May Seminars

DATE & TIME:

Saturday, May 4, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

This workshop will cover lathe features, safety and function; tool selection, use and sharpening; choice and orientation of the wood blank; and, different methods of mounting the blank to the lathe. You will then turn your own bowl. The session will close with a discussion about sanding and finishing. All tools and materials provided.

FEE: $130.00

DATE & TIME:

Thursday, May 9, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

This workshop will help you gain an understanding of finishing fundamentals, making wood finishing less confusing and intimidating for novice woodworkers and helping experienced woodworkers achieve better results. The step-by-step processes to achieve the texture, color, sheen and protection that you want for your projects will be demonstrated and the techniques for building with a finish in mind, surface preparation, shellac, dyes, stains, blotch control and application will also be covered. You will receive your own copy of Understanding Wood Finishing for future reference.

FEE: $30.00

DATE & TIME:

Friday, May 10, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

Just in time for Mother's Day, this seminar can be a day out with Mom, or an opportunity to make a special gift for her – or yourself! You will make a beautiful, durable set of sterling silver earrings with Czechoslovakian glass beads and a necklace to match. This workshop is for adults or children over 7 years old with an accompanying adult. All tools and supplies provided.

FEE: $80.00

DATE & TIME:

Thursday, May 16, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

The safe use of the table saw will be the primary focus of this seminar, but tool set-up, basic operations, and saw blade design and selection will also be covered. Each operation will be clearly demonstrated, including safety fixtures. You don't need any prior knowledge – questions will be welcomed and technical terminology thoroughly explained. In addition, you will take home a copy of Complete Illustrated Guide to Table Saws. All tools and materials provided.

FEE: $30.00

DATE & TIME:

Friday, May 17, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

This session will be a comprehensive discussion on beekeeping. Topics covered will include hive set-up, nucleus colonies, hive maintenance, urban beekeeping and harvesting the honey.

FEE: $25.00

DATE & TIME:

Saturday, May 18, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

Using many of the most common woodworking machines, you will complete a unique chacuterie board to take home. With step-by-step guidance in the safe and efficient use of various tools, such as the table saw, jointer, router and bandsaw, you will laminate different hardwoods into one functional two-sided serving board. Food-safe finishes (to be applied at home) and how to care for your new board will be discussed. All tools and materials provided.

FEE: $140.00

DATE & TIME:

Sunday, May 19, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

Due to its softness, cottonwood bark is easy to carve. Using your imagination and the natural irregular shape of the bark, you can create whimsical items such as houses, castles, lighthouses or cottages. This session will guide you through the required techniques. All tools and material will be supplied, but you may bring your own sharpened tools if you wish.

FEE: $80.00

DATE & TIME:

Thursday, May 23, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

Often thought of as a machine that cuts curves, the bandsaw excels at a variety of tasks. Like any other tool, the bandsaw needs proper set-up, tuning and maintenance. This session targets the essential components of the saw that need accurate adjustment for the tool to work safely and accurately, plus which blades are right for each job. Included with the session is a copy of the book New Complete Guide to the Band Saw that you will take home. All tools and materials provided.

FEE: $30.00

DATE & TIME:

Friday, May 24, 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

DETAILS:

In this session, you will be led through the steps of carving your own spoon out of basswood. Wood choice and the intended use of the spoon, as well as options for finishing your spoon at home will be discussed. All tools and materials will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own sharp carving tools to work with.

FEE: $30.00

DATE & TIME:

Saturday, May 25, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

DETAILS:

Starting with a slideshow, you will learn about stereotomy (l’art du trait) and how it is used. You will look at buildings and constructions that used stereotomy and how it transformed societal architecture in a profound way. You will learn how stereotomy was once taught at schools, and learn about the World Skills Event and how the contenders use this knowledge to solve for complex joinery and angles. You will also see how it is used in other areas of construction, such as stairbuilding and masonry. Then, you will learn to apply the methods of stereotomy to reproduce three-dimensional objects. You will examine the surface net of a three-dimensional linear and curved object (cube, pyramid, cone, roof structures) and recreate it on a two-dimensional surface (paper) to be able to cut it out and refold it to reproduce the desired three-dimensional object. All tools and supplies provided.

