Erik will walk you through the design and construction of his textured wall hanging whiskey cabinet. The class will cover the ever important topic of grain selection and discuss what joinery is most appropriate—housed stub tenon, floating tenons, or sliding dovetails, for example—using a combination of simple machinery and hand tools. And of course we will cover how to compose and power carve a cabinet door. Finally, Erik will discuss his various finishing techniques and what makes the most sense in a professional shop as well as your home shop. Students will leave with both a beautiful cabinet for their favorite whiskey AND the confidence and necessary skills to take on a project of this caliber in their own shop!

Class fee: $900

Materials fee: $150

Class size limited to 10

Erik Curtis is an American woodworker, sculptor, and television personality. He attended the Nine-month Comprehensive at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in 2012 and has taught at schools around the country. His creative practice combines the sculptural with the functional in an attempt to blur the line between furniture and art. He also stars as the carpenter on Netflix’s "Instant Dream Home." www.encurtis.com.

There is no satisfaction like making something with tools that you've made. This workshop will focus on forging functional tools for use in the woodshop. Students will start by learning about appropriate steels and how to process them to bring out the desired qualities in hand tools such as durability, edge retention, and sharpenability. Students will then forge a large scorp for chairs an bowls and a some smaller scorps for detail carving. Tools will be forged, filed, and rough ground prior to heat treat. After heat treating tools will be finish ground and sharpened as time allows.

This class is open a to all experience levels but prior forging experience is recommended. This is an interactive, hands on course where you will be forging tough materials. Some project modifications may be made for those with less experience. Class will make use of hand and some power tools (grinders).

Class fee: $275

Materials fee: $50

Class size limited to 6

Brian took his first blacksmithing class in 2005 under local smith Richard Rightmyer to learn how to make his own woodworking tools. Captivated by the feel of hot metal under the hammer, Brian poured all his free time into advancing his smithing skills taking classes whenever he could. Brian began teaching blacksmithing and coppersmithing in 2012 and has demonstrated at many public events and conferences. Recently, he has focused on the art of copper chasing, finding the meticulous attention to detail it requires to be a form of meditation in motion. Brian is an electrical engineer by day and holds a 6th Degree black belt in Aikido. He finds many commonalities with the efficient body movements of martial arts and the proper ergonomics for blacksmithing and coppersmithing. Brian has blended the arts to create effective and safe hammering techniques for people of all sizes. s an engineer, he is fascinated by the science of blacksmithing, specifically the metallurgy that goes into tool making. He firmly believes that true learning happens when you are having fun.

In this course, you will learn the important concepts of building rockers and how to build quality furniture safely and efficiently. You will also learn how to use a wide variety of power tools, perform complicated joinery, and build a piece of furniture successfully.

We will dive into this class learning techniques to design and build furniture that is curved and has compound angles. Students will learn and be comfortable using a horizontal mortiser. They will also be introduced to the business aspects of building furniture.

Learning objectives:

1. Joinery at complex angles
2. Techniques of chair building
3. The angles and designs that make chairs comfortable

Class price: $1100

Materials fee: $200

Class size limited to 10

Alexis grew up in a family of builders and artists. While designing and building her own house and working alongside her dad, a long-time woodworker, she embarked on a career of building fine furniture. She apprenticed with many talented and successful woodworkers before starting her business in Bozeman in 2019. Alexis builds custom fine furniture and teaches classes out of her own shop and at various woodworking schools in the US. Alexis is a founding member and the president of the Bozeman Woodworking Guild created to help develop the localwoodworking community and encourage and support local craftsmen focusing on novice woodworkers. https://www.dolesewoodworks.com/

In this class, students will create a 6-7" European-style chef knife. Starting with a section of flat 1080 steel bar, the class will cover forging, grinding, heat treatment, handle fitment and finishing techniques. Students will leave with a finished, hidden tang blade ready to take home and prep a meal. There will be opportunities for additional forging as time allows. Beginner blacksmithing experience is strongly recommended but not required.

Course fee: $500

Materials fee: $50

Class size limited to 6

Zach is a welder by trade with experience in a wide range of industries. Based in rural NY, he is an ABS bladesmith who creates custom, heirloom-quality, hand forged kitchen cutlery and edged tools. He strives to blend traditional and modern techniques and materials to create quality tools to be used for decades in the kitchen. After teaching welding for Monroe Community College and at the Arc + Flame Center for seven years, Zach now runs his own company where, in addition to blades, he manufactures tooling and machines for blacksmiths and metalworkers. He is passionate about collaborating with other local artisans, makers, and tradespeople. In his classes, Zach seeks to inspire students by sharing the functional artistry of modern bladesmithing. https://tarbellindustries.com/

Wood hand planes are a joy to use, and once you know the steps to make them, you will be able to make planes in any shape and size, including curved bottom planes. In this weekend workshop students will construct a classic smoothing plane with a 1¾" iron, and it may become your new favorite hand tool. Tim was a student of Jim Krenov in the 1980s and learned directly from him how to create “the cabinetmaker’s Stradivarius”, as Krenov referred to the handmade plane.

