Spring newsletter September 2022
Cheril Barber
Hope this newsletter finds everyone in fine fettle!
Spring is definitely on it’s way here in Nelson – a strange image with daffodils cheerfully popping up amongst the landslips, flooded highways, piles of brown dirt and the roads full of diggers and trucks working tirelessly in clearing up the horrible mess made by the recent floods.
We are fortunate that no harm to us here in the school, although the driveway was badly damaged. We had to make a quick escape out of the workshop in the middle of the day as the creek at the bottom of the drive completely covered the bridge with rapidly flowing water.
Thanks to those of you who sent us messages and checked in to see how we are doing. Our current ironical state of mind and dry humour is that having lived through the flood and the pandemic we are just waiting now for the plague of locusts!!
2022 Furniture Makers’ Programme.
A very warm welcome to our eight students Nick, Amanda, Ben, John, Greg, Keren, Christopher & Sophia.
All students risked life and limb to get here to Nelson during the terrible weather and we had to postpone the starting date by a week to give everyone time to get here (albeit with a 9-hour detour being the only road open into Nelson). A special welcome to John who is our first overseas students here in the workshop since 2020 (we refer to this as the Covid Years). We are very much looking forward to getting to know our full time students who will be here with us until early May 2023. Watch this space….
2023 Programme
You may have noticed that our website throughout this year has shown lots of our courses as being fully enrolled; this is due to a couple of things - yes we are busier than we have ever been, but also our courses over the last two years have had to be moved, postponed and rejigged due to lockdowns, Covid cases within the workshop and people not being able to get here. To be honest we are quietly proud that we have managed to navigate these last couple of years as the best we could under the circumstances.
So, if you are thinking about joining us for a short course early expressions of interest are recommended. 2023 courses are currently being added to the website and you will soon be able to download and print off a 2023 short course timetable.
Now that the borders have reopened you will start to see some more new courses coming up next year with the return of our overseas tutors, as well as courses being introduced as part of our Teacher / Mentor Programme which has been generously funded by Creative New Zealand. Our 2023 Furniture Makers’ Programme is now fully enrolled –if you were considering applying then it is possible that your application could be put on a waiting list should a place become available between now and next April.
The Inspirational Hape Kiddle
The last few weeks have been a very stimulating time for both our students and teachers. We welcomed Hape Kiddle here to teach for the first time (our first overseas tutor teaching here for over two and a half years). Hape taught three amazing carving courses which were inspirational to say the least – his good nature, passion, mana, humour and utter dedication to his craft was a joy to watch and he bought a great energy into the workshop.
With gratitude to the generous funding received from Creative New Zealand we invited our resident tutors to participate on Hape’s courses as part of their professional development and you could hear their brains whirring, clicking and fizzing with ideas of how they could incorporate some organic naturally carved forms into their future work.
We are currently planning Hape’s next visit which will be mid 2023 – watch this space!
Here are a few photos of the beautiful work created by Hape’s students.
Centre for Fine Woodworking Aprons
Exclusively designed by fine woodworkers for fine woodworkers (that’s you)
Aprons ! A topic we debated for a long time now and yet somehow never quite being able to agree on the perfect apron with the perfect straps, ties and pockets.
Following the launch last year of our bespoke aprons we are excited to announce that they were a complete sell-out and we have received great feedback on the quality and design. So we have just ordered a new batch which are currently being made here right now in sunny Nelson.
Photos show our models David Haig and Lou Fuller and a close up to showcase the high quality of design and execution - something we know all about and strive towards every day here in the workshop.
Designed by us (team effort) in collaboration with Mavis & Osborn Uniforms who are based here in Nelson.
Available in two height sizes :-
Small - measuring bib to hem 73cm suitable for height up to 1.7m
Tall - measuring bib to hem 83cm suitable for height between 1.7m and 1.85m
Price is $225 inc GST and postage within NZ - overseas postage can be arranged
Apron Specifications:-
Bespoke product - design & quality matching our own philosophy
100% Navy Blue 12oz Cotton Canvas
Embroidered with the Centre for Fine Woodworking logo
32mm adjustable cotton webbing straps
All natural fabrics
Brass rivets and brass hook & loop closure
Pockets on bib front and below the waist
Leather tags to hook your bits and bobs on
Made in Nelson, New Zealand
Product stewardship - can be repaired and/or redyed
At the end of its' life can be bought back and deconstructed, shredded and recycled
We feel proud of our collaboration with Mavis & Osborn who have strong ethics regarding waste minimisation, supporting local businesses (fabric, hardware suppliers, dyers, pattern makers, cotton/webbing & leather suppliers) as well as working with the Sustainable Business Network to develop systems of recycling all materials.
Please note that these aprons are exceptionally high in quality and we have only added a very small markup to cover administrative costs - if you can, please support the school and buy one and be involved in a little subliminal advertising on our behalf.
If you would like to pre-order an apron please get in touch here, state the size you require and your full postal address - we will then invoice you and send them off in the next few weeks.
Upcoming Courses
October Introduction To Kumiko - 15th & 16th October
This 2 day introductory class focuses on the Asanoha pattern and the use of hand tools to create a wall hanging. Find out more here.
Table Making - 14th-18th November
This 5-day course has been designed as a natural progression to follow on from our Woodworking Basics 1 & 2 or for anyone who has some basic experience.
Woodworking Basics - 28th-31st October
Come and have a go at woodworking and learn how to make the set project of a small decorative box and during this course you will use a variety of hand tools and some of the workshop machinery to produce this attractive project to take home.
Intro to Coopering & Laminating - 23rd-28th January 2023
(Funded by Creative NZ)
This 6 day class introduces the techniques of laminating and coopering and applies them to produce a beautiful bowl.
If you would like more information or to enrol please get in touch.
Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter, and we hope you found it interesting.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like further information about any of our courses.
Kind regards from the small but MIGHTY team
at the Centre for Fine Woodworking