The Chippendale school was privileged this week to welcome over 30 members of the Scottish branch of the British Horological Institute (BHI). The BHI was formed in 1858 to promote horology in the UK and today provides education, standards and support to its 3,000 members around the world involved in making, repairing and servicing clocks …
It’s usually a good idea to take your time over the design and creation of a piece of fine furniture. After all, nothing is worse than cutting a few corners to save time, and ending up with something that looks substandard. But sometimes, just occasionally, speed can be good, particularly when Vanessa Johnston from Seattle …
John Grillo, a former business intelligence analyst from Denver, Colorado, is proving to be a highly creative designer whose use of negative space and clean, simple lines create a feeling of openness. A previous project was a beech writing desk which exemplifies that philosophy, owing much to the contemporary movement of the late 20th century, with a pared-back design to …
It’s been a year of anniversaries, from the 300th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Chippendale, after whom the school is named, to the 200th anniversary of the school’s main building, originally built as a farmhouse. The school is set within rolling countryside two miles away from our nearest town, Haddington, which is this year …
A town of Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots Read More »
We all have ways of coping with the pressures of life, and for some stars of film and music their preference is woodworking. Back in 2008, actor Brad Pitt commissioned a desk from leading US designer Frank Pollaro, who personally delivered it to the actor’s chateau in the south of France. During the visit, Pollaro …
Last week was all about making Windsor chairs. Students worked in teams of four to complete their Windsor chairs, under the expert guidance of Tom Thackray and Stephen Langton. Tom has been making Windsor chairs, and teaching others how to make them, for some 50 years and, together with son-in-law Stephen, they are a renowned …
