The Hills are Alive.

Edit 28. Remy Tramoy, Olinda

Seventeen years ago, Remy Tramoy arrived in Australia with a skateboard and a suitcase. Originally from a small town in France, he grew up hoping to become a violin maker, but life led him to furniture making, a craft he has honed for the past 27 years.

Now settled in Olinda, Remy and his family are surrounded by Mountain Ash trees and ferns. From his workshop he enjoys magnificent views, immersing himself in his craft. This wasn’t always the case. For years he worked for Melbourne‑based furniture businesses, travelling up and down the hill, chasing perfection in every piece he made. Six years ago, a diagnosis forced him to reassess how he would continue his beloved craft. While managing the symptoms of MS, Remy realised, “We are not perfect as humans. A diagnosis like this makes that all make sense, and it is freeing.”

To help with pain management, Remy turned to spoon carving, something he continues today and, shares with others as a form of healing and connection. “With carving, I need so much control so I don’t break it. Cutting with blades forces me to slow down and ground myself. It gets me out of my head.”

With each piece, Remy embraces what he calls the “chairmaker’s perfect”. Rather than obsessing over small imperfections, he incorporates them. His passion for woodwork is remarkable. He hand‑carves everything from reclaimed timber salvaged from fallen trees, splitting and shaping each component by hand. With deep respect for nature, he showcases the wood itself, highlighting its layers and lines. Instead of stains or varnish, he uses milk paint, combining milk parts with lime, giving his chairs a beautiful, organic finish.

These days crafting on a smaller scale, with greater detail, keeps Remy content. He loves his work, and through spoon carving he loves the connections he makes with those he teaches. “I had a lot of hard days at work, but I always loved what I did. That is my drive — even more so now.”

To view his work visit @remy_tramoy, or to book a spoon‑making class visit classbento.com.au/spoon-carving-workshop-melbourne-3.