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Get Your Curve On!

By 2025

Get Your Curve On!

With Brian Boggs

February 24 - 28, 2025

Tuition Free - by application only

Get Your Curve On!

Cutting a smooth and fair curve freehand on a bandsaw is a freeing experience.  But knowing how to generate perfect repeatable curves through good fixturing design is a game changer.  Not only in improving the quality of your curved work, but in making curves efficient enough and accurate enough to open up new design potential for your furniture. Losing old boundaries also tends to free up the imagination. Continued below…

 

Class Description:

I bought my first bandsaw over 35 years ago; a 14-inch Central Machinery junker from Harbor Freight.  That machine made a significant difference to my efficiency, and 35 years later, I am still learning fun new ways to get my curve on.

Cutting a smooth and fair curve freehand on a bandsaw is a freeing experience.  But knowing how to generate perfect repeatable curves through good fixturing design is a game changer.  Not only in improving the quality of your curved work, but in making curves efficient enough and accurate enough to open up new design potential for your furniture. Losing old boundaries also tends to free up the imagination.

With bandsawing mastered, bent laminating and steam bending fixtures become more manageable and precise. This three-way approach to the potential of making curved parts opens up your ability to make, design, and imagine furniture that was impractical or even unthinkable before.

We’ll learn several ways to get more precise curves on the bandsaw and how to get perfect bent laminations from bandsawn fixtures.  We’ll also cover steam bending techniques to greatly increase your success in this wood cooking process.

-Brian Boggs

All lunches are provided at Pine Croft.

This class will be limited to just 6 students and no tuition/registration fee will be charged.  This class has been designed for those craftspeople who are serious about making a full time living as a craftsperson and would not normally be able to access a class of this kind for financial reasons. This is not a beginner class, but a course designed to expand the committed craftsperson’s knowledge and experience with adding curved elements to their work.  We expect the selection process to be very competitive and participants will be selected by the staff at Pine Croft and Brian Boggs based upon the information provided below.

The deadline to apply is January 10, 2025.  We’ll notify attendees by January 24.

Table Design

By 2025

Table Design

With Brian Boggs

March 10 - 14, 2025

$1,500

Table Design

In this class, we will explore the possibilities a table brings to a space, what to consider in its shape and size relative to the room it is in, what function it needs to serve, and why you would choose legs vs. a pedestal or a round top vs. a rectangular one. We will also discuss and explore surface design with veneers and engineered cores, as well as various ways to extend a table. Continued below…

Class Description:

In many ways, tables are among the simplest furniture forms: a flat surface supported by legs or some form of pedestal. But despite the general simplicity of form, a table can change how a room feels to be in, how it feels to walk around it, and how it directs our paths through a room.  The potential impact on a space and the feeling tables create when not in use makes their artistic value greater than that of their physical function. With that thought in mind, a table’s appearance is of utmost importance in a home. This is by no means a reason to compromise physical function for aesthetics. But we don’t want to lose the balance in how we consider the creation of value when designing a table or any other piece of furniture.

In this class, we will explore the possibilities a table brings to a space, what to consider in its shape and size relative to the room it is in, what function it needs to serve, and why you would choose legs vs. a pedestal or a round top vs. a rectangular one. We will also discuss and explore surface design with veneers and engineered cores, as well as various ways to extend a table.

We will include ideas for dining, side, hall, and coffee tables.  To free us up to play with multiple options, we will only make scale models of ideas you want to explore. This allows more play with form and less concern about full-scale woodworking. You can make several ¼  scale dining table models or a mix of table types.  This class focuses on design rather than a finished table, so we will not build any full-sized. But we will discuss joinery options for each model.  For joints new to you, it will be good to make full-scale joint samples and go over different ways to make these, but I don’t want to spend much class time on joints.

 

This clarity of focus on form allows the creation of more new designs without the fuss of complex fixturing for mortise and tenons.

Tools you will need to bring:

Coping saw,

Carving knives

Architect’s scale

Drawing paper (8 x 11 is the minimum size)

Pencils

Gum eraser

Straight edge you can cut against

Utility knife

Tape measure

12″ tri-square

A few chisels (¼”, ½”/3/4”)

All lunches are provided at Pine Croft.

