Come learn how to turn your own bowl on the lathe! We will start with a freshly cut bowl blank and take it all the way to its finished shape. You will be learning parts of the lathe, how to mount your blank, and how to use bowl gouges, scrapers, and different chuck attachments. We will also cover how you will later on dry, sand, and finish the bowl. In this 4 hour class we will go at a pace at which everyone is comfortable, leaving plenty of room for demonstration, questions, and hands-on time.
The materials fee for this class is $30 and is included in the admission cost.
*** We do require masking indoors, whatever your vaccination status***
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Taught by Abbey Dickhudt
Learn how to carve a spoon from a fresh cut tree using traditional Nordic carving techniques. We cover tree anatomy, axing out a blank (roughed out spoon shape), knife holds for the hook & sloyd knife, drying, and finishing. This class is great for the beginner or the person wanting to learn Sloyd style carving. The class fee includes tool rental, materials, a finishing kit, and safety gloves. Please wear pants and close toed-shoes, as we are going to make some wood chips!
The materials fee for this class is $20 and is included in the admission cost.
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This class is taught by Katie Speckman.
It can be hard to find just the right picture frame--especially for one-of-a-kind art--and custom frames are expensive. Solve that problem by learning how to build your own! We'll use the table saw, chop saw, and drill to construct basic frames out of poplar. Students should come to class with dimensions of the piece they want to frame, and we'll take it from there!
The materials fee for this class is $15 and is included in the class admission cost.
Taught by Julie Arnold
Open shop is a time for you to bring in any projects or crafts you are working on and have access to the tools and the space. While we will have an instructor on staff to help open shop run smoothly and make sure tools are being used safely, this is a self-directed work time NOT class time. Open shop is capped at 8 participants and needs 6 participants to run.
Registrants of open shop MUST have taken power tools 101 or be comfortable and experienced using power tools. Every attendee of open shop must register. Please no guests without registration!
Please email fireweedwoodshop@gmail.com if you have any questions about open shop or what tools are available to use.
*** We do require masking indoors, whatever your vaccination status*** _________________________________
Facilitated by Bozena.
Fireweed carving instructor Jeanette Torkelson and carving enthusiast Leah Van Tassel are hosting this craft hang at Fireweed Woodshop.
6:30-8:30pm Registration encouraged but not required!
Bring your own hand-carving project to the shop for some company, community, and sharing tips and tricks. This is NOT A CLASS, just a hangout. Masking indoors is encouraged, not required at this event.
This is a FREE event, open to all. If you like/are able to contribute, we have some different donation levels at registration, or you can choose "FREE!" registration. Thank you!
What to bring:
-your project (all handcrafts welcome!) - your carving tools (we will have some spoon blanks for sale)
Calling all bakers, chefs and hobbyists! Novices and pros alike!
Learn the basics of spindle turning in this fun, beginner-friendly course. Class will introduce the anatomy of the lathe and students will learn the techniques to turn a maple or walnut French rolling pin. Course will also cover sanding and food-safe finishes.
The materials fee for this course is $20 and is included in the admissions cost.
Taught by Tiff Tran
*** We do require masking indoors, whatever your vaccination status*** __________________________
Learn how to carve a Dala horse using traditional Nordic carving techniques. We'll cover grain direction, knife holds for the hook & sloyd knife, and finishing. This class is great for the beginner or the person wanting to learn Sloyd style carving. Please note: we will not be painting these horses.
Please wear pants and close toed shoes, as we are going to make some wood chips!
The materials fee for this class is $20 and is included in the class admission cost.
Taught by Jess Hirsch.
https://jesshirsch.com
Weaving on Chairs!
Learn to weave a classic rush style seat using danish cord. Each student will receive a chair to weave on that was donated to Fireweed. We will work on the seats so that you will leave with a newly refurbished chair!
The materials fee for this class is $40 and is included in the admission cost.
Taught by Alice Reynolds
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This class is taught by Tina Green Krause
Carve a dough bowl!
Hone your green woodworking skills by learning the essentials of bowl carving! Learn how to safely and efficiently use your axe, an adze, and other hand tools. Each class will feature an Axercise warm-up, demos, and guidance as you practice your green wood carving skills. Students will start by learning how to split a log, flatten their half into a workable rectangle with the axe, and map out the layout of their bowl. We’ll learn hollowing techniques using the axe, adze, and gouges. We’ll use shave horses and learn work-holding techniques at our workbenches, shaping our bowls with axes, gouges, draw knives, and spokeshaves. Our approach to bowl carving is a mash-up of traditional and modern techniques. We support both incorporating precision measuring tools and trusting our hands to tell us where we’re at.
Expect to leave class with a mostly finished bowl and feeling comfortable using a variety of hand tools. Finishing cuts always happen on a dry surface and your green wood bowl needs some slow drying time to prevent cracking or splitting. We will go over various finishing techniques in class.
