The Centre for Fine Woodworking
New Zealand's premier furniture making, woodworking & design school
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THE CENTRE FOR FINE WOODWORKING
NEWSLETTER – JULY 2009
Welcome to the July Newsletter from the Centre for Fine Woodworking.
There is a fine view from the workshop window of the snow covered Western Ranges across the Tasman Bay, and although it's cold the sun is shining! There has been some discussion about how cosy it would be to have a pot belly stove in the middle of the workshop, however we would need to make sure that the pile for wood to burn was very clearly identified from the good stuff!
The main purpose of this newsletter is to inform you that the details of our 2010 programme is now available on our website – go to 2010 Calendar for full information. The programme for next year has been adjusted and modified to include some changes which have come about as a direct result from feedback from our 2009 students. The programme attempts to make the courses as accessible as possible to both those students who are completing the full time furniture makers course, as well as students wanting to attend individual courses of specific interest. During 2010 we offer Beginning Cabinet Making three times, as this course is a prerequisite level to enrol on any of the other courses.
Whichever course is of interest to you (even if at this stage it's tentative) then please get in touch with us so that we can try to accommodate your needs. We have had an increasing number of requests to buy a course as a present, so if this sounds like a good idea to you, we are happy to create a gift voucher for you to give. Please make all enquiries to info@cfw.co.nz
We have also made some changes to our website, with additional information for those interested in the full time Furniture Makers Course, where we have tried to give a more comprehensive view of the course outline, costs and commitment. There is information available on each individual course along with some updated studio photos of student work.
John's workshop update:
Since our last newsletter we have completed the Frame & Panel workshop with a large group of ten students where a small wall cabinet is a set project. The highlight was some fantastic timber choices made by students, including a beautiful piece of mountain beech bought in by Tamati Smith, and an unusual piece of quilted macrocarpa used beautifully by Martin White. Pat Oughton and Adrian Brady also joined the full time students and it made for a full and stimulating workshop. Pat stayed on to complete a drinks cabinet during the open cabinet making, along with consistently beautiful work being produced in this workshop. We hope to have a selection of the wall cabinets on display at the end of year exhibition. Planning is already underway for the annual exhibition and its looking like it will be even bigger and better than ever.
Dave Haig had yet another full class for Beginning Cabinet Making – several people from this class have booked to return later this year for other courses. For those of you who have completed Beginning Cabinet Making and are looking for an opportunity to undertake a design and build project check out the two week course in January 2010.
The chairmaking block is virtually completed and we have some fantastic chairs – it is always amazing how different they all are. We have had Trevor Watson down from Auckland for this block and its been great fun having him around – we have tried to convince him to move to Nelson but he says its too cold compared to Auckland.
Our full time student Lachie Park is going to blog about his next project on the internet and we will email the address out – he has been commissioned to make a cabinet and this will be the subject of his blog and you will be able to keep up with his progress.
The first part of the benchmaking article in The Shed has caused enough interest that we have planned a two week course at the end of the year on Building a Cabinet Makers Bench. If you are keen to join us to create your own classic woodworkers bench, this course runs for 12 days from 7th – 18th December. Just to give you an idea of freight costs – we recently organised for a bench to be delivered to the central North Island for approx $180 (it was the slow and careful route). As the benches take up quite a bit of space in the workshop, the maximum number of students we will enrol in this course will be six – so get in touch if you are interested. Incidentally, the second part of John's article on Benchmaking will appear in the next edition of The Shed.
Ryo Mogami, our technician, has reduced his hours here to spend some time at home getting used to fatherhood and to spend time with new–born son, as well as to carry out some commission work. Tracey Perry, a graduate student from our first full time course in 2007 is now working as technician and tutor support.
We thought we would give you an update on two of our 2008 full time graduate students, who although moved to Nelson to undertake the Furniture Makers Course have stayed on and set up their own businesses.
Rod Lomas is working as a sub contractor for Andreas Niemann who owns the Rare Creations gallery and studio at Mapua. Andreas makes contemporary furniture in his workshop, and sells his own and other people's work in his gallery (see www.rarecreations.co.nz) Andreas wanted to create an eye catching sculpture for the entrance to his gallery and designed a wooden globe structure.
After Rod completed the full time course here last December he went straight to work for Andreas to create this design. The globe was made of laminated strips of macrocarpa curved into the shape of a ball, with a stainless steel rod through the centre connecting the wooden spokes at the top and bottom. Rod had to glue up quarter sections and then connect them to make full rings. The wooden spokes were joined by a half lap joints and bolted.
The globe is mounted on top of a 2m high column made up of 6 segments of plywood and 2x4, with aluminium sheets glued on the face, trimmed and joined to form the column. After three months in the making, the globe is now in place and as you will see from the photo, looks stunning.
Since finishing the course, Martha has been working all hours to support her wood habit. She spends most days as a self employed furniture maker at Tymeless Joinery, thanks to the generosity of experienced joiner, Peter Sheehan. She also sub-contracts to Samuel Kuperman, a French polisher and furniture restorer in Tahunanui. The photo shows her most recent work in progress, a large fitted bookcase made of Matai and Macrocarpa.
William Cottrell, who taught a course in furniture restoration here at CFW, has informed us that he is working on a second book on 19th century New Zealand cabinetmaking, furniture and interiors. He is also working on a PhD on the topic and hoping to become NZ's first furniture doctor! He is looking for new material for both projects so would be very grateful if anyone could assist. Please contact him directly at williamcottrell@orcon.net.nz.
The Beginning Cabinet Making Courses bring such an interesting and diverse group of people together with a common interest, and what is so satisfying for us is to see you go away feeling really motivated to continue woodworking. Some of our students are returning now on a semi-regular basis – slowly working their way through the courses as time and money permits. We hope that the 2010 programme gives you more opportunity to increase your skill level, confidence and enjoyment of creating fine furniture, and look forward to seeing you here.
Previous Newsletters
July 2010 Newsletter web page
April 2010 Newsletter web page
November 2009 Newsletter web page
September 2009 Newsletter web page
July 2009 Newsletter web page
April 2009 Newsletter web page
January 2009 Newsletter 8.6kb .html document
November 2008 Newsletter 1.4Mb .pdf document
September 2008 Newsletter 272kb .pdf document
August 2008 Newsletter 220kb .pdf document
June 2008 Newsletter 118kb .pdf document
May 2008 Newsletter 260kb .pdf document
March 2008 Newsletter 1.24Mb .pdf document
January 2008 Newsletter 93Kb .pdf document
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