In this unique combination course, woodworker Jess Hirsch and weaver Melba Granlund have collaborated to teach students both woodworking and weaving skills to first build a warp-weighted loom and then learn to weave on it.
Weaving on the upright warp-weighted loom dates to @7,000 B.C.E. and has been in constant use since that time in cultures around the globe to make cloth and clothing, coverlets and rugs. In this class students will build a tabletop version of this loom which is very portable and easy to store when not in use.
Students will learn how to use a table saw, miter saw, bandsaw, and drill to cut and assemble all the pieces of their loom on Friday, March 8. Once the loom is completed, students will attend 4 Tuesday night classes (March 12 - April 2nd ) in which they will first warp their loom with stone weights and then begin weaving either a rya or a Scandinavian squareweave known as rutevev in Norwegian or rölakan in Swedish. When completed, the finished piece may be used as a wall hanging or pillow top.
All materials will be provided. A variety of types and colors of yarns for warp and weft will be made available for weaving, but students may also bring other yarns or fleece locks for their piece. Woven samples and reference materials will be available for design inspiration. This course welcomes beginning and experienced weavers alike, and no woodworking experience is required. Students may not complete their weaving in class, but finishing techniques will be discussed and students can then complete their project at home.
The materials fee is $130 and is included in the admission costs.
*** We do require masking indoors, whatever your vaccination status***
---------------------------- Taught by Jess Hirsh and Melba Granlund
Using common woods we will make a frame and create tone bars with different musical pitches. When we’re done, we can practice playing together.
No woodworking experience required to enjoy this class. Over the course of 3 sessions you will use the table saw, chop saw, sander, drill press, band saw, and various hand tools to shape your pieces and create the instrument.
The materials fee for this class is $15 and is included in the admission cost.
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This class is taught by EB .
The materials fee for this class is $30 and is included in the admission cost.
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This class is taught by Tina Green Krause
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, chop saw, and drill to construct basic frames out of poplar. 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.
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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 Bozena.
In this 2.5 day course, each student will build a post-and-rung stool out of ash and weave a shaker tape cotton seat. This class will focus on hand tools using spoke shaves and draw knives to shape the posts and rungs. The stool will be joined with mortise and tenon joints. Our final step will be weaving the tops with a cushion filled with wood shavings.
The materials fee for this class is $75 and is included in the admission cost.
*** We do require masking indoors, whatever your vaccination status*** __________________________
Taught by Jess Hirsch
Spoon nerds come together to investigate eating spoons and their best qualities! Over the course of three sessions, we will each design an eating spoon of our own, learn axe work techniques, practice carving with straight and hook knives, and learn about the fundamentals of sharpening edged tools. This class is intended for folks who have carved spoons before, but who want to take a deeper dive into the process of crafting a wooden eating spoon that they want to use all the time. Folks should bring one or two spoons of any material to investigate. Anyone is are welcome to bring any personal tools they enjoy carving with, but they do not have to.
The materials fee for this class is $20 and is included in the admission cost.
This class is taught by Mo.
This 3 session class is intended for anyone curious to weave a willow basket for the first time or build upon existing willow weaving skills. Bailey and Bozena will lead participants through weaving up a stake and strand basket using willows harvested from around the Midwest great lakes. Students should come prepared to use great hand dexterity. We hope to equip students with basketry skills that they can take with them after class is over, and will incorporate conversations around traditions of willow basketry, material sourcing, and willows ecological role in our region. All materials and tools provided by instructors.
The materials fee for this course is $35 and is included in the admissions cost.
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Taught by Bailey and Bozena
You'll learn the basics of making a bowl from fresh (green) wood during this single session, four hour, in person class. We will learn how to operate the wood lathe safely, explore form, and turn wood. Class will cover all steps to make a simple bowl and you will leave with our own bowl and a finishing kit to take home.
Taught by Laurie McGinley
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!
This class is taught by Katie Speckman.
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 $25 and is included in the admission cost.
Taught by Abbey Dickhudt
Learn to make two beautiful brooms on sticks: Cobbwebber and Stitched Besom broom. In this 4 hour class we will make a round besom broom and stitch it. We will also plate a cobwebber broom. Students will leave with material to stitch their cobwebber broom at home once it is dry. Leave feeling confident and inspired to explore the world of broom making.
Please wear closed toed shoes.
The materials fee for this class is $37 and is included in the admission cost.
Fireweed instructors and carvers Jeanette and Ema are hosting another crafting hangout!
Come by any time between 6-8:30pm! Registration encouraged but not required!
Bring your own hand-carving project to the shop for some company, community, and sharing tips and tricks. This is NOT A CLASS, just a hangout. This is NOT A TIME FOR POWER TOOLS, just hand tools!
