British Design - Made In Canada

I love England.

It has been very good to me, the people are great, the culture and history are unlike any other in the world, and I am proud to call it my home. But nothing is perfect, and there are a few things I don't love quite so much.

So along with my beautiful wife Andrée-Anne, I have packed up everything and departed to become a permanent resident of Canada, in the beautiful province of Quebec.

There is something more humble and peaceful about life here, the great outdoors will kill you if you aren't respectful, but the fact there is so much to do outside is the key motivation for me moving my entire life across the Atlantic. I love winter, proper snow and cold temperatures where you can go outside and have fun, unlike when it's raining in England, which is just dark, wet and miserable.

So we are now here and beginning to build a new life in the wilds of Quebec, and after just a few weeks I already know it was a fantastic decision. Living by the water in a small village with a couple hundred people spread out over something like 10 square miles, is my idea of heaven.

Of course this place brings more opportunities, and I am going to embrace the love given by all of you who have bought the things I made in my little shed in England, and turn this out-of-control hobby into a real business.

From here on out Oak & Awl is a real thing - If I got this far by accident then who knows what is possible if I put some effort into it!

I am so excited to get my new workshop set up and finally get around to developing all the new ideas and prototypes I have in my sketchbook. It's going to be a big year and I hope you will all join in me with making it a great one - sim