Gift Cards

Gift Cards can be used to sign up for any class that takes place in the shop. Predetermined and custom values are available. The cards never expire.

Spoon Carving

November 2 — 9AM - 1PM

Tuition $110

Instructor: Eric Cannizzaro

Learn an unconventional method for carving spoons using chairmaking tools and steam bent spoon blanks! After an initial demonstration on how to bend a spoon blank we will explore the various spoon shapes and designs that are suited to the core tools we will use: the drawknife, gouge and spokeshave. Resources on using milk paint for decoration, and applying finish will be provided for students to complete at home. You will design and carve one spoon or spatula in this four hour class.

Willow Stars

November 15th 9AM - 12PM

Tuition $100

Instructor: Eric Cannizzaro

Spend a morning weaving stars in a variety of colors and sizes from willow grown on site. We will begin with a brief walk through the willow patch to see where the material comes from and talk about the pros and cons of growing material vs. using wild material. We will discuss harvesting, storage and preparation, and resources to tackle more complex projects on your own. Everyone will be working at their own pace, but should expect to leave with at least two completed stars!

Birch Bark Ornaments

Nov. 24th, 1PM - 5PM — Tuition: $135

Instructor: Penny Hewitt

Enjoy the simple pleasure of creating a decoration or gift from materials responsibly harvested in VT.  Utilizing techniques common to the Scandinavian and Russian style of basketry, you will craft birds and stars using strips of inner bark from the paper birch tree. Included is a discussion on how these materials are harvested and prepared. Everyone will leave with three ornaments.

Spoon Carving

December 6 — 9AM - 1PM

Tuition $110

Instructor: Eric Cannizzaro

Learn an unconventional method for carving spoons using chairmaking tools and steam bent spoon blanks! After an initial demonstration on how to bend a spoon blank we will explore the various spoon shapes and designs that are suited to the core tools we will use: the drawknife, gouge and spokeshave. Resources on using milk paint for decoration, and applying finish will be provided for students to complete at home. You will design and carve one spoon or spatula in this four hour class.

Boggs Ladderback Rocking Chair

December 7 - 13 - Tuition: $2100

Instructor: Eric Cannizzaro

Build an iconic ladder back chair designed by Brian Boggs. Routed slat mortises and drill press mortising, combined with lots of hand shaped parts. Included in the tuition is a copy of Jeff Lefkowitz’s manual on building Boggs ladder backs, detailing every step of the process. Note: Students will purchase their own seating material and bring it with them to class, see my resources page.

Spoon Carving

January 3 — 9AM - 1PM

Tuition $110

Instructor: Eric Cannizzaro

Learn an unconventional method for carving spoons using chairmaking tools and steam bent spoon blanks! After an initial demonstration on how to bend a spoon blank we will explore the various spoon shapes and designs that are suited to the core tools we will use: the drawknife, gouge and spokeshave. Resources on using milk paint for decoration, and applying finish will be provided for students to complete at home. You will design and carve one spoon or spatula in this four hour class.

Fan Birds

January 10 — 9AM - 3PM

Tuition $130

Instructor: Eric Cannizzaro

Fan bird carving is a European craft tradition dating back hundreds of years, with workmanship  ranging from simple to very elaborate. They traditionally held spiritual significance, and are often hung as holiday ornaments.

Students will spend the morning progressing at their own pace through a series of practice projects, learning the basic cuts and tools used to create fans. In the afternoon, we will work through different approaches to carving the body of the birds. The pace of this workshop will be individualized, but students should expect to go home with several samples, practice pieces, and at least one completed fan bird. Beginners welcome.

Green or Dry Windsor Chairmaking: Contemporary Side Chair

February 9 - 14 (6 days) — Charlotte, VT

Tuition: $1800

Instructor: Eric Cannizzaro

This six day class will introduce a wide range of  processes and can be tailored to suite your style of chairmaking. Parts will be shaped by hand with the drawknife and spokeshave (no turning) and you will have the option  to work straight from the log, or from dried boards. You can choose to make your chair with hand tools with a focus on building skills with your hands and eyes, or you can opt for jigged-up processes with a focus on precision and repeatability - or a little bit of both. Students can carve a pine seat, or a hardwood seat. At the end of the six days each student will leave with their own assembled chair. Note: There will not be time to apply finish to the chairs in class, but resources will be provided for students to complete these processes at home.

Reflection Side Chair

March 8 -13 (6 days) — Charlotte, VT

Tuition: $1900

Instructor: Eric Cannizzaro

This class covers a wide range of processes relevant to Windsor and ladder back chair making. Much of the week will be spent on the shaving horse shaping parts with the drawknife and spokeshave. Steam bending with and without compression straps will be covered in detail. Mortises will be drilled with the brace and bit, cordless drill, and the drill press. At the end of the six days each student will leave with their own assembled chair. Note:There will not be time to apply finish to the chairs or weave a seat, but we will discuss these topics in class and resources will be provided for students to complete these processes at home. Sign up for Seat Weaving 101 bellow on February 18th if you’d like to stay an extra day to apply a simple finish and weave your seat.

