There is limited Space In Each Workshop - First Come, First Served!
Pre-registration required
We are very family friendly and all ages are encouraged to come. Kid workshops are for
6-12 year olds. The rest of the workshops are for adults and teens only.
AFTER registering please email your workshop choices to 68pennyg@gmail.com.
Check the schedule to make sure your choices do not overlap and
the workshop page to make sure your classes are not full.
It is helpful to provide second choices.
Most of the materials for these workshops are gathered from the land by the instructors. This takes time, skill, and thought to do responsibly. Since each project takes a different amount of effort to find and prepare materials, each one has a different materials fee, payable directly to the instructor at the start of each workshop. It is listed below the workshop description.
2026 WORKSHOPS
Friday Afternoon Demos
1-5pm
Embellish the Pizza Oven with Mosaic Art
with Dayna Sabatino
Embellish the outdoor pizza oven with Mosaic art led by Dayna Sabatino of
Day Breaks Glass Studio.
Using native stones and pebbles, with the addition of locally made stoneware pottery, as our tesserae, Dayna will teach how to set
the pieces in a beautiful design with structural integrity. Participants will be
guided through a demonstration of the process, including surface preparation,
selecting and arranging stones and pebbles, mixing and applying mortar, and
setting materials for long-lasting outdoor use. Emphasis will be placed on heat
resistance, weather durability, and safety considerations specific to pizza ovens.
Design principles such as pattern, texture, color balance, and flow will be explored
to help each participant create a unique and cohesive mosaic.
Let us decorate the common gathering area with a collaborative work of art
to last for many pizzas to come!
Knife Sharpening
with Sean Miller
Sharp tools are at the heart of good craft. Join this informal demo to learn the basics of knife sharpening, and how well-kept edges make your work safer, cleaner and more enjoyable. Come watch, ask questions and pick up tips for keeping your tools sharp.
Splint and Bark Processing
with Justin Sutera
Come learn about processing splints and bark by splitting or riving. This technique applies to black ash as well as various inner barks, and saplings or willow rods. It involves applying pressure to the material in specific ways to guide the split evenly. This demo is all about students getting their hands on this process. Materials will be provided so students can practice and come away with a new skill that applies to many forms of basketry and wildcrafting.
--
1
--
3-5pm and 6:30-8pm
BLOCK PRINTING T SHIRTS
with Erok and others
There will be two t-shirt block printing sessions, putting Sloyd Skills Gathering logos on shirts and patches. We will have some thrifted shirts and cloth available, but bring your own, if you can. Light colored cotton is best.
Saturday Morning
Spoon Carving FULL
with Sean
Two part workshop - Saturday and Sunday mornings are both required.
This workshop will provide you with the skills to craft your own cooking & eating utensils, from start to finish. We will begin with wood selection and axe work, learning how to work with the grain to efficiently split out stock material before proceeding to rough shape our spoons with axe and saw. Along the way we will discuss design layout and drawing to help plan out our shaping. We will learn proper axe safety measures and chopping technique to take the logs from their “raw” form to the stage where knifework becomes more viable.
In the second half of the course we will swap out our toolset for carving knives to further refine our roughly shaped spoons into objects of beauty and utility. Once again, proper safety through knife control and technique will be the focus of this segment, learning to use straight knives to shape the outside curves of the spoon and hook knives to hollow out the bowl. We’ll touch on different decoration techniques and how to finish your spoons as we approach the finish line- participants will complete the class with a functional spoon and all the skills necessary to carve more!
No materials fee.
Inkle Weaving. FULL
with Prin
Two part workshop- Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon are required.
This style of band weaving allows the weaver to make interesting patterns that are remarkably easy to weave.
Inkle looms are a low infrastructure way to start weaving,
super portable and really fun. We’ll weave strong
colorfully patterned bands that will be perfect for belts,
basket straps, dog leashes, reindeer halters, you name it.
Materials Fee $15
Buckskin Pouches. FULL
with Coleen
Two part workshop, Saturday morning and afternoon are both required.
In this class we will sew buckskins into a pouch. We will use a running stitch, a whip stitch, and learn how to put in a welt. We will make cordage with the buckskin thong, and learn tips and tricks to sew with buckskin well. This class will provide you with the skills to then make your own buckskin or hand tanned garments.
Materials fee: $45
Shaving Horses
with Eric
Two part workshop- both Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon are required.