Comb Carving

By 2025

Carved and Decorated Treen

with Charles Thompson

April 5-6, 2025

$300

Carved and Decorated Treen

Carved and decorated treen, or handmade domestic objects made of wood, have been a part of daily life for thousands of years. Whether intended for use by the maker themself or as a gift for a loved one (or, not without historical precedent, a potential loved one – romantic!), this form has endured as a way to express personal sentiment. In this class, we’ll attempt to reconcile symbolic language with the everyday object. Continued below…

 

Enroll Now

Class Description:

Carved and decorated treen, or handmade domestic objects made of wood, have been a part of daily life for thousands of years. Whether intended for use by the maker themself or as a gift for a loved one (or, not without historical precedent, a potential loved one – romantic!), this form has endured as a way to express personal sentiment. In this class, we’ll attempt to reconcile symbolic language with the everyday object.

 

Though the covered concepts are adaptable to other forms, participant’s focus will be on carving one of several types of combs. Templates from historical examples will be provided, but personal design and flourish is, of course, encouraged.

 

We’ll explore a number of decorative elements: pierced shapes, punched motifs, carved patterns and hand lettering. Our goal will be to establish a vocabulary of our own by selecting, reinterpreting, and arranging elements that can work together.

 

All material costs and daily lunches are included in the course fee at Pine Croft.

Course Descriptions 2

By 2025

Get Your Curve On with Brian Boggs

February 24 – 28, 2025

Intro to Bowl Turning with Matt Monaco

March 3-8, 2025

SOLD OUT

Artful Joinery with Rob Spiece

March 24-29, 2025

Carved and Decorated Treen with Charles Thompson

April 5-6, 2025

Woodworking FUNdamentals with Katie Bister

April 12-13, 2025

1 SPOT LEFT!

The Handled Broom with Amanda Lee Lazorchack

April 18-20, 2025

Foundations of Furniture Making with Rob Spiece

April 28- May 3, 2025

People Collection Stools with Rob Spiece and Katie Bister

May 9-11, 2025

The Handled Broom with Amanda Lee Lazorchack

May 16-18, 2025

Tambour Doors and Tiny Drawers with Larissa Huff

May 19-24, 2025

SOLD OUT

Hickory Bark Harvesting with Andy Glenn

May 31, 2025

SOLD OUT

Greenwood Lounge Chair with Andy Glenn

June 2-7, 2025

Next Steps: Sculptural Containers with Beth Ireland

June 16-20, 2025

TURNT! with Beth Ireland

June 23-27, 2025

People Collection Rocker with Rob Spiece and Katie Bister

July 7-12, 2025

Foundations of Furniture Making with Rob Spiece

July 21-26, 2025

Foundations of Quilt Making with Erin Miller

October 4-5, 2025

Willow Bark Basketry with Jennifer Zurick

November 6-9, 2025

TURNT!

By 2025

TURNT!

with Beth Ireland

June 23-27, 2025

$1,275

TURNT!

This is the class where woodturning and printmaking collide! Learn the basics of woodturning to create cylinders.

Learn the basics of relief printing and then carve your imagery on cylinders to create beautiful, rolled prints. Continued below…

 

Class Description:

This is the class where woodturning and printmaking collide! Learn the basics of woodturning to create cylinders.

Learn the basics of relief printing and then carve your imagery on cylinders to create beautiful, rolled prints. When the prints are dried students will usethe bandsaw and lathe to create personalized containers and sculptures, connecting paper to wood in a variety of ways. Printmakers expand printmaking into 3D.  Turners learn how 2D can elevate the objects you are making. Learn how to safely use the lathe, Bandsaw and carving tools. This is a perfect class to get a taste of two great art forms and make fun personalized objects, in a supportive creative atmosphere!

All material costs and daily lunches are included in the course fee at Pine Croft.

Next Steps: Sculptural Containers

By 2025

Next Steps: Sculptural Containers

with Beth Ireland

June 16-20, 2025

$1,275

Next Steps: Sculptural Containers

This workshop is an excellent next step for anyone who has already begun to learn the fundamentals of woodturning.  Beth leads participants through a series of projects that utilize proper spindle and end-grain turning techniques to create boxes, vessels, and bowls. Additionally, students learn to make custom tools for hollowing and specialized applications. Continued below…

 

Class Description:

This workshop is an excellent next step for anyone who has already begun to learn the fundamentals of woodturning.  Beth leads participants through a series of projects that utilize proper spindle and end-grain turning techniques to create boxes, vessels, and bowls. Additionally, students learn to make custom tools for hollowing and specialized applications.

