Wood Spoon Carving with Fred Livesay
Age/Level: Beginner and above. Minimum age 15
Date: Saturday & Sunday, February 15 & 16, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: January 25, 2025
Location: Milan Village Arts School
Scandinavia and many other countries have folk traditions of carving spoons for personal and home use and as gifts. This two day class aims to continue this craft. Come and discover why the satisfaction of spoon carving has taken Europe and the U.S. by storm. Spoon carving opens the door to a host of other woodcraft skills using axes and knives.
The focus of the class is to develop the student’s confidence in the use of an axe and knife for roughing and finishing of a beautiful, durable, and usable wooden spoon. During the first morning session, students will learn carving strokes using “try” sticks, then move to making a set of chopsticks to improve their skills. The afternoon session and following day are devoted to carving the spoon.
Other aspects of the class will cover sharpening, design, decorating, and finishing of your spoon. In addition, stretching and exercises, as well as posturing for fatigue-free carving will be covered to make your carving experience more enjoyable.
Please bring your own old and new spoons to share with the class. Fred will assist returning students with additional techniques to improve their skills.
Tuition: member $150 non-member $165
Supplies/materials: $30 payable to the instructor. Fred will have some tools for student use and additional spoon blanks for sale.
Click here to register.
Read Fred Livesay’s bio.
Advanced Wood Spoon Carving with Fred Livesay
Age/Level: Experienced spoon carvers. Minimum age 16
Date: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, June 3, 4 & 5, 2025
Time: Tuesday & Wednesday: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Registration Deadline: May 17, 2025
Location: Milan Village Arts School
Two days will be spent in the rigorous, pursuit of better spoons with Fred Livesay who began carving spoons at age 7 and who now has 40 years of teaching, from which to draw. Class begins with a thorough examination of spoons from all angles and what makes good and great spoons. Discussions, including; wood choice, design and proportions, bowl and handle shapes are in order. You will be challenged to design new spoons, copy others and learn how to “see.” There will be ample time for class critiques each day, as well as, demonstrations on efficient chopping out of blanks, using crooks, and getting the best edge on tools.
This class is not open to beginners. You must have made at least 20 or more spoons to take this class. Good hand strength is a must for this class, as well. An example of necessary hand strength for this class is the ability to open a tight jar lid.
Tuition: $215
Supplies/materials: $25 payable to the instructor at the conclusion of class.
Click here to register.
Read Fred Livesay’s bio.
Scandinavian Flat Plane Carving with Bill Jaeger
Age/Level: Beginner and above. Minimum age 16
Date: Saturday & Sunday, March 15 & 16, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: February 15, 2025
Location: Milan Village Arts School
Bill provides carving students with carving designs for this class that highlight the historical and unique aspects of traditional Scandinavian style figure carving. Students will practice the particular knife strokes and techniques to achieve the look of the old carvers. A good carving knife is the only tool needed, but students should bring their palm gouges. Carvers with some experience should be able to carve and paint a figure in this weekend class.
Tuition: member $140 non-member $155
Supplies: Students should bring their carving tools. Bill will provide band sawn blanks out of basswood and Pinewood Forge Knives for purchase. Finishing materials such as paint and Danish oil will be supplied by instructor.
Click here to register.
Read Bill Jaeger’s bio.
Scandinavian Flat Plane Figure Carving with Charles Banks
Age/Level: Beginner and above. Minimum age 15
Date: Saturday & Sunday, February 8 & 9, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: January 18, 2025
Location: Milan Village Arts School
In this 2 day course, students will use just a knife to carve a Nordic-inspired character in this introduction to the world of Flat Plane carving. This style of woodcarving is simplified and stylized so that even beginning carvers can generate results that are whimsical and satisfying. Students will be introduced to the history, past and present carvers, a multitude of figure carving options, necessary cuts and finishing techniques all culminating in a finished carving or more. This class does require a modest amount of dexterity and hand strength.
Tuition: member $140 non-member $155
Supplies: Blanks cost $5 to $15 depending on the size. Required tools: Flat/ straight edged carving knife 1 1/2 to 2 inch works well. Cut resistant glove. Carvers are welcome to bring whatever tools they own.
Click here to register.
Read Charles Banks’ bio.
Wood Bowl Turning on a Lathe with Steve Mullins
Age/Level: Beginner and above. Minimum age 16. Younger students welcome if accompanied by an adult.
Class 1: Saturday & Sunday
Date: October 19 & 20, 2024
Registration Deadline: October 28, 2024
Class 2: Saturday and Sunday
Date: March 8 & 9, 2025
Registration Deadline: February 15, 2025
Class 3: Saturday & Sunday
Date: October 18 & 19, 2025
Registration Deadline: September 27, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Milan Village Arts School
In this class, we will focus on developing the basic skills needed to turn a wooden bowl from “green” unseasoned log wood.
Working at the power lathes, students will learn how to properly execute bevel rubbing cuts and scraping techniques using bowl gouges. We will also cover wood selection, bowl blank preparation, bowl mounting methods and lathe safety. Each student will turn bowls they can take home.
The instructor will provide all necessary tools and equipment, but students may bring their own tools if they wish. Please note that tools with carbide cutters will not be used. Students will need to provide their own face shield.
For questions, please contact Steve at info@mullinswoodworks.com.
To view examples of Steve’s bowls, please visit: www.mullinswoodworks.com – click on Etsy Store
Tuition: member $245 non-member $260
Supplies: A supply fee of $45 is payable to the instructor at the conclusion of the class. All supplies and materials will be provided.
Click here to register.
