At Alvistur Studio, we operate with the belief that woodworking is not just about making furniture and cabinetry but that the entire process of turning a vision or a sketch into reality has an inherent value beyond the selling price. It is our intention to give each customer a window into this process so that the finished product represents more than just the assemblage of fibers and finish taking up physical space. With subtle details, clean designs and construction methods to last generations, an Alvistur piece has a life of it’s own and will add vitality to your living space. Our simple value-added business model means we combine raw material with our experience, labor and integrity to create your vision in three dimensions. It is an age-old approach toward a livelihood but it works because sometimes the whole is greater than the sum of the parts; when the intangible aspects of knowledge and design meets the singular quality of a handcrafted object.
We are interested in hearing your project ideas large or small. By utilizing a step-by-step process of discovery, design, production and delivery/installation we give you as much control as you desire over the finished work. It is our sincere hope that when all is said and done you will want to return to us with your next idea for a project. That is, afterall, the ultimate compliment of a job well done.
Alvistur Studio 
How is life? Nice work you are doing over there.
Hey Jens, good to hear from you. Life is going well at the moment. I’m just transitioning between projects now which is always kind of exciting. I’m sorry we didn’t get to catch up last August, how is Oughterard these days?
hey my name is Kevin and lately i have been trying to figure out what i want to do with my life. I attended college for an engineering degree my first year and decided that was not for me. so then i switched to a reclamation major which i will begin this fall. However, ive realized that is my dream to have my own woodworking studio designing and building all sorts of crafts. I just dont know how and where to start. i was wondering if you had any tips or words of direction and encouragement for me.
Hi Kevin- The reclamation major sounds like a good start. One important part of woodworking is determining what type of material you like to work with and more importantly what kind of material is available to you. Fortunately, pieces made with reclaimed materials are in high demand these days and they have a certain aesthetic which appeals to many types of people. (At least this is true in Portland, I’m not sure where you are living). If you can build simple tables and benches out of some unique reclaimed material I think you may find people will be interested in them.
When setting up a wood shop it can be overwhelming to think about all of the machines and tools it takes to operate efficiently. Try not to get too caught up in it and invest in good hand tools first. Buy some cheap chisels and learn to sharpen them well. Old hand planes are widely available and are excellent tools once they are cleaned up and the iron is replaced with a Hock iron. Consider taking some classes in basic hand tool use if they are available in your area. If you can learn how to join, surface and shape wood with a basic set of hand tools you’ll be off to a good start. One of the first things you should build is a workbench. The work bench is the center of the woodworker’s universe and it will be the starting point for all of your future projects. Build a knockdown design if space is an issue.
Whatever you find yourself building, put in the extra effort to make it something that will endure. One of the real competitive advantages studio woodworkers have over cheaper imports and mass produced goods is that they are capable of making furniture with more integrity. As people are waking up to the pitfalls of our economy of the obsolete they are finding more value in objects that have a higher price tag but last ten times longer. This is an important selling point for small-time woodworkers and it is important that your reputation be associated with quality.
Do what you can to seek out cabinetmakers and/or furniture makers who need help. Even if you don’t get paid and you are just sweeping and catching material out of the sander you will glean invaluable knowledge about the tooling and methods being used in the shop. As a mentor once told me: A woodworker’s equity lies in his knowledge and skill set.
Good luck Kevin, and thanks for checking out my blog!
-B
Thank you so much for your advice 🙂 i agree with what you said about reclamation being a good choice because many people would be interested in things made from reclaimed material..however i cant seem to make up my mind whether i want to continue a four year degree in reclamation or if i hust want to go to tech schhool for woodworking.
Wow! Great work Brendan!… What a beautiful sofa!… I love this style!.. A classic sort of beauty… That is the kind of sofa you might expect to find Sophia Lauren curled up on! Lovely!… I really love Tessa’s nightstands too… and the garden bench… Wonderful!… It is so great that you are doing what you love and I see there is so much love in what you do!
Beannachtai as Eirinn!!
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