Class fee: $350

Materials fee: $100

Class size limited to 10

Tim Coleman creates custom furniture in a shop he built a few paces from his home in rural Western Massachusetts. He has been creating furniture for clients and exhibition for more than 35 years after studying at the College of the Redwoods with James Krenov in the 1980s. Tim is known for his graceful and dynamic furniture forms which often feature richly patterned and textured surfaces. Using low-relief carving, marquetry, embossing, and thick veneer tiles, he has developed simple but innovative techniques that put a new spin on traditional embellishment. As passionate as Coleman is about his own work, he is equally excited to pass on his knowledge as a frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking Magazine and by teaching at schools throughout the US.

This stool is featured in the latest Fine Woodworking magazine.

In this 5-day workshop, students will learn to build a contemporary counter stool that combines precise machine work for the legs and stretchers with a hand-shaped seat and footrest. Featured in the most recent issue of Fine Woodworking Magazine, this shapely stool is a great project to learn mortise and tenon joints, both through tenons and floating tenons to connect the legs to the solid wood seat. Students will have lots of practice with the band saw to cut the legs, seat and footrest, and will also gain experience with a hollow chisel and slot mortiser. The seat is shaped with a compass plane, and students will use carving gouges and round bottom planes to shape the cove under the seat. Tim will provide a detailed, measured drawing for each student and jigs to aid in the making.

Class fee: $900

Materials fee: $75

Class size limited to 10

Tim Coleman creates custom furniture in a shop he built a few paces from his home in rural Western Massachusetts. He has been creating furniture for clients and exhibition for more than 35 years after studying at the College of the Redwoods with James Krenov in the 1980s. Tim is known for his graceful and dynamic furniture forms which often feature richly patterned and textured surfaces. Using low-relief carving, marquetry, embossing, and thick veneer tiles, he has developed simple but innovative techniques that put a new spin on traditional embellishment. As passionate as Coleman is about his own work, he is equally excited to pass on his knowledge as a frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking Magazine and by teaching at schools throughout the US.

Marquetry is the delicate art of creating intricate images, decorative elements, and lettering by cutting and fitting together different wood species. Originating during the Italian Renaissance, marquetry has adorned furniture, church pews, and grand panels in homes and palaces for centuries. Over time, its techniques and styles evolved as the craft spread worldwide.

In this two-day introductory class, Frank will guide you through his favorite marquetry techniques, including packet cutting and double-bevel sawing, revealing that anyone can bring this timeless art to life. You’ll learn how to select and prepare veneers, use essential tools, and practice foundational skills. Starting with simple designs, you’ll then explore reproducing historical paterae—classic motifs found on 18th and 19th-century furniture. Along the way, you’ll master sawing methods and ancient techniques like sand shading to achieve depth and a three-dimensional effect.

The course culminates in double-bevel cutting, where you’ll practice precision techniques for creating flawless lettering with no visible gaps. Join us for a journey into the rich tradition of marquetry and discover how to bring beautiful, wood-crafted artistry into your work.

Class fee: $385

Materials fee: $50

Class size limited to 10

Frank Strazza is a master traditional fine furniture maker with over 30 years of experience, based in Central Texas. His woodworking journey began at the tender age of 11. After graduating, Frank served many years as an apprentice honing his craft under the tutelage of renowned artisan Paul Sellers. Frank's work has been showcased in local and national publications and is part of the White House's permanent collection. His masterpieces have garnered multiple top awards in nationally recognized furniture shows, including Best of Show and People's Choice. He has been building furniture for over 25 years and his work has been featured in both local and national publications, including Woodworker West, Woodwork Magazine, and Fine Woodworking. A passionate educator, Frank travels across the country imparting the timeless skills of hand tool woodworking to eager students. His diverse interests span Windsor chair making, intricate inlay, violin crafting, and the art of marquetry. When he's not in the shop, Frank can be found cycling, and making music on the mandolin and cello. http://www.strazzafurniture.com/

In this immersive class, students will gain a strong foundation in traditional hand-tool woodworking, learning core joinery techniques that have stood the test of time. Led by Frank Strazza, who brings over 30 years of experience and knowledge from his own traditional apprenticeship, this class is an ideal opportunity to build lasting skills. Instead of focusing on completing a project, students will practice fundamental techniques, developing a deeper understanding of woodworking essentials that can be applied to future projects with confidence and precision.