Read Steve Mullins’s bio.
MVAS has a fully operational lathe equipped with tools and sharpener available for member use. Access is by appointment. Students either need to have taken Steve’s class or have similar experience.
Acanthus Carving with Hans Sandom
Age/Level: Beginner and above. Minimum age 18
Date: Monday through Friday, October 20, 21, 22, 23 & 24, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: October 4, 2025
Location: Milan Village Arts School
Both novices and accomplished workers meet in this class to carve beautiful, ornate, leaf designs in wood. Students learn to work with the wood grain, basic elements of design, and the use and care of wood carving tools. The Acanthus technique dates back many centuries and can be used to add beauty to both structural and decorative woodwork.
Tuition: member $310 non-member $325
Supplies: A Supply Fee depending on the project chosen is paid to the instructor at the conclusion of class. Cost of a project: $25 – $75.
A Supply List will be sent on registration. Sets of carving tools are available for rent from the instructor.
Click here to register.
Read Hans Sandom’s bio.
Acanthus Carving with Jock Holmen
Age/Level: Beginner and above. Minimum age 15.
Date: Monday through Friday, March 17, 18, 19, 20 & 21, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: February 22, 2025
Location: Milan Village Arts School
Learn to carve elegant, ornate leaf designs in wood. Acanthus carving dates back many centuries and is used to add beauty to both structural and decorative woodwork. In this class, we will learn the basic techniques of working with wood grain, the elements of design, and the use and care of woodcarving tools. You will learn to carve all the way around the piece, including the back side. It will be possible to carve a panel or a clock in this style.
If you have never carved this style before, you will start with a simple scroll and there will be numerous projects to choose from. You may bring your own projects, or the instructor will provide patterns and blanks.
Students also have the option of carving a simple dragon head carving as an alternative to Acanthus.
Tuition: member $310 non-member $325
Supplies: Materials: $25-$75, payable to the instructor. Bring your Acanthus carving tools. Jock has sets of tools for rent for beginning students.
Click here to register.
Read Jock Holmen’s bio.
Shrink Box Magic with Bill Rickard & Scott Johnson
Age/Level: Beginner and above. Minimum age 18
Date: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, November 1, 2 & 3, 2024
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: October 12, 2024
Location: Milan Village Arts School
Taking advantage of the characteristics of greenwood to shrink as it dries, the shrink box is a fun and magical way to craft a container. Shrink boxes are made from a hollowed out green tree branch, which is grooved on the inside at one end.
A section of tree or branch is hollowed out and a groove is cut towards the bottom. Then a dry piece of wood is cut to loosely fit in the groove. The green wood dries and shrinks around the dry bottom, hence the term shrink box. You will start with a piece of greenwood, bark on. You will remove the bark, hollow it out, fit the bottom in and carve and fit the lid. Then you may add different types of lids and knobs, and decoration, such as carving, kolrosing, acrylic or milk paint, and other types of finishes.
Tuition: member $200 non-member $215
Supplies: A supply fee of $30 is payable to the instructor at the conclusion of the class. A Supply List will be sent out at the time of registration.
Click here to register.
Read Bill Rickard & Scott Johnson’s bio.
Hewn Wood Bowl Carving with Alex Yerks
Age/Level: Beginner and above. Minimum age 16
Date: Friday, Saturday & Sunday, April 4, 5 & 6, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: March 16, 2025
Location: Milan Village Arts School
Learn to carve a hewn bowl! In this course you will be fully immersed in the world of bowl carving. This is a great class if you want to learn really precise axe work and how to sculpt with it. We will be using adzes and gouges for hollowing to create large wooden bowls over the course of three days.
This course will cover just about all you need to know about hewing your own bowls, sourcing your own wood, designing different styles of bowls, learning various and innovative tool grips, and we will cover sharpening.
The goal of this workshop is to gain confidence in yourself and the tools being used. By the end of the course you will have all of the knowledge and skills needed to start crafting your own unique bowls that will get passed down from generation to generation.
Tuition: member $225 non-member $240
Supplies: A Supply List is sent on registration
Click here to register.
Read Alex Yerks’ bio.
Scandinavian-Style Kuksa Carving with Alex Yerks
Age/Level: Age/Level: Beginner and above. Minimum age 16
Date: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, January 31 and February 1 & 2, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Registration Deadline: January 11, 2025
Location: Milan Village Arts School
Over this two and a half day course you will be fully immersed in the ancient world of Scandinavian- style kuksa carving. The goal of the workshop is to build a relationship with each of the tools we will be using while gaining an understanding of how they work in relation to the timber itself. This is a great course aimed at both beginners and more experienced wood carvers. We will be swinging axes and adzes, and using gouges, hook tools, and the humble, but versatile, sloyd knife. This is a very unique opportunity because you will be learning to use such a large array of tools while developing techniques which bridge the gap between spoon and bowl carving.
The course will cover just about all you need to know, including sourcing wood, carving and learning advanced techniques. Safety will also be a priority. We will even discuss some basic tool maintenance.
Some specialty bespoke adzes and gouges will be used. In addition, some lovely fresh cut timber will be provided that you will transform from raw material to a fine kuksa by the end of the course.
The goal of this workshop is to gain confidence in yourself and the tools being used. We will spend two and a half days building a relationship with each specific tool – the axe, adze, gouge, froe, and straight and hooked knives. This is the key to understanding the function of tool and timber.
Tuition: member $225 non-member $240
Supplies: $40 paid to the instructor at the conclusion of class.
Click here to register.
Read Alex Yerks’ bio.