How It’s Made
THE CRAFT
Introduction
Welcome to Woodpecker Gifts. I'd love to take you behind the scenes and show you how the pieces in my shop come to life. In the short films that follow, you'll see examples through every stage — from the first design to the finished, glowing light — made by my own hands, here in Britain. Wherever I can, I source my materials from the UK and choose the most environmentally friendly options along the way. Nothing here is mass-produced: every piece is assembled by hand, with real care.
THE CRAFT
Design
Every piece begins with a simple question: I wonder if I could turn that into a light? Elizabeth Tower started exactly that way. I study the real thing closely — its shape, its character, the little details that make it recognisable — then draw the design out by hand on screen, refining it until every line feels right. From there I make three or four prototypes, testing how it assembles, how it glows, and which colours bring it to life. Often I'll take an early version to a craft fair to see how people respond. Some designs come quickly; others take far longer to get right — and that care is reflected in what each piece is worth.
THE CRAFT
Painting & Waxing
With the design ready, each board is prepared by hand. For my British Icons, I match the paint to the true colours of the original — so the red of a telephone box is the red — priming, sanding and building up the colour in careful layers until the finish is just right. My Home Glow pieces are different: these are natural wood veneers, left unpainted so the grain can speak for itself. Whichever it is, every board is then waxed and polished by hand — protecting the surface and giving it a soft, warm sheen — before it's ready to be cut.
THE CRAFT
Protecting & Cutting
Here's where I do something most makers don't. Before a single cut is made, I protect the finished surface of every board — an extra step, and an extra cost, but it's what keeps my pieces free of the scorched, burnt edges you so often see on laser-cut work. Each board is then cut with precision on my laser cutter, and the protection stays in place right up until assembly, so the finish I've worked so hard on reaches you exactly as intended.
THE CRAFT
Hand Assembling
This is the most satisfying part — the moment all the earlier work finally comes together. I assemble in small batches of ten or twenty; it keeps my hand steady and my standards consistent. Some pieces ask for extra patience, like the delicate spire of Elizabeth Tower or the little Union flag on the roof of a telephone box, each built up by hand. I peel away the protective film, check the finish, and make sure the light works before any parts are joined — and the light itself goes in last of all, once I'm completely happy the piece is exactly as it should be.
THE CRAFT
Finishing & Packaging
Before anything leaves me, each piece is given one last, careful look — making sure the finish is flawless and the light glows just as it should. Then it's wrapped with real care, labelled, and packed safely for its journey by courier. From a simple idea to the finished glow, every piece passes through my hands alone — ready, at last, to bring a little warmth to your home.