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WOODCRAFT COURSES 2012 Listed below are the courses we have planned for 2012. WE ARE NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR OUR UNIQUE SERIES OF WOODCRAFT COURSES AT OUR WOODLAND WORKSHOP IN THE MOUNTAINS OF EASTERN NORWAY -:: Scroll down page for more information ::- To book on any of the courses below, simply e-mail click here to check availablity of places, and we will send you a booking form. Maurice provides one-to-one tuition or woodcraft instruction to groups, young people or adults Demand is often high so additional course dates may be added
Houghall College NCFE Greenwood Certificate Course The next scheduled certified course organised by Houghall College is planned for early January 2012 finishing early May 2012. More information about the NCFE Greenwood Certificate Course is on the East Durham College's website, follow the link:- website of East Durham College
The NCFE Greenwood Certificate Course is organised by Houghall College, Durham, it is a more committing course for those who want to learn more intensively, a broader range of woodland craft subjects. Approx. 27 taught days at 2 days per week, mainly prcatical but includes business start up / marketing modules. All of the tutors on the practical subjects are full time professionals and highly respected practioners in their craft. Last years tutors included Maurice Pyle, Phil Bradley, Owen Jones and James Bedingfield Upon successfully completing the course students are awarded the nationally recognised NCFE Certificate in Green Woodcraft (Level 2) Contact Joe Shipley at Houghall 0191 375 4736 / joseph.shipley@eastdurham.ac.uk for more information, or myself maurice pyle Many of the modules included in the Houghall course, although not certificated, are also covered by our own course programme which are detailed below. A selection of these, mainly weekend courses, could be a good alternative and possibly accepted as accredited prior learning if you subsequently join the Houghall course at a later date 2012 Courses in summary
All UK courses are based at the Flintmill Workshop, Beamish Museum, Co Durham. We will use clean, straight grained timber put to one side from the previous winter. All courses are tutored by Maurice Pyle unless otherwise stated.
Charcoal burning is an excellent way to convert low value small diameter hardwood into a higher value marketable product. Its also very satisfying to make in the woodland environment. Wether you are looking to earn part of a living from charcoal or simply to want to learn the black art as a hobby this is the course for you. Maurice has been charcoal burning commercially since 1995. Subjects will include: Preparation of the kiln site Siting the kiln Filling the kiln Fitting the lid Lighting up and capping off Changing the chimneys Finishing the burn Emptying the kiln also: suitable species, sourcing timber, grading and bagging, selling and marketing
Using straight ash poles harvested in the winter, then riving down the grain using froes and cleaving brakes to produce incredibly strong heads, rails and braces. These gates are very satisfying to make and far stronger than an equivalent gate made from sawn timber. Everyone will leave with at least one gate. max no. students 6.
Making Wooden Bowls is not a new course for us but Bowls Workshop is the same subject with a different format. On Day 1 every student will make a low bench to take away at the end of the course. The low bench is a simple device to hold your bowl blank whilst it is being shaped, it consists of 4 rustic legs with through tenons, wooden pegs or dogs with wedges to hold the bowl blank firmly in place. On Day 2 you will use your newly crafted low bench to make a wooden bowl from locally sourced freshly felled hardwood. Maximum number of students 6.
If you have ever thought of making a pole lathe but put off by the prospect of sourcing the materials and finding the time then this is the course for you. For the first one and a half days, using seasoned dimensioned hardwood and softwoods assembled as kits, you will be carefuly guided through the build up, stage by stage. Once your lathe has passed its maiden 'turning' test, we will embark on learning the basics of green woodworking and pole lathe turning. The empahsis will be on using hand tools safely and accuratly to produce small turned items. All materials, tools and devices will be provided. You will leave with a fully working Pole Lathe. No previous knowlege or experience required. Maximum number of students 6
Essentially two courses in one, a total of twelve students will be split into two groups of six, each group will spend one day learning to carve spoons and one day learning to turn a small bowl on a pole lathe. Carving a spoon, ladle or scoop from a piece of green roundwood is an immensely satisfying and creative process, making a practical item that can be personalized to make a wonderful gift, if you can bare to give it away! By working with the grain, freshly cut wood reveals itself as a flexible material, easily worked with sharp tools. During the course of the day we will consider the unique properties of wood, especially in the green, work safely on a simple spoon design using axe, sloyd and curved knife and consider the philosophy of crafting the everyday objects around us from sustainable, renewable materials. Spoons tutor Maurice has been a professional green wood craftsman and tutor for more than 15 years. A skilled and patient teacher, he is fascinated by Scandinavian design in spoons, bowls and tools and this will certainly come accross in this course. Turning a bowl on a pole lathe is incredibly satisfying. We will be using axes to shape the rough blank then specialist turning tools, including hooked tools to shape the bowl on our treadle operated pole lathes. We will use reasonably freshly felled native species such as alder or birch. Tutor Peter Wood, a BHMAT graduate, has, over the last few years mastered the indiosyncratic art of pole lathe bowl turning and will conscientiously and patiencently guide you
The essential course for aspiring green woodworkers. The bodging skills of cleaving, trimming, shaving and turning will be taught using a few simple hand tools such as axes, drawknives, gouges and chisels. You will learn how to use a shavehorse and a pole lathe. On this course people make their own rustic english style shavehorse to take away. This could be your opportunity to get fired up and inspired to learn a new and highly satisfying creative skill. Maximum number of students 6.