Beth emphasizes safe and efficient tool handling throughout. She also creates a supportive atmosphere in which students can develop their creative voices. Among the decorative skills she covers are architectural carving for twists and patterns, offset turning, and pyrography.

All material costs and daily lunches are included in the course fee at Pine Croft.

Greenwood Lounge Chair

By 2025

Greenwood Lounge Chair

with Andy Glenn

June 2-7, 2025

$1,675

Greenwood Lounge Chair

We’ll build a contemporary green wood low back chair with a flat reed seat and back (or hickory bark depending on availability) in this 6-day class. Students will split pieces from a log, shape the parts on the shave horse, bend the back posts and slats, add the carved leg details, and completely assemble the frame before weaving in the seat and back on the final day. Final finishing to be done at home, once the chair and seat have time to dry. Continued below…

 

Class Description:

We’ll build a contemporary green wood low back chair with a flat reed seat and back (or hickory bark depending on availability) in this 6-day class. Students will split pieces from a log, shape the parts on the shave horse, bend the back posts and slats, add the carved leg details, and completely assemble the frame before weaving in the seat and back on the final day. Final finishing to be done at home, once the chair and seat have time to dry.

Open to all skill levels. The slender parts, along with rake and splay, make for a fun and challenging build.

Students need to bring a small tool kit.

Recommended Tool List:

Needed:

  • Drawknife
  • Spokeshave (Flat or Round bottomed, flat will be a little easier)

Recommended: (please bring – especially the first eight on this list – but don’t run out to purchase if you don’t own one yet)

  • Pencil
  • Utility or Pocket Knife
  • Tape Measure
  • Sliding Bevel Gauges
  • Tenon or Dovetail Saw
  • Sharp Chisels (1/4″ and 1″)
  • Pocket Knife or (small) Straight Carving Knife
  • Claw Hammer
  • Handsaw (smaller crosscut saw – ideally a tenon saw, though most anything will do)
  • Framing Square or 24″ Straight Edge
  • Deadblow or Lump Hammer
  • Block Plane
  • Compass (scribe)
  • Card Scraper

We’ll use/cover, but not needed: (please bring if you have them)

  • bevel setting gauge or protractor (a way to find angle for the sliding bevel gauge)

All material costs and daily lunches are included in the course fee at Pine Croft.

Tambour Doors and Tiny Drawers

By 2025

Tambour Doors and Tiny Drawers

with Larissa Huff

May 19-24, 2025

$1,675

Tambour Tea Cabinet

In this weeklong class, we will dive into cabinetmaking and demystifying tambour doors.
Students will learn the specific techniques necessary for designing a cabinet with tambour
doors. Continued below…

 

Class Description:

In this weeklong class, we will dive into cabinetmaking and demystifying tambour doors.
Students will learn the specific techniques necessary for designing a cabinet with tambour
doors. We will tackle carcase joinery, create the track, assemble solid wood tambours, make
jigs, install interior walls to allow for storage, and learn tactics necessary make it all come
together. Each student will craft their own wall-hanging cabinet ready to store tea (or anything
else)! This class will be jam packed with strategies and tricks so you can include these
satisfying sliding doors into your future projects.

All material costs and daily lunches are included in the class fee at Pine Croft.

Three Legged Stool

By 2025

People Collection Stools - Intro to Chairmaking

with Rob Spiece & Katie Bister

May 9-11, 2025

$625

Three Legged Stool

The process of making these stools is designed for production. Shop made jigs and fixtures allow us to produce multiples. We’ll usually try to make 30 per production run. We are by no means a furniture factory, but we do aim to be efficient to keep costs down. You probably won’t operate your home shop as a factory either, but I think you’ll appreciate the efficiency of this approach—and I think it will impact your productivity at home. The act of woodworking is as much, if not more, about developing a process as it is about putting a tool to a piece of wood. Continued below…

 

Class Description:

The People Collection Stools are made in the Student Craft woodshop by its staff and students. Berea College is one of about 10 work colleges in the country. Students get free tuition to attend, but commit to working 10 hours per week somewhere on campus to offset tuition costs.