FEE: $80.00

DATE & TIME:

Sunday, May 26, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

Soapstone is easy to work and polishes like a gem. During this workshop, you will learn the basics of carving and polishing soapstone using rasps, files and sandpaper. You will choose your piece of soapstone from an assortment of roughly cut shapes. Discover the animal hidden in the stone! All tools and materials provided.

FEE: $60.00

DATE & TIME:

Thursday, May 30, 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

DETAILS:

The proper honing and sharpening of your tools is essential to their effective use. This workshop will guide you through the sharpening of your hand plane blades and chisels with the use of wheels, belts, stones, and the Veritas® Power Sharpening System. Cap iron adjustment and how to grind angles for optimal performance will be discussed. This is an informative session, sure to help you with your sharpening needs. If you have a plane blade or chisel in need of sharpening, bring it along to work on. All sharpening materials provided.

FEE: $30.00

DATE & TIME:

Friday, May 31, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Please note that this is a lecture or demonstration.

DETAILS:

Steam bending has a reputation as a challenging woodworking technique. This session will show you simple steam bending techniques with no specialized equipment other than the clamps in your clamp rack, and spare plywood you likely have in your scrap bin.

FEE: $50.00

June Seminars

DATE & TIME:

Saturday, June 1, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 2, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

In this workshop, you will complete a high-quality 14" frame hand drum. You will skin the drum by lacing a white-tail deer hide to a pine frame and also make a beater for playing the instrument. You will receive a drum maintenance sheet to take home. All tools and materials provided.

FEE: $180.00

DATE & TIME:

Thursday, June 6, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

Chip carving is a hobby that can be done at the kitchen table with just a few hand tools, and which creates beautiful results. There are three basic cuts (curved, triangular and straight) that can be combined into an endless variety of designs. In this session, you will be provided with an introduction to chip carving techniques which you will then use to carve a tea light holder. All tools and materials provided.

FEE: $75.00

DATE & TIME:

Friday, June 7, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

Chip carving is a hobby that can be done at the kitchen table with just a few hand tools, and which creates beautiful results. There are three basic cuts (curved, triangular and straight) that can be combined into an endless variety of designs. In this session, you will be provided with an introduction to chip carving techniques which you will then use to carve a set of coasters. All tools and materials provided.

FEE: $50.00

DATE & TIME:

Saturday, June 8, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 9, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

Chip carving is a hobby that can be done at the kitchen table with just a few hand tools, and which creates beautiful results. There are three basic cuts (curved, triangular and straight) that can be combined into an endless variety of designs. In this session, you will be provided with an introduction to chip carving techniques which you will then use to carve a trivet. All tools and materials provided.

FEE: $160.00

DATE & TIME:

Friday, June 14, 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

DETAILS:

Woodworkers often struggle with upholstery when building furniture. This session will provide examples of how to perform basic upholstery for chair seats. Techniques for different types of simple upholstery, tools, materials, fabrics and seat styles will be discussed and demonstrated. You will go home with a copy of the book Complete Step-by-Step Upholstery to provide inspiration for your future projects. This is an excellent companion course to our chair building seminars.

FEE: $60.00

DATE & TIME:

Thursday, June 20, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

Cats love a high perch where they can sleep, play and look down on their domain. You will build a 4’ high wooden structure for your cat with carpeted landing pads, appropriate for a small indoor setting. Accessorizing will be discussed as well. All tools and supplies provided.

FEE: $60.00

DATE & TIME:

Friday, June 21, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

This is a great opportunity to learn how to grow your own food by recycling it! You simply take your vegetable scraps and leftovers and grow them into a brand new vegetable. It's an easy way to cut down your grocery bill, and a fun way for kids and adults alike to experiment and learn about growing their own food. You will learn how to regrow celery, lettuce, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions and more. You will also learn how plants grow and what they require to flourish.