You’ll learn to work with essential hand tools—saws, planes, chisels, and scrapers—while discovering the methods to keep them sharp and effective. You’ll hand-cut a variety of classic joints, including dados, dovetails, and mortise and tenon joints, each skill building upon the last. By starting with a rough board, you’ll also learn to four-square it entirely by hand, gaining hands-on experience in planing and working the wood from its raw state. Toward the end of the week, you’ll have the chance to use your new skills to begin creating a simple dovetailed box, blending all of the techniques you’ve learned. The emphasis is on technique rather than rushing to finish a project, giving you a solid grasp of joinery fundamentals.

Key Techniques Covered

Joinery Fundamentals:

1. Hand-cut dados
2. Dovetails (through and half-blind)
3. Mortise and tenons, including through mortises

Tool Mastery:

1. Adjusting and using essential hand tools, including saws, planes, chisels, and scrapers
2. Sharpening chisels, saws, scrapers, and planes to keep them at peak performance
3. Four-Squaring a Board:
4. Learning to plane a rough board to a fully four-squared state

Course Takeaways

By the end of the class, you’ll have the confidence to hand-cut various joinery types, tune and use hand planes to their fullest, and apply sharpening techniques to keep your tools in top condition. This course gives you a solid foundation in joinery, allowing you to approach future woodworking projects with skill and confidence.

Class fee: $900

Materials fee: $25

Class size limited to 10

Frank Strazza is a master traditional fine furniture maker with over 30 years of experience, based in Central Texas. His woodworking journey began at the tender age of 11. After graduating, Frank served many years as an apprentice honing his craft under the tutelage of renowned artisan Paul Sellers. Frank's work has been showcased in local and national publications and is part of the White House's permanent collection. His masterpieces have garnered multiple top awards in nationally recognized furniture shows, including Best of Show and People's Choice. He has been building furniture for over 25 years and his work has been featured in both local and national publications, including Woodworker West, Woodwork Magazine, and Fine Woodworking. A passionate educator, Frank travels across the country imparting the timeless skills of hand tool woodworking to eager students. His diverse interests span Windsor chair making, intricate inlay, violin crafting, and the art of marquetry. When he's not in the shop, Frank can be found cycling, and making music on the mandolin and cello. http://www.strazzafurniture.com/

In this weekend course furniture maker and educator, Andrew Hunter, will guide students through the process of setting up a new Japanese plane. What seems like a simple tool, a blade and a block of wood, the Japanese plane (Kanna) is actually a very complex instrument with many subtle qualities. The first challenge most woodworkers face when learning to use a Kanna is that they don’t come ready to use out of the box. You are only supplied with great ingredients, and it is up to the user to get the fit between the blade and the block just right.

Andrew will work with each student to get their new plane into working order. We will cover sharpening and shaping the blade, fitting the blade to the block and profiling its sole for optimal performance. Of course, we will also spend time using your new plane, learning to work with your whole body, not just your arms. The weekend will wrap up by putting our new planes to use with a friendly planing contest (kezurou-kai). By the conclusion of this class, each student will take home a fully operational Japanese hand plane and have the know how to keep it working correctly.

Materials will be purchased from Andrew.

The 54mm plane is currently $200. The 64mm plane is currently $310. Attendees will receive an email a week or two prior to the class to get their order for Andrew.

Student Tool List:

Students should bring sharpening stones.

Andrew is a custom furniture maker working and living in New York’s Hudson Valley. Best known for his use of traditional Japanese hand tools, Andrew demonstrates and teaches across the country. As a self-taught woodworker, he offers a unique perspective to other Americans exploring Eastern woodworking. His workshops demonstrate that by understanding the fundamental principles behind other cultures’ tools and techniques, all woodworkers can benefit. A frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking magazine, he is eager to share what he has learned in his 25-plus years of making furniture. https://www.instagram.com/andrewhunter_furniture/

This one-day class is for everyone who has been confused, frustrated, and otherwise unsure about how to choose from the vast array of finishing products, and how to apply them. The goal is to carefully explain the building blocks of all wood colorants and finishes so that students can confidently make informed choices by knowing “what’s in the can”. The class format is a mixture of lecture, demonstration and hands on activities with an emphasis on the science, craft and art of wood finishing.

