第一次造書櫃 I Made My First Bookshelf
老公一直想在書房放一個書櫃，更特別想要一個薄身的，以更好地利用空間。我們去過不同地方找尋合適的書櫃，卻遍尋不獲，於是我決定自己動手造一個。這是我第一次從零開始製作一件傢具，以往造過的，都是用現成傢具改裝的，例如：
My husband has always wanted a bookshelf in the study, especially a slim one to make the most of the space. We searched high and low for the perfect bookshelf but couldn’t find anything that met our needs, so I decided to build one myself. This was my first time creating a piece of furniture from scratch. My previous projects had only involved modification of ready-made furniture. For example:
我曾給一個小櫃重新上漆，加裝手柄和腳，使它煥然一新。
I once gave a small cabinet a fresh coat of paint, added new knobs and legs, giving it a completely new look.
我又試過拆開一個木架，用它的木材製作成另一個木架。這是我第一次嘗試入榫。
I also took apart an old wooden rack and used the wood to build a new one. It was my first attempt at making a joint without using screws or nails.
另一個較大型的項目，是在衣櫃頂加建儲物空間。那個木架是用二手家傢具拆下來的木材搭建而成。
A bigger project involved adding extra storage space on top of a wardrobe. I built the frame using wood salvaged from second-hand furniture.
以上三個項目都屬於「物件升級再造」；我自小就從父母那裏接觸到這個觀念。他們總是親手製作很多東西，而且創意十足。記得有一次，他們竟把一張木梳化改造成吊櫃！「物件升級再造」這個詞彙在七、八十年代聞所未聞，但爸媽已經在實踐這種環保又實用的理念。在他們的薰陶下，我一直喜歡動手做木工，不過在香港的住所空間有限，發揮不大，所以技巧很生疏。搬到英國後，有了自己的木工室，可以好好發展這門手藝了！
All the three projects were examples of “upcycling,” a concept I was introduced to early on by my parents. They always made things by hand and were incredibly creative. I remember once they even turned a wooden bench into a hanging cabinet! The term “upcycling” was unheard of in the 1970s and ‘80s, but my parents were already practising this eco-friendly and practical approach. Influenced by them, I’ve always enjoyed woodworking. However, due to the limited living space in Hong Kong, I couldn’t fully develop this hobby, so my skills remained quite basic. After moving to the UK, I finally have my own workshop, and now I can truly develop my skills.
這次為老公製作書櫃，從量尺、鋸木、組裝到髹油，整個過程對我這個木工新手來說，是一次很好的經驗。當中，我特別練習了圓鋸的操作方法，也嘗試了製作暗榫。對我來說，這不僅是一次寶貴的學習，也是一個既實用又有愛的DIY習作。
This bookshelf project – from measuring and cutting the wood to assembling and finishing it – was a fantastic experience for a woodworking newbie like me. I especially focused on practising the use of the circular saw and attempted to make pocket-hole joints. Crafting this bookshelf wasn’t just a practical and valuable learning experience; it was also a labour of love because it was for my husband.
