In this 5-day class students will construct a unique side table while learning the basics of solid wood construction, exposed-dowel joinery and finishing. Kelly loves to teach people how to use power tools and safety will be her focus as the students learn how to use many common shop tools, including the bandsaw, miter saw, drill press and router table. Students will learn to use several types of jigs throughout the project. Additionally, they will learn how to fabricate simple dowel jigs that will allow them to create joints that are both functional and decorative. Spontaneous learning opportunities will ensure that students learn basic problem-solving skills that will be useful as they work on future projects. As time allows, each student will be encouraged to embellish their project with pyrography (wood burning), ebonizing, application of color, etc., so that the table created is reflective of each student’s personal aesthetic. The class will also include strategies for successful glue-ups and discuss simple finishing techniques. By the end of the class each person will have a unique table and a new-found confidence in their woodworking skills!

TOPICS TO BE COVERED

• the safe use of common hand and power tools
• reading plans
• successful construction techniques for solid wood
• exposed-dowel joinery
• use of shop-made jigs
• pattern routing
• problem solving skills
• successful, stress-free glue-ups
• use of sub-tops in lieu of aprons to attach a leg substructure to a table top
• creative use of wood dowels
• intro to embellishment techniques: wood burning, ebonizing and color
• easy finishing techniques

At the intersection of chemistry and craft is where Kansas City-based Kelly Parker feels most at home. She is a designer and maker of contemporary studio furniture and sculpture. After graduating with a degree in biochemistry, she worked in the corporate world for 18 years before taking a rather circuitous route into art. Her chemistry background informs her pragmatic approach to problem-solving in building the sculptural designs that are the hallmark of her work. She has a curvy, contemporary aesthetic and often uses steam bending, bent laminations, and vacuum forming as part of her process. Kelly finds design inspiration wherever she sees a beautiful form, whether it is a flower or the engine cowling on a Boeing Dreamliner. To accelerate the transition from analytical chemist to artist, Kelly has taken numerous design and technique classes at various craft schools while also extensively experimenting in her own studio. She has been an artist-in-residence in Michael Fortune’s studio in Canada and was selected as an artist-in-residence at the Centre for Fine Woodworking in Nelson, New Zealand. She has been awarded professional development grants from the Furniture Society and Anderson Ranch Arts Center, was the first recipient of a professional development grant awarded by the Krenov Foundation and was awarded Best in Show at the biannual chair exhibition, American Craft Today: Chairs, hosted by The Bascom Gallery in North Carolina. Her work has been featured in Fine Woodworking, Australian Wood Review, and Rooted: Creating a Sense of Place: Contemporary Studio Furniture. Kelly is also an occasional writer for Australian Wood Review. In addition to making and writing, Kelly also teaches at craft schools and guilds across the US. https://woodsongstudio.com/

Spend the weekend with Michael Cullen as he introduces you to the techniques of how to create successful patterns and textures using gouges.

The class will focus on creating sample boards to learn simple cuts through more complex ones. He will demonstrate several ways to sharpen and keep your tools in tiptop shape.

The workshop will also include making a small that features surface carving. Be prepared for a fast paced workshop that is loads of fun.

Michael Cullen fell in love with making things as a child through his parents and grandparents who were all makers. Their stories and lessons encouraged him to gravitate towards tools, and ultimately to find his way to furniture making and sculpture. Michael Cullen was trained by English furniture maker, David Powell, who was part of a woodworking lineage that stretches back to Edward and Sydney Barnsley and the era of English Arts and Crafts. With 40 years in the craft his work ranges from delicate boxes that fit in your hand to monolithic sculptural pieces that are best lifted with a crane. Michael Cullen's work has been shown in museums and galleries throughout North America and Europe. He has taught and worked all over the world. His work has been published widely in both books and magazines.

Experience what it's like to create a sheath fitted to your blade. Students will learn the basics of making a custom sheath. Focus will be on fit, tooling and general processes of leatherwork. The class will go over design of a sheath, transfer to and cutting of the leather, and order of operations for assembling the pieces.

Candy will use a combination of demonstrations and hands-on instruction to enhance your learning experience.

Note: Students should bring a knife, either fixed blade or folding. It does not have to be a handmade knife, just anything you need a sheath for or just practice.

Who Should Take this class:

This class is open to all experience levels.

Class will make use of leather knives and scissors, awls and needles and various other tooling associated with leatherwork.

Candace started blacksmithing in 2006 and has explored many aspects of working metal. Through her explorations she has developed a strong belief that regardless of what you create a strong foundation in the basic, fundamental techniques is critical. All her classes incorporate this focus on developing strong foundational skills.

In this five-day class, taught by renowned furniture maker Michael Cullen you will investigate different approaches and forms that a box can become using both hand tools and machines.

This workshop is highly creative and will focus on exploring ideas in box making that fall outside the typical six-sided container. Emphasis will be on shaping and sculpting boxes to create pleasing curves, unusual shapes and just about anything that falls into the category of fun and zany.

