Make Things. From Wood: Easy woodworking skills and designs for the modern maker

by Annabelle June Buckland

Overview

Does woodworking intimidate you? It’s okay if it does, you’re not alone. But the world of woodworking has been waiting for you, and this book is ready to welcome you in with open arms.

It’s time to let go of the fear, cut through the jargon, and start making things. Written by a self-taught female woodworker, and aimed at absolute beginners, you’ll find all the skills and encouragement you need within these pages. From learning about tools and techniques to tips and tricks, along with detailed step-by-step projects, this book is bursting with all the knowledge you need to begin your woodworking journey.

In this book you’ll learn:

• All about power tools and hand tools, how to use them and which ones you actually need.
• How and where to buy wood and the essentials of cutting, sanding and joining.
• Everything you need to know about staining, painting and protecting wood.
• How to install hardware for hanging projects on the wall.
• How to cut circles and shapes to add a new dimension to your projects.
• Tips on how to create your own workshop in a small space, including dust management.
• The design process and how to discover your inner creative.
• How to make 20 projects step-by-step, as well as suggestions on how to adapt the projects to create your own unique designs.

But this is more than just a manual - it’s an invitation to tap into your creativity, explore new possibilities and discover the joy of bringing something to life with your hands. Whether you’re here to learn the basics, or dreaming of something more ambitious, this book provides you with the skills and encouragement you need to thrive. With this trusty book by your side, you’ll gain the skills, confidence and expertise you need to explore new possibilities, express your individual style, and become the woodworker of your dreams.

Buy this book today to start fearing less and making more!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781446315736
Publisher:	David & Charles
Publication date:	02/03/2026
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 9.02(h) x (d)

About the Author

Annabelle June is a self-taught woodworker who’s been working with wood for almost a decade. From her workshop in the attic, she has accumulated a huge online following (@annabellejune_) building anything that pops into her head, and has an unrelenting urge to show everyone she meets that they can do it too! Her approach to woodworking focuses less on refining traditional or complex skills, and more on bringing your vision to life in the simplest way possible. She focuses on the joy of woodworking, the beauty of creating something with your hands, and the rejection of perfectionism. This is her first book.

Read an Excerpt

Hi, I’m Annabelle and I make things. From wood. You can too. 

I’m a self taught woodworker – I dipped my toes into woodworking several years ago and instantly fell in love. I never actually considered myself to be a creative person. I was always drawn to creative endeavours, but I wasn’t naturally talented at anything. It took me a long time to realise you don’t have to be any good – you can be terrible and still have fun. So my creative journey began. I learnt instruments (badly), I upcycled clothes (badly) and I woodworked (badly). But woodworking was the one thing that really stuck with me; it suddenly became all I ever wanted to do. But as someone with no prior knowledge or experience – and no one to guide or teach me in real life – I relied solely on books, blogs and YouTube to teach me, along with a lot of trial and error. And who would’ve thought that the more you do something, the better you get at it? And now, several years later, here I am writing this book and hoping you’ll join me.

If you’re a beginner interested in woodworking it can feel like an intimidating world to enter. When I first started out, there were two things I struggled to overcome. First was the fear of injury from scary power tools. The second was feeling totally overwhelmed trying to learn the basics from the endless amounts of information out there. My hope with this book is to give you the basic knowledge you need, all in one place, to give you the confidence to get started on your woodworking journey. And if you’ve already taken your first steps into woodworking, I hope this book can support you as you continue on that journey. Most importantly, I want you to realise that woodworking is an accessible and fun hobby that anyone can get into. Woodworking shouldn’t be about perfection. There’s nothing more joyful to me than bringing a vision to life with my hands – how finessed you want to become at the art is up to you. You might be someone who wants to create fun designs to fill your home with, or you might be someone who wants to dedicate your time to perfecting complex techniques. I’m here to say both are noble pursuits and neither is better than the other. Wood is beautiful. Creating art is beautiful. And, as we all know, beauty is different to each person. Woodworking is a way to bring your version of beauty into the world.