Heartwood Creative Woodworking

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Having just finished a slightly left of centre commission in my Mittagong workshop, I’m about to present a couple of sho...
30/04/2026

Having just finished a slightly left of centre commission in my Mittagong workshop, I’m about to present a couple of short courses in Nelson, NZ.

The first is a two week Intro to Chair Making course, suitable for both novices and those looking to develop their existing knowledge. We start with rough sawn timber, dress it true and square, lay out and shape the components and look at the importance of sequencing the build. Also glue up strategies for success.

We use a variety of techniques including story sticks and templates to layout and reference parts and a series of very interesting jigs (around 20 odd) to accurately and safety cut the joinery and shape the components – this method provides valuable insight into how makers can approach small production runs.

I designed this course using Jeff Miller’s slat backed dining chair to offer a multi-level learning experience and each time I’ve run it, all participants have left with a fully sanded chair ready for finish and upholstery. These images show the upholstered drop in seat but finish has not been applied as I was toying with the idea of ebonising it, but of course …..

Along the way, like all courses, lots of other woodworking topics are discussed and time permitting at the end of the course, I like to share some visual presentations I’ve created on types of chairs, the key factors to be considered when designing a chair, important dimensions, angles, and ergonomics for a comfortable chair.

I look forward to meeting course participants at the beginning of next week.

Michael’s Laminated ChairI want to start by saying there is no wrong or right way to approach any design project. Michae...
27/04/2026

Michael’s Laminated Chair

I want to start by saying there is no wrong or right way to approach any design project. Michael’s was a good testament to that, he expressed a desire to include certain techniques, and this can often be a very helpful starting point for design. The two techniques that Michael was interested in were kerf bending and laminating. He had experienced kerf bending earlier in the year when making David Haig’s beautiful Hoop Stool. He considered this a very effective technique for creating a comfortable seat. Laminating came from some initial research where he became interested in the creations of Alvar Alto.

It was therefore a reasonably comfortable progression to develop the final design, helped along with some full scale drawings and a 1:4 scale model. Those that are familiar with design history would have already considered what Michael’s initial inspirations might well have been. Having said that, he has managed to create a chair that is his own.

For anybody that is interested, he cut all his laminations on the sliding panel saw using a 1.8mm Professional Rip blade. And before anybody wades in with commentary with how much timber is lost to the extraction as against the bandsaw approach, he cut all the laminations in under an hour and those laminations were so good there was no need to put them through a thickness sander. I know we don’t all have the luxury of a sliding saw with a 2500 sliding table, but the school does, and we were going to make good use of it. All of the laminations were in sequence, and we tinted the epoxy so the glue lines are almost invisible, nice work Michael.

The cross stretchers which are shaped from solid truly make this a very rigid structure. They also add a very interesting repetition in shape and form. Slightly curving these elements demonstrated an attention to detail that gives the chair another level of interest.

Michael used a start point for his design that allowed him to practice a technique he already had some experience with while introducing a new one.

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Another chair from the class of 2025 where I was the instructor at the Centre for Fine Woodworking in Nelson, NZ. This t...
22/03/2026

Another chair from the class of 2025 where I was the instructor at the Centre for Fine Woodworking in Nelson, NZ. This time the Hunting Chair variation by Robert. Designed in 1950, this iconic chair was Morgensen’s first work with exposed wooden framing and saddle leather.

It is obvious when viewing the previous posts of student pieces from that term, that not all the chair projects followed the same creative processes and developmental pattern. Robert had always admired the Børge Mogensen Hunting Chair and was likewise drawn to the leather upholstery and the joinery.

Robert has a strong connection to sailing so he decided that for his project we would attempt to combine his love for beautiful classic sailing yachts with this unique chair design. His creation clearly references the original’s form, but he has cleverly modified some of the elements. This is best seen in the arm rest. By including pin line strips of contrasting timber he automatically evokes a feeling of timber decks and the shape itself has been subtlety adjusted to suggest a yacht’s bow.

The rich deep burgundy coloured leather compliments the timber details and creates a luxurious appearance contrasting strongly with the White Ash used for the main elements of the chair. In Robert’s variation, he went to considerable effort to cap the spindle end grains with a contrasting timber for further emphasis and to unify the elements. The build quality and finish are every bit as good as any luxury yacht.

Whilst his inspiration is clear, I believe he has successfully managed to draw upon his own experiences, combining luxury yacht aesthetics to reimagine this classic chair for a new setting.

Photography by

‘The Brief’ by RemekHere is another outstanding example of a chair created on the full-time furniture makers program Ne...
30/01/2026

‘The Brief’ by Remek

Here is another outstanding example of a chair created on the full-time furniture makers program Nelson NZ where I have been teaching since
closing our school in Sydney.

This chair is a leg and rail construction with a sculpted solid timber seat made from American Red Oak.

