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The Centre for Fine Woodworking
465 Wakapuaka Rd

RD1 Nelson 7071

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Josephine Jelicich

FMP TESTIMONIALS

Josephine Jelicich

CFW

Furniture Makers’ Programme - 2018

I assumed I did need more experience than I had. Even though it was explained that you didn’t, at the time my level of experience was fairly minimal. I had been to art school, so was used to making very ad-hoc things, but I was not that confident on machines or with tools. Although I was practical-minded, I really felt like I couldn’t make anything without a lot of help. I couldn’t imagine that I could be accepted into the course. After a phone call to the school I was really happy to find out that it was possible! I found the idea of having to find a house and move city's quite hard, but the school was really helpful as well as the friendly people of Nelson.

The course was very involved. It was as advertised- a full immersion into woodwork. I often found it hard to sleep some nights thinking about how to cut joinery and angles and how things went together, but I think this is exactly what you want after making the move to Nelson and committing finances and time. At the same time, it is self-directed, so you don’t have to go as mad as me.

I loved that the course was not marked or graded in a traditional school/university way, this meant we could really focus on the practical learning and design elements without bureaucracy. I found it to be the equivalent of something like four years of university practical learning packed into nine months. It is up to you to be organised and take notes in the ways that work, but this self-directed approach teaches you a lot about the way you learn. I still remember all the techniques and lessons today, as they were taught with great clarity.

The challenge is making the most of the course, putting your full attention into it and getting through the many mistakes you will make. Nelson was an amazing place to live and study woodwork — a peaceful and beautiful place with lots of inspiration, which is an absolute bonus.

Before starting the full-time course, I had very little knowledge of timber, joinery or furniture design, however i did know what objects and styles I was drawn to naturally.
My time at The Centre for Fine Woodworking introduced me to a way of thinking about design and woodwork, from this i have been able to start the developing of my own personal style.

In the bigger scheme the skills I was able to learn were just a stepping stone into the beginning of woodworking. As you will see it is a never-ending path of learning; I imagine it never stops. The Full-Time Furniture Makers’ Programme gave me a solid foundation to build onto — teaching us about what machines we needed and the basics of workshop maintenance, as well as the essential skills, knowledge and very importantly confidence needed to go out on your own.

As mentioned before, I knew almost nothing before attending, afterwards was able to understand design and wood movement, build complex pieces and use almost every machine needed. Once I left the school woodworking by myself had its own challenges, one of the biggest ones was not having a teacher by my side at all times to ask a million questions to as well as a beautifully maintained and stocked workshop, but these challenges of setting up my own workshop, gaining experience in the real world, learning new skills and slowly acquiring a collection of hand tools has been very rewarding.

The Full time furniture makers programme I completed at the Centre for fine woodworking in Nelson is the most important thing I have done for my career in woodwork. I would not be where i am today if it wasn’t for the school. Something I really love about what I learned at the school is the importance of craft: doing things with love and to a high standard, learning sometimes the hardest way to do it by hand before the more modern way.

Learning a traditional craft is so valuable, especially now where many practical skills are no longer being taught as often in places like university's. I find these skills are what sets my work apart from many.

I am always grateful to all the amazing and high-calibre teachers I had. I have been and contintue to be able to work in many fields with the skills I have learned — Jobs ranging from;

building walls, various structures and hanging artworks as a gallery technician, working in university as a workshop technician, teaching my own woodwork classes, and now running my own business doing a range of personal projects and bespoke commissions for various architects and clients. It has not been hard to find work in many practical fields with the skills the course taught me. There are many avenues you can take.

If you feel drawn to furniture and are looking for something that is endlessly fulfilling and challenging, whether it be something you want to build a career with or add to an existing job that requires more practical thinking, understanding and actual making skills, then this is for you.