The process of making these stools is designed for production. Shop made jigs and fixtures allow us to produce multiples. We’ll usually try to make 30 per production run. We are by no means a furniture factory, but we do aim to be efficient to keep costs down.

You probably won’t operate your home shop as a factory either, but I think you’ll appreciate the efficiency of this approach—and I think it will impact your productivity at home. The act of woodworking is as much, if not more, about developing a process as it is about putting a tool to a piece of wood.

There are many ways to accomplish any of the tasks we’ll be working on through the weekend. I encourage you to inquire about different ways to make tenons, or drill mortises, or shape seats. We can look at these methods as a class and take the path that suits us.

To get a sense of this production mode, over three days we’ll each make two stools. You can see how we make ours and determine how to adapt that process to your home shop.

We’ll use tools that are common to the home shop: Routers, the tablesaw, the band saw, the drill press and the lathe all play a part along the way.

Required Tools:

  • Safety Glasses
  • Tape Measure
  • Pencil
  • Random Orbit Sander & Sanding discs (80, 120, 180, 220 grit paper)

All material costs and daily lunches are included in the course fee at Pine Croft.

Foundations of Furniture Making

By 2025

Foundations of Furniture Making

with Rob Spiece

April 28- May 3 and July 21-26, 2025

$1,200

Foundations of Furniture Making

In this course, we’ll dive deeply into the techniques and fundamentals of solid wood furniture making. We’ll use all the tooling available in the modern home shop and the hand tools that have been used in woodworking forever. I don’t ascribe much to the concept of being a “hand tool woodworker” or a “power tool woodworker”. I’ll use the best option at hand to produce the finished results I’m looking for. The reality is those decisions are often made by what tooling is available to you – or sometimes the mood that strikes you. Continued below…

 

Class Description:

In this course, we’ll dive deeply into the techniques and fundamentals of solid wood furniture making.  We’ll use all the tooling available in the modern home shop and the hand tools that have been used in woodworking forever.  I don’t ascribe much to the concept of being a “hand tool woodworker” or a “power tool woodworker”.  I’ll use the best option at hand to produce the finished results I’m looking for.  The reality is those decisions are often made by what tooling is available to you – or sometimes the mood that strikes you.  You’ll be working in a well-equipped shop, but we won’t rely on high priced equipment exclusively.  There are many ways to cut a mortise – we’ll take you through the process of laying out and chopping by hand, using a plunge router, a mortiser, a drill press, and a domino.  It’s my goal that when you leave this course, you can adapt what you’ve learned to your own shop.  We’ll spend a lot of time on the table saw, with routers, jointers & planers, an array of hand-held power tools and then we’ll fine tune joinery at the bench with hand tools.

From Scratch

No parts will be prepped for you in this course.  We’ll begin with rough sawn material and finish with a completed piece of furniture.  Learning the craft of woodworking is far more than fancy tools and techniques.  A deep knowledge of the material is at the core of this class.  Hundreds of decisions are made throughout the initial phases of material selection and milling that have a direct impact on the finished quality of the work and you won’t miss out on any of it.  You’ll start the week with a pile of rough sawn boards and end it with a piece ready for finish.

Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced

Whether you are an absolute beginner or even an advanced woodworker, you’ll leave this course with a renewed sense of ability and inspiration.  For those just starting, you can learn how to safely and efficiently operate woodworking machinery and design furniture built upon traditional joinery techniques.  For advanced woodworkers, a week spent with a professional furniture maker will boost your efficiency, productivity, and bag of tricks – allowing you to make a greater impact in the limited time you may have in your home shops.  There will be plenty of one-on-one time in this course, and we’re happy to tailor the experience to you.

The Project

The project pictured is a Shaker-inspired riff on the hall table.  While we’ll all be working on a hall table, the design is up to you.  We’ll give you several options, but I’ll also encourage you to bring some of yourself to the table.  We’ll discuss what makes a successful design and why, then help you to realize your own ideas.  This project is an ideal piece for a thorough grounding in furniture making techniques.

All material costs and daily lunches are included in the course fee at Pine Croft.