Creative Milking Stools
Sep
8
to Sep 10

Creative Milking Stools

Come and learn how to make a three-legged milking stool with a wild branch leg. Participants will be able to design their own milking stool and use the lathe, drill press, block plane and bandsaw to make it come to life. There will be an introduction to spindle turning for the legs, hand carving for the branches, and a discussion of finishing techniques for the surfaces. Participants may also bring carving gouges if they desire. This unique piece could be the perfect stepping stool for a home or heirloom gift for a young child. Sign up here!

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Aug
20
6:00 PM18:00

Greenwood Carving for All

Learn how to carve your own bowl and spoon from green wood with designs, tools, and techniques inspired by this Scandinavian handicraft tradition. Start with a recently felled log, split it with wedges and froes, then shape it using axes, adzes, gouges, and carving knives. Topics will include wood selection, ergonomic tool use, bowl and spoon design, tool sharpening, and surface finishing. All levels welcome.

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Spoon Carving with Knife & Axe
May
26
to May 29

Spoon Carving with Knife & Axe

Make wood chips fly as spoons and spatulas come to life. Students will learn how to split, rough out, and shape a freshly cut log using wedges, an axe, a drawknife and shaving horse, a carving knife, and a hook knife. Ergonomic axe-carving techniques require endurance and patience, so ample time during the class will be spent practicing. Discussion will include form and function, finishing techniques, and tool sharpening. Sign up here!

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Japanese Green Woodworking: How to Carve a Wagata Tray
Jun
3
to Jun 5

Japanese Green Woodworking: How to Carve a Wagata Tray

  • Peter's Valley School of Craft (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

In this workshop you will learn how to carve Wagata-bon (“Wagata-Tray”) out of freshly cut wood. From splitting wood with wedges, to carving textured grooves with gouges, you will learn about this unique mingei, or folk craft, tradition, alongside the fundamentals of green woodworking. Wood movement, tool sharpening, and finishing techniques will also be discussed.

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Spoon Carving with Knife & Axe
May
28
to May 30

Spoon Carving with Knife & Axe

Make wood chips fly as spoons and spatulas come to life! Learn how to split, rough out and shape a freshly cut log using wedges, an axe, a carving knife, and a hook knife. Ample time will be spent practicing ergonomic axe carving techniques, which require endurance and patience to become comfortable with. Discussion will include form and function, finishing techniques, and tool sharpening. All levels welcome.

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Virtual Wall Hook Carving
Dec
4
10:00 AM10:00

Virtual Wall Hook Carving

Carve your own wall hooks in this intro to green woodcarving class. Students will learn how to efficiently and safely create wall hooks using traditional Scandinavian knife carving techniques. Hooks will be made of freshly cut wood, aka "green" wood, drying, finishing, and tool sharpening will be discussed. All levels welcome. Hosted by Fireweed Woodshop in Minneapolis, but workshop on zoom! 10:00 - 12:30 PM CST / 11:00 - 1:30 PM EST

Link to workshop

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Axe & Knife Skills: Carving Spoons & Spatulas
Apr
30
to May 2

Axe & Knife Skills: Carving Spoons & Spatulas

Make wood chips fly as spoons and spatulas come to life. Students will learn how to split, rough out, and shape a freshly cut log using wedges, an axe, a drawknife and shaving horse, a carving knife, and a hook knife. Ergonomic axe-carving techniques require endurance and patience, so ample time during the class will be spent practicing. Discussion will include form and function, finishing techniques, and tool sharpening. Sign up here!

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Wild Stools with Simple Tools - for Women & Non-Binary Makers - Virtual Demo
Apr
3
1:00 PM13:00

Wild Stools with Simple Tools - for Women & Non-Binary Makers - Virtual Demo

  • Workshop of Our Own (WOO) - Virtual! (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

In this workshop hosted by WOO, I’ll demonstrate how to turn logs and branches into a simple stool for your home.

While I’ll be demonstrating how to make a rustic stool, many of these techniques apply to traditional Windsor chairmaking as well!  We’ll discuss site lines for establishing the angles, rake and splay for the stool legs, and how to carve using an axe, drawknife and carving knife!  And we’ll use a power drill with forstner bits to drill the leg holes. I’ll have a shaving horse and chopping block on hand - but will demonstrate how a few F-clamps and a scrap piece of plywood could be used as well. Oil finishes and milk paint will be discussed as finishing touches to your new wild stool. 

For women & non-binary folks. All skill levels welcome. No prerequisites. All you need is a computer and a good internet connection!

Workshop Link

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Axe Work for Women and Non-Binary Carvers
Feb
28
to Mar 1

Axe Work for Women and Non-Binary Carvers

  • North House Folk School (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Join us for three days of chopping, carving, and hollowing wooden vessels using all hand tools. Axe carving is physically demanding, so during this class we will focus on body mechanics and ergonomic tool use in order to develop stamina and minimize strain. We will start each day with an 'axe aerobics' session to get warmed up and confident with this useful tool. In addition to the axe, students can also use adzes, gouges, hook knives, block planes and carving knives. Co-taught with Jess Hirsch of Minneapolis’ Women’s Woodshop!

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Fired Up: Candlesticks on the Lathe
Sep
21
10:00 AM10:00

Fired Up: Candlesticks on the Lathe

As winter approaches, make your home cozy with your own wooden candlestick holders. Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of spindle turning and the roughing gouge. After practicing these techniques, students will design and create their own candlestick holders on the lathe. Metal cups will inserted into the tops of the project for safety. Painting and finishing options will be discussed. All levels of skill are welcome, and the workshop is for women & non-binary makers.

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Turning the Wooden Bowl: Women’s Session
Mar
29
to Mar 31

Turning the Wooden Bowl: Women’s Session

  • North House Folk School (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Come and make wood shavings fly as you learn how to create wooden bowls on the electric lathe. Students will explore the form and function of this age-old craft while learning about lathe use and terminology. Paper birch from the North Shore will be used for the bowl blanks. Examples of finished bowls as well as images of historic wooden bowls will be provided as references. The course includes a discussion of finishing techniques, including food-safe paints and oils. Students will be able to bring home their birch bowls for everyday use in the kitchen or as a unique piece to display. The materials fee includes all wood for projects plus the use of individual lathes and set of tools. By request, this class is only open to people who identify as women. Note, women should feel equally welcome to take the earlier session of Lathe Turning if they so choose. To maintain a low student to teacher ratio and maximize instruction, this course is co-taught by two experienced instructors.

Link

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Mar
25
to Mar 28

Spring Break Camp for Kids

  • North House Folk School (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Spring break can be a time to relax... and a time to learn how to make things! Sign up for four days of fun in the workshop at North House. The week will focus on making tools- learn to make tools for crafting like a mallet and a pen and a box to keep your tools in. Youth will be in small groups guided by passionate instructors throughout the week as they saw, carve, hammer, and build their own tools!

https://northhouse.org/programs/spring-break-camp-for-kids

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Fired Up: Candlesticks on the Lathe
Mar
16
10:00 AM10:00

Fired Up: Candlesticks on the Lathe

As the end of winter approaches, celebrate the spring equinox and return of light by fashioning your own wooden candlestick holders. Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of spindle turning and the roughing gouge. After practicing these techniques, students will design and create their own candlestick holders on the lathe. Metal cups will inserted into the tops of the project for safety. Painting and finishing options will be discussed. All levels of skill are welcome.

Sign up here

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