The morning is devoted to color, with an exploration of dye and pigments and how these two very different materials can be used separately and together to achieve effects including color matching, enhancing or “popping” the grain, and harmonizing the colors within a board or on an entire project. To focus on the optics of color, students will complete a classic color wheel to see the relationships of the various colors and how they interact, and how the color “temperature” of the light affects the way we actually see color. Students will also gain experience in using the four different methods of applying color: dyeing, staining, glazing and toning, which provide a nearly endless set of possible colors and decorative effects with both oil based and waterborne colorants. There will also be discussion and demonstration of using asphaltum (tar) as a glazing and ageing agent, and the many chemical or “reactive” treatments that can be used to alter the natural color of various woods.

The afternoon is all about the huge number of different finishing products available on the market, and the goal is to understand that they are all composed of the same basic components, and that they fall into groups or “families” that have similar working properties, but do not always work well with products from other families. Students will practice several ways to apply shellac, and employ the proper applicators and techniques for oil based, and waterborne varnishes, as well as the very popular hard wax-oil formulations. Using prepared panels, students will practice various techniques for rubbing out a cured finish, both to lower the sheen or to enhance the gloss.

MIKE MASCELLI has been a student and practitioner of the upholstery trade for nearly 50 years and divides his time between the worlds of classic cars and classic furniture. He has provided upholstery for national champion cars and furniture that is on display at the US House of Representatives and numerous historic homes and private collections. He is also the longtime Director of the Professional Refinisher’s Group an organization of professionals in the conservation and restoration trades, from whom he has learned much of the science, art and craft of wood finishing. Mike actively lectures and teaches, and has instructed hundreds of students in basic and advanced upholstery techniques as well as the fundamentals of wood finishing at the Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking, the Marc Adams School of Woodworking, and numerous other schools and organizations both in person and on line in both America and England. He contributed an essay on 18th century upholstery techniques for Roubo on Furniture by Don Williams (Lost Art Press). Mike has also published a number of articles on various aspects of historic upholstery in the Journal of the Society of American Period Furniture Makers (SAPFM) and on modern upholstery for Fine Woodworking. He has also completed several instructional videos on upholstery and finishing for Popular Woodworking, and Fine Woodworking, and was a presenter at the “Working Wood in the 18th c”. conference at Williamsburg. In the summer of 2024 Fine Woodworking will release an online course: Foundations of Furniture Finishing” presented by Mike. In addition to driving some classic cars, Mike and his wife are the very proud grandparents of two small boys who are the main focus of semi-retirement.

A lecture-demonstration specially created for Wendell Castle Workshop focusing on the centuries-old dialog between furniture makers and upholsterers and is based on materials from a number of Fine Woodworking on-line courses. The presentation will include a brief but thorough look at the history of the trade as it organized in England as the “Worshipful Company of Upholders” in the 16th century, up through modern times, and a complete look at the tools, materials and techniques of the upholstery trade as practiced then and now. This includes traditional materials such as coir fiber and horsehair, as well as modern foam and Dacron.

Mike will demonstrate a number of upholstery techniques including a simple slip seat using modern materials and various grades of foam and show how to properly calculate the “gap” needed for a drop in seat. In addition, he will show a classic coil spring tying (8-way tie) project and a sample of the use of serpentine (Zig-Zag) springs and clips and discuss the pros-cons of each type of treatment.

Especially for furniture makers, Mike will go over basic considerations for designing upholstered pieces, including standard sizes, types of secondary (tacking rail) woods, and placement of corner blocks and supports. An explanation of the various types and qualities of upholstery foam will also be included as well as a guide to buying leather for upholstery projects.

This presentation will be of interest to furniture builders, restorers and those just dying to know exactly what is supposed to be inside of a properly upholstered chair and there will be adequate time for questions throughout the day.

MIKE MASCELLI has been a student and practitioner of the upholstery trade for nearly 50 years and divides his time between the worlds of classic cars and classic furniture. He has provided upholstery for national champion cars and furniture that is on display at the US House of Representatives and numerous historic homes and private collections. He is also the longtime Director of the Professional Refinisher’s Group an organization of professionals in the conservation and restoration trades, from whom he has learned much of the science, art and craft of wood finishing. Mike actively lectures and teaches, and has instructed hundreds of students in basic and advanced upholstery techniques as well as the fundamentals of wood finishing at the Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking, the Marc Adams School of Woodworking, and numerous other schools and organizations both in person and on line in both America and England. He contributed an essay on 18th century upholstery techniques for Roubo on Furniture by Don Williams (Lost Art Press). Mike has also published a number of articles on various aspects of historic upholstery in the Journal of the Society of American Period Furniture Makers (SAPFM) and on modern upholstery for Fine Woodworking. He has also completed several instructional videos on upholstery and finishing for Popular Woodworking, and Fine Woodworking, and was a presenter at the “Working Wood in the 18th c”. conference at Williamsburg. In the summer of 2024 Fine Woodworking will release an online course: Foundations of Furniture Finishing” presented by Mike. In addition to driving some classic cars, Mike and his wife are the very proud grandparents of two small boys who are the main focus of semi-retirement.