FEE: $30.00

DATE & TIME:

Thursday, June 27, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

There are many sanders on the market, but how do you know which one to use? Learn about the different applications each sander is designed for, why and when to use one, what to look for when shopping for a new sander, and proper sanding techniques. With guidance, you will try different sanders and get comfortable with how to handle them. All tools and supplies provided.

FEE: $30.00

DATE & TIME:

Friday, June 28, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

It might not be glamorous, but knowing about the bugs and diseases in a vegetable garden can mean the difference between success and failure. Controlling garden pests can be a complex matter, but the standpoint that keeping plants healthy will bolster their natural defenses is a great beginning. This session will cover common pests, an overview of integrated pest management, how to give plants what they need to defend themselves, and cultural methods to prevent and control pests. But all bugs aren't bad, so identifying beneficial insects and pollinators and how to attract them to your garden will also be discussed.

FEE: $25.00

DATE & TIME:

Sunday, June 30, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

DETAILS:

While making this deceptively simple box, you will acquire a variety of hand-tool skills. You will learn how to lay out and hand-cut dovetails and how to keep track of multiple parts. Made almost entirely with hand tools, the box features a single hand-cut dovetail at each corner. Please be aware that you will be working with basic hand tools, including a block plane, a smoothing plane, chisels, handsaws, and marking equipment. Prior experience with these tools will allow you to finish the project. All tools and materials supplied.

FEE: $75.00

July Seminars

DATE & TIME:

Monday, July 8, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday, July 9, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday, July 10, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday, July 11, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and
Friday, July 12, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

Under guidance, you will be introduced to safe, efficient and foolproof techniques to make your very own pieces. These five days will give you all the necessary skills and techniques to fast track your journey at the lathe. You will be introduced to basic and intermediate woodturning techniques, like sharpening, spindles, bowls and platters among others. All tools and materials supplied.

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Louis Boucher retired from public service in 2013. An accomplished life-long woodworker, Louis reacquainted himself with woodturning and he is now an accredited woodturning instructor and a member of the American Association of Woodturners (AAW). An active member in three Canadian AAW chapters, Louis likes to share his passion by teaching, demonstrating and writing about woodturning. While focusing on ergonomics, efficiency and safety, he is always looking for innovative ways to create utilitarian pieces.

FEE: $750.00

DATE & TIME:

Sunday, July 14, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

DETAILS:

In this session, you will be led through the steps of carving your own spoon out of basswood. Wood choice and the intended use of the spoon, as well as options for finishing your spoon at home will be discussed. All tools and materials will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own sharp carving tools to work with.

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Douglas Pelchat’s lifelong interest in woodworking and the outdoors led him to the hobby of greenwood spoon carving. After serving in the military, Douglas retired. He graduated from Algonquin College's cabinetmaking and furniture making program, and was a self-employed furniture maker for 7 years. He is now retired again.

FEE: $30.00

DATE & TIME:

Monday, July 22, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday, July 23, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday, July 24, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday, July 25, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and
Friday, July 26, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

Learn all about leatherwork, including Native clothing and medieval armor. You will learn the basics of how to purchase leather, from measuring and thickness grades to calculating how much leather you need for your projects. With guidance, you will create a number of unique pieces throughout the week, each day building on the skills from the previous day. All tools and supplies provided.

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Rosie Treiber is the owner of Niagara Custom Leather Works. She has been in business since 2005 and makes custom leather products. Her motto is that “If it can be imagined, it can be made!"

FEE: $600.00

DATE & TIME:

Saturday, July 27, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

Traditionally made out with softwoods, sturdy joinery and a clever lid closure, Japanese wooden toolboxes were not made to store tools, but rather for the woodworker to carry his tools from the workshop to the jobsite. These simple-looking boxes will challenge your joinery skills. This workshop will show you the conventional methods used by the Japanese for centuries as you build your own toolbox to take home. Please note: those with hand tool skills will get the most from this workshop. All tools and materials provided.

