It all began
It all began one day on a job site when I came up against a massive sandstone boulder. At the time, I’d been working as a carpenter for about seven years, while also freelancing as a graphic designer and photographer.
That day, I was building a retaining wall and needed to sink a post, only to find this dirt covered boulder sitting directly in the way. To make room, I started cutting into it. As I chipped away, the stone began to show itself. Behind the face, the interior was pristine, sunlight caught its minerals, sparkling as though they were seeing daylight for the first time in millions of years. Which may be just the case, geologists say Australian Hawkesbury sandstone can be up to 247 million years old.
I was captivated. Something about this particular piece of stone struck me deeply. I couldn’t let it go, so I brought it home and carved it into a candle holder for my mother. That simple act sparked everything.
From there, it unfolded naturally. I bought a shipping container, found a patch of land nearby, and built a studio, a place where I could make noise, get messy, and explore creativity in its rawest form. It felt like stepping into what I was always meant to be doing.
But at that stage in life, things were tough. I’d get into my car after a long day on site and just break down in tears, exhausted and mentally drained. I was punishing my body eight hours a day in a job I didn’t love, struggling with anxiety, over thinking a bunch and feeling lost about what I was truly meant to be doing. Deep down I knew my passion was elsewhere, I just didn’t know how to reach it.
This creative practice has felt like a gift, something the universe handed me at the exact moment I needed it most. The way it aligned, the way it felt so right, still gives me goosebumps. It was as if all of my passions collided at once, design, craftsmanship, meeting new people, fashion, and creativity in its purest form.
People often ask me what art school I attended. I’m self taught, who fell in love with creating and making pieces that can be cherished for generations. Every piece is forever one of a kind.
So my reminder is, continue to love, continue to have faith in the universe, and trust that it has your back. You never know what tomorrow might bring, it could be the beginning of a whole new journey of joy.
Love,
Tom.
