Peter - The restorative joy of making old things new again

Of the many creative interests I’ve explored, the joy of making old things beautiful again has been by far the most rewarding and now I’m taking it high tech!

I’ve been interested in furniture restoration since high school and have really gotten into it in recent years.

A beautiful old table was my first attempt, now I’m working on an old BBQ setting with wheels and drawers, giving a dining table a contemporary upgrade with clear Perspex, reassembling a large marble piece with metallic epoxy for a gold and glittery finish, and fixing up an old miners lounge you can fold down for travel and bunk wherever you need.

Arts and crafts of all kinds appeal to me as a hands-on kind of person. I’ve taught myself how to do 3D printing so I can create jewellery, wall hangings and whatever else I choose, using my own designs made with CAD-CAM (Computer Aided Design and Manufacture) software.

I’m driven by the joy of creating, not profit. It’s difficult to put a price on an original piece that would make it worth the investment of all your time, effort and materials. I invested in a high quality 3D printer so I’m not limited to plastics but can print with gold and all kinds of materials.

Cooking is another way I love to explore creativity, taking inspiration from my German grandmother who whipped up amazing scones, ham and other goodies for us to devour. Everyone appreciates an easy recipe and my one- pan chicken parmigiana recipe is a winner! So is my lemon pancake with a crispy edge made from flour and lemon drink. Sharing these skills through sausages sizzles and cooking for a few mental health services has helped with building community.

Technology came into the picture when I took a TAFE pathway to a Bachelor of Computer Information Science at university. I had started out with Electronic Engineering and switched to a Diploma of IT. I’ve had a lot of programming experience and written my own software apps but found making money from this is highly competitive. People will do anything possible to get your app for free, like cancelling their subscription one day before the free trial period ends.

While studying online, I’ve enjoyed taking Photoshop courses and Religious Studies for something different.

The practical everyday support I receive from Flourish Australia has given me that little push where I need it, to keep going after what it is that I want in my life. The Salisbury team visit me at my home and take me to the beach or for coffee and are always so helpful with anything I need, like updating my NDIS paperwork and mapping out steps toward my goals.

If I’m capable of making something happen for myself, they’ll encourage me to give it a go and be there for me every step of the way with direction, motivation and inspiration when I ask for it. Sharing the journey brings joy and gives me hope for the future.