https://www.facebook.com/104065792281871/

Gnarly Oak

Directions

Gnarlyoak is open for business, making bespoke wooden items in my Suffolk workshop, where possible using timber grown in the local area.

03/11/2026

I've been busy developing a new line of decorative nutcrackers for the upcoming Christmas markets. All are handmade from a mixture of locally sourced and more exotic timbers including beech, sycamore, oak, ebony, sapele, panga panga and black walnut.

They stand 40cm/15.5" tall. The traditional nutcracker mechanism is installed but for decorative purposes only.

Traditionally, nutcrackers were a symbol of good luck, strength, and household protection, serving as fierce guardians (bearing their teeth) meant to ward off evil spirits and danger. Originating in Germany, now generally popular (and scary) traditional Christmas decorations keeping those bad spirits away.

If you're a fan of the Sharpe's ri**es series, you'll know I've accidentally created a 'Captain Frederickson', I just need an eye patch!

🎄

02/11/2026

The local woodturning club had a summer 'Candlestick' challenge. I don't think they'd ever expected to see a candlestick in his and hers gonk form!

31/10/2026

For Halloween, we have a 'german smoker' witch!

The body holds an incense cone making the witch cast her smokey spell!

A video is in the comments.

07/10/2026

I've just had a fantastic couple of days on a Stewart Furini Woodturning texturing and colouring course at Hope Woodturning. I can highly recommend it!

It was great fun playing with loads of texturing tools and I finally know how to use airbrushes properly with ideas for future designs. I also learnt that concave eye cutters that I used to make the first bowl, make a lot of smoke! Don't worry my firefighter follows, Mrs Gnarly has already banned me from buying any!

The two feature bowls were my finished items I took home from the course, I've included a few pictures from the earlier playtime.

Thank you Stewart for sharing your knowledge, Simon Hope for hosting and my fellow student Paul Simmons Woodturning .

My Christmas list is now significantly longer.....

19/09/2026

We've had an electric piano sitting on a crappy folding stand for years, but when Mrs Gnarly says the Ipswich Hospital Band needs a piano for their 50th anniversary concert and their patron, Rick Wakeman Music is going to play it, time to get in the workshop and make something decent!

The stand is made from local Ash with an oil finish, looks way better now, quite professional!

We were treated to Rick playing David Bowie's (Mrs Gnarly's Musical hero) Life on Mars, morning has broken and a Prokofiev inspired Eleanor Rugby. Ipswich hospital band were also very good!

05/09/2026

A nice office for the day!
Now set up Suffolk Food Hall at the vintage, craft and makers market. Here until 16:00, come and say hello!

Mrs Gnarly is away on holiday so I've roped in the sapling as helper for the day.

17/07/2026

Recently back from a fabulous couple of days with Colwin Way at his Devon workshop making this viking German smoker - a traditional incense burner. Great fun, I can highly recommend spending some time in Colwins workshop.
The last picture shows how he comes apart for the small incense cone.

Video in the comments

The body is M. Saban-Smith Woodturning intrinsic colours, details are Chestnut Products - first for finishes spirit stains and satin lacquer to finish.

09/07/2026

Tomorrow, after ten weeks of basic training, our Gnarlyoak sapling passes out from HMS Raleigh for a career in marine engineering with the Royal Navy.

Naturally this momentous event has to be celebrated in Gonk form, with an HMS Raleigh tally. I've also included a few pictures of my other military gonks.

(or should that be born in Suffolk, made in the Royal Navy)

20/06/2026

Thanks to Andy and Victoria at Deben Events for awarding me best in show today at The Shire Hall, Woodbridge! Here today to until 16:00.
We'll enjoy the prize of a bottle of bubbly later!

19/06/2026

Going to be a hot one at The Shire Hall, Woodbridge Vintage and Makers Market. What you need is some cool fruit!

Come and find us in the brown gazebo tomorrow between 10:00 and 16:00, Saturday 20th June.

A new batch of turned fruit coming to the stall including a number of exotics from around the world plus Suffolk Sycamore and Yew.

Just to mess with your head, I have an apple apple, pear pear and a pear apple!

Address

Ipswich
Ipswich

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Gnarly Oak posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.