Like everyone else, our lives were turned upside down this year.
Instead of the two holidays we'd planned, paid for and really looked forward to, they were suddenly a big source of stress and heartache.
Stuck at home, I started to knock off a list of jobs around home that, well, stretched back about a decade. (Roughly the time I got the travel bug)
Checking things off this list lifted the spirits and improved our home and lives as well.
Pictured: First isolation project. A small deck from the back door to the laundry that only took 10 years to get around to.
Probably the biggest job on the list was to fix the back shed where termites had gotten in.
We needed somewhere to store items from the shed first and also a new back fence, so to kill two birds with one stone, we built garden and bike sheds.
With the big shed still to be fixed, it would be mostly empty as we had somewhere else to store things now.
As a bloke does, the mind wanders about what to do in there. The idea to turn it into my own little woodworking heaven was born.
Many tools were already purchased to complete the other jobs and the missus had been supportive up until the point I tried to explain that I really needed a decent table saw and had to spend $1000's.
Trying to justify this, I explained that I could sell the things that I made.
It was agreed that if I was making money from it, I could spend money on it.
So woodworking turned from a personal passion and passtime to my part-time business. Improved Software my main business.
The name may change but to get things up and running quicker, I've used the Improved branding from my software business and piggy backed on the website too.
While I'd love to make really high-end handmade furniture, I don't think there would be much of a market in our area.
Instead the focus will be on making practical items that are solidly built and useful. For those that want to step up from flat-pack to hand made, but without a massive price tag.
Regardless of price, each item will be made with care and attention to detail.
I have lots of ideas for items to make but ultimately it will be driven by what people want.
I'll start by making things we will use ourselves. I can then set up a range of products and pricing that people can customise to suit their own needs, style and space.
Please let me know the type of things you might want as that will determine what gets priority.
Some items likely to be added