The bandsaw can be one of the most versatile, accurate and safe machines in your workshop—providing it is set up and used properly. A new or even a well used bandsaw with a ½ HP motor can be tuned to cut precision joints or resaw flawlessly without purchasing aftermarket accessories or expensive blades. Installing new tires, selecting and setting blade tension, tracking, cutting curves and resawing will be covered. A variety of useful jigs designed to be used with the bandsaw will be demonstrated. Illustrations will be provided so you can make your own. Michael operates one of the most diversely equipped workshops in North America. It includes three industrial table saws but he can’t remember the last time he ripped a piece of wood on a table saw. Instead, he prefers to use a vintage 15” General Mfg. bandsaw. He bought this bandsaw in 1974, tracked the blade once with only modest tension, installed a factory fence parallel to the miter slot and has not had to adjust it in 50 years. That is one of nine bandsaws in his workshop. Let the bandsaw master show you how to make this simple machine the most versatile in your workshop. This class will be limited to 12 students; while mostly demonstration, the class size will allow for some student hands on.

Canadian designer/maker, teacher and mentor Michael C. Fortune has become acclaimed for his innovative, but resolved, designs for one-of-a-kind objects in wood, commissioned residential furnishings, and items in limited editions. He is acknowledged for both his technical and design expertise, giving lectures and workshops across Canada, United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Brazil. Michael's work has appeared in numerous exhibitions worldwide and he has taught at many schools and craft centers including; Sheridan College School of Crafts and Design, Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, the Rochester Institute of Technology NY, Worcester Center for Crafts in Massachusetts, Anderson Arts Center, Colorado, Savannah College of Art and Design, Australian National University School of Art, and the Marc Adams School in Indiana where the fellowship program for advanced students has been named in his honor. Michael is the senior mentor for the Artist in Residence program (2018, 2020) at the Centre for Fine Woodworking in New Zealand. Fortune’s international career includes consulting for Trinidad and Tobago's Commonwealth Fund for Technical Assistance, working for sustainable source timber in Mexico aimed at supplying the expanding hotel industry within the country, and volunteering for Woodlinks, a joint Canadian/U.S. not-for-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing vocational training in secondary schools throughout North America. Michael is also assisting a new school in Puerto Rico that promotes use of timber salvaged after destructive hurricanes. In 1993, Michael was the first woodworker to receive the prestigious Prix Saidye Bronfman, Canada’s highest award in the crafts, and in 2007 he was the first Canadian to receive the Award of Distinction from the Furniture Society. He received the Mather Award in 2019 for his contribution to craft in Ontario. Michael Fortune has a clear vision of how fine craft can positively effect the culture and economy of Canada and the world beyond. http://www.michaelfortune.com/

This 6-day workshop will introduce the participants to a series of simple bench top design exercises that will exponentially expand where and how you look for inspiration then be able to convert what you’ve observed into practical pieces of furniture or sculpture. This course is for woodworkers who want to move beyond working “square” or copying other woodworker’s designs. Sharpen those scissors, plug in that glue gun hone those new found observation skills and have fun while you develop your own unique furniture forms. This course will change your perception of furniture design and making.

Key Points

1. How to observe your environment and identify design ideas.

2. Develop your own custom design sequence.

3. How to sketch, make models and full-size mock-ups.

4. How to critique your own work and who to engage to critique your work

5. Assembling an idea bank that will be inspirational for years to come.

Tuition: $1400

Material: $100

Student Materials

1. Dollar store Foamcore, 20 x 30 (2) each
2. basswood or similar
3. cardstock
4. 9mm Olfa style cutter
5. Architects scale (not engineers)
6. Pad of tracing paper 11 x 14
7. 2B and 6B pencils
8. a cameraphone

