meet the sisters: Carol martinez
Carol is one of the founding members of Berlin Wood Sisters, she has been helping sisters with her know-how and skills and being an inspiration for us to build beautiful and sustainable furniture using pallets and other affordable materials.
Carol Martinez enjoys working with her favorite tool.
Tell me a little bit about yourself. Where were you born and how did you end up in Berlin?
I'm Carol, I was born in the Dominican Republic but was raised in Italy. I studied statistics and moved to Berlin 7 years ago to work in Risk Management. I´m married to the love of my life and have two kids of 4 years 🧒🏻 and 5 months 👶🏻.
How did you come to an idea to start to learn woodworking?
I always loved the idea of making my own bench, I guess is one of the first things that comes to your mind when you watch too many DIY TV shows 📺! I really watched too many shows such as Property Brothers and Fixer Upper, literally! Nobody in my family has actually introduced me to tools and/or woodworking but I have always been attracted to it. I had this idea of having my own toolbox and conquering MY world: my own house with things I made!
You wouldn`t tell it is the very first project Carol ever made. Self designed and built with the help of a professional carpenter.
How did you start?
I have never had the chance to get close to such an environment until I moved here to Berlin. Never thought it would be a thing to teach people to build wooden furniture. But Berlin is the city where everyone can find his own spot and everything is possible! I joined a woodworking class where I made my first object: a spice rack! I loved the class but I left with a bit of bitterness since I was then able to use big professional tools that you would normally find just in carpentry. I wanted someone to teach me which tools to buy and use at home as a hobby, maybe not the cheapest hobby but still something to do in my spare time.
And you did not give up.
When lockdown came I felt the urge to proceed with my passion, especially after the conversation we had on a weekly basis within the Wood Sisters community. So I started buying tools and using them.
What was your first independent project?
My first home project was a coffee table and a couch 🛋 made of pallets. I can find pallets quite easily around my flat so I thought it was a good starting point, like a divine sign. I follow a lot of people on YouTube and Instagram that show how to make things step by step.
It looks very nice! What did this project teach to you?
Pallets helped me to get a bit more comfortable using power tools but then I moved to plywood and I have to say that so far so good. I don't think I will move to more expensive wood in the short term. In terms of tools and brands I am a big fan of Bosch, I think it is just sentimental attachment. I find it of good quality and variety of price too but never really tried many other good famous brands, so I decided to stick with it for now. I also use tools from Wolfcraft: they have all sorts of things to help you start with woodworking and tools in general if you do not have experience and even better if you do have.
How do you usually decide what to build next?
I normally make things that I need at home and that can be useful for our daily life. So far I have made wall bookshelves for my son, a DIY Kallax, a wall guitar holder, a shoe rack, a plant stand, and more shelves in my kitchen.
Wooden wedding anniversary gift for her husband - a personalized guitar holder.
Do you have a favorite tool?
My drill which I am really attached to. It was the first big expense I made, it helped me move to my new flat and always comes in handy for all sorts of things.
Mother and son quality time
Her son happily helps her with building furniture.
What would you tell to women who think about learning woodwork?
I do believe that women do not necessarily have to be able to build things, there's nothing to prove to anyone but, at the same time, it would be nice not to fear power tools and to feel comfortable drilling a wall or cutting a piece of wood: we definitely do not need a man for that!
What do you say to those who believe that woodworking is only for men?
There's still this weird idea that men are more capable of such things because they are supposed to have muscles 💪: well, guess what?! Is not about muscle at all! 21 years with my love and he better stay in the kitchen and leave me with my tools!
You attended the Zero Waste Jewelry workshop and made a beautiful necklace. How did you like this experience?
The thing that I love the most about these events is meeting people with different backgrounds, learning more about them and what we have in common that brought us together.
What are your next milestones in developing your DIY skill?
My next goal is to attend a 10 lessons class on woodworking at VHS where you learn mostly to do all sorts of joineries, learn about different types of wood and tools. I do know my limits and need to learn the basics, not just on big books 📚! I then wait for my flat to inspire me to build something new!
