News | Chippendale School

How to buy wood for your next fine furniture project

For new woodworkers and furniture makers just starting out, there are so many questions to answer and potential pitfalls to navigate – one of the most obvious (and most important!) is where to source your wood, and how to go about it.

The simple questions are often the vital ones, and there’s nothing more important to a woodworker than where they get their raw material. Chippendale School Principal, Tom Fraser, has many years of experience sourcing wood for our School – read his top tips for buying wood below.

From construction to crafting fine furniture: John Heuchan’s woodworking journey

Every year at the Chippendale School, we welcome dozens of people who have decided to swap their previous careers for the fulfilling journey of furniture making.

One of these career-changers was John Heuchan (Laurel & Wood) who joined us on our 2020/21 Professional Course. Before the pandemic hit, John worked in the construction sector, however, in 2020 he began to re-consider his career choice.

Keep reading to hear from John on what his woodworking journey has been like so far…

Chippendale School expands team & course offering in response to demand

We have long known that woodworking and fine furniture making offer a brilliant career choice – and over the last few years, it seems that others are picking up on this too!

Since 2019, the Chippendale School’s team has seen a surge in demand for woodworking courses, and, despite the challenges associated with the rising cost of living, this trend shows no sign of slowing.

How to price furniture – advice for woodworkers

You’ve lovingly perfected your woodworking skills, put in the hours in the workshop, and finessed your style – it’s finally time to start selling your furniture!

For many new owners of furniture making businesses, how to price furniture will be first on your list of queries.

It’s vital that you cost your work fairly to ensure your hard work is being appropriately rewarded. Here Tom Fraser, Principal of the Chippendale School, offers his advice on how to price your furniture.

Marion Makes: When artistry meets woodworking

When art and woodworking collide, you get Marion Morris – a recent graduate of The Chippendale School’s Professional Course and the founder of Marion Makes.

During the 30-week course, Marion impressed us with her unique approach to woodworking, often combining her artistic abilities with the structural integrity of the furniture to create fun, standout pieces that delight its viewers.

We spoke to Marion about what inspires her creative process, her reasons for joining our Professional Furniture Making Course and what we can expect from Marion Makes going forward.

Meet Furniture Maker Alirio Pinilla, 2022 Student of the Year

Before enrolling on our Professional Furniture Making Course, Alirio Pinilla enjoyed a 14-year career in manufacturing. Deciding to take a break from the corporate world to pursue life as a furniture maker, he signed up to attend the Chippendale School of Furniture.

9-months on, Alirio received the coveted Student of the Year Award for his outstanding woodworking ability, dedication, and craftsmanship on the course.