(7 days, cost £575) Monday 30 July - Sunday 5 August 2012 Combine a holiday in the breath taking mountains of the Holoydal Valley, eastern Norway with relaxing work to help build the infrastructure for our growing Woodcraft Centre for Traditional Craft.No prevoius experience required.The main focus for this year will be the construction of an outdoor bread oven and a traditional scandinavian ski-gard fence. We have invited bread making expert Nigel Wild from the UK accross this year to guide us in the making of an outdoor oven for the baking of bread, pizza and probably some delicious nowegian cinnamon buns.
These pictures are from last years coracle making Development Week
Cost includes all tuition, meals and comfortable tent accomodation with 2 people per tent designed for eight, each complete with 2 campbeds and 2 chairs. The course will be based at our small wooden mountain house from which inspired wholesome food will be prepared and served. Some meals may be campfire based. Guests will have access to a newly refurbished wet room. This is an opportunity to spend relaxing time in a very special norwegian mountain environment without roughing it too much! You will need to make your own travel arrangements, obtain your own travel and medical insurance and supply your own sleeping bag/bed linen etc. Suitable for any level of experience. Travel is normally by plane and train. May be suitable for non-participating partners Email for more information. maurice@mpwoodsmith.co.uk
(5 days, cost £575) 13 - 17 August 2012 For this week we have invited three final year students from the renowned Craft College at Saterglantan in Sweden to join us to share their skills with us. The final programme may change slightly but should include knife blade forging, charcoal making, knife handle making and spoon carving. There'll also be grass cutting with scythes and evening beaver watches in the open canoes. Informal evening mini-workshops will show how to make items such as shrink pots and birch bark sheaths.
(5 days, cost £575) 27 - 31 August 2012 Five days in wild and wonderful mid eastern Norway. Four days of inspiring woodcraft with a day off in the middle to simply relax or to further explore the landscape on foot or open canoe. This course will take place under a pole and tarp woodland workshop. Tutor Maurice Pyle has been making hand carved bowls and spoons in the scandinavian style for many years, we will draw inspiration from beautiful examples of original wooden ware found in the valley. Mini evening workshops in shrink box making and birch bark knife sheath making. And for the adventurous evening beaver watching in the open canoes. Email for more information. maurice@mpwoodsmith.co.uk
Starting with a green unseasoned log you will work through a variety of stages firstly with the splitting of a short section of hardwood, then, using traditional handtools such as axes, gouges and spokeshaves to shape a bowl of your own design. Variations include dough troughs, wooden scoops, plates and bowls with handles. Your finished bowl will be quite sculptural and probably unique, and definitely very satisfying to create. Maximum number of students 6
To book on any of these courses, e-mail click here to check availablity of places, and I will send you a booking form
A variety of subjects are taught at our country workshop within the grounds of Beamish Museum. Whilst we are willing to take our woodcraft training services to other venues our preference is to run courses at our workshop. Here we have the shelter of the Flint Mill to work undercover, traditional wooden holding devices, our pole lathes and of course the raw materials. The Flint Mill workshop is located in the beautiful, well wooded Beamish valley. Seemingly a million miles from anywhere but in fact 5 minutes off a main road. There is almost a medieval feel about the place. Over the years we have run a wide range of woodcraft courses for groups and individuals, tutored by Maurice and other craft specialists. The training offered is from very from knowledgeable and experienced craftspeople, the emphasis is on informality in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. All tools and materials are supplied.
These courses are open to all; no experience at all is required.
Northumberland Wildlife Trust Houghall College, Durham Outdoor Education Centres Swedish Master comes to Beamish In October 2002, Maurice invited master woodcarver Wille Sundqvist from Northern Sweden to instruct two courses at the Flint Mill workshop. Willie is an internationally renowned figure especially for his spoon and bowl carving. He instructed spoon carving for three days and bowl carving for three days. Students came from all over the UK to learn from the 75 year old master. His spoons were just a delight, highly crafted yet extremely functional.
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