There is a unique satisfaction to making everyday items by hand. Bowl turning has been around for centuries and since its resurgence in the last century in the west it has been growing rapidly, and for good reason, it’s fun and rewarding. Many regions of the world share similar techniques of applying sharp tools to rotating wood using the power of our own bodies. Starting from a log of fresh split greenwood, you will learn to safely use an axe to rough out a bowl blank. Followed then by the use of hook tools to shape your bowl while operating a traditionally designed foot-powered pole lathe.

Spoons, one of the simplest and most used tools. We often find that everyone has a favorite cooking spoon, and more likely than not, a wooden one. Making beautiful & useful items for your home or as gifts is one of the most special skills to have. It all begins with spoon carving for most green woodworkers. Spoon carving is a wood craft that has a low barrier of entry only needing a few basic tools to start and a material that is widely available in both urban and rural settings. As a very mobile craft we have taken our set of tools with us on 4 week long backpacking trips for a way to keep our hands busy as we rest our legs, and on short day hikes, and many other adventures.

Brooms are an essential home-making item. They are used for tending our home space and rituals. A morning sweep is a meditative task that starts my day. Industrial machines are taking over crafts that were once taught and passed through the generations. Join me to make this simple home item that you will use everyday, and will likely gift to everyone you know. Classes range from learning the basics of making small hand brooms all the way to to handled kitchen brooms, all with minimal materials and tools

1-2 day Turning Hook Forging

We are very excited to have begun teaching Hook tool forging so you can forge your own turning tools. Depending on the length of the workshop each participant will make 1-2 finished turning tools. We will provide all the tools and materials as well as bring the forge, the anvil, and all other machines needed to forge turning hooks. The cost of materials, gas, and some wear/and tear on the forge & tools usually amounts to 20-30€ depending on current gas and steel prices.

Twined baskets can be found across the world using a wide variety of local materials. These baskets are great as water bottle or jar covers, as well as stand alone small baskets or pouches. More adventurous projects may include backpacks, bags and larger baskets. My favorite part of this craft is that I can carry a piece I’m working on anywhere, pull it out, and give it a few minutes or a few hours, and not lose my place or progress.

This is a great opportunity to become acquainted with the tools and materials that are used for a variety of projects such as (but not limited to): Spoon Carving & other carved kitchen utensils, figure carving, shrink pots, cup carving, small bowl carving, etc. During this class you will have the opportunity to safely learn how to use an axe to split & shape wood for various projects, the most common knife grips for carving, learn how to harvest or source wood, as well as make some or all of the following: a mallet, a butter knife, wall hook, tiny shrink pot, or more. We will also have a chance to explore basic chip carving, decoration & sharpening.

You want it all! If you are like us you like to learn a bit of everything. Between the two of us our hands are always busy with some craft be it woodwork, weaving, broom making, beading, knitting, twining, basketry and more. We are very excited to offer an immersive experience into craft. For those most excited about learning multiple crafts within green woodworking, various mediums or taking a week away from the rest of the world to work with your hands and body this is the experience for you. You will go home with your hands and minds full of handmade pieces and inspiration. There is flexibility to create the week of your dreams and we can’t wait to create with you.