Wood Workshops
2013 Wood Workshops
Weekend Workshops
May 10 - 12 
Platters with a Plan with Pat Matranga
Fee: $330 Materials Fee: $20
Skill Level: Beginning to Intermediate
Instructor Contact: www.matrangadesigns.com
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Description: Learn how to make a design plan, execute it, and create a beautiful platter. Participants in this workshop will leave class with one to three finished pieces.
Bio: Pat Matranga is a professional wood artist. She makes everything from sculptures to production work.
June 21 - 23
Boxes with a Personal Touch
Ellie Richards
Fee: $300 Materials Fee: $45 (paid directly to the instructor)
Skill Level: Beginning - Intermediate
Instructor Contact:
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www.ellie-richards.com
Description: Containers are an integral part of everyday life. In this workshop, participants will discover multiple ways to construct wooden boxes that will encourage them to push plastic out and invite in the handmade by making functional boxes using local hardwoods. Learn new construction and joinery techniques in order to create well crafted boxes with a personal touch. Whether participants are just getting started, or already have some experience, this class will enhance and enliven anyone's woodworking skills.
Bio: Ellie Richards is the current Artist in Residence in wood at the Appalachian Center for Craft. She has a Master of Fine Art from Arizona State University. Using wood as her primary medium, she employs woodworking techniques of great variety to make both functional and sculptural work.
July 19 - 21 
Simple and Creative Production Techniques
Paul Ferrell
Fee: $330 Materials Fee: $20 (to be paid directly to the instructor)
Skill Level: Beginning to Intermediate
Instructor Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it www.brushyforkcreek.com
Description: This workshop will be using production studio methods to refine and simplify large and small turning projects such as bowls, candleholders, oil lamps, boxes, etc. Participants will explore the use of blank preparation, grain orientation, jam chucks, pre-drilling, spalting, and surface decoration to make your turning simpler and more creative.
Bio: Paul Ferrell has been a full time professional woodturner since 1974, exhibiting, selling and teaching throughout the US and England.
August 9 - 11
Building a Windsor Bench
Greg Pennington
Fee: $300 Materials Fee: $60 (to be paid directly to the instructor)
Skill Level: Beginning to Intermediate
Instructor Contact:
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www.penningtonwindsorchairs.com
Description: Participants will learn to construct a Windsor bench by splitting and shaving the legs and stretchers by hand, planing the tops to have a natural edge, and learning to leg up the bench with tapered tenons that are split and wedged through the seat. This is a great introduction to building the undercarriage of a Windsor chair.
Bio: Greg Pennington has been building Windsor chairs for the past 12 years, as well as traveling the country teaching chair making skills along with Peter Galbert and Curtis Buchanan. He works out of a one room timber frame shop in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
One-week Workshops
*OPTIONAL: One-week workshops are available for 1 TTU elective credit hour; credit hour fees are in addition to workshop fee. For more information about credit hours, please click here.
May 19 - 24
Turn, Carve, and Color
Al Stirt
Fee: $550
Skill Level: Intermediate
Instructor Contact:
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www.alstirt.com
Description: This workshop will focus on “extracting” bowl and platter forms from both green and dry wood. Participants will play with creating pure turned forms, as well as bowls incorporating carving, texture and color. Everyone will go home with some new techniques and design ideas to use in creating their own original work.
Bio: Al Stirt has been a professional woodturner for more than 40 years. His work is included in numerous public and private collections, including the Smithsonian, the White House, the Museum of Art and Design, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. He has demonstrated and taught about woodturning & design in Australia, England, Ireland, New Zealand and Canada as well as throughout the U.S. In 1997, the American Association of Woodturners awarded him an Honorary Lifetime Membership for his commitment and contributions to the field of woodturning.
July 7 - 12
Introduction to Furniture Making 
Graham Campbell
Fee: $500 Materials Fee: $10 - $30 (to be paid directly to the instructor)
Skill Level: Beginning
Instructor Contact:
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Description: This workshop will teach the safe and appropriate use of primary hand and power tools. Participants will learn the normal sequence of designing and furniture building. After thorough lectures and demonstrations, students will mill lumber, layout and cut joinery, assemble and finish a small table. As time allows, variations of the design will be discussed and developed.
Bio: Graham Campbell is an accomplished furniture maker who has run the Wood Program at the Appalachian Center for Craft for the past 23 years. He trained at the Wendell Castle School and Virginia Commonwealth University. His colorful and inventive work is featured in many public and private collections.
July 28 - Aug 2
Need Some Relief? Adding Dimension and Excitement to Your Work
Dixie Biggs
Fee: $500
Skill Level: Intermediate
Instructor Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Description: Participants will learn techniques including adding simple textures, relief carving with rotary power carvers, wood burning for texture and detail, and adding color to their work. Step by step, learn relief carving techniques from layout, to bit selection, to finishing. Since the focus of the class will be off the lathe, participants should bring several pre-turned pieces that are dried and ready to carve so as to spend time on the techniques being taught.
Bio: Dixie Biggs lives in Gainesville, Florida, and has been a full-time studio woodturner/artist since1989. She is best known for her meticulously-carved, “leaf wrapped” vessels.