Upcoming workshops and courses
2024
Beginning Woodworking for Women, Trans & Non-Binary Individuals
Peters Valley School of Craft
This class is for those individuals who would like to learn to navigate a woodshop in a physically and emotionally safe environment. Participants will learn proper usage and technique for both hand tools and power tools. We will touch on wood as a medium for working with and the best practices for various applications of it. You can expect to work on a small project (functional or non functional) that will have you practicing the things that you are learning. This class is for women, non binary and trans folks who have no experience at all to those who have some experience but want a space to ask questions and push their skills.
May 4-5
Table or Not, Here We Come
Penland School of Crafts
Tables are usually built for the purpose of holding other objects. In this unconventional furniture-making workshop, we will explore what a table can become if we separate it from its functional expectations. We will cover the basics of woodworking, traditional joinery techniques, and foundational machine skills while expanding creative sculptural and conceptual ideas. Students will focus on smaller-scale tables such as pedestal, entryway, or night stand. Come play, learn, and explore how you can use this everyday object to tell a story that goes beyond function. This workshop will be a welcoming environment for beginning to advanced furniture makers. All levels.
June 2-14
Basic Woodworking
Center for Furniture Craftsmanship
This workshop is a thorough introduction to furniture making, with a focus on traditional hand skills. Participants range from absolute beginners to more experienced woodworkers who want to improve their craftsmanship.
After milling a piece of wood four-square and hand-cutting mortise-and-tenon and dovetail joints, each student makes a simple piece of furniture. A small bench with dovetails and through-wedged tenons is suggested, although participants may choose other designs.
The workshop starts with instruction in the safe use of power tools such as the table saw, jointer, planer, and bandsaw. Through daily lectures and demonstrations, the instructors introduce skills such as lumber selection, milling, joinery, scraping, sanding, assembly, and finishing. They offer extensive instruction in the sharpening, tuning, and use of planes, chisels, and other hand tools.
July 1-12
Small Object Study: For Function
Pocosin School of Fine Craft
Come enjoy a week of designing and making small objects while learning essential woodworking skills. We will cover everything from the safe use of machines and hand tools to jig-making and a wide range of joinery techniques. Students are encouraged to explore experimental and expressive designs as we transform wooden sculptures into functional objects. Students can choose to focus on one object as a singular piece, dive into small batch production, or making multiples.
July 15-19
Woodworking Week
Medomak Family Camp
A camp for the whole family! I'm returning to a place that built my confidence started my path to teaching woodworking. I will spend the week engaging participants of all ages in more rustic woodworking projects. Sign your family up today and come spend time at the lake- woodworking is just a bonus.
August 11-17
Port Townsend School of Woodworking
Leave flat behind with a deep dive into the ancient art of coopering. In this five-day course, students will dust off the old graphing calculator, flex their design muscles, and explore the intersection of function and sculpture. Students will be guided through the process of designing curved forms and breaking them down into actionable steps including the fabrication of essential jigs and fixtures. Course instruction will cover compound curvature, mathematical functions, wood shaping, and methods of incorporating coopering into your furniture or sculptural practice. Coopering is an exciting process for both seasoned and beginner woodworkers, all levels welcome.