This is a FREE event, open to all. If you like/are able to contribute to the shop and our physical space , we have some different donation levels at registration, or you can choose "FREE!" registration. Thank you! We will also be accepting cash donations!
What to bring:
-your project, tools
**Spoon carvers: if you took a class with Fireweed this year or in the past, or have some prior experience, we will welcome you! Happily, we DO have a few blanks available this time -- we would ask for $11 per blank. You can borrow Fireweed's carving tools for the hang and we will also have knives and gloves available for purchase.
Learn how to keep your tools sharp!
Tool sharpening is an important part of any woodcraft practice. A sharp tool is a safe tool and makes for cuts that are easier on our bodies and can produce a finish-ready surface. In this class we will provide a foundation of what sharp is and how sharpening works via the three stages of grinding, honing and polishing. Several types of sharpening media will be discussed and students will leave with their own consumable (abrasive paper) sharpening kits. Instructors Jeanette and Andrew will demonstrate a few different sharpening techniques and students will have plenty of time to practice sharpening their own tools. At the end of class students will have the knowledge to continue their own tool maintenance.
Students are required to bring two tools to sharpen: one sloyd or similar straight carving knife and one of the following: hook (spoon) knife, gouge, chisel, plane blade, spokeshave blade, drawknife or carving axe. Students may bring in a couple extra tools, just know that there might not be time to attend to more than 2 tools. No saws, serrated blades, scrapers, scissors or lathe tools please!
This class is taught by Jeanette Torkelson and Andrew Austin-Petersen.
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
Lets get into greenwood bowl turning! This is a class for newcomers and repeat students of greenwood bowl turning alike. Designed to give folks time to get to know (or reintroduce) the lathe and turning green wood, this multi week turning study will allow a focused immersion into using a lathe to turn functional bowls. Each session will include demonstrations from the instructor, as well as hands-on time for students at the lathe. We will make time for discussion around sourcing material, and finishing bowls as well. Please bring questions, books, water bottle, and lunch! Students can plan to complete several bowls during this course.
The materials fee for this class is $25 and is included in the admission cost, additional material fees will be payable to instructor.
Taught by Bozena.
Learn the basic ins and outs of using a chainsaw. You will be learning what each part of the saw is called, how to take the saw apart for cleaning and chain replacement, proper gas & oil maintenance, filing your chain, and most importantly how to safely start a saw. All saws have their own tips and tricks with starting them but knowing the basics should help you be able to start any saw.
Bring your own chainsaw if you've got questions specific to yours!
Taught by Alex Gomez
Want to learn the wonders of steambending while making a beautiful box? This is the class for you! Make a cherry wood 7" shaker style box. On the first day learn to cut the fingers, bend the wood, and secure it. Day two we will fit the bottom and lid while discussing finishing techniques.
The materials fee for this class is $40 and is included in the admission cost.
Taught by Tina Green Krause and Jeanette Torkelson
Get confident with an axe through this all day axe-extravaganze. Morning will focus on ergonomics and practice cuts. The afternoon will be spent axeing out blanks for a spreader, spatula, or spoon. We will only work with the axe so do not plan on completing a finished project. Please note we will be standing all day so wear comfortable shoes and bring water. There will be a 1/2 hr lunch break.
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Join herbalist Emily Pearson Ryan and printmaking instructor Jessie Merriam to learn about the lore and uses of roses, and carve a 4x6 woodblock of its iconic shape. A template will be provided for the block, so this class is beginner friendly.
The Ways of Plants series involves some combination of teas, infusions, tinctures and/or culinary preparations to sample. Emily will also have some herbal preparations for sale at the end of class.
Ink and paper provided, bring your own fabric if you are interested in printing a patch or printing onto clothing (with fabric ink).
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
Shaving horses are useful tools for any woodcarver, and paired with the drawknife it is teacher Rose Holdorf’s favorite tool in their shop! With more than a dozen horses used for teaching woodworking classes, Rose has built shaving horses for a few places around (including Fireweed, ASI, and North House Folk School) and is excited to help a new group of friends make a whole herd! Throughout the long weekend, students will work together to build a shaving horse for each participant out of dimensional lumber and learn and discuss different types of horses, mules, and ponies and their diverse uses. This is a great opportunity for newer woodworkers to gain the skills and confidence to use a wide array of hand and power tools, or for more experienced woodworkers to pick up some tips and go home with a new tool of their own to make chairs, spoons, and other handmade wooden delights.
The materials fee for this class is $85 and is included in the admission cost, additional material fees will be payable to instructor.
Taught by Rose Holdorf.
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