Design * Craft

Highlighting Spero Wood Work

Today I put the spotlight on a very talented young lady whose work is usually dominated by men. Her name is Yuqi Chock and she is a furniture maker and restorer.

I found out about her through the wonders of twitter and then stalked her (yes I admit I do that) online till I had the courage to get in touch. When I say get in touch, I really mean follow her on twitter. She eventually followed me back and the online friendship began.

Anyway, the reason i'm actually so keen on her is that she is talented, and i'm not just saying that. You see, in a world where women either work in air-coned offices in high rise buildings or stay at home taking care of the kids, here we have Yuqi, sweating buckets in a workshop creating or restoring a piece of furniture for our homes. Now there is nothing wrong with the latter, i'm a stay at home mother too, but there is something quite admirable about doing things differently.
When I finally met her a month ago, I asked her how did she get into this industry, she told me it was the desire for something different, that the retail industry she was in, was not fulfilling her and woodworking caught her eye. Soon after, she was studying at The Chippendale International School of Furniture in Scotland and has not looked back.

Now, back in Malaysia, Yugi is still up to her neck in saw dust but seems quite content in her world of timber and sand paper, saws and nails. Here she produces custom made furniture and restorers a couple of old pieces for her clients.

All in all, it's refreshing to know a woman like her exists in this country and the comfort in that is knowing that we aren't all meant to swim with the tide, swimming against it can be quite thrilling too, and I think she knows that.


Do check out her blog here and you can contact her here.