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What an exciting month so far! Aled Lewis is in the workshop and Term 4 of the Full Time Furniture Makers Programme has begun! Our short courses are keeping us busy and having fun. Check out our social media to keep up with our weekly news and photos from the workshop.
As the weather warms up and the end of year approaches, we can't help but long for beautiful summer nights, barbecues, and swims in the sea. We might also start thinking about the perfect Christmas gift for our woodworking loved ones. Have a look at our 2026 short courses on our website. Give us a call if you're not sure what course to pick... or a gift voucher is always a good choice.
We have some fabulous new courses coming next year, including a 2-week course with Evan Dunstone coming over from Australia in March to teach and do some NZ fishing! Hape Kiddle will be back with some new carving courses. We also have a new 3-week Advanced Chair Making course and a 2-week Tool Cabinet course in the works (not on the website yet, but email us for more info) and more courses coming!
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL NEWSLETTER (This is just a sampling)
I want to take a moment to thank our small but mighty team for all they do.
Many of you know Lou, our extraordinary lead tutor. Lou is not only an amazing teacher. When out of the classroom, Lou is hard at work on new course development and overseeing all of our courses, constantly improving what we offer. Lou's main goal is for you to have fun when you're here taking a class. Those of you who have taken a class with Lou know she accomplishes that (!!), while generously sharing her wealth of knowledge.
Our Workshop Assistants are just as amazing. Sam, Gloria, and Lauren do everything from prepping courses, ordering all our materials and supplies, maintaining the machines, sharpening the tools, helping students and assisting tutors, and so much more. Their dedication to the school and our students is humbling. The school would not function if not for them. Nor would we have such a good time.
And the best part? The professionalism, care, and kind-spirited collaboration that is shared with this team permeates through every part of the school. Many of our students comment on the "magic" that they feel when they're here. This could explain it.
MASSIVE SHOUT OUT TO OUR FRIENDS AT LIE-NIELSEN TOOLWORKS
When David Haig told us that our friends at Lie-Nielsen Toolworks were generously donating some tools to the school, we were very excited! They arrived, and we opened the beautiful boxes with great anticipation...
And WOW! We were blown away by their incredible generosity, but also the gorgeous tools! They are each a work of art in themselves.
THANK YOU LIE-NIELSEN!! WE LOVE YOUR TOOLS! (Our only problem is going to be the fighting over who gets to use them!)
Go to the full newsletter to read about April at the school. Alice’s new adventure, update on our raffle winner, Our Featured Course of “Jigs for the Home Workshop” and 3 weekend courses that are perfect for a get-away. We’ve also got new info about our Scholarship Program, Maker of the Year Awards, and of course, our Wood Quiz, which is a little different this month.
The weather has been a bit fickle, with the summer sun blazing to thunder and hailstorms crashing down. Despite the unpredictable weather, the tick over from midnight at the end of one year to the start of the next year is energizing and there's a collective rise in spirits with the possibilities a new year brings. Coming off the back of last year, which was a difficult year for many, there seems to be a shift in the atmosphere. People want to smile more, worry less, and spend more time doing things we love, with people we enjoy. Here at the school, we feel that way, too. We're excited about 2025 and and the possibilities of what's to come.
Is it really that time? Holidays and the end of the year? It always seems to come as a bit of a shock that we're here already. Don't you think?
It's also that time when we tend to reflect on the past year. 2024 was a little different for the school, a time of transitions and readjustments. There was no Full Time Furniture Makers Programme this year, which had only been misseed twice before, in 2011 and 2016. So we packed in as many short courses as we could. Was wonderful to meet new students and see our returning students again.
As the weather turns on a dime from glorious sunshine to downpours, this has also been a month of mixed emotions. We've had some wonderful news in hearing of Lou and James' engagement, and we wish them every possible happiness together. We've also being struck with tragedy that has shaken all who knew Will Bayliss.
With the end of the year in sight, we want to send to you, our whānau, our gratitude that we have you to share our highs and lows with.
