Woodworking vacations

[Betsy Yocum]

I'd be interested to know where some of you folks would go on vacation to learn more about woodworking. What are some of your thoughts on the different schools that have one week classes, etc. I know there are tons out there - but would really like some input.

Thanks - happy woodworking!:)
Betsy

[Lou Morrissette]

Hi Betsy,

I think if I had the chance I would try to get into a Judy Gale Roberts class in Seymour, Tn. Her work inspired me to try intarsia and I think a course in the Great Smoky Mountains would be fun. The only problem is that they are very difficult to get into because of the demand and limited class size.
Lou

[Betsy Yocum]

Thanks Lou - the Great Smokey Mountains would definetly be cool - even without a class!


Betsy

[Jim Becker]

Arrowmont is a popular destination for such a vacation, but many of the "premo" schools also offer week-long or weekend opportunities to learn including the North Bennett Street School in the Boston area. Many of these schools advertise in the various woodworking magazines...get on their mailing lists to stay in touch with their offerings. Also, don't pass up opportunities to attend conferences, such as those offered by the American Association of Woodturners and the Furniture Society. These are generally not hands-on, but offer a hugh opportunity to interact with many known experts as well as with fellow enthusiests of all abilities.

[John Davidson]

Last year I spent a week at Lonnie Birds woodworking school in Danridge Tenn. You can find his web sight by doing a search for Lonnie Bird. Let me say that it was not cheap but I had a great time and feel that it was money well spent. I learned more in a week than I would in a year on my own. :)

I went back to work feeling refreshed and relaxed. Of coarse I was wound pretty tight before I went so there was a lot of room for improvement. :eek:

Lonnie is a great teacher and a true craftsmans. The facility is located at his home. His shop is very well equiped. With only 9 students in a class you are sure to get some one on one time with Lonnie. :D

[Ray Thompson]

Marc Adams just south of Indianapolis

American Sycamore just west of Indianapolis

Kelly Mehler, Berea Kentucky.

Excellent schools all.

Ray

[Pete Lamberty]

Arrowmont School of the Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg TN. seems to be the best school for the money. It is very affordable. They offer a vast assortment of wood turning classes. Possibly the best variety available anywhere for the best price. They also have classes in a variety of other areas of the arts. Go to www.arrowmont.org for a closer look. I have gone there five times and I can highly reccommend it.

Marc Adams woodworking school (http://marcadams.com/) is another school that I have gone to a number of times. It is absolutely first class. Everything has been thought of to make the students stay a great learning experience. I would also reccomend this school.

[Martin Shupe]

Betsy,

Marc Adams has been mentioned, and I would add my vote to the chorus. He runs a first class operation. Sign up early, his classes fill up fast. He probably has the most variety of classes with well know expert instructors from across the woodworking spectrum. Marc offers weeklong and weekend courses.

Kelly Mehler's is great as well. I am going there later this year. He is an excellent instructor and all around great guy. www.kellymehler.com

[Dave Anderson NH]

Betsy,

The choice mentioned so far are all good. Others are the Center For Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockland ME, Anderson Ranch which is in either AZ or NM, Old Mill Cabinetshop in PA, Furniture Institute of Massachusetts in Beverly, MA, and the Windsor Institute in Hampton, NH. All of these are top notch schools, check them out on the web.

[Bill Sampson]

John,
Was glad to see your comments about the class with Lonnie Bird. I am scheduled to attend one of his classes in Dandridge this fall, and am looking forward to a new learning experience.
Bill Sampson, Richmond

[Pete Lamberty]

A couple more that no one mentioned. www.pvcrafts.com and www.woodschool.com I have never been to either of these so I can not comment on them. Someone mentioned Anderson Ranch. It is near Vail, CO. Although I have never been toKelly Mehlers School. I did take a class with him at Marc Adams. He is a great teacher. He has taught at Marcs' school for many years so if he has learned from Marc, his school should also be great. There is also one some where in Ohio. It is called something like Conover. Maybe someone will give the right name. Also Haystack school is somewhere in the south east. Not sure where. Hope this helps.

[Steve Evans]

Hi

I just spent a week at Rosewood Studio (http://www.rosewoodstudio.com). I had a great time, and plan on taking some more courses when I have some time. The town where it is located is also pretty cool for a town of it's size with several galleries and such. Highly recommended.

[Charles McKinley]

Hi Betsy,

Have you looked at Ernie Conover's classes in Ohio? I haven't been there yet, but it isn't too far from me. He has turning, hand tool and veneering classes.

wwww.conoverworkshops.com

[Martin Lutz]

Marc Adams School has been a great learning experience for me. I have been there several times and am returning in about a week and a half. A little over two weeks of solid shop time, I'm pumped!!!!:) The school is very well thought out and they really take care of you. These classes have been some of the best woodworking experiences I have ever had. I have also taken classes from Kelly Mehler -- Great teacher, great guy. He has opened his own school in Berea Kentucky. I would definetly look hard at these two schools.


