+00:00August 9th, 2016|EDUCATION, Hand Tools|Comments Off on Dominating the DIY: A Modern Woman’s Guide to Being “Handy”

3 Easy Ways to Upcycle Old Furniture

  There are many, MANY ways to breathe new life into an old piece of furniture. I'm talking real wood pieces here; not that cheap, single-lifespan particleboard crap. Older pieces have staying power and are repairable...Woodworkers used to build their furniture with better quality materials and meticulous joinery, which meant they lasted much longer. These [...]

By |2020-10-17T20:32:10+00:00May 31st, 2016|EDUCATION, INSPIRATION, Refinishing, Upcycling|Comments Off on 3 Easy Ways to Upcycle Old Furniture

5 Frugal Ways to Find Material for your Project

I've come a long way since being a starving student in art school, but I still like to save a few bucks (or even better, save ALL my bucks) when I make my unique furniture pieces. I feel the same way about using salvaged material as I do towards adopting pets. Just as an animal [...]

By |2020-10-17T20:32:10+00:00April 19th, 2016|EDUCATION|Comments Off on 5 Frugal Ways to Find Material for your Project

Inspire: Reclaimed European White Oak Coffee Table

As I've mentioned in previous posts, my design process usually begins with the material and evolves from there. Sometimes I make detailed drawings with dimensions and plan accordingly with a cutting list, and other times I just sort of "wing it". Although the first method is much more efficient, I find the latter to lend [...]

By |2020-10-17T20:32:10+00:00April 5th, 2016|coffee table, FURNITURE, INSPIRATION|Comments Off on Inspire: Reclaimed European White Oak Coffee Table

Quick Fixes: How to Repair Particle Board

I know I'm not the only one who's caught herself thinking "they just don't make 'em like they used to"... But the sad fact is, this is just TRUE. Cheap plastic has replaced metal, fibre board has replaced real wood, and when it comes to so many things this means that it can actually be [...]

By |2020-10-17T20:32:10+00:00March 22nd, 2016|EDUCATION, FURNITURE, Quick Fixes|Comments Off on Quick Fixes: How to Repair Particle Board

Inspire: Reclaimed White Oak Coffee Table

I've always loved using salvaged materials to build things. Not only is it incredibly economical, but I also love the challenge of designing something based on the material I have available. I've worked at BC Hardwood Floors since 2009 building custom stairs and Millwork, and over the years I've observed a phenomenon; the construction industry [...]

By |2020-10-17T20:32:10+00:00March 15th, 2016|coffee table, FURNITURE, INSPIRATION|Comments Off on Inspire: Reclaimed White Oak Coffee Table

The 4 Simple Things you Need to Plan Any Project

Welcome to the first project I'll be taking on as Woodshop Girl! I want to share the journey from design and DIY to finished product, to teach you some of the basic skills needed to take any room from the dull and dismal "Before" to the shiny and magnificent "After". There is a very important [...]

By |2020-10-17T20:32:10+00:00March 8th, 2016|EDUCATION, Woodshop Updates|Comments Off on The 4 Simple Things you Need to Plan Any Project

Can You Make It ‘Off the Grid’?

After recently discovering a series called Kevin McCloud’s Escape to the Wild (ok, binge-watching all 4 episodes available thus far), I have become temporarily consumed by the idea of living off the grid. On an interest-only level, I fully subscribe to the ideologies that drive the alternative lifestyle; both from an ecological perspective as well [...]

By |2020-10-17T20:32:10+00:00February 23rd, 2016|Woodshop Updates|Comments Off on Can You Make It ‘Off the Grid’?