Canadian designer/maker, teacher and mentor Michael C. Fortune has become acclaimed for his innovative, but resolved, designs for one-of-a-kind objects in wood, commissioned residential furnishings, and items in limited editions. He is acknowledged for both his technical and design expertise, giving lectures and workshops across Canada, United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Brazil. Michael's work has appeared in numerous exhibitions worldwide and he has taught at many schools and craft centers including; Sheridan College School of Crafts and Design, Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, the Rochester Institute of Technology NY, Worcester Center for Crafts in Massachusetts, Anderson Arts Center, Colorado, Savannah College of Art and Design, Australian National University School of Art, and the Marc Adams School in Indiana where the fellowship program for advanced students has been named in his honor. Michael is the senior mentor for the Artist in Residence program (2018, 2020) at the Centre for Fine Woodworking in New Zealand. Fortune’s international career includes consulting for Trinidad and Tobago's Commonwealth Fund for Technical Assistance, working for sustainable source timber in Mexico aimed at supplying the expanding hotel industry within the country, and volunteering for Woodlinks, a joint Canadian/U.S. not-for-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing vocational training in secondary schools throughout North America. Michael is also assisting a new school in Puerto Rico that promotes use of timber salvaged after destructive hurricanes. In 1993, Michael was the first woodworker to receive the prestigious Prix Saidye Bronfman, Canada’s highest award in the crafts, and in 2007 he was the first Canadian to receive the Award of Distinction from the Furniture Society. He received the Mather Award in 2019 for his contribution to craft in Ontario. Michael Fortune has a clear vision of how fine craft can positively effect the culture and economy of Canada and the world beyond. http://www.michaelfortune.com/

Bent lamination represents a dramatic departure from most traditional fine woodworking. Rather than working within rectilinear geometry, you will lean into the materiality of the wood and explore its natural strengths through curvature. Reference face is often non-existent, so cutting joinery requires some creative thinking and novel use of machinery and hand tools. We will explore a variety of methods including cold lamination, mold making, vacuum forming, and freeform bending. Students will design and prototype a project that showcases bent lamination aesthetically and structurally.

Class fee: $1200

Materials fee: $200

Class size limited to 10

Laura Kishimoto is a designer and maker based in Denver, Colorado and a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, where she earned a BFA in Furniture Design in 2013. Her work falls somewhere between sculpture and furniture, distinguished by its spatial complexity and visually striking curves. Central to her practice is a technique known as freeform bent lamination, which allows her to push the wood to its material limits and create curiously organic and emotionally evocative forms. Her pieces can be found in the permanent collections of the Denver Art Museum in Colorado and the Mint Museum in North Carolina.

In this weekend class, students will learn a few fundamental metalworking and woodworking techniques to create a series of small marking and layout tools. In the making of a marking knife, small bevel gauge, and a square, we'll learn about different metals and their applications (tool steels, brass, and bronze), learn to to file, grind, heat treat, drill, hammer, sand, and cut our metals, and we'll make wooden handles by incorporating cutting and shaping techniques using the bandsaw, drill press, sanders, and various hand tools. This class will be a practical way for any woodworker to dip their toes into metalworking.

Class fee: $350

Materials fee: $50

Class size limited to 10

Sophie is a metalworker, woodworker, and furniture maker currently based in Reading, PA. She makes classic furniture designs recreated out of steel to give voice to women in both the woodworking and metal fields, and she utilizes steel in the making of her work to explicitly expand upon the materials that are considered to be part of the fine furniture making field. Sophie received her MFA in Furniture Design and Woodworking from San Diego State University, and BFA in Sculpture and Drawing from SUNY Purchase College. She has exhibited her work across the country, including Blue Spiral 1 Gallery (NC), the Center for Art in Wood (PA), and the Metal Museum (TN), and has been fortunate to receive several grants, fellowships, and residencies to help advance her career, including the John D. Mineck Fellowship in 2022. Sophie currently teaches at Kutztown University and has taught workshops at A Workshop of Our Own, Penland School of Craft, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, the Appalachian Center for Craft, and Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. https://sophieglenn.com

This two-day class takes up where we left off in 2026, using both the skills from the circular light as well as developing two new skills. Students will cut and shape sheets of copper as well as use the pan and box brake to create a wall plate and will solder the joints. It’s an exciting and enjoyable class, with the end result of a wall sconce ready to bring home and admire. These warm and attractive lights are easy to build and great to have around the house. And the new skills can add arrows to any wood worker’s quiver for the creation of non-wood elements for furniture.