Good luck in your search,

[Spence DePauw]

I've taken several classes at American Sycamore in Indiana, some a full week, and some shorter. I'm signed up for two more this fall. I've been very satisfied with the experience and teachers. As full disclosure, I'm actually going to teach a one day class there this fall also. (still kind of surprised at that, but looking forward to it anyway...)

Spence

[Betsy Yocum]

Guys - thanks for your replies. I plan to check out each and every school mentioned. I had no idea there were so many out there. I will be going to American Sycamore twice (yeah:D ) in August. I'm more than pumped! I'm glad to hear it has such a good reputation.

Now I'll be able to work on my vacation for next year - when I have three weeks to play - :)

Ain't life grand!

thanks again guys - (sure love this forum - you're all great!)

Betsy

[Jerry Heiser]

Betsy,
My wife and I have seriously been thinking of going to the John C. Campbell Folkschool in Brasstown, NC to take a week course in woodturning. They have several entry levels as well as many other woodworking and craft courses such as:
Basketry (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Basketry) l Beads (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Beads) l Blacksmithing (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Blacksmithing) l Book Arts (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Book%20Arts)l Broom Making (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Broom%20Making)l Calligraphy (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Calligraphy) l Chair Seats (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Chair%20Seats) l Clay (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Clay)l Cooking (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Cooking) l Crochet (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Crochet)l Dance (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Dance) l
Dolls & Bears (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Dolls%20Bears%20&%20Puppetry) l Drawing (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Drawing) l Dyeing (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Dyeing)l Enameling (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Enameling)l Felt Making (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Felt%20Making) l Gardening (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Gardening) l Genealogy (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Genealogy)l Glass (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Glass)l Jewelry (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Jewelry) l Kaleidoscopes (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Kaleidoscopes) l Knitting (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Knitting) l Lace (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Lace) l Leather (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Leather) l Marbling (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Marbling) l Metalwork (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Metalwork) l Mixed Media (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Mixed Media) l Music (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Music) l Nature Studies (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Nature Studies) l Needlework & Thread Art (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#NeedleworkThreadArt)| Painting (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Painting) l Paper Art (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Paper Art) l Photography (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Photography) l Printmaking (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Printmaking) l Quilting (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Quilting) l Rugs (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Rugs) l Sewing (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Sewing) l Soapmaking (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Soapmaking) l Spinning (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Spinning) l
Stone, Sculpture & Mosaics (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Stone Sculpture) l Storytelling (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Storytelling) l Surface Design (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#SurfaceDesign)--Fiber (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#SurfaceDesignFiber)l Unique Offerings (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Unique Offerings) l Weaving (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Weaving) l Woodcarving (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Woodcarving) l Woodturning (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Woodturning) l Woodworking (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Woodworking) l Writing (http://folkschool.org/courselisting.html#Writing)

Check their web site at www.folkschool.org (http://www.folkschool.org).

Have fun wherever you go.

Jerry

[Michael Stafford]

My wife and I love John C. Campbell. It is a beautiful setting and all of the instructors and staff are friendly and helpful. Some purists may turn up their noses at some of the woodworking and woodturning offerings but for most of us who are average guys/gals in the shop much can be learned. The courses I have taken kept me very busy for the 6 1/2 hours a day we were in the shop. More time in the shop than I can usually get at home. Most instructors also open the shops after dinner so you can work more if you desire. Classes are liimited to 10-12 and have an instructor and co-instructor.
The food is wonderful and I have never met a person there that I didn't like. No tv, phone or computer connections and very poor cell phone reception. I went there to get away from all that stuff. Classes usually have a material cost above and beyond the tuition but you get alot for your money. In one segmented turning class we came home with 6 projects in the 5 1/2 days of class. Highly recommended. I'm headed back this October. ;)

[Jack Hogoboom]

Not to pile on, but I've taken two courses at the Peters Valley Craft Education Center in NW New Jersey. They offers one-day, weekend and week-long classes on a range of woodworking interests. Last year, I was fortunate enough to take a class on hand-cutting dovetails with Frank Klausz. Frank is a great teacher and definitely has his opinions about how to do things. However, once you take a class from him, you'll never cut dovetails any way other than his way ever again.

In October, I am taking David Ellsworth's bowl-turning class in Quakertown, PA. I believe Jim Becker, among others, has taken that class. David is a world-class turner and a very entertaining teacher, judging from his videos.

If I were in Texas, I'd be taking lessons from Todd Burch for sure. All you have to do is look at his project posts to realize the man has a lot of wisdom and insight to share.

Good luck with your vacation planning!!!

Jack

[Joseph N. Myers]

Betsy,

For those looking for a vacation without the schooling, from WOOD Magazine, Winter 1999, a brief overview follows.

