classes in Portland.

My classes in Portland with the  Guild of Oregon Woodworkers have been posted for enrollment on their website. You will find class descriptions here and my usual readers may be particularly interested in the symposium for educators or those who might like to teach woodworking.

In my shop, I've been planning two boxes for students to make in two of the classes. One is in the Greene and Greene style with finger jointed corners and lift lid, and you can see my prototypes with corner joinery complete in the photo above.

I am also working on a larger box in a different style that will be more complex for a two day class, working on a safety section for a compilation of my first two books, outlines for two articles for Fine Woodworking, and a proposal for a program at next year's ISACS conference.Today, I will balance my efforts between my office, school and the wood shop.

If you are in the Portland, Oregon area, this series of classes may interest you, and if you have questions about the classes, you are welcome to contact me through the comments function or via email. What follows is the kindergarten poem that celebrates the carpenter.

Busy is the carpenter; At his work he stands.
Oh, the wonders he can do With his skillful hands.

Sawing now the long boards Shorter soon he makes,
And the rough is quickly smoothed When the plane he takes.
Dz.... dz.... Rap, rap, rap, rap, rap!
Busy is the Carpenter, At his work he stands;
Oh, the wonders he can do With his skillful hands!

By his work the crooked soon Straight and even grows;
Curv'd he changes into flat; Wondrous skill he shows.
Thus he works so busily, But we hear him say,
"Here a board and there a board; Pray, what use are they!"
Dz.... dz.... Rap, rap, rap, rap, rap!
Busy is the carpenter, At his work he stands;
Oh, the wonders he can do With his skillful hands!

So the Carpenter at last All together brings;
Nails the boards and timbers fast; How his hammer rings!
Thus a cozy house he builds Where the child may live,
And for this the grateful child Love and thanks will give.
Dz.... dz.... Rap, rap, rap, rap, rap! – Emilie Poulsson

 Make, fix, create and extend to others the experience of learning likewise.