In this episode of Yours for the Making Robin Johnson speaks with Lindsey and Rik Goodman about designing building and running Looking Glass Lodge in Fairlight East Sussex. The conversation follows their journey from an early idea of a small shepherd style retreat to delivering a striking glass fronted woodland lodge with near full occupancy.

Lindsey and Rik explain the influence of family history and woodland stewardship on the design, the planning challenges of building in an area of outstanding natural beauty, and the financial pressure created by specialist glass requirements and rising material costs during Covid. They discuss sourcing locally, designing for calm rather than activity, switching from build mode to marketing overnight, and learning what guests actually value. This episode gives a clear view of the emotional financial and practical reality of building a high end retreat in the UK countryside.

Key Topics Covered

1. Creating a woodland lodge in Fairlight East Sussex
2. Family history land stewardship and local context
3. Moving from shepherd hut idea to full lodge build
4. Planning permission in protected landscapes
5. Sustainable building choices and ground screw foundations
6. Specialist glass and wildlife light control
7. Budget pressure and borrowing decisions
8. Impact of Covid on building materials and timelines
9. Hands on building and project management
10. Interior design biophilic principles and tactility
11. Switching from construction to marketing
12. Guest experience calm privacy and doing nothing
13. Local suppliers community support and repeat guests
14. Financial viability occupancy rates and long term value

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Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introducing Looking Glass Lodge and its...

Robin Johnson talks with master marquetarian and teacher Audrey Fasquelle in a detailed exploration of the craft, technique and mindset behind one of the most demanding decorative arts. Audrey shares her journey from early cabinet making in France to advanced marquetry for luxury vehicles, along with her teaching roles at Farnham, West Dean and Robinson House Studio.

She explains how veneers behave, how grain direction shapes outcomes, how colours and undertones must be read correctly and why mistakes should be expected and embraced. This episode highlights the real labour behind fine marquetry, the problem solving required for curved work, the rising interest in handmade detail and the importance of slowing down, preparing carefully and training your eye. A clear and honest look at a craft that rewards patience, precision and obsession with detail.

Key Topics Covered

• What marquetry is and why it behaves like a wood based jigsaw
• How Audrey trained across cabinet making, wood turning and carving
• Why veneers break and how to avoid grain related failures
• How colour undertones in wood influence design choices
• How to cut, prepare and assemble intricate patterns by hand
• The value of slow work, patience and a prepared mindset
• What it takes to teach marquetry at West Dean, Farnham and Robinson House
• How luxury car interiors use high level marquetry in curved forms
• Why detailed work demands acceptance of mistakes
• How Audrey became a recognised master in her field
• How long detailed marquetry really takes from drawing to pressing
• Why the craft continues to evolve through new materials and flexible veneers

Enjoying the show?

Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.

Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:

00:00 What marquetry is and why it works like a jigsaw

01:20 How veneers behave and why pressing technique matters

03:30 Grain direction and why most beginners snap their first pieces

05:40 Patience, preparation and understanding imperfections

07:05 Audrey’s journey from cabinet making to marquetry training

11:20 Difference between marquetry and parquetry

13:10 Early career challenges and failed attempts at a marquetry business in France

15:20 Working at Silverlining and later moving into luxury automotive marquetry

17:40 Creative demands of high level bespoke interiors

19:10 Learning laser cutting to support modern marquetry practice

20:00 Teaching at West Dean and adapting to different student personalities

26:40 Speaking for woodworker guilds and joining the Farnham teaching team

31:00 Teaching at Robinson House Studio and learning to handle student frustration

35:00 Balancing full time work...

Robin Johnson sits down with Biesse Sales Manager Mark Trapnell for a detailed look at manufacturing, production flow, tooling decisions, CNC capability and the practical realities of running a modern workshop. Mark shares his journey from apprentice heavy goods mechanic to senior roles across major manufacturing businesses before moving into machinery consultancy.

He explains why understanding process flow, input quality, tooling choices and skill sets matters more than any single machine. This episode gives clear insight into lean thinking, production efficiency, value stream mapping and what small makers should consider before investing in CNC machinery. A grounded conversation full of practical advice for anyone working with wood, materials or complex workshop processes.

Key Topics Covered

• How Mark moved from heavy goods engineering into large scale wood manufacturing
• Lessons from mass production and why seconds matter when scaling output
• How lean thinking applies to small artisan workshops
• Value stream mapping and why wasted movement destroys efficiency
• The real cost of poor tooling and why the cheapest cutters can damage quality
• How to decide if your workshop is ready for CNC
• Why skill shortages are shaping the future of making
• Expanding into stone, glass and advanced materials
• What a first time CNC buyer must evaluate before spending money
• How Biesse machines support small and mid sized makers with complex workflows

Enjoying the show?

Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.

Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:

00:00 Mark’s background and early career in heavy goods engineering

04:00 Moving into woodworking and large scale pine furniture manufacturing

08:30 Training, City and Guilds progression and early CNC exposure

12:00 Managing teams, production flow and why seconds matter at scale

17:50 Lean principles and the importance of correct input processes

21:30 Cutting waste, skip costs and understanding value stream mapping

25:20 Why lean is pointless without clear information from designers and clients

29:50 The reality of manufacturing for prisons and major tier one contractors

33:40 Lessons from running workshops without formal training

38:30 Complex refurbishment projects including House of Lords benches

42:00 Joining Biesse and why real production experience matters in sales

46:30 Choosing the right CNC and why Mark refuses to oversell machines

49:10 Should small makers consider stone and advanced materials

52:00 What first time machine buyers must understand before investing

55:30 Why skilled labour plus CNC creates the strongest workflow

59:40 Advice for young makers and why...