In this class, students will create a hunting knife. Starting with a section of flat 1080 steel bar, the class will cover forging, grinding, heat treatment, handle fitment and finishing techniques. Students will leave with a finished, hidden tang blade ready to take home. There will be opportunities for additional forging as time allows. Beginner blacksmithing experience is recommended but not required.

Zach is a welder by trade with experience in a wide range of industries. Based in rural NY, he is an ABS bladesmith who creates custom, heirloom-quality, hand forged kitchen cutlery and edged tools. He strives to blend traditional and modern techniques and materials to create quality tools to be used for decades in the kitchen. After teaching welding for Monroe Community College and at the Arc + Flame Center for seven years, Zach now runs his own company where, in addition to blades, he manufactures tooling and machines for blacksmiths and metalworkers. He is passionate about collaborating with other local artisans, makers, and tradespeople. In his classes, Zach seeks to inspire students by sharing the functional artistry of modern bladesmithing. https://tarbellindustries.com/

Japan boasts some of the oldest wooden buildings on earth. Their longevity relies on intricate joinery that not only can withstand the years of elements, but are also reversible for inevitable repairs. In this weekend class Andrew will introduce students to the secrets behind these sophisticated joints. Student will learn principles that are applicable to both furniture makers and timber framers alike.

Each participant will cut their own Kanawa scarf joint entirely by hand. This intricate joint is a perfect exercise for getting started with Japanese joinery. Students will learn how to use centerlines and story sticks to make simple work of complex layouts and how to most efficiently use their hand tools to work to these lines. Andrew will demonstrate methods for getting tight fitting joinery every time.

Students are encouraged to bring their own Japanese tools to class. Andrew will offer feedback and assistance on getting them tuned and set up to work more efficiently. If you don’t have your own collection of Japanese tools (yet), no worries, bring what you have. Andrew will have a selection tools for students to try out as well as the well stocked collection of western tools provided by the school.

Class fee: $350

Materials fee: $25

Class size limited to 10

Andrew is a custom furniture maker working and living in New York’s Hudson Valley. Best known for his use of traditional Japanese hand tools, Andrew demonstrates and teaches across the country. As a self-taught woodworker, he offers a unique perspective to other Americans exploring Eastern woodworking. His workshops demonstrate that by understanding the fundamental principles behind other cultures’ tools and techniques, all woodworkers can benefit. A frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking magazine, he is eager to share what he has learned in his 25-plus years of making furniture. https://www.instagram.com/andrewhunter_furniture/

Erik will walk you through the design and construction of his textured wall hanging whiskey cabinet. The class will cover the ever important topic of grain selection and discuss what joinery is most appropriate—housed stub tenon, floating tenons, or sliding dovetails, for example—using a combination of simple machinery and hand tools. And of course we will cover how to compose and power carve a cabinet door. Finally, Erik will discuss his various finishing techniques and what makes the most sense in a professional shop as well as your home shop. Students will leave with both a beautiful cabinet for their favorite whiskey AND the confidence and necessary skills to take on a project of this caliber in their own shop!

Class fee: $900

Materials fee: $150

Class size limited to 10

Erik Curtis is an American woodworker, sculptor, and television personality. He attended the Nine-month Comprehensive at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in 2012 and has taught at schools around the country. His creative practice combines the sculptural with the functional in an attempt to blur the line between furniture and art. He also stars as the carpenter on Netflix’s "Instant Dream Home." www.encurtis.com.

There is no satisfaction like making something with tools that you've made. This workshop will focus on forging functional tools for use in the woodshop. Students will start by learning about appropriate steels and how to process them to bring out the desired qualities in hand tools such as durability, edge retention, and sharpenability. Students will then forge a large scorp for chairs an bowls and a some smaller scorps for detail carving. Tools will be forged, filed, and rough ground prior to heat treat. After heat treating tools will be finish ground and sharpened as time allows.

This class is open a to all experience levels but prior forging experience is recommended. This is an interactive, hands on course where you will be forging tough materials. Some project modifications may be made for those with less experience. Class will make use of hand and some power tools (grinders).

Class fee: $275

Materials fee: $50

Class size limited to 6

Brian took his first blacksmithing class in 2005 under local smith Richard Rightmyer to learn how to make his own woodworking tools. Captivated by the feel of hot metal under the hammer, Brian poured all his free time into advancing his smithing skills taking classes whenever he could. Brian began teaching blacksmithing and coppersmithing in 2012 and has demonstrated at many public events and conferences. Recently, he has focused on the art of copper chasing, finding the meticulous attention to detail it requires to be a form of meditation in motion. Brian is an electrical engineer by day and holds a 6th Degree black belt in Aikido. He finds many commonalities with the efficient body movements of martial arts and the proper ergonomics for blacksmithing and coppersmithing. Brian has blended the arts to create effective and safe hammering techniques for people of all sizes. s an engineer, he is fascinated by the science of blacksmithing, specifically the metallurgy that goes into tool making. He firmly believes that true learning happens when you are having fun.

