2025

Welcome to the shop!

Class begins Monday! Windsor chairmaking is unique in that the process begins with a log of fresh green wood. From there, the parts are shaved and shaped into a chair utilizing many of the same techniques and tools of our ancestors. The result is not only chair built to last a lifetime but an engaging and intimate experience. My shop is located In Auburn Ca at the base of the Sierra Mountains. We live in the country side surrounded Oak trees and the sounds of nature. There’s something very special about making chairs in this manner and I hope you’ll join me in my shop for Windsor chairmaking in Northern California

Custom Classes

If you don’t see something that you want or if a time doesn’t fit your schedule, always feel free to contact me as I’m pretty flexible and may be able make something work for you!

This is a great chair for the beginner while still offering plenty of challenge for the more experienced out there. Class begins Monday morning at 8 with riving out and shaping of all green parts and steam bending. Drilling, carving, shaping and assembly will comprise the remainder of the week. We will be working from Curtis Buchanan’s chair plans and sets are available for purchase from his website. Turnings will be provided as there is not enough time to teach this aspect of chairmaking. Arrangements can be made for the baluster turnings and more ornate style if you desire but a week or two’s notice would be needed ahead of the class. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any comments questions or concerns. I’d also highly recommend Curtis’s youtube series on chairmaking. Its free and will give you good heads up on how the class will go.

What to bring:

All tools and materials will be provided but feel free to bring one or two of your favorites. .

A sack lunch

A Jacket just in case, I will have a heater going to warm the shop.

Places to stay

How to sign up:

Class is limited to 3 people with a $100 dollar deposit reuquired. Feel free to call or email me when you’re ready to sign up for class and you’ll be put on the schedule. Check, Paypal, or Cash accepted.

This chair offers a bit more challenge. It’s best if those signing up have previous greenwoodworking experience with either myself or another chairmaker but if you’re a beginner and up for the challenge, id say give it a shot. Class begins Monday morning at 8 with riving out and shaping of all green parts and steam bending. Drilling, carving, shaping and assembling will comprise the remainder of the week. We will be working from Curtis Buchanan's chair plans and a set will be available for purchase in class. Turnings will be provided as there is not enough time to teach this aspect of chairmaking. Arrangements can be made for the more ornate baluster turnings if you desire but a week or two’s notice would be needed ahead of the class. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any comments questions or concerns.

What to bring:

All tools and materials will be provided but feel free to bring a couple of your favorites.

A sack lunch

A Jacket just in case, but I will have a heater to warm the shop

Places to stay

How to sign up:

Class is limited to 3 people with a $100 dollar deposit reuquired. Feel free to call or email me when you’re ready to sign up for class and you’ll be put on the schedule. Check, Paypal, or Cash accepted.

This chair is another one Curtis Buchanan’s original designs. This is a stunning contemporary take on classic windsor design, We will be making a “painted” version of this chair rather than a natural walnut style. It will be comprised of red oak and a pine seat allowing for the student to paint the chair at home. It is best if students have previous chairmaking experience for making this chair but if you’re a beginner and up for a challenge, go for it! Class begins Monday morning at 8 with riving out and shaping of all green parts and steam bending. Drilling, carving, shaping and assembling will comprise the remainder of the week. We will be working from Curtis Buchanan's chair plans, a set of which can be purchased from his website if you wish. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any comments questions or concerns.

What to bring:

All tools and materials will be provided but feel free to bring a couple of your own if you have favorites.

A sack lunch

A Jacket just in case, I will have a heater going to warm the shop.

Places to stay

How to sign up:

Class is limited to 3 people with a $100 dollar deposit required. Feel free to call or email me when you’re ready to sign up for class and you’ll be put on the schedule. Check, Paypal, or Cash accepted.

The Auburn Chair is a variation of the Ember I designed last year and employs a similar philosophy and aesthetic to Curtis Buchanan’s Democratic chairs. My hope is that this “paired” down version offers a good challenge but makes the process a bit easier. It will push your skills with a drawknife especially if you are a beginner requiring a bit more physical stamina (something to keep in mind). That being said you will see a tremendous gain in your drawknife skill by the end of the week. Class begins Monday morning at 8 with riving out and shaping of all green parts and steam bending. Drilling, carving, shaping and assembling will comprise the remainder of the week. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any comments questions or concerns.

What to bring:

All tools and materials will be provided but feel free to bring a couple favorites of your own.

A sack lunch

A Jacket just in case, I will have a heater going to warm the shop.

Places to stay

How to sign up:

Class is limited to 3 people with a $100 dollar deposit required. Feel free to call or email me when you’re ready to sign up for class and you’ll be put on the schedule. Check, Paypal, or Cash accepted.

This chair is Curtis Buchanan’s original Democratic side chair. It will push your skills with a drawknife especially if you are a beginner requiring a bit more physical stamina (something to keep in mind). That being said you will see a tremendous gain in your drawknife skill by the end of the week. Class begins Monday morning at 8 with riving out and shaping of all green parts and steam bending. Drilling, carving, shaping and assembling will comprise the remainder of the week. We will be working from Curtis Buchanan's chair plans, a set of which can be purchased from his website if you wish. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any comments questions or concerns.

What to bring:

All tools and materials will be provided but feel free to bring a couple tools of your own if you have favorites.

