Special education teacher and experienced Bunnings Workshop member Alicia Clarke uses woodworking as a creative outlet.
Known in the community as @Alicia_Woodwork, the creative dynamo has shared projects like a Hamptons-style dog feeding station, a dog toy box, a jigsaw puzzle table, toy digger, mosaic tile tables, turtle wall art, and a fold-up garage workbench.
Alicia has turned woodworking into a creative outlet, drawing on skills she began learning early and using them to make pieces that solve real problems at home. She credits her metalworker and draughtsman dad with teaching her all the skills she wanted to learn from an early age, and her 70s-era bandsaw was gifted by her carpenter grandfather. “I was lucky to grow up with a handy dad, who was happy to teach me any skills that I wanted to have a go at – and quite happy to buy me whatever tool I needed to get things going!”
That practical mindset is at the heart of many of Alicia’s builds. One of her best-known Workshop projects is a Hamptons-inspired dog ramp she made for her golden retriever Charlie after hip dysplasia made everyday movement more difficult. Designed to help her dog while blending neatly with the bedroom, the project is a great example of Alicia’s thoughtful approach and stylish finishing.
Alicia began making things partly out of necessity, building items for her first home with wife Kirsty when buying everything new was not always possible. Woodworking also provided a welcome hobby. “Once I started my teaching career, I soon realised that I needed something beyond teaching, or I’d just focus on it 24/7…"
Alicia joined the Bunnings Workshop community as a way of giving back after finding inspiration in other members’ projects, and is certainly now returning the favour, inspiring many community members with her creations. Alicia says "I’m always looking through Workshop and woodworking videos on Instagram to see if anything pops out, even just techniques, to learn as much as possible!”
It’s this combination of creativity, generosity and problem-solving that makes Alicia a valued member of our community. Her projects show that even practical builds can be stylish and full of heart.
Read more on the Bunnings website: Practical magic: meet Alicia Clarke.
