June 2024 Newsletter
Cheril Barber
Mid Winter / Matiriki Newsletter
Greetings from the workshop - thanks for taking the time to read our latest newsletter and hopefully there's something that sparks your interest.
We are just about half way through the year and already plans are well underway for the 2025 short course programme which will be up on the website in the next few weeks.
You may not realise that we are a not-for-profit organisation and a registered charity based on the fact that we are the only dedicated woodworking school in New Zealand. As part of our requirements to the Charities Services / Ngā Rātonga Kaupapa Atawhai we have to annually report on our finances and performance. A very heartwarming statistic we can share with you is that in both 2022 and 2023 the percentage of our students who return for another course is a whopping 59%. This figure may. be a little distorted post-Covid, but even so it feels like a good excuse to brag! Seriously though, our sincere thanks to you, our students, for supporting the school by continuing to enrol in our courses and workshops.
Check out our news:-
Open Day
David Haig course - curved shelf
Jewellery / Treasure / Taonga Box Course with Lou Fuller
A Fly on the Wall in our Workshop - YouTube videos from Scott Brown
2025 Residency Programme with Yuri Kobayashi & David Haig
Yuri Kobayashi steam bending short course
New batch of aprons for sale
We have some great short courses coming up over the next month or two with space available if you are keen to come and join us.
In particular, we have two brand new courses with stunning projects designed for the intermediate skill level :-
Curved Wall Hanging Shelf with David Haig
YAY! We are thrilled to welcome the return of David Haig back into our workshop to teach again - he's been busy on commission work over the last couple of years (catching up after dedicating so much time to teaching here throughout the pandemic).
This 6-day course with David is for those of intermediate to advanced skill level. This project is an exercise in cutting accurate joinery on curved sections principally using hand tool techniques. The project includes steam bending, forming a simple circle, and inserting it using a router set-up. More details on our website here
Lou Fuller will co-teach with David - thank you to Creative New Zealand for funding this course as part of our mentoring programme.
A Jewellery / Treasure / Taonga Box
Learn to make an elegant jewellery box with a fitted drawer in this new course designed and taught by Lou Fuller to specifically appeal to the intermediate / advanced woodworker.
The course covers a range of techniques with both machines and hand tools with focus on taking those skills to the next level.
The devil is in the detail - perfect dovetails and mitres, crafting a wooden hinge, and making and fitting a small drawer.
2025 Furniture Makers' Programme
& Beginners' Intensive Programme
We wanted to share the great news that our flagship full time programme for 2025 is now fully booked. We are still taking applications for anyone who would like to be put on the waiting list - the programme doesn't start until next March so there may be a possibility that a place could still become available. Get in touch if this is an option you are interested in.
If you are looking at our longer intensive courses then check out the details on our website for the 8-week Beginners Intensive Programme as an alternative kick start to your woodworking journey. This course runs annually and is taught by Lou Fuller with the next course starting in mid-October - it's a different approach to the full time programme, with four set projects - a mallet, an interlocking puzzle, a wall hanging shelf with drawer and a chair. You cover a lot of ground in a short space of time.
If you are under 25 and live in the Top of the South then you could be eligible to apply for the Thorkild Hansen Scholarship which covers the course fees for this programme. Alternatively, if you know of any young person you think could be a contender, then please strongly encourage them to apply.
We had a great time on our 2-week Introduction to Chair Making course - a full class including Scott Brown (of SCOTT BROWN CARPENTRY and his very popular YouTube Channel). Scott documented his experience as a student in two marvellous videos :
Part 1 Chair Making Part 2 Chair Making
Scott has over 381 thousand followers on his YouTube Channel!!!! Completely random people have been in touch saying that they watched the videos and how much they enjoyed them. For us Scott's videos totally capture the vibe of our workshop - very serious indeed about what we do and the quality of the teaching sprinkled with a good dose of Kiwi friendliness and humour. Grab a cuppa, take a seat (pardon the pun) and enjoy watching them.
