Want to develop your handy skills but don’t know where to start? Improving your home should feel accessible, enriching and fun.
Let's break into the wide ranging world of "Do-It-Yourself" with something simple, a shelf! Through its simplicity, a shelf offers a clear and straightforward on-ramp for examining the fundamentals of our constructed environment. Our investigation will include exploring streams of free or low cost materials, learning common structural configurations, and analyzing our own personal relationship to domestic space. From there we'll design shelves tailored to each student's needs and abilities. Get introduced or more acquainted with power tools as we bring your shelf to life using salvaged materials.
Remember, the shelf is just our launching pad! We will spend ample time in this class highlighting how to continue practicing and expanding your skills outside of this class and into many areas of your home-life.
The materials fee for this class is $15 and is included in the admission cost.
* We do require masking indoors, whatever your vaccination status * __________________________
Taught by Hibs
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.
* We do require masking indoors, whatever your vaccination status *
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Taught by Meena Mangalvedhekar.
Join us for an afternoon timber framing workshop intended for FLINTA (Female, Lesbian, Intersex, Non-binary, Trans, and Agender) participants.
This demonstration and practice session provides a welcoming and supportive environment to explore the fundamentals of traditional timber framing.
Participants will learn about the tools, techniques, and principles of timber frame joinery through guided demonstrations and hands-on practice. Together, we will cover layout, cutting, and assembling timber frame joints, with a focus on accuracy and craftsmanship. No prior experience is necessary—just an interest in working with wood and learning new skills.
Whether you’re curious about timber framing as a craft or considering larger projects in the future, this introductory workshop offers a solid foundation and an opportunity to connect with others in a collaborative learning space.
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Taught by Jenna Pollard.
In this class, you will learn the fundamentals of furniture making through the process of making a chair. You will mill lumber, practice making mortise and tenon joints using a domino cutter, and learn about various finishes that can make your chairs unique. No experience with woodworking is required.
The materials fee for this class is $100 and is included in the admission cost.
Taught by Sophie Glenn
This customizable storage wall is made with pegs, shelves, and boxes to create a stylish storage and display space that you can change around whenever you want! Students will create their own peg board, then make a minimum of three boxes and three shelves for the wall. The peg board and accessories will be made out of 3/4" maple plywood and students are welcome to bring their own paint or leave the wood natural. Finish will be provided. This class is open to students of all levels of ability, and I will make accommodations for anyone with a disability.
The materials fee for this class is $50 and is included in the admission cost.
Taught by Aria Kampfer
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 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 Hibs.
This class will explore the use of basketry on woodturning, using bowls turned and finished by the Fireweed community, and basketry techniques of all sorts explored in this class. Both crafts will be leveraged to create work not possible by each craft on its own.
The materials fee for this class is $75 and is included in the admission cost.
Taught by Janine Wang
Join us for a special BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) centered class to practice the basics of Power Tools
This class is intended for BIPOC students.
Taught by Meena Mangalvedhekar (@meenanew) Bio 1. Bio 2.
Join instructor Theoren Keenan for a walk on West River Road learning about common tree species to the Twin Cities. This course will cover winter identification features including buds, bark, and branch pattern, as well as uses and characteristics of the wood for craftspeople.
This class will be held outdoors despite rain, snow, or cold at the discretion of the instructor. If conditions become unsafe the class may be rescheduled.
----------------------Taught by Theoren Keenan.
In this 2-day course students will use the bandsaw to create a box that can be used in countless ways! Working from a solid piece of wood salvaged from lumberyard offcuts, you will learn to design, layout, cut, sand, and reassemble the pieces to form a functional box and lid. Once you learn the basic process, the possibilities are endless! You will learn and use the following tools during class: bandsaw, spindle sander, orbital sanders, clamps.
A 30 minute meal slot will be set aside for all, you are invited to bring something to eat and drink each day.
The materials fee for this class is $43 and is included in the admission cost.
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Taught by Gwen Comings
In this class we’ll make a simple single slat chair using traditional and modern tools with fresh black ash and woven with cotton Shaker tape. Beginners are welcome, but some basic woodworking experience will make the learning curve with the tools shorter. This class will require some hand strength to grip tools and some extended periods of standing. Being able to open a sealed jar is an example of hand strength.
The materials cost of this class is $65 and is included in the admission cost.
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Taught by Mary Tripoli
Facilitated by Aria Kampfer
In this 5-day class geared towards the newer woodworkers, students will construct a unique side table while learning the basics of solid wood construction, exposed-dowel joinery, pattern routing 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, table saw, jointer, planer, 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), carved textures, 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!
Taught by Kelly Parker
The materials fee for this class is $60 for pine and $175 for cedar and is included in the class admission cost.
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Taught by Leah Van Tassel and Aria Kampfer
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
Design and build your very own wooden clock! This three-session class will take you through the process of choosing the shape and wood species for your clock face to deciding on the appearance and finish of your product. Practice a variety of woodworking skills, including planing, sawing, carving, woodburning, and finishing. These clocks are designed to hang from a wall, though the instructor is open to exploring free-standing clocks for excited learners.
The materials fee for this class is $45 and is included in the admission cost.
Taught by Anaïs Boyd
Make a handmade toy for your little one or a little one in your life! You can design your own or use one of the patterns available. This class will teach a few basic woodworking skills, and you will leave with a finished toy. You will be using a bandsaw, drill press, belt sander, laminate router (optional), hammer, and sandpaper.
--------------------------------------------This class is taught by Kate Schiffler(@bbfurnituremn)
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