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Andrew Strome became interested in woodworking as a child while helping his grandfather, a cabinetmaker. After attending Algonquin College in Perth, Andrew worked as a joiner, specializing in architectural work. He is now an employee of Lee Valley Tools.

FEE: $120.00

DATE & TIME:

Sunday, July 28, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

DETAILS:

Make your own lightbox with LED lights. You will assemble the wooden lightbox as well as the electronics that go into it. All tools and materials provided.

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Romy Randev is an artist and designer who collaborates with architects, interior designers and homeowners to create custom work that is largely about experimenting with light and color. He's interested in using light, color and technology in subtle ways to create pieces that resonate on a subconscious and playful level. Romy's aim is to create objects that surprise, delight and create a sense of wonder, employing modern technologies, materials and fabrication techniques together with hand-crafted glasswork. You can find out more about Romy and his work on his website, loomastudios.com.

FEE: $175.00 / per person

DATE & TIME:

Monday, July 29, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday, July 30, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday, July 31, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday, August 1, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and
Friday, August 2, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

Soapstone is easy to work and polishes like a gem. During this camp, you will learn the basics of carving and polishing soapstone using rasps, files and sandpaper. Discover the shapes hidden in the stone! All tools and materials provided.

INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Since the 1990s, Lloyd Stonehouse has been conducting soapstone carving seminars from coast to coast in Canada as well as internationally. He spends his summers paddling a canoe and offering soapstone workshops throughout Ontario in our provincial parks. He also gives private lessons and does sessions for community groups and charity organizations.

FEE: $700.00

August Seminars

DATE & TIME:

Saturday, August 10, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

Kumiko is the interlocking latticework used in shoji, which are traditional Japanese panelled doors, windows or room dividers with a translucent rice paper covering. In this class, you will make a panel with a traditional motif based on the hemp leaf (asa-no-ha). You will be introduced to the simple jigs and fixtures used in creating these panels, then you will practise the fundamental sawing and chiselling required for accurate results. With a systematic approach and attention to detail, this complex procedure becomes demystified. All tools and materials provided. 

FEE: $100.00

DATE & TIME:

Sunday, August 11, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

DETAILS:

Make your own lightbox with LED lights. You will assemble the wooden lightbox as well as the electronics that go into it. All tools and materials provided. 

FEE: $170.00

DATE & TIME:

Monday, August 12, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday, August 13, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday, August 14, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday, August 15, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday, August 16, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

Under guidance, you will be introduced to safe, efficient and foolproof techniques to make your very own pieces. These five days will give you all the necessary skills and techniques to fast track your journey at the lathe. You will be introduced to basic and intermediate woodturning techniques, like sharpening, spindles, bowls and platters among others. All tools and materials supplied.

FEE: $650.00

DATE & TIME:

Saturday, August 13, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

DETAILS:

This workshop will introduce you to the basics of woodturning. Equipment, tools, safety and basic turning techniques will be covered. You turn a simple salt and pepper shaker set, a candle holder and a flower vase (one or more of these may be made, depending on time and skill). The emphasis of this workshop is on skill development through practice of technique. All tools and materials provided.

FEE: $130.00

Location

• 900 Morrison Drive.
  Ottawa, Ontario K2H 8K7

Registration Requirements

• To purchase tickets call: (902) 450-1221
• Tickets are not available for purchase online.
• Seating is limited. Please register early to avoid disappointment.

Tools & Materials

• All tools and materials will be supplied.

Food & Drink

• Beverages are provided at our seminars and a light sandwich lunch is provided at all-day events. Please discuss any special dietary needs with the staff at time of registration. In an effort to reduce waste, we encourage you to bring in your own coffee mug and/or refillable water bottle.

What to Wear

• We require that you wear closed shoes (e.g. running shoes) to all seminars.

Pricing, Cancellation & Rescheduling

• Prices are subject to GST.
• 48 hours notice required for cancellation refunds.
• We reserve the right to reschedule seminars.