Remek accepted the challenge of this brief which was to design and construct a dining chair by creating a paired back version that cheekily takes the name of the project. He was able to apply the skills and knowledge from the two week set chair exercise that we introduced at the beginning of the term to help students understand some of the basics of chair construction and ergonomics.

In my mind creating a ‘simple’, elegant design is one of the hardest things to achieve with any piece of furniture, and with chairs it is especially challenging with the joinery requirements.

This chair's paired back aesthetic hides the complexities of the compound joinery required to make it. Remek completed a scale and full scale drawing with minimal assistance and a life size mock up to check the position and lengths of components such as the back slats and stretchers.

From an educator’s perspective this chair was a huge success. Remek was able to reinforce the learning from the set exercise. He made all new jigs for the spindle moulder and the panel saw, again applying what he had observed and experienced previously. He developed his design skills while exploring the interplay between the 3 key objectives of chair making: Comfort (Ergonomics), Durability (Structure) and Appearance (Aesthetics). One of the most rewarding aspects for me was the level of autonomy Remek was able to achieve. A great job all around young man.

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It’s been a while since I last posted so I thought it might be good to share some images of the beautiful chairs created...
14/01/2026

It’s been a while since I last posted so I thought it might be good to share some images of the beautiful chairs created in term 3 last year by the students on the professional course

This chair was created by David Mendoza Castaneira. I remember quite clearly a conversation in which I told David I had never made a Maloof style chair before, but I was happy to go on the journey with him, and I’m glad we shared the experience as we both learnt a lot through the design and making processes.

Working with David was a pleasure, he is only 19, but he is well on his way to being an accomplished designer and maker.

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I’ve just spent the last 9 weeks teaching foundation skills as part of term 1 on the Cert IV course at the Sturt School ...
31/03/2025

I’ve just spent the last 9 weeks teaching foundation skills as part of term 1 on the Cert IV course at the Sturt School for Wood.

My brief was to focus on building solid underpinning skills and knowledge. So fettling, sharpening and techniques for using key hand and layout tools. We practiced reading and understanding drawings and how they assist with cut lists and timber selection. Also included was an introduction to static woodworking machines.

Students started with the Sturt breadboard, moved through the mallet, box and marking gauge. The final 5 weeks was making a wall hung tool cabinet.

The cabinet provided an opportunity to explore how jigs and hold downs support accurate and safe operations as well increased accuracy and consistency in machining.

The cabinet has numerous techniques and concepts including veneering with commercial and hand cut thick veneers, frame and solid panel with haunched mortise and tenons, setting hinges, a built in cleat in the back panel, three drawers each featuring a different joint i.e. box joint, pinned lap joint and tongue and groove joint. The carcass dovetails were made using the bandsaw.

All up a fantastic group who were great at supporting each others learning and were very generous to me. Thanks to Michael for the opportunity to again be back at Sturt.

Full frontal and more detail shots of .brouwer Blackwood chair.This was a complex bespoke project. Lots of head scratchi...
22/03/2025

Full frontal and more detail shots of .brouwer Blackwood chair.

This was a complex bespoke project. Lots of head scratching, jig making, hand shaping and finishing. The result, is a beautifully balanced, well proportioned, comfortable piece of furniture, tailor made for its maker.

A wonderful project finished and the beginning of a new life for its owners brouwer was one of my first students when I ...
01/03/2025

A wonderful project finished and the beginning of a new life for its owners
brouwer was one of my first students when I started Sydney School for Wood at Splinter Workshop St Peters, later rebranding to Heartwood Creative Woodworking.
brouwer created many wonderful projects during the years we worked together and it was as a pleasure teaching someone who always trusted the direction we were moving in. That is not to say it was a one sided conversation, but when I asked “trust me”, he always did. Martijn has a demonstrated eye for design and a level of detail and patience that in my opinion, are key for these wishing to engage as fine furniture makers.

This chair has been a long time in the making, but like all good things, I think it was worth the wait. Bon voyage Martijn and Nicole, Carol and I wish you both well and hope to catch up with you in future.

More images from the bending and curved module I had the pleasure of teaching earlier in the year. If you would like to...
17/11/2024

More images from the bending and curved module I had the pleasure of teaching earlier in the year.

If you would like to see these and many other projects completed in the year by the class of 2024 then head to for gallery opening times to “Perspective” this years graduate show.

You won’t be disappointed.

Ebonised bar stool by Mick in the graduate exhibition “Perspective” which opened today This project was part of the 3...
16/11/2024

Ebonised bar stool by Mick in the graduate exhibition “Perspective” which opened today

This project was part of the 3 week bending and curved work module and showcases coopering, curved and tapered laminations and solid timber shaping using Merbau.

There was some tricky geometry in this piece that Mic tackled with gusto and his hard work is reflected in the finely balanced scale and proportions of this piece, which is further enhanced by the faceting on the legs.

We’ll done Mic it was a pleasure working with you on this piece. Congratulations on the body of work you completed this year.

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Heartwood Creative Workshop, 3/13 Dairy Close
Moss Vale, NSW
2577

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