A huge thank you to Scott (& Jess) for being our new friends and for spreading the word about our school. You can meet Scott at our Open Day on 29th June if you are in the neighbourhood
In Scott's second video you will see an amazing demonstration that took place here recently when we welcomed visitors from Yamatowa, a forestry and furniture-making company based in the mountainous region of Nagano, Japan.
A team of four employees were visiting Nelson and were interested in observing firsthand the woodworking practices in New Zealand.
The company specialise in a traditional Japanese technique called "Kyogi," which involves thinly slicing wood, and this is the demonstration you see in Scott's video.
If you are interested have a look at Yamatowa's website here. We are hoping to be able to host another visit and demonstration next year - watch this space.
Keren Oertly, graduate of the 2023 Furniture Makers’ Programme has recently returned from the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Maine, USA where she was awarded a 12-week scholarship to develop a project within the Fellowship programme.
What an absolutely amazing experience to be immersed in such a creative environment - something we would just love to have as part of our happenings here and something we aspire to in the future. Keren has kindly written and shared with us her Maine experience
"The stark landscape of a mid-coast Maine winter, and the long dark hours accompanying it, was offset by the welcoming appearance of the CFC, on arrival: brightly painted buildings in a deep, botanical red (calling to mind the falun hue of dwellings and barns around Scandinavia), light pouring from the windows indicating the energy and activity inside, and cheerful strung lights signalling entranceways and site boundaries". Read more here
2025 RESIDENCY PROGRAMME
An Exploration of Curves with Yuri Kobayashi & David Haig
We are offering an exciting and unique opportunity to work alongside two absolute world class experts in the field of bending wood – Yuri Kobayashi & David Haig.
This residency offers six uninterrupted weeks developing skills and techniques in relation to designs incorporating elements of curvature.
This is a rare opportunity to work alongside and learn from two absolute experts in the field of bending wood who are both highly esteemed makers and educators. Their differing techniques and approaches to bending most definitely complement each other, whilst offering participants a unique and exciting opportunity to immerse themselves and develop their design awareness and skill level.
We are absolutely thrilled to bits to finally get Yuri & Dave working together here !!
Full details of how to apply are on our website here.
STEAM BENDING WITH YURI KOBAYASHI
3RD - 14TH MARCH 2025
Join us for a hands-on, two-week workshop where you will delve into the art of steam bending to design and create functional objects.
This course will explore steam bending techniques to incorporate curved elements into everyday items. Yuri will also introduce her playful approach to bending, including a fascinating and friendly method to steam-bend wood without a steam box.
Places are strictly limited and we expect this course to fill very quickly.
Full details are here
For those of you on Instagram, check this video out!
If you think it's difficult trying to create furniture from wood
watch this video
(especially if you like chocolate!)
True craftsmanship
APRONS FOR SALE
Thanks to everyone who has purchased one of our bespoke Centre for Fine Woodworking aprons - the very last one was sold the other week, so we are about to launch into our third limited edition run.
We are taking pre-orders so let us know if you would like to own one or if you would like to buy one for someone else.
Designed by us (team effort) in collaboration with Mavis & Osborn an ethically conscious company based here in Nelson.
Available in two height sizes :-
Small 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
100% Navy Blue 12oz Cotton Canvas Embroidered with the Centre for Fine Woodworking logo
Available for $225 plus postage
The 2023 Furniture Makers' Programme was a great success - tutors Lou Fuller, Stuart Faulkner & Brian Reid being the tutors involved in delivering this world class 32-week programme.
Brian was invited by the Australian Wood Review to write an article about the programme which was published in a recent edition.
It's a thoughtful and insightful article along with beautiful photography by our long standing friend Daniel Allen who has photographed student work since the very beginning.
Here is the link to the article and a big thanks to Brian and Australian Wood Review for showcasing and spreading the word about this wonderful school at the bottom of the world.
Australian Wood Review
Maker of the Year 2024
This highly prestigious competition is open for entries - you will see some of our student work already showing up on the AWR website. Let's fly the flag for New Zealand / Aotearoa - we highly encourage you to submit an entry.
Great prizes too!