Shaker Boxes

Alison sanding

Anne hammering

Sian and Pat looking good

1-3 June 2007 - The weekend was spent at Earnley, a tiny village near Chichester on the south coast. They run residential courses in all manner of things. Alison, Sian, Pat and I signed up for the Shaker Box weekend course. I almost panicked when I realized that this was going to involve power tools and semi-heavy machinery to say nothing of a level of manual dexterity with which I have seldom been acquainted. I can sew and paint but those activities do not run you the risk of losing a finger. In fact, we were well taught the safety rules and regs and nobody lost anything. I came home on Monday afternoon with two boxes and a tray. They are not large and they are not perfect but they represent a fine effort at a craft which is satisfying and quite beautiful.

The actual finished boxes

In addition to an excellent learning experience, we enjoyed two nights in residence. Pat and I each had our own rooms and Alison and Sian shared. All meals were included and this meant cooked breakfast, cooked lunch and cooked dinner. There were also tea and coffee breaks with cake and biscuits. You simply turn up in the dining room at a given time and there is food ready and waiting for you. When you're finished someone else clears it away and washes up. In the evening there is a bar so a few bevvies can be enjoyed. The course itself takes place around the eating and drinking activities. We made the mistake on Friday evening of enjoying many bevvies both before and during dinner not realizing that the evening class (the first class) would involve actual manipulation of wood and tools - not power tools but Stanley knives and other pointed thingies. However, all went well and we came away on Sunday afternoon with heads held high and all fingers intact. It is a definite "do again" weekend.