A shaving horse is a foot powered clamp which allows for ergonomic and efficient shaping of irregular material with the drawknife or spokeshave. It can be useful for many types of work, including debarking poles, shaping tool handles, pitchfork making, bow making, chair making, and basketry. We will start with prepared pine and oak boards, ready to be sawn, drilled, and fitted. Over two sessions we will work together to assemble a ready-to-use shaving horse for each participant. After assembly we will cover general drawknife and spoke shave use, and a few green woodworking principles as time allows. (Note: We are building a variation of Tim Manney’s shaving horse design. The two-rail base of this shaving horse is compatible with the clamping mechanism of Dawson Moore’s spoon mule. Switching one out for the other is simple.)
Materials Fee: $200
Introduction to Carving FULL
with Lucian
This workshop will cover the foundations of green wood carving. We will use saws, axes, fros and knifes to make useful items like butter knifes and hooks. Wood from a variety of local trees will be available to work with and learn about. Tool choice, maintenance and safety will be covered along the way.
material fee: $10
Wooden Bowls FULL
with Will
Two part workshop- both Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon are required.
In this class everyone will carve a small versatile bowl that can be used for meals anywhere. We will begin with going over possible designs and layout and then dive into the hollowing of the bowl. In the second block, we will work with small carving axes to roughly shape the exterior and then fine tune the form with gouges.
We will mainly use gouges, axes, and adzes to carve the bowl. (Using an adze is optional). Carving a bowl with these hand tools is both fun and lots of work. Its especially a great way to build confidence using an axe. Along the way, you'll get a lot of experience using these tools safely and effectively as well as learning about grain orientation and how it changes the design. We will also explore finishing cuts and chip carving if there is interest and enough time. Carving a bowl by hand is a journey and great way to dive into exploring slojd with wood. All experience levels are welcome and all tools will be provided. However if you have any of the above tools that you want to use including a favorite slojd knife, please bring them along.
Materials Fee: $20
\
Waxed Canvas Fanny Pack FULL
with Caleb
Two part workshop- both Saturday morning and Saturday afternoon are required.
These little cuties perfectly hold all my daily needs! Phone, wallet, chapstick and a wee little knife fit perfectly. Come learn to make one using biodegradable waxed canvas, veg tan leather and metal hardware. You'll learn a number of hand sewing stitches, use some new tools and practice the art of three dimensional thinking in the construction of your own little everyday fanny pack. As a bonus, you'll walk away with a sweet new leather belt to use with your pants when you don't need your new pouch.
Materials Fee: $40
Kid's Wet Felting (6-9 year olds)
with Yun
In this fun hands on workshop, kids will dive into the magical world of wool! We will learn how fluffy wool turns into solid felt using warm water, soap and lots of squishing and rolling. Everyone will make colorful felt beads and flowers then use them to create wind catchers or other decorations to take home. Come get messy, be creative and have fun while learning this ancient craft!
Kid's Carving (10-12 year olds)
with Luke
Carve a variation on the Jack-in-the-Box. It's a drawstring Gnome-in-a-Log!
Saturday Afternoon
(Inkle Weaving, Buckskin Bags, Shaving Horses, Waxed Canvas Fanny Packs and Wooden Bowls continued)
Felted Hats FULL
with Brad
Students will make their own felted hat. The felting process allows us to take wool and build a beautiful and functional hat. Felted hats are amazingly warm both wet or dry, naturally water repellent, and durable.
Style choices will be straightforward such as a skullcap, cloche or simple alpine. We will accomplish this through a positive resist as we work it around a ball and shape it by our hands with water and soap. I will have grey wool as a base and some limited colors to design with. If you have colored wool you love, feel free to bring some to add to your hat! From what you learn in this course you will have a baseline understanding of felting and will be able to confidently grow this skill if you choose.
No materials fee.
Hand Hewing
with Michael
To Hew (verb): make or shape by cutting or chopping a material such as wood.
In this introduction to hand hewing we will learn to shape beams using traditional tools. We will explore how these skills can be used in Leonardo da Vinci's 15th century design for a self-supporting bridge that requires no nails or rope, relying instead on tension and compression.
We will end this year's Hand Hewing class by assembling a DaVinci bridge across a wet area by the pond.
No materials fee.
FULL
Kid's Weaving
with Emma
Come learn how to weave different materials together to make your own work of art. Kids will learn how to craft their own looms, the basics of weaving and how to identify natural materials to incorporate into their crafts. I will also have some more traditional materials to work with if kids are interested. The world is your canvas, come create some art!
Sunday Morning
(Spoons continued)
Black Ash Berry Basket. FULL
with Penny
Two part workshop-Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon are both required.
This is a great introduction to the extraordinary qualities of the black ash tree. Weave a square to round basket, approximately 6”x 6” with optional leather strap. Included will be a demo and discussion on the harvesting and processing of the splints.