In this course, you will learn the important concepts of building rockers and how to build quality furniture safely and efficiently. You will also learn how to use a wide variety of power tools, perform complicated joinery, and build a piece of furniture successfully.

We will dive into this class learning techniques to design and build furniture that is curved and has compound angles. Students will learn and be comfortable using a horizontal mortiser. They will also be introduced to the business aspects of building furniture.

Learning objectives:

1. Joinery at complex angles
2. Techniques of chair building
3. The angles and designs that make chairs comfortable

Class price: $1100

Materials fee: $200

Class size limited to 10

Alexis grew up in a family of builders and artists. While designing and building her own house and working alongside her dad, a long-time woodworker, she embarked on a career of building fine furniture. She apprenticed with many talented and successful woodworkers before starting her business in Bozeman in 2019. Alexis builds custom fine furniture and teaches classes out of her own shop and at various woodworking schools in the US. Alexis is a founding member and the president of the Bozeman Woodworking Guild created to help develop the localwoodworking community and encourage and support local craftsmen focusing on novice woodworkers. https://www.dolesewoodworks.com/

In this class, students will create a 6-7" European-style chef knife. Starting with a section of flat 1080 steel bar, the class will cover forging, grinding, heat treatment, handle fitment and finishing techniques. Students will leave with a finished, hidden tang blade ready to take home and prep a meal. There will be opportunities for additional forging as time allows. Beginner blacksmithing experience is strongly recommended but not required.

Course fee: $500

Materials fee: $50

Class size limited to 6

Zach is a welder by trade with experience in a wide range of industries. Based in rural NY, he is an ABS bladesmith who creates custom, heirloom-quality, hand forged kitchen cutlery and edged tools. He strives to blend traditional and modern techniques and materials to create quality tools to be used for decades in the kitchen. After teaching welding for Monroe Community College and at the Arc + Flame Center for seven years, Zach now runs his own company where, in addition to blades, he manufactures tooling and machines for blacksmiths and metalworkers. He is passionate about collaborating with other local artisans, makers, and tradespeople. In his classes, Zach seeks to inspire students by sharing the functional artistry of modern bladesmithing. https://tarbellindustries.com/

Wood hand planes are a joy to use, and once you know the steps to make them, you will be able to make planes in any shape and size, including curved bottom planes. In this weekend workshop students will construct a classic smoothing plane with a 1¾" iron, and it may become your new favorite hand tool. Tim was a student of Jim Krenov in the 1980s and learned directly from him how to create “the cabinetmaker’s Stradivarius”, as Krenov referred to the handmade plane.

Class fee: $350

Materials fee: $100

Class size limited to 10

Tim Coleman creates custom furniture in a shop he built a few paces from his home in rural Western Massachusetts. He has been creating furniture for clients and exhibition for more than 35 years after studying at the College of the Redwoods with James Krenov in the 1980s. Tim is known for his graceful and dynamic furniture forms which often feature richly patterned and textured surfaces. Using low-relief carving, marquetry, embossing, and thick veneer tiles, he has developed simple but innovative techniques that put a new spin on traditional embellishment. As passionate as Coleman is about his own work, he is equally excited to pass on his knowledge as a frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking Magazine and by teaching at schools throughout the US.

This stool is featured in the latest Fine Woodworking magazine.

In this 5-day workshop, students will learn to build a contemporary counter stool that combines precise machine work for the legs and stretchers with a hand-shaped seat and footrest. Featured in the most recent issue of Fine Woodworking Magazine, this shapely stool is a great project to learn mortise and tenon joints, both through tenons and floating tenons to connect the legs to the solid wood seat. Students will have lots of practice with the band saw to cut the legs, seat and footrest, and will also gain experience with a hollow chisel and slot mortiser. The seat is shaped with a compass plane, and students will use carving gouges and round bottom planes to shape the cove under the seat. Tim will provide a detailed, measured drawing for each student and jigs to aid in the making.

Class fee: $900

Materials fee: $75

Class size limited to 10

Tim Coleman creates custom furniture in a shop he built a few paces from his home in rural Western Massachusetts. He has been creating furniture for clients and exhibition for more than 35 years after studying at the College of the Redwoods with James Krenov in the 1980s. Tim is known for his graceful and dynamic furniture forms which often feature richly patterned and textured surfaces. Using low-relief carving, marquetry, embossing, and thick veneer tiles, he has developed simple but innovative techniques that put a new spin on traditional embellishment. As passionate as Coleman is about his own work, he is equally excited to pass on his knowledge as a frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking Magazine and by teaching at schools throughout the US.