Dough bowls are long and shallow bowls that were historically used to separate out cream from milk but are used today to knead dough, hold fruit or bread, show off tools, or whatever you want!
This class is suitable for beginners but some carving experience is helpful.
Taught by Jeanette Torkelson and Ema Thoen
Show off your woodcarving skills this Fall-- on a pumpkin! Carving with hand tools can transform your pumpkin into a work of art. In this class, we will learn how to transfer designs and use hand tools to make your jack-o-lantern truly special. This is a great way to learn the basics of relief carving or to practice your skills on a new medium. Bring an image to carve and your pumpkin will be provided. All printmaking levels are welcome.
The materials fee for this class is $25 and is included in the admission cost.
Taught by Megan Burchett with assistance from Jessie Merriam.
In this 2.5 day course, each student will build a post-and-rung stool out of ash and weave a shaker tape cotton seat. This class will focus on hand tools using spoke shaves and draw knives to shape the posts and rungs. The stool will be joined with mortise and tenon joints. Our final step will be weaving the tops with a cushion filled with wood shavings.
The materials fee for this class is $105 and is included in the admission cost.
Taught by Jess Hirsch
Learn to make two beautiful brooms on sticks: Cobbwebber and Stitched Besom broom. In this 4 hour class we will make a round besom broom and stitch it. We will also plate a cobwebber broom. Students will leave with material to stitch their cobwebber broom at home once it is dry. Leave feeling confident and inspired to explore the world of broom making.
Please wear closed toed shoes.
The materials fee for this class is $37 and is included in the admission cost.
Taught by Kate Schiffler
This 3 session class is intended for anyone curious to weave a willow basket for the first time or build upon existing willow weaving skills. Bailey and Bozena will lead participants through weaving up a stake and strand basket using willows harvested from around the Midwest great lakes. Students should come prepared to use great hand dexterity. We hope to equip students with basketry skills that they can take with them after class is over, and will incorporate conversations around traditions of willow basketry, material sourcing, and willows ecological role in our region. All materials and tools provided by instructors.
The materials fee for this course is $35 and is included in the admissions cost.
Taught by Bailey and Bozena
Facilitated by Julie Arnold.
What is that, you might ask? Make a musical box with bars that produce a pleasing tone when struck with a mallet. Boxes might have two, four, or several bars that produce a variety of sounds. You will use a table saw, band saw, scroll saw, and hand tools to create a sound box. It’s possible to tune the bars to specific tones, but it’s also beautiful just to see what emerges.
The materials fee for this course is $55 and is included in the admissions cost.
Taught by EB
Get confident with an axe through this all day axe-extravaganze. Morning will focus on ergonomics and practice cuts. The afternoon will be spent axeing out blanks for a spreader, spatula, or spoon. We will only work with the axe so do not plan on completing a finished project. Please note we will be standing all day so wear comfortable shoes and bring snacks/lunch/water. There will be a 1/2 hr lunch break.
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Taught by Katie Speckman
Straw ornaments have a rich holiday history in German and Scandinavian countries. These little treasures can adorn trees, mantles, gift wrap or mobiles. In this festive 3 hour class we will learn 3 styles of wheat straw ornaments and leave with the basic knowledge to create a variety of ornament designs at home. Individuals will take home the cork working surface and a box of wheat straws.
Considerations: Hand, finger dexterity to tie tight, tiny knots.
The materials fee for this class is $16 and is included in the admission cost.
** We do require masking indoors, whatever your vaccination status***
Learn to make two functional and beautiful whisk brooms. This half day introduction class will cover traditional shaker and modern designs of the Turkey Wing and Sparrow tail hand brooms with wrapped handles. Bonus, you'll also use broomcorn remnants to make a cake tester, burnisher, or pot scrubber! Leave feeling confident and inspired to explore the world of broom making.
The materials fee for this class is $22 and is included in the admission cost.
This class is taught by Tina Greene Krause
Learn how to keep your tools sharp!
Tool sharpening is an important part of any woodcraft practice. A sharp tool is a safe tool and makes for cuts that are easier on our bodies and can produce a finish-ready surface. In this class we will provide a foundation of what sharp is and how sharpening works via the three stages of grinding, honing and polishing. Several types of sharpening media will be discussed and students will leave with their own consumable (abrasive paper) sharpening kits. Instructors Jeanette and Andrew will demonstrate a few different sharpening techniques and students will have plenty of time to practice sharpening their own tools. At the end of class students will have the knowledge to continue their own tool maintenance.
Students are required to bring two tools to sharpen: one sloyd or similar straight carving knife and one of the following: hook (spoon) knife, gouge, chisel, plane blade, spokeshave blade, drawknife or carving axe. Students may bring in a couple extra tools, just know that there might not be time to attend to more than 2 tools. No saws, serrated blades, scrapers, scissors or lathe tools please!
The materials fee for this class is $15 and is included in the admission cost.
This class is taught by Jeanette Torkelson and Andrew Austin-Petersen.
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