Seat Weaving 101: Shaker Tape

March 14 — 9 AM - 5PM — Charlotte, VT

Tuition: $150 (materials not included)

Instructor: Eric Cannizzaro

This one day workshop will provide all the resources and skills needed to start weaving chairs and stool seats with shaker tape. After a few initial demonstrations, students will work at their own pace with individualized instruction as needed. Students will bring in their own chair (or two!) that need re-seating (craigslist has plenty if you need one), along with the appropriate amount of shaker tape - see my resources page for where and how to order the material. Note: Student’s should expect to complete their seats anytime between 1pm - 5pm, depending on their pace and how many seats they choose to weave.

Greenwood Chairmaking: Windsor or Ladderback

April 19 - 25 (7 days) — Charlotte, VT

Tuition: $1750

Instructor: Eric Cannizzaro

This community oriented workshop is a deep dive into Greenwood chair making, and an opportunity to get exposure to the fundamentals of Windsor and ladderback chairmaking simultaneously. Students each choose to make one of two similar projects -a ladderback or windsor chair - and then we work together as a class for the first 3 or 4 days to split, shave, and bend all our chair parts from an Ash log. The second half of the workshop will be spent on joinery, carving or weaving seats, and assembly. All demonstrations for both projects will be open to the entire group. This class is a lot of work, a lot of fun, and a great way to build skills with the drawknife.

Each students choose to make:

Appalachian style 2-slat ladderback (A design I learned from Andy McFate, who learned it from Drew Langsner, both of North Carolina)

Or

democratic Windsor chair (A Curtis Buchanan design, developed in part to reduce the tools needed to make a Windsor chair, hence the name “democratic.” The ultimate project to push your drawknife skills, and your eye)

Important: Painting, finishing and weaving will be a part of of the class for those making ladderbacks. I have a large variety of milk paint colors available to use if you wish. You must purchase and bring with you to class the shaker tape to weave your seat - 25 yards of 1” tape. Th resources page on my website has links to two websites with a large variety of shaker tape colors to choose form. For those making Windsor chairs, demonstrations and resources will be provided but you will have to paint/ finish at home due to time limitations.

Green Week

April 6 -10 (5 days)

Florida School of Woodwork, Tampa, FL

Instructor: Eric Cannizzaro

Through a series of projects this class explores wood’s fundamental properties, and how you can use those properties to your advantage by soaking, steaming, and drying. An emphasis will be placed on how material selection and preparation can complicate, or simplify each project. This class aims to provide a helpful lens through which to view any woodworking project, green or dry

We will start by weaving a small berry basket, using material in its simplest form - whole willow rods. Through out the week we will incorporate more tools and processes ending with making a bent wood box from sawn and milled stock. Additional projects include stool making, broom tying, and spoon carving. Materials include willow, maple, ash, pine, and cherry, and range from split to sawn stock.

More Information and sign-up at the Florida School of Woodwork website:

Fan Birds

May 8

Sanborn Mills Farm, Loudon, NH

Instructor: Eric Cannizzaro

Wooden Pitch Fork

May 9 + 10

Sanborn Mills Farm, Loudon, NH

Instructor: Eric Cannizzaro

Ladderback Chairmaking: Boggs Side Chair or Arm Chair

May 17 -23 (7 days) — Charlotte, VT

Tuition: Side Chair $1650 Arm Chair $1800

Instructor: Eric Cannizzaro

Build an iconic ladder back chair designed by Brian Boggs. Routed slat mortises and drill press mortising, combined with lots of hand shaped parts. Included in the tuition is a copy of Jeff Lefkowitz’s manual on building Boggs ladder backs, detailing every step of the process. Note: Students will purchase their own seating material and bring it with them to class, see my resources page

Fan Birds

June 27

Sloyd Skills Gathering, Standard, VT

Instructor: Eric Cannizzaro

Chairmaking Intensive

August 1 - 16 - Charlotte, VT

Tuition: $3,600

Instructor: Eric Cannizzaro

The chair making intensive is 14 days of uninterrupted time where I will provide the tools, materials, and support you need to further your personal chairmaking goals. This pilot program is limited to three people, each person will have their own bench and workspace, and work along side two other students and myself.

This intensive is priced to include material for two to three chairs (depending on the chair), which is a reasonable amount of work for the duration of the workshop. It does not include materials for making jigs or design work. Focusing on a single complex chair from start to finish; making a set of simpler chairs for your kitchen; or making a Windsor settee and a side chair are all potential ways of structuring the intensive.

Arrive Saturday August 1, 2PM : get acquainted with the shop, your bench space, and each other. Pizza dinner at the house.

Depart Sunday August 16: work stops, we spend the day cleaning, packing, and putting the shop back together.

Work Days August 2 - 15 with Shop access: 7AM - 9PM. Eric’s availability is 9AM- 5PM except for August 8/9 which is 9AM-12PM

Important: Discussing your goals and expectations will be an important part of the application process. Anyone who has worked with me in the past is especially encouraged to apply!