Materials: 24 oz copper sheet, laminated shoji paper, electrical parts

Tuition: $350

Material: $100

Capacity: 10

Andrew Glantz is a furniture designer and maker who lives and works in Scottsdale, Arizona. Born and raised on the East Coast, he graduated from the Frederic Gunn School, 1967 and Wesleyan University; BA, 1971 and MAT, 1972. After teaching Graphic Arts for ten years, he turned to period piece renovation and construction from 1978 to 1984. When he moved West in 1984, he began to devote his efforts solely to contemporary, sculptural furniture design and construction. He is the owner of Zenith Design, a one-person studio, and is responsible for all phases of design, construction and marketing. He is an arts activist and before moving to Scottsdale, he lived on the Navajo Nation from 1984 to 1987. He moved to Salt Lake City in 1987, and was involved with the Salt Lake Arts Council, the Salt Lake Arts Center, and the Utah Arts Council’s Endowment Fund Development Committee. He also ran the Vital Arts Gallery as volunteer executive director for three years and has curated several major exhibitions. He relocated to Scottsdale in 2002. A longtime member of the Furniture Society, Andrew was tapped to serve as a trustee in 2005, and served as treasurer, vice president and president of the board of trustees, as well as chair of the development committee. His term of office ended in 2011. He is an active advisor for the Southwest School of Woodworking. He teaches furniture design and construction at the Southwest School of Woodworking in Phoenix and the Marc Adams School of Woodworking in Franklin, Indiana. He is a presenter committee member of he Yuma Art Symposium. His articles on furniture design and construction appear in several trade magazines. He delights in mentoring makers far and wide through teaching and Zoom meetings from Florida to Utah and locally.

A 6-day class for mid-level woodworkers, this class uses bandsaw, table saw and router skills to build an attractive table that is 18” deep, 39” wide and 30” high. It includes making the sunburst top, tapered leg accents and two different stack-laminated elements. It is a great way to both improve your skills and add a couple of new techniques to your repertoire. The materials in this class will be cherry and walnut.

Tuition: $1100

Materials: $250

Capacity: 8

Andrew Glantz is a furniture designer and maker who lives and works in Scottsdale, Arizona. Born and raised on the East Coast, he graduated from the Frederic Gunn School, 1967 and Wesleyan University; BA, 1971 and MAT, 1972. After teaching Graphic Arts for ten years, he turned to period piece renovation and construction from 1978 to 1984. When he moved West in 1984, he began to devote his efforts solely to contemporary, sculptural furniture design and construction. He is the owner of Zenith Design, a one-person studio, and is responsible for all phases of design, construction and marketing. He is an arts activist and before moving to Scottsdale, he lived on the Navajo Nation from 1984 to 1987. He moved to Salt Lake City in 1987, and was involved with the Salt Lake Arts Council, the Salt Lake Arts Center, and the Utah Arts Council’s Endowment Fund Development Committee. He also ran the Vital Arts Gallery as volunteer executive director for three years and has curated several major exhibitions. He relocated to Scottsdale in 2002. A longtime member of the Furniture Society, Andrew was tapped to serve as a trustee in 2005, and served as treasurer, vice president and president of the board of trustees, as well as chair of the development committee. His term of office ended in 2011. He is an active advisor for the Southwest School of Woodworking. He teaches furniture design and construction at the Southwest School of Woodworking in Phoenix and the Marc Adams School of Woodworking in Franklin, Indiana. He is a presenter committee member of he Yuma Art Symposium. His articles on furniture design and construction appear in several trade magazines. He delights in mentoring makers far and wide through teaching and Zoom meetings from Florida to Utah and locally.

In this five-day wall cabinet class, Mike Pekovich will cover basic hand tool skills which are the foundation for doing good work. You’ll also learn how and when to add some power to the equation for efficient, accurate results. The nightstand also offers great lessons in dovetailed case construction and exposed mortise and tenon joinery.

The project incorporates subtle curves, and a cord wrapped stretcher that brings the piece to life. A side-hung drawer offers a good lesson in making simple drawers and finishes off the cabinet. We will spend some time in class talking about design and how small details can have a big effect on a piece.

We’ll also address the notion of developing a philosophy that works to connect the person you are with the work you make, and how that philosophy can drive design details and methods of construction as well.

Tuition: $950

Material: $200

Author of The Why and How of Woodworking and Foundations of Woodworking, Fine woodworking's Editor and Creative Director Mike Pekovich has been making furniture and teaching people to woodwork for most of his career. During his 25-year tenure at the magazine, Mike's focus has been on making the craft easier for those of us that struggle day to day in our shops. While books and magazines are a great way to reach a wide audience, Mike's passion is in working one-on-one with students, and teaching provides that opportunity. "Some things just don't make sense until I can get a tool in your hand and show you the right way to go about a task. That's where the most important teaching gets done."

In this weekend class, you'll learn the basics of box making along with exploring the Japanese latticework technique of kumiko. The box joinery will be handled at the tablesaw where you'll learn how to work safely and accurately with small parts. If you're new to machines or a little nervous using them, this a perfect introduction. Then we'll head to the work bench to complete a kumiko panel for the lid to finish off the box.

