They offer incredible classes, community, and – Nancy is one of the most talented and iconic woodworkers out there. Is there anyone you’d like to shout-out or recommend we follow? Who inspires you? (Doesn’t have to be woodworking related, – A truly inspiring space for of women and non-binary woodworkers and aspiring woodworkers. I often end up saving those practice pieces as templates to reference if I make the same or a similar piece in the future.
That way, you can test joinery, depth of cuts, texture, layout, and finish on the same material before committing to the real deal. One of the best tips I got early on was to mill a bit of extra material for each piece of a project as you go. What’s your best hands-on tip or woodworking technique? Like all craft, if you enjoyed the process of making/designing it, it will show in the finished piece. Having a community will help you stay excited and motivated! Find a local woodworkers guild, talk with folks on social media, read blogs/magazines/books, find a communal shop that suits you, and take classes. The woodworking world is filled with craftspeople who are excited to talk and share. There are so many resources out there to explore and find guidance/inspiration from. No one is reinventing this wheel of traditions so, embrace the techniques and advice of all the craftspeople in history as well as those around us today. Be excited to learn from all of those that came before you.Try not to let perfection get in the way of finishing something. Working with wood is incredibly satisfying, rewarding, and worth the pursuit but, be prepared for a lot of time investment, many terrible designs, and mistakes along the way.
We highlight the joinery and construction of each piece as well as let the natural, local materials we use (and often cut and dry ourselves) steal the show. Our work is a collaboration every step of the way. You will definitely find my ‘best’ work among the pieces we create there. Most of my work is in collaboration with Rob Spiece under the Lohr Woodworking moniker. It also included joinery, a collection of tiny drawers lined with fabric, and other details I had never attempted before so, it was a personal project in every way. I used figured maple that was cut during my first time milling a log during my first weeks as an apprentice. I designed it in honor of my late grandmother and the jewelry she received from my grandfather’s travels around the globe as a merchant marine (he later became a cabinetmaker). It is not my most technically impressive piece, but the sentimental value gives it a special place. My favorite piece of work is probably a small jewelry cabinet I made in 2018. I primarily make furniture but like to dabble in smaller pieces with sculptural elements too. What do you think is your best or favorite work? What kind of work do you do the most? With social media, organizations, and schools/classes, I count myself lucky to exist in a time where I am constantly learning from fellow woodworkers as well. Jeff was/is my mentor and taught me everything about furniture-making, sawmilling, and running a small business. I didn’t know anything about woodworking before that day but have not wanted to do anything else since. After the first day in the shop, I knew this was it. The job sounded so interesting, I applied, I was hired, and I committed to a two-year apprenticeship. Jeffry Lohr was looking for a woodworking apprentice with teaching skills and some understanding of the internet. I hadn’t transferred my teaching certificate from FL to PA yet so, I was looking for non-traditional instructor jobs to hold me over. After college, I moved to a new city and was in search of a teaching job. Like so many traditional craftspeople before me, I started woodworking by answering a Craigslist ad. How did you get started woodworking? Who were your mentors? Today we’re featuring Larissa Huff, a maker and woodworking instructor from Pennsylvania. We’re interviewing makers from all 50 states.