with Gary Rogowski
June 18th – 22nd

Registration Closed

Level: Advanced Beginner to Intermediate
Cost: $950
Materials: Included

Using hand tools at the bench is one of the joys of woodworking. Being able to do this in a pleasant environment adds to that enjoyment. But being in a spectacular location surrounded by the Cascades with a stunning view of Mt. Hood right out your shop door is a rare and sustaining retreat into nature and woodworking.

Come join us this summer for one or both weeks of The Woodworking Nature. These retreats are a special opportunity to relax, learn new skills, discuss furniture design and aesthetics and to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of nature in the Cascade Mountains.

During these two weeks we will explore the tools and techniques of hand work at the bench. We will leave the bustle of the world behind and focus on our hand tool woodworking skills, discuss furniture design and aesthetics all while we make several small projects at the bench.

Class will be held at the Mt. Hood Organic Farms in Parkdale, Oregon, 20 minutes up Hwy 35 from Hood River. This working apple and pear farm has been producing fruit since the 1980′s when John and Brady Jacobson bought it. The transformation into a working organic farm is a remarkable story. But what John and Brady have done to the buildings and grounds is another success story. The farm is busy every weekend of the summer for weddings and is known as one of the premier locations for that special event. Class will run in the farm’s old fruit packing shed. Mt. Hood stands in its majesty right out the front door.

Students are encouraged to stay for both weeks and enjoy the splendor of the Hood River area, Hood River Valley, and Mt. Hood. Accommodations can be found 20 minutes away in Hood River and 20 minutes away at the spectacular Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood. Please contact us for further links and suggestions for other local housing and bed and breakfasts. There is also a campground within 2 miles of the farm with plenty of RV hook-ups. Since summer is such a busy time for the area, make your reservations soon. Over the weekend, there are a huge variety of activities from hiking, fishing, bird watching, wind surfing, wine tasting, kayaking, white water rafting, golfing, cycling, mountaineering, skiing, yes in the summer on Mt. Hood, and just plain relaxing. We’ll be located in an area close to the Columbia and Hood Rivers, the high desert country of Central Oregon, the Cascade range and Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams.

Week One we focus on hand cutting mortise and tenons, metal work, and shaping wood by hand. We start by making a wall hung Arts and Crafts Candle Stand of fumed white oak with copper detailing. We chop our through mortises, talk sharpening, and then saw and fit our tenon joints before gluing and wedging. This supports the candle plate. Then we saw out our copper and give it a spectacular hammered texture for the candle holder itself. The copper foliage behind the candle we’ll saw out and polish to catch and reflect the light of the candle. It’s a simple, lovely, and useful piece you’ll be proud to hang on the wall.

Later in the week, we start on our 3 Legged Stool. We shape the legs on shave horses with draw knives and spokeshaves. A tapered leg can be detailed in a variety of ways to suit the maker. Then we use bit and brace to cut our angled mortises in the seat piece. This seat can be shaped with a variety of tools like scrub planes, carving gouges, and travishers. I love these pieces for their simple honest construction, but they’re useful, sturdy and pretty. The last day of class we head up to Timberline Lodge for a special tour of its architecture and crafts given by Linny Adamson, Curator of Timberline Lodge. We’ll stay for lunch, and finish with a discussion of design and aesthetics in the amphitheater of the Lodge.

Week Two we build a small box with a steam bent handle. We’ll hand cut dovetail joints, the strongest joint you can use for a box. We’ll fit these, plow grooves for our raised solid wood bottom, and glue up the box. Next we inlay both decorative elements and the handle supports into the box sides. Finally we steam and bend our handles to finish out this beautiful box useful for shop or garden or kitchen. Those who work more quickly will have time to outfit the box with a leather grip, add a till or small box for the inside and polish their inlay skills. Day Five we head up to Timberline Lodge for a special tour of its history given by the Forest Service. We’ll stay for lunch, and finish with a discussion of the importance of cultural design in the amphitheater of the Lodge.

These two weeks promise to be rejuvenating and rewarding. You’ll be in a glorious location working with your hands to create works in wood of lasting beauty. Every day we’ll also sit back and discuss the nature of design for us woodworkers and how we can help to foster our own creativity. This will be a great series of classes that really should not be missed. Please come and join us on the mountain.

Portland, including the Mount Hood area, is a great place to spend time in the summer. As a favorite destination for tourists and nature enthusiasts there are several wonderful places to stay in the area.

Of course, you can always stay right at the Timberline Lodge and experience the beauty and craftsmanship throughout the whole session. More information, including reservation information, is available at: www.timberlinelodge.com

If you are a looking for something a little more intimate you can not go wrong with the Mt. Hood Guest House, a beautiful bed and breakfast just minutes away from where the Woodworking Nature will be held. You can find more information, including reseveration information, at: www.mthoodguesthouse.com

Also, for those wanting to get more in tune with the Nature part of The Woodworking Nature, there is always camping. Several beautiful camping areas are available, including Toll Bridge Park, which you can find more information about HERE.

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* There is a $25 summer registration fee. Sign up two months before the first day of class and the registration fee will be waived! To register, please call 503-284-1644 or use the “contact us” link above to e-mail the studio. Registration is now open! (Enrollment is limited to 10 students per class)