Bermuda cedar has been used to make everything from ships and furniture to keepsakes for generations. Woodwork designer Adrienne Smatt is putting her own spin on that tradition, turning pieces of the distinctive local wood, including scraps that might otherwise be discarded, into objects designed to be used, gifted and taken home.

“I make a few different products out of Bermuda cedar such as bottle openers, ornaments, magnets, herb strippers and most recently a worry ‘stone’ — plus other things. Everything is customisable and personalisation is encouraged.”

Her approach to the material is deliberately resourceful.

“What is unique about my process is I’m generally using scraps of wood most woodworkers would likely throw away. I’m trying to be as sustainable as possible and use as much of the material as I can.”

Making things has been part of Ms Smatt's life since childhood.

“I’ve always been a creator, making little things out of paper as a kid. That grew as I did and after studying sculpture and photography in university, working a few different careers, I’ve found a lot of satisfaction in landing where I am now making products for other people to enjoy.”

Bermuda cedar is at the centre of most of that work.

“I mostly work with Bermuda cedar. I like to keep it as local as I can.”

She has also found opportunities to give other discarded materials new life, including damaged maple butcher block that she transformed into catch-all dishes and advent calendars.

Working with Bermuda cedar means the island is inherently reflected in her designs, but so is Bermudian culture.

“The bulk of my products do heavily focus on a big aspect of Bermudian social culture: drinking. I have a few different versions of bottle openers and some wine stoppers.”

The limited supply of cedar also influences how she works with it.

“I try to respect the medium as much as I can. It’s a pretty limited resource and, like a lot of Bermudians are, I try to be as thrifty as I can with it.”

For Ms Smatt, part of the value of something handmade is the connection between the person buying it and the person who created it.

“There is a certain deeper connection with the piece when I tell clients I make them myself. As a woman woodworker, that’s novel in itself — but for tourists in particular to be able to have a conversation with the artist and designer, that’s something you can’t really price.”

“Bermuda has always prided itself on hospitality and creating memorable experiences, and I think a handcrafted piece fits right in with that storyline.”

Personalisation has become one of the most popular elements of her work, particularly the wood burning she does by hand while customers watch.

“I take a lot of pride in being able to create one-of-a-kind pieces on the spot, under pressure and with a quality that makes customers ask how on earth I did that.”

Creating physical products in Bermuda does present challenges, particularly when inspiration strikes.

“The supply chain is probably the biggest challenge of making physical products in Bermuda. I can have a great idea for a product, and anyone who is creative knows when the creative urge hits, you want to act on it as soon as possible. But if that idea for a product requires hardware that is not on island, you have to wait for it to come in and hope the urge to make is still there once you’ve sourced what you need.”

But there are advantages to creating something that relatively few people on the island are making.

“Bermudians love to come and sniff the cedar. They love that a longstanding tradition of making things out of the distinct, fragrant wood is still ongoing. It’s definitely a conversation starter.”

Ultimately, Ms Smatt hopes the connection to Bermuda stays with the customer long after the piece leaves her hands.

“I hope everyone is taking home a bit of an experience with my pieces. I hope they know this piece was made just for them and no one else is going to have a piece like it. I really want people who buy my products to not only take home a trinket but also a piece of Bermuda, physically and experientially.”