Ashburton Courier: January 14, 2021

www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Feedback positive for
popular summer school
METHVEN SUMMER SCHOOL
Ashburton Courier, January 14, 2021
13
MICK.JENSEN
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Another successful
programme has beenticked
off by the committee that
works hard to organise the
long­running Methven
Summer School.
Running for over35years,
this year’s summerschool
offered more than 25 courses
and over 200 participants.
Summer school chairperson
Sandy Redmond said feedback
had been very positive and
numbers on par with previous
years.
People had been veryhappy
with the workshops they had
taken and what had been
offered.
Mrs Redmond said it was not
easy task to line up courses,
tutors and then take entries,
but positive feedback made
the taskworthwhile.
The organising committee of
10 volunteers was made up of a
mix of personalities who
offered adiverse range of
viewsand course suggestions.
‘‘There are not too many
summer schools left running
thesedays,soweare proud of
whatwe are able to offer.
‘‘Every year like­minded
people sign up to tackle
courses, have fun and extend
themselves, which is great to
see.’’
Mrs Redmond said the
summer school ran at only a
small profit, which covered
the costs of aco­ordinator.
‘‘We were lucky that the 2020
summer school wasall
wrapped up before covid hit
and that we were able to go
ahead as usual with this year’s
programme.’’
She believed the learning
opportunity and convivial
atmosphere at the summer
school was good for mental
health, especially after a
challenging year.
The summer school
committee wasvery grateful
for the support of Mount Hutt
College which generously
offered its facilities every
year, she said.
New look with chalk paint
Dorie resident Carol Hayton
stylishlytransformeda
commode boughtfor $2, while
others tackleddated mirror
frames, bedsidetables,stools
and drawers at achalk paint
workshoprun at therecent
Methven Summer School.
The drab and
undistinguished looking
commode was bought from
Wastebusters.
It was cleaned and then had
chalk paint and adeerdesign
stencilappliedtogive it a
completely new andunique
look.
‘‘I lovedthe process of
taking anot very pretty piece
of furniture and giving it new
life,’’ said Mrs Hayton.
The process of applying
chalk paint had been
explained, she had achosen a
colour and had gonefor it.
Addingher own stencil
designhad further
personalised the piece.
The summerschoolcourse
attracted eight students and
includedSouthCanterbury
resident Anne Laing who
broughtalong adrab, brown
reproductionVictorian mirror
stand andsurround.
She appliedagrey/black
chalk paint andthen sealed
the piece withwax to give it a
Carol Hayton works on applying her stencil to the wooden
commode she bought for $2.
PHOTO MICK JENSEN
stylishnew look.
The one­day workshop was
run jointly by SuzyMcPherson
and Amanda Beswick.
Mrs McPherson said the
course was about
demonstrating how youcould
easily transform afamily
treasure,give old furniture a
new life andturn something
old and dated into something
stylish and shabby chic with
justacoatofchalk paint.
Chalk paintwas aversatile
furniturepaint, neededno
sanding or priming, and could
be brushed on to wood, metal
and laminate.
Working together with chocolate are Methven residents (from left)
Heather Shearer and Wendy Carter.
PHOTO MICK JENSEN
Chocolate heaven
There was aheady smell of
chocolate in the air as you
walked intothe food and
nutrition classroom at Mount
Hutt College last week.
Chef and tutor Steve Le Corre
shared his passion and
knowledgewith 10 enthusiastic
women at achocolatemaking
workshop held as part of the
Methven Summer School’s 2021
programme.
Thechocolatier explained the
origins and variousqualities of
chocolate and demonstrated
how to temper chocolate
couverture.
Students then got to work on
coating almond florentines with
chocolate, making hand coated
truffles and then coating arich
Watercolours tackled
Local art identity Susie
Millichamp sharedher skills
and knowledge of watercolours
at arecent two­daypainting
courseinMethven.
TheAlfordForest­based
artist had nine students in her
class and shared her ideas on
composition, colourand
techniques.
Artists brought their own
materials andpainted from two
landscape photostaken in
Otago and Canterburyonthe
first day andthen of landscapes
from Marlborough and Tasman
on day two.
Mrs Millichampsaidher aim
was to create arelaxed
environment where artists
could ‘‘get in the zone’’ and
work on their projects.
It was her fourthtime
tutoring at the Methven
Summer School.
Vienna torte with chocolate
ganache.
Mr Le Corre saidNew
Zealand­made Whittaker’s
chocolate was asgoodasany of
the fancy european chocolate
for working with.
He usually usedaa
combinationofmilk and dark
and preferred his dark to be 62%
cacao.
‘‘Once you start using over
72% cacao the chocolate starts
to get quite bitter and loses its
natural sweetness,’’ he said.
Mr Le Corre has apassionfor
pastry work and is atutor at Ara
Institute in Timaru. He ran a
similar chocolate class last year
at the summerschool and will
be back next year.
Artist Susie Millichamp (at rear)
watches on as Sam Jenkinson
works on her watercolour.
Havingababyjust
got abit cheaper.
20%off Nursery *
Ninemonths sincelockdown. No prizes for
guessing what yougot up to.
Check out our range of MountainBuggy &
Phil&Teds Nursery in-storeoronline today.
smithscity.co.nz
*Discount is offour full retailprice, notavailable in conjunction with anyotheroffer. ExcludesArloBaby.
SCWK38AC2