Materials fee $40
Bark Tanned Fish Skins. FULL
with Ellie
Explore the ancient art of tanning fish skins with tree bark! We will take fresh fish skins and work with them through various processes to create beautiful, functional finished pieces of leather ready for crafting with. We will explore the process and science of bark tanning, the fascinating combination of animal skin and tree skin. This workshop aims to integrate this traditional craft into your life and be an accessible entry point to the complex world of bark tanning. Along with a beautiful piece of fish leather, you will leave with the skills and knowledge to bring this craft into your life with minimal, simple tools.
Materials: $20
Exploring Basswood
with Scogin
Two part workshop-Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon are both required.
The Basswood tree (Tilia spp.) provides one of the most abundant and easily accessible sources of fiber in the hardwood regions of North america. In part one of this two part class we will learn various techniques for harvesting and processing the fiber of basswood. From twined baskets to rope, in part two of this workshop we will spin basswood fiber. Using various methods, students will learn how to turn the bulk material into a usable form.
Long-stitch Leather Bookbinding. FULL
with Nancy
Two part workshop- Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon are both required.
Participants will learn several long-stitch bookbinding methods to make three mini sampler books, then use their newfound skills to create their own template for a larger leather journal. The skills learned in this class can be applied to myriad materials and projects. Materials include: repurposed leather, high-quality hand-torn FSA-certified paper for pages, decorative papers, and waxed linen for the thread. Various beads, buttons, and treasures can also be used for closures and embellishments.
Materials fee: $35
Folded Bark Baskets. FULL
with Sarah
We will be working with tree bark to make folded bark baskets. We will learn about some of the tree species that
are best suited for this technique, talk about different folds, and incorporate a rim from ash splints and lashing from basswood. This is a simple way to make a container that is practical and beautiful. It can be as simple as something suitable for survival and rustic or further developed into something more highly crafted and elegant depending on how far you take this skill. We will focus on a simple form from which you can make a lovely basket and really understand the basic principles.
Materials fee: $10
Chip Carving FULL
with Luke
We will learn basic chip carving techniques. Practicing a series of different shaped chips in growing complexity. We will learn how to use a compass and straight edge for layout and basic geometry for use in craft. Our end product will be a 6" diameter trivet with the Seed of Life design.
This workshop entails moderate hand and wrist strain.
Materials fee: $15
Kid's Paint From Stones (all ages)
with Nick
Learn to make paint from stones. We will hunt and gather rocks from the land and grind them into powder. From there we will process and refine them into a fine grit and transform it into paint. We will also approach the art of making paint brushes from a variety of angles using available natural materials found on the living landscape.
Sunday Afternoon
(Black Ash Baskets, Basswood, Book Binding Continued)
Knife Hafting FULL
with Lucian
In this workshop we will burn wood handles onto blades and shape them to fit your hand. A choice of local hardwoods will be available. You can bring your own blade (must have a rat-tail tang) or there will be blades available to buy. All tools will be provided but if you have a whittling knife or rasp you like, bring it.
Material Fee: $10
A variety of hand forged blades will be available for $30 each. Some will be for general use and some will have a Scandinavian grind for whittling.
![IMG_2059[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/db70a5_f2a7961ac4864cf59c6df7fd00fd865a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_314,h_419,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/IMG_2059%5B1%5D.jpg)
Wool Mending FULL
with Betsy
Learn how to extend the life of your wool garments. Bring your holey woolens to the workshop
and we will explore various mending techniques including darning, needle felting, and patching.
There will be extra items on hand for demos and practice. We will also discuss how wool
behaves as a fiber, best practices for care and cleaning, and we will problem solve common
injuries to wool garments (moth holes, worn out elbows and toes, etc.).
Materials Fee: $5
Parfleches. FULL
with Nick
Make a pouch and learn the ancient craft of working with rawhide, utilizing white tail deer hides.
Materials Fee: $20
Axe Skills. FULL
with Kerry
A sharp axe is one of the most essential tools for wilderness living, camping and bush craft. In this workshop, we will cover the basics of axe technique; including, chopping, splitting, limbing and carving. We'll also discuss, possibly the most important axe skill of all: how to avid cutting yourself. Bring your axe, if you have one, or loners will be available.
No materials fee.
Kid's Scavenger Hunt
with Micah
Do humans and birds communicate? Do birds and plants communicate? How does water know where to flow and the plants know where to grow? We'll search the forest for wise teachers who will help us answer questions like these and more, and meld our imaginations to create new worlds together. Get ready to run around the forest talking to plants, playing games, and creating stories that have never been told before.