A primary focus in the workshop will be on creating patterns and textures and applying color to the surfaces on the boxes, both inside and out. You will design and build two to three small boxes during the workshop. During that time you will hone your skills by constructing your designs with the safe operation of the bandsaw and an array of hand tools. You will investigate different approaches and forms that a sculptural box can take on. Be prepared to veer off the path into creative territory.

Tools used but not limited to include: gouges and chisels, files and rasps, and some machinery. This class is perfect for the beginner who is curious about making things from wood and is also very good for the expert who is looking to take a different tack on making.

Michael Cullen fell in love with making things as a child through his parents and grandparents who were all makers. Their stories and lessons encouraged him to gravitate towards tools, and ultimately to find his way to furniture making and sculpture. Michael Cullen was trained by English furniture maker, David Powell, who was part of a woodworking lineage that stretches back to Edward and Sydney Barnsley and the era of English Arts and Crafts. With 40 years in the craft his work ranges from delicate boxes that fit in your hand to monolithic sculptural pieces that are best lifted with a crane. Michael Cullen's work has been shown in museums and galleries throughout North America and Europe. He has taught and worked all over the world. His work has been published widely in both books and magazines.

Have you ever wondered how to add curves to your cabinetry or introduce a few graceful lines to an otherwise simple box? A coopered whiskey cabinet is an excellent project for building your woodworking skills. From basic joinery, such as dadoes, to more advanced frame-and-panel construction, this cabinet offers opportunities to develop a range of techniques. A curved door and hand-shaped edge profiles add character to the piece while expanding your skills.

In this class, Erik will guide you through the design and construction of a wall-hanging cabinet. The class begins with grain selection: how and when to use flatsawn, quartersawn, or bookmatched boards, and how different grain orientations affect the visual flow of a piece.

Next, you’ll explore the cabinet’s joinery, including housed stub tenons or floating tenons for the carcass, stopped dadoes for the shelves, and rabbets and grooves for the rear panel. Throughout the class, you’ll use a combination of machinery and hand tools. Erik will discuss when to choose hand planes or sanders for surface preparation, as well as routers or hand planes for shaping edge profiles.

Finally, Erik will share his finishing techniques and explain which approaches work best in professional and home shops. Students will leave with a beautiful cabinet for their favorite whiskey, along with the skills and confidence to tackle a project of this caliber in their own shop.

Class price includes a $150 materials fee..

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.

In this class, students will create a hunting 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. There will be opportunities for additional forging as time allows. Beginner blacksmithing experience is recommended but not required.

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/

Have you ever seen the Shaper Origin and thought “that’s way too complicated for me.” Well it’s way easier than you think! From lightning-fast joinery to perfect inlay to hardware installation, the Origin can do it all. And with a few basic tips and tricks and a weekend of practice, so can you!

In this class, Erik will walk you through the basics of what Origin is, how it works, and how to get started using it in your own work flow. We will cover basic layout and operations, simple joinery operations such as the mortise and tenon, and inlay. Students are encouraged to bring their own Origin to class, though we will have a few units for students to share. By the end of the weekend, students should have an understanding of how and when to use Origin and the confidence to put it to work in their own shop!

Bullet points

• Basic Origin features
• Layout and gridding
• Workstation, plate, and other Origin accessories
• Cutting and mortise and tenon on Origin Inlay

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.

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."

This two-day workshop provides a hands-on introduction to MIG welding and basic steel fabrication. Students will learn how the welder works and how to set up the machine for mild steel. Practice exercises will focus on establishing a stable arc and producing consistent welds.

Students will make several common joints and learn how to recognize basic welding problems. Demonstrations will also cover measuring, marking, cutting, grinding, clamping and fitting steel. Safety, ventilation and material preparation will be discussed throughout the workshop.

After completing the practice exercises, students will apply their skills to a small fabrication project.

The class is designed for beginners and does not require previous welding experience.

Students Should Bring

● Leather steel toe boots or safety-toe boots

● Long natural-fiber pants

● Long-sleeved natural-fiber shirt

● Notebook and pencil

● Reusable water bottle

Annalisa Barron is an interdisciplinary artist based in New York City and Rochester, NY. She graduated from Penn State University with a BFA in painting and drawing in 2013 and with an MFA in sculpture from the Pratt Institute in 2017. Her work has been exhibited at the Cooper Union, University of Rochester, Southern Oregon University, BunkerPROJECTS Gallery (Pittsburgh, PA), U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua, NO/GLOSS film festival (UK), and the Anthology Film Archives (NYC). The Kingdom of Back (2017) was featured in Berlin, Germany, as part of GRRL HAUS Cinema’s 2018 European tour. She served as a panelist for the 2020 NYFA Craft and Sculpture Fellowships and is a recipient of NYSCA’s 2021 DEC Regrant Program/Individual Artist Grant. She has received support from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the New York Film and Video Council, the AAUW, the New York State Inspire Grant, Penn State University, and the Simmons-Jansma Project Renew Grant. Currently, Annalisa teaches in the College of Art and Design at the Rochester Institute of Technology. http://www.annalisabarron.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 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/