A set of bevel blocks used in creating the pattern will be provided for the students' use during the class. New sets will be available should a student wish to purchase their own.

All of the materials for the boxes and panels will be provided.

Mike is the creative director and a frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking magazine. He has been making furniture for over 30 years and teaches throughout the country.

Tools: Safety glasses, 12-inch ruler, pencil, phillips screwdriver, very sharp 3/4 to 1-1/2 wide chisel, block plane (optional), shoulder plane (optional), Japanese pull saw or fine crosscut saw. If you don’t have a saw or chisel, one will be provided.

Tuition: $400

Material $125

Author of The Why and How of Woodworking and Foundations of Woodworking, Fine woodworking's Editor and Creative Director Mike Pekovich has been making furniture and teaching people to woodwork for most of his career. During his 25-year tenure at the magazine, Mike's focus has been on making the craft easier for those of us that struggle day to day in our shops. While books and magazines are a great way to reach a wide audience, Mike's passion is in working one-on-one with students, and teaching provides that opportunity. "Some things just don't make sense until I can get a tool in your hand and show you the right way to go about a task. That's where the most important teaching gets done."

Wendell Castle changed furniture history when he incorporated stack lamination techniques into his work. This allowed him to move away from “stick build” to more fluid pieces. This course will take you through the entire stack lamination process but will focus on the design and digital template creation front end. (The companion 5-day course will focus on the fabrication and carving processes.) Each student will create their own design. The process steps we will go through in class is as follows:

1. Sketch
2. Carve in foam or clay
3. 3D scan
4. Clean up model and manipulate
5. Digitally slice the model and to automatically create templates

Students will need to bring their computers for steps 4 and 5. Instructor Taeyoul (Terry) Ryu was a longtime employee of Wendell’s and is a master of the stack lamination technique. There will also be at least one full-time assistant instructor. Class size is limited to 10 students.

Read about Castle's pioneering techniques in this Fine Woodworking article, originally published in 1976.

Class fee: $400

Material cost: $25

Class size limited to 10

Taeyoul Ryu is a furniture designer with a BFA in Sculpture from the Chung-Ang University in Seoul, Korea and an MFA in Woodworking and Furniture Design from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y. Taeyoul worked for Wendell Castle for 17 years on all aspects of his work. Taeyoul is an expert in design, sculpting, and the stack lamination method. Taeyoul’s work has been featured in at least ten exhibitions at the Burchfield Penney Art Center, including six iterations of Art in Craft Media, a biennial juried exhibition at the center,In 2022. Ryu was named Langley Kenzie Prize winner and had an exhibition of his work, Royalty, featured at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. http://taeyoulryu.com/

Wendell Castle changed furniture history when he incorporated stack lamination techniques into his work. This allowed him to move away from “stick build” to more fluid pieces. This course will take you through the entire stack lamination process but will focus on the fabrication and carving steps. (The companion, 2-day, course will focus on the design front-end.) Each student will choose one of four designs to build or they can build what they designed if they took the preceding 2-day course, Design Techniques and Tools for Stack Lamination. Designs should be limited to a 12"x12"x24" envelope in order to finish the glue-up and carving within 5 days.. Templates of your chosen design will be provided to you. You’ll then trace the template on prepared stock, cut it out on a bandsaw, glue-up the laminations, and carve. We’ll progress through various power carving tools starting with an electric chainsaw and/or an angle grinder. We’ll then finish with hand tools. Instructor Taeyoul (Terry) Ryu was a longtime employee of Wendell’s and is a master of the stack lamination technique. There will also be at least one full-time assistant instructor. Class size is limited to 8 to ensure plenty of individualized attention.

Read about Castle's pioneering techniques in this Fine Woodworking article, originally published in 1976.

Class fee: $950

Materials: $200

Class size limited to 8

Taeyoul Ryu is a furniture designer with a BFA in Sculpture from the Chung-Ang University in Seoul, Korea and an MFA in Woodworking and Furniture Design from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y. Taeyoul worked for Wendell Castle for 17 years on all aspects of his work. Taeyoul is an expert in design, sculpting, and the stack lamination method. Taeyoul’s work has been featured in at least ten exhibitions at the Burchfield Penney Art Center, including six iterations of Art in Craft Media, a biennial juried exhibition at the center,In 2022. Ryu was named Langley Kenzie Prize winner and had an exhibition of his work, Royalty, featured at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. http://taeyoulryu.com/