Join instructor Theoren Keenan for a walk on East River Road learning about common tree species to the Twin Cities! This course will cover summer identification features including leaves, buds, bark, flowers/fruit, and branch arrangement as well as uses of the trees for craftspeople and foragers.
This course will be held in unfavorable weather such as rain but will be rescheduled considering extreme heat, thunderstorms, or air quality warnings during the scheduled instruction time.
* We do require masking indoors, whatever your vaccination status *
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Taught by Theoren Keenan.
Learn to make a long handle Full Sweep broom. Day 1 Learn to wind the soaked broomcorn onto the handle to build a sturdy, wide shouldered broom. Students will take their brooms home to dry before the next class. Day 2 we will focus on stitching the broom. Participants should have moderate hand, leg and foot strength.
Please wear closed toed shoes.
The materials fee for this class is $53 and is included in the admission cost.
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Taught by Tina Green Krause.
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 7 participants and needs 5 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!
Until further notice, NO GREENWOOD ON THE BANDSAWS.
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 Aria Kampfer
Learn how to create beautiful wood images using a technique called marquetry! Marquetry is a form of wood art that uses a variety of veneers cut out and pasted together to create images and patterns. Students will use an X-Acto knife to cut wood veneers and glue to join pieces together. Finished images will be glued on to a 1/4 inch substrate. Students can frame their images, or incorporate them into other wood projects. Each student will receive a take-home marquetrate kit that will include an X-Acto knife with extra blades, self-healing mat to cut veneers on, and a small package of self-selected veneers. The kit is included in the cost of the class. Marquetry is a quiet activity that can be enjoying in a seated position. X-Acto knives have many different handle shapes to accommodate different types of grips. We encourage everyone of all abilities to attend this class.
The materials fee for this class is $50 and is included in the admission cost.
Taught by Aria Kampfer and Gwen Comings
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 $25 and is included in the admission cost.
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Taught by Katie Speckman
Learn western-style block carving and printing with minimal tools at home, and make a set of prints/cards/stationery. We will learn about how to think in relief, utilize wood grain in design, how to transfer designs to a block, the techniques and different effects of the five basic carving tools and how to handle ink and paper and methods for printing using tools you have at home.
We will print in one color. Follow-up materials lists and resources will be sent to students looking to print more at home.
To maximize the time we have for carving questions, please prepare a 4x6 design (landscape or portrait orientation) for your block in advance. A design on paper can be transferred to the block so that the print will be the same orientation as the paper drawing, so any lettering in your design should be right-reading. Simple designs with bold image areas/texture that work with the grain (think fur, bark, a cloudy sky, or water...rather than curly-cues) without lettering are recommended. You will receive an email from your instructor, jessiemerriam@gmail.com, with more guidance around block design in advance of class.
Materials cost for this class is $22 and is included in the admission cost. Materials include ink, printmaking quality paper and cards, newsprint for proofs, shina plywood block 6x8, pencil, power grip carving tool rental and brayer tool rental.
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Taught by Jessie Merriam (@wheelbugs)
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, miter saw, and v-nailer to construct basic frames out of oak, maple, or cherry. 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 Aria Kampfer
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.
Taught by Abbey Dickhudt
Join us for a special BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) centered class to practice the basics of Power Tools
Make a cutting board while learning how to use power tools. We will cover using the electric planer, ripping on the table saw, cross cutting on the miter saw, curved cuts on the bandsaw, and finishing. This is a great chance to get to know, or brush up on the most powerful tools in the shop. Take home your very own cherry or maple cutting board at the end.
The materials fee for this class is $20 and is included in the admission cost.
This class is intended for BIPOC students.
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Taught by Meena Mangalvedhekar (@meenanew) Bio 1. Bio 2.
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
Join herbalist Emily Pearson Ryan and printmaking instructor Jessie Merriam for an exploration of calendula as a remedy, ingredient, and summer delight. Students will spend time with Emily learning about the history and practice of harvesting and using this plant material. Students will have the opportunity to sample calendula in various forms, then learn the process of woodblock printmaking by carving a design and printing it on different papers. Students will use sharp tools to carve 4x6" blocks and use water-based inks for printing, using methods easy to replicate at home.
There will be space for conversation about these intertwined crafts—the healing arts of plants—during the tea and carving time.
This course is beginner friendly. A short walk plant walk is an option, calendula emergence and weather permitting.
To bring with you: a notebook for notes if you like, questions about calendula use and herbalism, and a 4x6” design for your woodblock (spend some time looking at images and the plant if you can, and think about chunkier/more symbolic designs or designs taking advantage of woodblock texture).
There will only be about an hour of carving time before proofing, printing and cleanup, so don’t make your design too intricate especially if new to carving. There will be a template for anyone who prefers to use that or if you don’t have time to prepare a design.
The class is 3 hours and 15 minutes long to allow for a short break. Students are welcome to arrive 5 minutes early to settle in. Email jessiemerriam@gmail.com with any questions. The materials fee for this class is $35 and is included in the admission cost
Taught by Jessie Merriam (@wheelbugs) and Emily Pearson Ryan
Learn to make two functional and beautiful whisk brooms. This 5 hour introduction class will cover traditional shaker and modern designs of the Turkey Wing and Sparrow tail whisk brooms with wrapped or plaited handles. You will also learn how to prep stalks for the woven handles. Leave feeling confident and inspired to explore the world of broom making.
Taught by Tina Green Krause
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