The Goodlife Centre - Practical Workshops in Central London

Bookable via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/carpentry-for-beginners-10-evenings-wood-table-2/
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In this throw-away age, when all the furniture we own is assembled and not built, we are pleased to offer an opportunity to spend some precious time learning how to use ageless tools to make something everlasting from wood. These 12 evenings are a perfect starting point for many aspects of woodwork that will give you the confidence to choose and replicate basic wood joints into other projects.

Using a mixture of traditional hand tools and modern drills and saws, experienced Woodworker, Len Conway will guide and inspire you as he teaches age-old techniques in joinery. As you begin making objects traditionally constructed from seasoned pine, you will learn how to use and care for chisels, saws, planes and spokeshaves. Len is an experienced woodworker and teacher.

Students will work on a variety of exercises – designed to incorporate simple to advanced joints and tools that build confidence and independence.

Over 12 weeks, we will cover many aspects of traditional carpentry tuition. There will be lots of practical exercises in each session including a project to make a simple frame table that you will take home.

Students will work on a variety of exercises – designed to incorporate simple to advanced joints and tools that build confidence and independence.

Step I – We will get familiar with some tools of the trade:

• Introducing basic tools. Equipping a toolbox for home carpentry.
• Timber selection/marking out and cutting. Tips on woods, saws and drills.
• Using a plane, different types of planes. Sharpening tips and practice.
• Using a chisel and its uses. Sharpening tips and practice.

Step II – You will use planes, chisels and marking tools:

• Simple joints and why we use them.
• Half joints, lap joints. Practice using chisels and planes.
• Bridle joints and a mortise and tenon

Step III – You will make a simple project to take home:
It’s fast-paced but with the support of Len, you will complete your own project to make a simple frame and legs for a small table

• Work from selected pine and measure, mark and cut pieces.
• Choose and make joints, assemble and secure with adhesive or screws.
• Sand and smooth to a stage where your project is ready for staining or waxing and taken home with pride.

All personal protection, the use of tools and basic materials are included.

Bookable via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/follow-on-woodwork-4/
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Directed at those people who have completed one of our longer woodwork courses, or those with confident woodwork skills, we offer an eleven-day week opportunity to build an individual project.

During this course, run by experienced carpenter/joiner/furniture maker Ruth Thomson, you will learn how to manage a practical project from sketching it, making a technical drawing, writing a cutting list, costing, marking out and construction to produce a piece of wood furniture.

The group will visit a timber yard to learn how to select lengths of soft woods.

You will learn the safe use and versatility of a router, a biscuit jointer, a jigsaw and other power tools as needed and learn when and how to make jigs to help fabricate accurate shapes. Using basic workshop machines including a bandsaw and a belt sander, as well as classic hand tools, you will cut and assemble and then learn how to sand, glue and finish your project to completion.

We are happy to discuss your personal project if you already have something in mind. There is a size limitation due to time constraints and project storage. Call Alison on 0207 7607613 or send a photo or sketch to info@thegoodlifecentre.co.uk

Each learner will pay for their own materials. We can take delivery of timber if externally sourced. Please note that we cannot handle MDF in the workshop as the dust requires special extraction and respiratory equipment. Plywood or solid timber will be pre-machined for you on our planer thicknesser and table saw.

Bookable via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/upholstery-bring-your-own-chair-daytime-23/
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KEY PROJECT: RE-UPHOLSTERING YOUR OWN CHAIR.
Suitable for beginners and fun for advanced learners.
This workshop is led by Krasmira Nikolova, an experienced upholsterer.

We provide the use of all upholstery tools and equipment including compressed air staple guns. Basic upholstery materials that you require for your project will be moderately charged on a pay-as-you-use basis and will be dependent on each chair’s requirements. We can advise you on the purchase of your top fabric and we have a lovely library of fabric samples to help make up your mind. The Goodlife Centre sells all the basic tools and materials for use on projects worked on at home.

This is a fantastic chance to up-cycle and personalise a family piece you have at home or a junk shop find and a great way to immerse yourself into the wonderful world of upholstery.

The course is suitable for both beginners and those who have a basic knowledge but little experience who wish to extend their expertise.

Choosing a suitable chair
If you are a newcomer to upholstery, there are a couple of pointers to help you choose a chair to work on. Choose something that has one or two flat planes – a seat and a back – as curves and arms are more complex and take longer to achieve.

The chair on the right was completed in about 12 weeks.

If you are a complete beginner, you could bring something more simple such as an upholstered footstool. More experienced upholsters can bring more complex pieces. Your chair can be traditionally built or modern, but be aware that some modern pieces have been constructed using machinery and are difficult to recreate by hand.

Click here for a detailed PDF of suitable chairs.

Please email info@thegoodlifecentre.co.uk with a photo of your chair prior to the course so we can answer any suitability questions and advise if your chair is suitable.

We have very limited storage at the centre, so we can only store smaller pieces during the course. Please make sure the total dimensions are less than 1000mm high by 750mm wide, with a depth of 750mm.

The use of tools and machinery is included.
All materials will be charged at nominal rates. Some materials will not be kept in stock but can be ordered. Approved projects can be stored at the centre. We cannot offer additional time to work on your project outside of workshop times.

Bookable via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/upholstery-bring-your-own-chair-monday-eve-19/
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KEY PROJECT: RE-UPHOLSTERING YOUR OWN CHAIR.
Suitable for beginners and fun for advanced learners.
This workshop is led by Krasmira Nikolova, an experienced upholsterer.

We provide the use of all upholstery tools and equipment including compressed air staple guns. Basic upholstery materials that you require for your project will be moderately charged on a pay-as-you-use basis and will be dependent on each chair’s requirements. We can advise you on the purchase of your top fabric and we have a lovely library of fabric samples to help make up your mind. The Goodlife Centre sells all the basic tools and materials for use on projects worked on at home.

This is a fantastic chance to up-cycle and personalise a family piece you have at home or a junk shop find and a great way to immerse yourself into the wonderful world of upholstery.

The course is suitable for both beginners and those who have a basic knowledge but little experience who wish to extend their expertise.

Choosing a suitable chair
If you are a newcomer to upholstery, there are a couple of pointers to help you choose a chair to work on. Choose something that has one or two flat planes – a seat and a back – as curves and arms are more complex and take longer to achieve.

The chair on the right was completed in about 12 weeks.

If you are a complete beginner, you could bring something more simple such as an upholstered footstool. More experienced upholsters can bring more complex pieces. Your chair can be traditionally built or modern, but be aware that some modern pieces have been constructed using machinery and are difficult to recreate by hand.

Click here for a detailed PDF of suitable chairs.

Please email info@thegoodlifecentre.co.uk with a photo of your chair prior to the course so we can answer any suitability questions and advise if your chair is suitable.

We have very limited storage at the centre, so we can only store smaller pieces during the course. Please make sure the total dimensions are less than 1000mm high by 750mm wide, with a depth of 750mm.

The use of tools and machinery is included.
All materials will be charged at nominal rates. Some materials will not be kept in stock but can be ordered. Approved projects can be stored at the centre. We cannot offer additional time to work on your project outside of workshop times.