Inspiration is something that we can all struggle with, and sometimes we find it in unusual places. The lesson is that, wherever you find inspiration, grab it with both hands. That was true of recent professional course graduate Tom Smyth from Bristol whose previous job was on a community farm in Somerset. Tom knew that […]
Finding inspiration Read More »
Paul Hartman was this year’s recipient of the Public’s Choice Award. It’s an award that is voted on by visitors to the school’s professional course graduation exhibition in Edinburgh. It’s a real accolade because those visitors are representative of the buying public. Paul, from Alberta, Canada already had construction and carpentry experience when he came
There are some people who just know that a professional woodworking course is absolutely what they want to do. Others, however, are not so sure. It may be that they’ve had no prior woodworking experience or lack design skills. But not to worry, because the Chippendale school doesn’t require experience or skill. All we look
Introductory professional Read More »
Eion Gibbs, who graduated from our professional course in June, was also our first intermediate course student. He first came to us on our month-long course while recovering from malaria. He’d been working as a film cameraman on two charitable projects, the Kilimanjaro Project and Trees 4 Kilimanjaro. Both charities are highlighting the environmental damage
Professional, intermediate Read More »
Steve Tripp’s journey to the Chippendale school and our professional course took four years to plan. Steve, a former IT consultant from Minnesota, finally made the move, with his wife also enrolling at a university in Edinburgh. While he was busy learning his new woodworking trade, she completed a Masters in Arts, Culture and Festival
Holding a mirror to love Read More »
Anselm Fraser, principal, the Chippendale school’s principal, writes in The Woodworker magazine. Oscar Wilde, the 19th century playwright, expressed it perfectly. In his play, Lady Windermere’s Fan, he wrote that a cynic is “a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” Like much of Oscar Wilde’s work, his comedy hides a biting
The value and cost of furniture making Read More »
