Tammy Crawford-Rolt
Tammy CR is a bespoke furniture and cabinet maker who handcrafts sustainable furniture both free-standing and fitted, the Trio Collection and other bespoke projects. Tammy’s craft approach blends traditional techniques with modern designs and tools.
Her background in spatial design has led Tammy to focus on ergonomics, alongside that strong visual style. She believes in making durable pieces with a high level of attention to detail and finish.
Your bespoke furniture will be tailor designed and made through an initial design process to discuss custom sizing, materials and aesthetics that will suit your home and your needs.
Standard furniture designs are also available and made to order through my FURNITURE page.
Tammy also takes on commissions and interiors for various domestic and commercial spaces for bespoke fit out.
For your project please contact me here.
My journey into handcrafted furniture
From a young age, I always enjoyed making things and being practical. I would invent designs, was fascinated by nature, particularly woodlands, and was always making things with bits and pieces. As a teenager I became particularly interested in architecture, landscape and interior design.
This led me to go and study Art, Design & the Environments; Spatial Design at Central Saint Martins in London. I was drawn to working on community, public and outdoor spaces. I would transform 2D drawings into 3D objects through play. I became obsessed with natural Scandinavian design and organic materials such as wood.
After graduating I got involved with community gardens, wildlife projects, The Remakery, and Architecture for Humanity. This is when I really began working with wood. I had to be creative and resourceful with the materials and tools I could get hold of.
I moved to Bristol in 2015 and this is when I honed in on my passion and path to become a furniture maker using timber.
At the start I was designing & making less refined outdoor planters and seating schemes using reclaimed timber. I would use what I could find and predominantly just sand and cut before the making started. However as I developed my woodworking skill set, learning from the makers around me, freelance work and joinery workshops, I began to experiment more. I originally would have an idea and then begin making, however now there are many processes before I begin. From initial ideas, prototyping and jig making, carefully analysing and product strength testing and sanity checks. Only then do I begin machining the timber, joining and assembling, planing, chiselling, sanding and oiling.
I have a workshop just off Feeder Road in St. Philips with all the woodworking kit to keep me busy making furniture and cabinets for years.
My Ethos
I strongly believe in supporting local resources, the quality and labour of love in handmade items. I feel that items should be long term investments, crafted and cared for with the intent to become antiques. I also believe in the ability of plants to enhance both the natural environment and our well-being, particularly in urban landscapes. My work brings vegetation inside, and supports people to flourish and grow outside.
Whenever designing and making something, I aim to be as responsible and sustainable as possible. By carefully selecting materials, reducing my waste, reusing and foraging things that would otherwise be scrapped, I try to make my work tread lightly on the planet.
Find A Maker by Craft Festival
Selected to be a 'Find a Maker' member 2023. See link for the carefully selected makers and more about the organisation.