A sack lunch

A Jacket just in case, I will have a heater going to warm the shop.

Places to stay

How to sign up:

Class is limited to 3 people with a $100 dollar deposit reuquired. Feel free to call or email me when you’re ready to sign up for class and you’ll be put on the schedule. Check, Paypal, or Cash accepted.

Curtis Buchanan’s high chairs are about the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen. They are essentially scaled down versions of their bigger cousins. These high chairs make a wonderful gift for the little ones and will last for generations. Class begins Monday morning at 8 with riving out and shaping of all green parts and steam bending. Drilling, carving, shaping and assembly will comprise the remainder of the week. We will be working from Curtis Buchanan’s chair plans and sets are available through him by clicking the link. Turnings will be provided as there is not enough time to teach this aspect of chairmaking. Arrangements can be made for the Contemporary version of this chair with double bobbin turnings; a week or two’s notice would be needed ahead of the class. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any comments questions or concerns. I’d also highly recommend Curtis’s youtube series on chairmaking. Its free and will give you good heads up on how the class will go.

What to bring:

All tools and materials will be provided but feel free to bring a couple your own if you have favorites.

A sack lunch

A Jacket just in case, I will have a heater going to warm the shop

Places to stay

How to sign up:

Class is limited to 3 people with a $100 dollar deposit required. Feel free to call or email me when you’re ready to sign up for class and you’ll be put on the schedule. Check, Paypal, or Cash accepted.

Class begins Monday morning at 8 with riving out and shaping of all green parts and steam bending. Drilling, carving, shaping and assembly will comprise the remainder of the week. We will be working from Curtis Buchanan’s chair plans and sets are available through him by clicking the link. Turnings will be provided as there is not enough time to teach this aspect of chairmaking. Arrangements can be made for the Contemporary version of this chair with double bobbin turnings; a week or two’s notice would be needed ahead of the class. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any comments questions or concerns. I’d also highly recommend Curtis’s youtube series on chairmaking. Its free and will give you good heads up on how the class will go.

What to bring:

All tools and materials will be provided but feel free to bring a couple of your own if you have favorites.

A sack lunch

A Jacket just in case, I will have a heater going to warm the shop.

Places to stay

How to sign up:

Class is limited to 3 people with a $100 dollar deposit reuquired. Feel free to call or email me when you’re ready to sign up for class and you’ll be put on the schedule. Check, Paypal, or Cash accepted.

The Albion Bench is one of my original designs. Its a result of being pushed into the pursuit of contemporary Windsor chair iterations. Over the years many people have asked me for more contemporary or modern options and this is one of my offerings in that direction. The bench itself was designed more for short use like next to a door for putting on shoes or an overflow bench at the dinner table when extra guests arrive. Our version will be made from pine and oak giving the opportunity for students to paint or stain theirs. The one you see here is burnt with a Yakisugi process and we can go over this a bit in class but will likely not have the time to actually “burn” the chair.

What to bring:

All tools and materials will be provided but feel free to bring a couple of your own if you have favorites.

A sack lunch

A Jacket just in case, I will have a heater going to warm the shop.

Places to stay

How to sign up:

Class is limited to 3 people with a $100 dollar deposit reuquired. Feel free to call or email me when you’re ready to sign up for class and you’ll be put on the schedule. Check, Paypal, or Cash accepted.

This chair is a take on Curtis Buchanan’s original Democratic Arm chair. The parts are a bit simpler to make than the original but it will push your skills with a drawknife, especially if you are a beginner. This chair does require a bit more physical stamina (something to keep in mind). That being said you will see a tremendous gain in your drawknife skill by the end of the week and going forward. Class begins Monday morning at 8 with riving out and shaping of all green parts and steam bending. Drilling, carving, shaping and assembling will comprise the remainder of the week. We will be working from my own modifications and Curtis Buchanan's chair plans, a set of which can be purchased from his website if you wish. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any comments questions or concerns.

What to bring:

All tools and materials will be provided but feel free to bring a couple tools of your own if you have favorites.

A sack lunch

A Jacket just in case, I will have a heater going to warm the shop.

Places to stay

How to sign up:

Class is limited to 3 people with a $100 dollar deposit reuquired. Feel free to call or email me when you’re ready to sign up for class and you’ll be put on the schedule. Check, Paypal, or Cash accepted.

This chair is another one Curtis Buchanan’s original designs. This is a stunning classic windsor chair design. It will be comprised of red oak and a pine seat allowing for the student to paint the chair at home. It is best if students have previous chairmaking experience for making this chair but if you’re a beginner and up for a challenge, go for it! Class begins Monday morning at 8 with riving out and shaping of all green parts and steam bending. Drilling, carving, shaping and assembling will comprise the remainder of the week. We will be working from Curtis Buchanan's chair plans, a set of which can be purchased from his website if you wish. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any comments questions or concerns.

*The version we will be paired down without carved knuckles and brace spindles at the back, and the arm rail will be pre-bent upon arrival to the class.

What to bring:

All tools and materials will be provided but feel free to bring a couple of your own if you have favorites.

A sack lunch

A Jacket just in case, I will have a heater going to warm the shop.

Places to stay

How to sign up:

Class is limited to 3 people with a $100 dollar deposit required. Feel free to call or email me when you’re ready to sign up for class and you’ll be put on the schedule. Check, Paypal, or Cash accepted.