Marquetry is the delicate art of creating intricate images, decorative elements, and lettering by cutting and fitting together different wood species. Originating during the Italian Renaissance, marquetry has adorned furniture, church pews, and grand panels in homes and palaces for centuries. Over time, its techniques and styles evolved as the craft spread worldwide.

In this two-day introductory class, Frank will guide you through his favorite marquetry techniques, including packet cutting and double-bevel sawing, revealing that anyone can bring this timeless art to life. You’ll learn how to select and prepare veneers, use essential tools, and practice foundational skills. Starting with simple designs, you’ll then explore reproducing historical paterae—classic motifs found on 18th and 19th-century furniture. Along the way, you’ll master sawing methods and ancient techniques like sand shading to achieve depth and a three-dimensional effect.

The course culminates in double-bevel cutting, where you’ll practice precision techniques for creating flawless lettering with no visible gaps. Join us for a journey into the rich tradition of marquetry and discover how to bring beautiful, wood-crafted artistry into your work.

Class fee: $385

Materials fee: $50

Class size limited to 10

Frank Strazza is a master traditional fine furniture maker with over 30 years of experience, based in Central Texas. His woodworking journey began at the tender age of 11. After graduating, Frank served many years as an apprentice honing his craft under the tutelage of renowned artisan Paul Sellers. Frank's work has been showcased in local and national publications and is part of the White House's permanent collection. His masterpieces have garnered multiple top awards in nationally recognized furniture shows, including Best of Show and People's Choice. He has been building furniture for over 25 years and his work has been featured in both local and national publications, including Woodworker West, Woodwork Magazine, and Fine Woodworking. A passionate educator, Frank travels across the country imparting the timeless skills of hand tool woodworking to eager students. His diverse interests span Windsor chair making, intricate inlay, violin crafting, and the art of marquetry. When he's not in the shop, Frank can be found cycling, and making music on the mandolin and cello. http://www.strazzafurniture.com/

In this immersive class, students will gain a strong foundation in traditional hand-tool woodworking, learning core joinery techniques that have stood the test of time. Led by Frank Strazza, who brings over 30 years of experience and knowledge from his own traditional apprenticeship, this class is an ideal opportunity to build lasting skills. Instead of focusing on completing a project, students will practice fundamental techniques, developing a deeper understanding of woodworking essentials that can be applied to future projects with confidence and precision.

You’ll learn to work with essential hand tools—saws, planes, chisels, and scrapers—while discovering the methods to keep them sharp and effective. You’ll hand-cut a variety of classic joints, including dados, dovetails, and mortise and tenon joints, each skill building upon the last. By starting with a rough board, you’ll also learn to four-square it entirely by hand, gaining hands-on experience in planing and working the wood from its raw state. Toward the end of the week, you’ll have the chance to use your new skills to begin creating a simple dovetailed box, blending all of the techniques you’ve learned. The emphasis is on technique rather than rushing to finish a project, giving you a solid grasp of joinery fundamentals.

Key Techniques Covered

Joinery Fundamentals:

1. Hand-cut dados
2. Dovetails (through and half-blind)
3. Mortise and tenons, including through mortises

Tool Mastery:

1. Adjusting and using essential hand tools, including saws, planes, chisels, and scrapers
2. Sharpening chisels, saws, scrapers, and planes to keep them at peak performance
3. Four-Squaring a Board:
4. Learning to plane a rough board to a fully four-squared state

Course Takeaways

By the end of the class, you’ll have the confidence to hand-cut various joinery types, tune and use hand planes to their fullest, and apply sharpening techniques to keep your tools in top condition. This course gives you a solid foundation in joinery, allowing you to approach future woodworking projects with skill and confidence.

Class fee: $900

Materials fee: $25

Class size limited to 10

Frank Strazza is a master traditional fine furniture maker with over 30 years of experience, based in Central Texas. His woodworking journey began at the tender age of 11. After graduating, Frank served many years as an apprentice honing his craft under the tutelage of renowned artisan Paul Sellers. Frank's work has been showcased in local and national publications and is part of the White House's permanent collection. His masterpieces have garnered multiple top awards in nationally recognized furniture shows, including Best of Show and People's Choice. He has been building furniture for over 25 years and his work has been featured in both local and national publications, including Woodworker West, Woodwork Magazine, and Fine Woodworking. A passionate educator, Frank travels across the country imparting the timeless skills of hand tool woodworking to eager students. His diverse interests span Windsor chair making, intricate inlay, violin crafting, and the art of marquetry. When he's not in the shop, Frank can be found cycling, and making music on the mandolin and cello. http://www.strazzafurniture.com/