Hi everyone, happy new year to you all from everyone here at the Centre. Welcome to our first newsletter of 2009.

We've already started teaching in earnest, beginning with a 3 day course on outdoor furniture which evolved rapidly, after an introduction to the design process, into a nicely-paced making exercise for all involved. Everyone here is now looking forward to February 2nd when our next beginner's course gets underway. This also marks the commencement of our 2009 full time course. We have our best enrolments ever this year and there is now very limited space on this course. So if it has caught your eye and you are considering joining us for what looks like a very exciting year, (check out some of the special things below) get in touch quickly. Also because of demand we have limited opportunities for people wishing to attend individual modules of this year's programme and we recommend acting quickly to ensure you are not disappointed. The curriculum is outlined below.

You've probably heard what a fantastic success the exhibition has been with 1500 people coming through the doors in addition to the 200 that attended the opening. Again we would like to acknowledge the generous support from our exhibition sponsors: BBS Timbers. The exhibition fostered great optimism on the part of the students about their potential. There is a genuine buzz in the town at the moment about the Centre and this, combined with the increase in enrolments and the successful sale by tender of the lapstrake dinghy, has established a very positive momentum. Here's hoping you will be able to join us at some point too to share in it. Our website now shows a selection of photos from the 2008 exhibition.

We had a weekend carving workshop here in December with Auckland based carver Mike Davies. The two days were a great success where people learnt in a relaxed, effective and stimulating environment. As a result of this we have decided to integrate a short carving module within the full time course, Mike has been invited back for four days on 7^th, 8^th, 9^th and 10^th March. The course will be designed in such a way that anyone who wishes can attend and join in with the full time students. The course will be split up into two parts - Days 1 & 2 will be a repeat of the previous workshop, which is for beginners, with the second part creating an opportunity to utilise the techniques more fully and to gain the confidence and skill to undertake independent carving projects in the future. Course description.

Our courses are filling up nicely. We have integrated three short courses within the full-time furniture making course, so that these are available to both the full time and any other interested students. We have a core group of students who will be working here throughout the year, but there is some limited space available on individual courses. If you are interested in attending any courses within Modules 1, 2 or 3 of the full time course please do get in touch, as we are happy to discuss options with you to work out how your time spent with us is best utilised. The prerequisite is that you have either attended one of our Beginning Cabinet Making courses or are able to show the tutors that you have the equivalent experience.

Over the last year we have built up a great relationship with The Shed magazine, for whom John Shaw has written a number of articles on dovetailing. Currently we are building three cabinet maker's benches and John will write an article due out mid year. The Cabinet Maker's Bench course is not scheduled during 2009, but we are in discussion with several people who are keen to make their own – dates are not set but one possibility is to place it within the period of time of the Internship Programme September/October – if you are interested in being part of this, please get in touch. Alternatively, we can make a bench to order for the same price as coming here for the two weeks to make one - $3275.

We are working towards having The Shed articles available in a PDF format so that they are available on our website. In their next issue Feb/March '09 there will be an article on our exhibition written by the publisher Jude Woodside.

We also appeared in an article in the trade magazine The Joiner (which apparently is often free at builders' merchants) – with a profile on two of our 2008 full time students.

As mentioned in our last newsletter, whilst Larry was in Japan he met and subsequently invited Suda-san to visit us whilst he is in New Zealand in April. Suda-san is a superb craftsman who is identified to become a living national treasure. He is exhibiting his work at the Object Space Gallery, Ponsonby Road, Auckland during March/April so we strongly recommend you go and have a look at his work if you can. Whilst he is here with us, he will be teaching the tuning and use of Japanese tools – although exact dates are yet to be confirmed if you are interested do get in touch and we will keep you posted when more information is available. Suda-san's website.

Jon Brooks is a leading figure in the American studio furniture movement. Jon creates furniture and sculpture and is both a working artist and teacher. He will be visiting New Zealand with an anticipated visit to Nelson late Feb/early March – at this point he will definitely visit the school and may hold an informal workshop – if you are interested in his work have a look at his website to see more – and contact us if you are interested in meeting him.

Oh, incidentally we have all been commiserating with Larry recently after his piece in this year's exhibition decided to leap unceremoniously from the back of his pickup while traveling along Atawhai Drive. Numerous flat tyres caused by wooden splinters have since been reported in the vicinity. Get the full story here. (Nelson Mail article 17^th January)