Newsletter – Autumn 2022
James Mursell
Welcome!
Newsletter - Autumn 2022
We are now approaching my busiest time of year, with lots of courses and two big shows to attend! Below you will find details of the shows, at Wisley RHS Gardens (9-13 November) and with the Sussex Guild at Midhurst (3-4 December). Free tickets are available for the latter show!
I have also added new course dates to the website through to June next year, including a weekend stool course in May.
Following on from my last newsletter, I have developed a new chair that I am calling the Blenheim. There is a course for it 3-7 April next year and further details are below. I am also running a 2-seat settee course 6-10 February, for those that have been on one of my courses before and are quick workers! Details below.
Finally, I have to share with you a steam bending video that I posted on Instagram at the end of September. It has gone viral, with over 8 million views. It has proved a little controversial – see what you think!
Best wishes
James Mursell
Craft Shows
I have two fabulous shows coming up and if you are in the South East, I hope you will consider coming. It would be great to see you and there will be a great range of other high-class exhibitors to see too.
Craft in Focus, RHS Wisley Gardens, 9-13 November
This show is one of the finest pre-Christmas shows in the country and although I have not attended this show before, I have exhibited at its sister show in the spring for a good number of years now. Entrance to the gardens gives access to the show, and of course it is free to RHS members. There is both a craft show and a separate jewellery and silversmithing show, both located in and around the new Hilltop building.
Sussex Guild, Midhurst Rother College, 3-4 December
I have been attending this show since I joined the Guild in 2004, and I am one of the organisers. It is the Guild’s largest show of the year and we will have over 55 exhibitors from a wide range of disciplines.
The quality of goods on offer is extremely high and everything has been made by the exhibitors themselves.
It is the perfect show to find unusual Christmas presents and there will be refreshments available all through the show to keep you going!
If you would like to come, please download FREE TICKETS here:
It would be great to see you!
New Course Dates
On my website there are now course dates through to June 2023. These include the 2-seat settee course 6-10 February; the Blenheim 3-7 April; and a weekend stool making course 6-7 May
Please get in touch if you are interested in taking any of these courses and I can advise on availability. Please note that to make the settee, you will need to have already made one chair with me and be a quick worker, as there is so much to fit into 5 days!
New Chair – the Blenheim
In my previous newsletter I showed an image of a new chair based on Welsh stick chairs, with a broad three-piece arm. Although I still like the chair, it was a little heavy for my taste and the Blenheim is the result. I am running a course for this chair 3-7 April 2023 and if you are interested, please drop me a line.
The chair has a stepped arm, made from a single piece of steam bent ash. Much of the original bend is removed to make it lighter and to give the distinctive shape. The arm sits low in the chair to fit into the small of the sitter’s back to ensure that it does not dig in, in any way.
The chair can be used as a relaxing chair or at a table, depending on how much tilt backwards the seat is given. This is a choice that can be made during the course.
Viral Steam-bending Video
If you are into social media, you will understand my excitement and amazement at the performance of a recent video. On Instagram it has been seen over 8,000,000 times and my number of followers has increased from 49.3k to 93.7.
Although steam-bending videos are always popular, this one seems to have hit the sweet spot of the Instagram algorithm!
One of the reasons for its popularity is that it is perceived to be dangerous. I understand people’s concerns at what might happen if the rope breaks. The answer is ‘nothing much’, as bent wood does not act at all like a steel spring! Although it looks as though the person in front of the bend is at risk, he is actually standing to the side, and we discussed the risks extensively beforehand.
Blueberries!
My blueberry bushes in front of the workshop have grown very well this year and the leaves are now colouring up beautifully. I am hopeful that I will have at least a bowl of my own fruit next year, though I will have to net them to keep the birds from stealing them first!
