Brenda and I have been on our chairmaking course and what a fantastic experience it was. Brenda has never approached a bit of wood with a sharp object in her life though she is an imensley practical person who has made a lot of her own clothes, knits and was a hairdresser by trade and apprenticeship. However in a week she went from never having used woodworking tools to producing the chair below


Brenda chose an English style chair which is 'blockier' and more sturdy looking than the American style I chose. The picture below gives a better view of the seat style and layout of the legs.

I am very happy to say that allthough I have a varied engineering background and have used a variety of tools over the years, you would not be able to tell any difference in our levels of skill. I think this is because most of the tools and techniques were completely new to us both as I certainly have never used an adze or travisher before !
Below is the American style chair I chose to make.

And another view with a slightly better view of the seat style and the more, I think, elegant leg layout.

If anybody is thinking of taking one of James Mursels courses I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Nige