Well, where to start......so much happening here at The Centre have hardly had time to blog. With under a week remaining until the schools annual exhibition everyone is chipping away hard. Things are being made even more hectic by a certain beer festival which has brought the deadline forward a few hours.

Below are five close up photographs. I have posted them to just give you a hint of what next weeks exhibition will bring. I hope this will encourage any local readers to make a visit, for the rest of you stay tuned for photos from the exhibition in all its glory.

Hi Edna

Yesterday Edna popped in, but not just any old Edna, a 1931 Morris Minor who goes by that name.

The classic car is owned by local woodworker Peter Field. Peter is one of the founding members of The Nelson Guild of Woodworkers which was established shortly after a visit to Nelson by the late James Krenov back in 1983.

Pictured below is two pretttty cool woodworkers, if only someone would pimp Johns ride.

A chair fit for a Captain - Chair by Adam Webb

Full-Time student and resident shaper extraordinaire Adam Webb has been hard at work lately and even admitted to literally leaving some blood, sweat and tears in his latest piece. The piece is Adams contemporary take on a Captains Chair. Made from American Black Walnut the chair is a masterpiece in form and function and as my fellow woodworkers would understand combining the two in a chair is quite a task. Adam worked tirelessly on several working models which helped him to perfect a number of jigs and templates before cutting into any of that precious Walnut.

Unfortunately the photos below do not do the piece justice for the chairs true beauty can only be experienced once nestled comfortably between its hugging arms. Hopefully this will encourage any locals to come along to The Centre for Fine Woodworking Annual Exhibition which begins on the 10th of December at The Refinery Artspace in Nelson.

The craftsman and his chair.

The evolution of a chair.

Eureka! - Gold Panning Mission

Situated in The Nelson Lakes National Park some two hours south of Nelson is a little valley by the name of Howard. And it just so happens that this little valley is rich in a certain mineral with very alluring characteristics.

Last weekend four eager woodworkers turned miners, lead by their very knowledgeable tutor ventured to The Howard Valley to try their hand at a spot of Gold Panning. The morning started with a buzz when first time miner Mia panned a couple sizeable specs, but as the day wore on the ever patient Adam and I were no closer to discovering that elusive nugget. Eventually with the last pan being panned the gold started to flow, first Adam with several potential gold fillings then I struck a nugget which was dubbed Tweetle Beetle.

What has gold panning got to do with Furniture Making you might ask, well as John said, "Gold Panning requires much patience. And as the Chinese Proverb says, "The Woodworker is slow, but the wood is patient".

Nice Chest - Walnut Jewellery Chest

Some weeks ago full-time student Sjoerd van Waart set out with a plan, to craft a Jewellery Chest with compound curves and angled dovetails. I think others and even Sjoerd himself thought he might be a little mad, but after many hours of toil Sjoerd pulled it off triumphantly. The beautiful and quirky Chest features two dovetailed drawers and a solid timber lid which hinges from some brass hinges Sjoerd designed and made himself. The timbers used in the piece are European Walnut (sourced from a certain local craftsman with quite a stash), Ebony and American Hard Maple.

Inventive Glueing Up - You can do anything with a Sash Clamp

As most woodworkers would attest to, glueing up can at times be a little unorthodox. A good example of unorthodox but inventive glueing up can be seen in the photo below, where four maple legs are being glued to a very attractive side table. Full-Time student and designer/maker of the piece Tony Clark would agree that the glue-up procedure was somewhat 'hairy', but no one can argue with his result.

Below is Tony's finished Side Table. Made from American Hard Maple the table features a small drawer and clever use of some spalted (figured) Maple.

We have a Sideboard ...Almost - Sideboard Update

I sincerely apologise for the complete lack of 'Sideboard Updates'. Hopefully that means I've been too busy to blog. Although the piece is some way off completion I can definitely see some of the fruits of my labour.

While at times this piece has been the cause of some stress and frustration I think I have learnt more about woodwork, and how to approach the construction of a piece, during this piece than any before. There has definitely been some 'what not to do's' learnt over the last couple of weeks but I'd also like to think my hard work is paying off. It's such a rewarding experience to see an idea come to life and upon the physical realisation of a piece I am reminded of why I do what I do.

Construction-wise things are good. All the major carcass joinery has been done and through 'Dry Glue-Ups' I can see how the piece will stand when completed. Currently I am cleaning up certain parts so I can perform what may be a tricky two stage glue-up, but here at The Centre we do not shy away from the odd 'mammoth-of-a-task' glue-up. The next steps will be to make two identical plinths, (one to support the piece at the base and the other to separate the top from the drawers), then to make a veneered panel top edged in solid Maple and finally make and fit three drawers. Stay tuned for hopefully some more regular than usual 'Sideboard Updates'.