12 Top Vacation Stops for Adventurous Woodworkers
1. The best of Shaker, the Shaker Museum and Library at Old Chatham, NY, spans 200 years of Shaker history and industries and representing every known Shaker community

2. It was called Furniture City, Grand Rapids, MI, Public Museum of Grand Rapids representing 150 years of furniture products

3. California’s redwood country, Scotia, CA, one of the few remaining "company" towns build to house workers that logged the redwood trees

4. They look like they’d fly, Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury, MD, carving of birds

5. A woodcraft capitol, Berea, KY, town of 10,000 making all sorts of furniture (spoon makers, musical instrument, chairmakers, turners, etc)

6. A logging camp revived, Forest History Center in Grand Rapids, MI, costumed performers play character roles in an authentic 1900 logging camp

7. America’s classic furniture, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, Wilmington, DE, 89,000 of classic American furniture and cabinetwork from 1640 to 1860

8. Shelburne has the tools, Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, VT, 37 buildings housing more than 80,000 objects of Americana including upwards of 1,600 tools used to build the average home and its furniture of 150 years ago.

9. The dean of American Craftmen, Paoli, PA, sculpture, furniture, living quarters and work room of Wharton Esherick who was known at the "dean of American craftsmen"

10. Colonial life as it was, Colonial Williamsburg, VA, all the old trades from cabinetmaking, coopering, wheelwrighting, gunsmithing, etc., definitely more than one day trip

11. Wood comes alive here, National Museum of Woodcarving, Black Hills, SD, thousands of lifelike wooden scenes , works of 70 nationally known woodcarvers, etc. (And with advance reservation, you can stay a day or two and take a carving class).

12. A shrine of pine, Baldwin, MI, showcases the skill of a 1920s guide and woodsman who created a building and filled it with rustic furniture without the aid of power tools, nails or screws.

[Perry Holbrook]

Campbell is a wonderful place. Most courses are entry level but some (especially turning) are higher level. Arrowmont is generally intermediate and higher courses.

However, if you're interested in the total experience of a get away especially if you take someone with you, Campbell is hard to beat.

I admit to being prejudice here, I teach over there on occassion.

Perry

[Betsy Yocum]

I need to win the lottery so I can try out all these schools!.

Joe should be commended for keeping magazines from 1999 and being able to find something to go with the thread - I can't find the magazine I was reading last week let alone 1999!

Thanks again for all your suggestions. When I get back from American Sycamore - I'll let you all know how it was.:)

Betsy

[Pete Lamberty]

If you can Betsy, would you consider doing a photo essay of the classes that you will be taking? You know photos and text of the school buildings, inside and out. Photos of the classes work, etc. You know us... we love photos!

[Betsy Yocum]

Pete - I intend to take my digital camera with me and take as many pictures as they will let me get away with! :D

Now as to posting them - someone is going to have to direct me where to get the instructions on doing that. I'm very electronically challenged.

Betsy

[Spence DePauw]

Betsy, which classes are you signed up for at American Sycamore? As I said earlier, I've found it a fun place.

Spence

[Betsy Yocum]

Spence my first class is going to be the jewlry box class - the second is going to be the roll around cabinet. I'm very excited about both - but more so the jewlry box class. I'm sure both will be worth more than I'm paying for them.

I'll try to post pics when I get back.

Betsy

[Spence DePauw]

I took that one last year as a 3 day class. At the end, we all recommended extending it, and including making jigs to take home. Tom is a very good instructor, and does beautiful work. You'll' love it! (BTW, I never have put finish on the boxes... :( yet )

Spence

[Betsy Yocum]

Folks - I start my trip to ASWR this Saturday. I plan to have pictures to post - but I need some direction to find the instructions on how to post pictures to this site. Please understand when it comes to electronics - I'm a "take me by the hand" person. So hopefully - if you type real slow - I can figure it out.:rolleyes:


Thanks!!

[Tom Scott]

Betsy,
One more to add to your list is Homestead Heritage in Waco. Homestead Heritage (http://homesteadheritage.com/woodworking/)
It is a great place to learn the basics of hand tools if you are so inclined, and they offer classes in length from 1 day up to 6 days.

Tom

[Stewart Crick]

I attended Kelly's Chest of Draws class last week. Very well run class. I did a review over at Woodnet in the Woodworking section.

Stu

[Roger Fitzsimonds]

Hi Betsy,

Another school located in the North Carolina mountains is John C. Campbell folk school. here's the link http://www.folkschool.org/ They do woodworking , wood turning and many other folk art crafts. I know several people who have been and they really liked it.


Roger

[Betsy Yocum]

Thanks Roger - that's one that is on my list to check out. Have a good weekend!:)

[Betsy Yocum]

Ok - I promised pictures of my trip to American Sycamore - I'm still working on them and will post shortly. However, until then I wanted to tell you all that if you ever get a chance to go to this particular school - you won't be disappointed. The Van Pelt's run a first class operation - its a very relaxed atmosphere. In fact, I felt like I was at a family reunion and met a bunch of cousins I did not know I had. The classes are small enough to get individual attention and the equipment is good. It does not hurt that they feed you so well - I must have gained ten pounds on Dana's fare!

Long and short - I have no reservations recommending this school. You would not be disappointed!

Betsy