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Andy Glenn

May 05
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Pinecroft!

Donation Opportunity

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Friends of Pine Croft.

Even before we were forced to cancel our first full season of classes due to COVID-19 we had received inquiries about how best to make donations to The Woodworking School at Pine Croft.

Our intentions for the school are two-fold:

1. To provide the best possible woodworking education.

2. To ensure that the long tradition of quality handcraft continues with future generations.

These two objectives can rub against each other uncomfortably sometimes. Young aspiring craftspeople often find the tuition for the highest quality classes to be out of reach as they are struggling to begin their careers, yet to accomplish both of our core objectives we need to find a way to bring them into the school.

You can help us achieve this goal by making a donation by clicking the yellow button in the upper right-hand corner of our home page. We will apply 100% of the money raised to fund scholarships for those craftspeople, and aspiring craftspeople, who can’t afford our regular tuition.

We offer several options for donation on the site which range from a one-time donation of your choice to a “subscription” or monthly donation at whatever level you feel most comfortable.

As we move forward with this campaign we will keep you posted about how selections for these scholarships are made and would gladly accept any nominations for consideration that you feel comfortable offering.

Together we can ensure that the long legacy of craft and woodworking excellence continues for future generations.

~Aaron Beale

Apr 29
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Chair Design

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With the school quiet right now as we await and adjust to the current situation, we thought we would highlight some of the good woodwork happening around us.  Brian Boggs, chairmaker (among many other things) of Asheville, NC recently posted a video in which discussed his the evolution of his chair designs.  In the 27 minute video, Brian talks through three chairs he’s built over his career- the iconic Jennie Alexander chair, his Berea ladderback and the chair he’s currently focused on – the Cio chair.  He connects the thread of continuity  from his earliest chairs up to today’s contemporary designs.  It’s fascinating to hear his approach, as he’s dedicated decades to thinking through chairs, their designs, and how to push forward with new ideas.

I’ll need to rewatch his short demonstration once more about the Cio chair – there’s so much new in the construction and approach that I didn’t take it all in the first viewing.  In a way the approach reminded me of David Savage’s work, captured beautifully in The Intelligent Hand, in the way Brian uses new materials and techniques to make this wooden chair truly different from his previous post-and-rung designs.

There’s a lot packed into the 27 minutes.  If you’re interested in chairs then there’s something in there for you.  I’m hoping this becomes a more frequent series and am looking forward to the next installment.

Link to Brian’s video. 

–andy glenn

Mar 24
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2020 Season Update

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Pine Croft students and supporters,

We hope that this email finds you and your families well. Due to the uncertainty caused by the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we have elected to cancel the full season of class offerings this spring/summer.  The safety of our instructors, the community at large, and you as our valued students is of the utmost importance to us at this time.

Monday, March 23rd all registered students will receive full refunds for the classes for which they are registered.

We look forward to brighter days ahead and hope you will rejoin us during the full season of class offerings we are already discussing for 2021.

Be safe and look out for one another.

-Aaron Beale

Feb 07
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Instructors in the News

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It’s been a week of major honors for a couple of Pine Croft’s visiting instructors.  Nancy Hiller graces the cover of the upcoming Fine Woodworking Magazine issue #281 with an article about building an Arts and Crafts chest originally designed by Ernest Gimson.  Along with Nancy, Megan Fitzpatrick is also featured in Fine Woodworking with a piece about handwork and sawbench making.  Congratulations to Nancy, Megan and Fine Woodworking Magazine for getting together to make the articles happen.  I’m hoping a shop cat or two made it into the magazine as well.

Peter Galbert was just announced as the keynote speaker at the Lie Nielsen Open House this upcoming July 10-11, 2020.  The folks at Lie Nielsen always put on a great event for their open house, inviting all woodworkers and interested parties to their main showroom in Warren, Maine to celebrate making, tools and community.  The Maine midcoast in mid-July is a wonderful place to be.  I went at every opportunity when our family lived a few miles down the road.  I highly recommend it if you have the opportunity to attend.

Peter Galbert vists Pine Croft to teach a week-long Windsor chair class May 10-16.

Megan Fitzpatrick comes to Berea June 1-5 for a class on the Anarchist’s Tool Chest.

Nancy Hiller’s Voysey Two-Heart Chair class is slated for June 15-19.

–Andy Glenn

Sep 16
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Community Maker Talks

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Our visiting instructors will be giving a focused talk on their work during the week they are in town.  So even if you cannot make the class you’ll be able to come to the free event for the community.  Each talk will start at 6pm.

  • April 21, 2020 – Kelly Mehler

  • May 12, 2020 – Pete Galbert

  • June 2, 2020 – Megan Fitzpatrick

  • June 16, 2020 – Nancy Hiller

  • July 14, 2020 – Michael Puryear