Hi Ana and everyone!
I am an American living in Wellington, NZ. My husband, 2 yr old son and I moved here 6 months ago! We left pretty much everything in the US--sold our house, furnishings, and so on, keeping only 25 boxes, 3 works of art, and one library chair (currently in storage in the US).
We live minimally in a one-bedroom apartment. We bought our organic bed and a dresser, but otherwise have no furnishings. It's been fun living in a "japanese" style, and we love minimalism. But i do have a few needs.
Trying to meet those needs in NZ has been challenging. All furniture is expensive, and most of what would be "within our price range" is both ugly (think late seventies early eighties design) and cheaply made. The furnishing we like (clean, modern, and simple)--and even though we would not buy much--is *insanely* expensive. I'm talking about a three shelf book shelf in a clean, modern style and real wood (sustainable and all that) would cost about $4k. And yes, I'm serious. (i do have ridiculously expensive taste, but some things really are that much more expensive in NZ). :D
I have zero woodworking skills. In fact, in my family, it was completely considered "bad" for me to do woodworking or any "work with my hands." I was considered "too smart" and should be "using my mind for the betterment of humankind" rather than dealing in carpentry, or painting walls, or learning about plumbing. I was raised with the notion that I was smart enough to "pay others to do that sort of work." Now, while i admit that i believe there is space and times for experts and will hire them, and also that employing others--when you have the funds--is a civic duty, but I have always admired self reliant people with practical skills. People who could, say, build their own house, or a planter, or a crate, or a floating shelf. someone who could basically do whatever they need or want for themselves.
So, here I am. In New Zealand. No skills, no tools, but a fair number of pallets.
So, I'll start with that. :)
Ms Criz
Fri, 09/03/2010 - 16:29
Welcome from another absolute beginner! Pallets are as good a place to start as any. I've got some basic tools, but I have no pallets or any other scrap wood. I look forward to hearing about and seeing what you make out of your pallets.
I haven't looked at a map to see where in NZ Wellington is, but I hope it's far from where that earthquake just happened.
zoebird
Fri, 09/03/2010 - 19:05
Yes, we are a fair distance away, thanks. :)
Christchurch--where the quake happened--is on the east coast in the middle of the south island. Wellington is on the southern tip of the north island. Geographically, it's not that far--like the distance between San Fran and Sacramento. but, because of the water and the nature of the rock here--being quite malleable so the rock absorbs a lot of the shocks--we didn't even feel the quake!