Shaker Chairmaking Workshop at Pleasant Hill Shaker Village, Kentucky

June 6th - June 8th 2008

With the use of rotary planes made by Ashem Crafts of Worcester, England, beginners to intermediate level participants will be able to construct the frame of a Shaker rocking chair during this three-day workshop. American cherry wood will be used for the frame. There will be a demonstration of weaving the chair bottom with tape.

The instructor, Peter Hindle, has been making and using rotary planes for over 30 years. He has been involved in adult education and has been a craft teacher in schools and colleges for over thirty five years. He has demonstrated the techniques of making a Shaker chair and taught workshops at the Shaker Art of Craftsmanship Exhibition at the Barbican Art Gallery in London. This will be the 14th year he has given Shaker chair workshops in the USA.

A light breakfast will be served at 8:30 each morning. Workshop begins at 9:00 a.m. and continues until 12:00 noon. Lunch will be served on site at 12:00 noon each day. Class resumes after lunch and concludes at 5:00 p.m.

• Registration fee: $525.00 per person • Fee includes instruction, materials, use of tools, refreshments and 6 meals (3 breakfasts and 3 lunches). • Advance registration and payment is required.. • There is a $30 non-refundable cancellation fee. • Payment may be made by MasterCard, Visa or check. Please make checks payable to Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. • Fee does not include Shaker tape, but it may be purchased in our Craft Store. • Overnight guest room not included in workshop fee.

Call 859.734.5411 x1540 / 800.734.5611 x1540 or email townley@shakervillageky.org to register or for more information.

Course Comments

Thank you for offering such a wonderful course. How wonderful is evidenced in the fact that this 5'2", 104 lb, grandmother and complete novice successfully made a Shaker rocker!

Peter and Patricia Hindle are experts not only in their craft but also as educators. I felt supervised but not smothered. Willing help was always at hand. The workshop was well equipped ( except for that vise Peter wants...) and organized. I not only learned a great deal I also had fun and felt confident that I would leave with a beautiful chair from the first moment of class.

My more experienced class mates were awesome. They shared their knowledge and love of their craft so graciously. I am truly impressed at their patience and willingness to help.

Letter received.from Connie M. MacCaughelty, Tennessee after the course at Pleasant Hill.

2 seater settee and stool made by John Moore of Mouresville Indiana on Pleasant Hill chair class. Seat and back woven by Anne Moore using (7/8)" wide Flame stitch tape and 1" dark blue tape.

John has attended six consecutive Ashem Crafts chair classes at Pleasant Hill Kentucky since 1998 and has made several different Shaker chairs.

Other Courses in the USA

Make this classic Shaker Rocker with Patricia and Peter Hindle of Ashem Crafts from Worcester, England at Tom McLaughlin's workshop near Canterbury Shaker Village in New Hampshire.

Next course Dates:

21st - 24th May 2008

A marvellous opportunity to make for you or your family this No. 6 Shaker rocking chair with steam bent back legs, shawl rail and taped seat and back in Exotic Curly Maple wood.

Ashem Crafts use unique and specialised tools for chairmaking. It is possible with Peter's rotary hand planes for you to produce the frame of a No. 6 rocking chair within this four day class.

Tom McLaughlin's workshop is set in beautiful woodlands among the foothills of the picturesque White mountains in New Hampshire.

Tom's workshop is well equipped with individual benches for each participant. Everyone will have the use of Ashem rotary planes and turning heads to make the rounded parts for the chair frame which will be made in curly Maple.

You will steam bend the back legs for your chair and be taught the angle drilling required for construction of the chair. Peter's sliding vee cradle in conjunction with the drill press will be used for all the drilling. Sawing and fitting the bridle joints over the rockers will be demonstrated with instructions given for weaving the taped seat and back.

About the Tutor

The course tutor, Peter Hindle, has been making and using rotary planes for over twenty five years. He has been involved in adult education and has been a craft teacher in schools and colleges for over thirty five years. He has demonstrated the techniques of making a Shaker chair and run workshops at the Shaker Art of Craftsmanship Exhibition at the Barbican Art Gallery in London. This will be the 14th year he has taken Shaker chair workshops in the USA and England.

For more information click here.

Course Fee

$495.00 plus $145.00 material fee for this four day workshop.

(Note : either 65 yards of 1" Shaker Tape or 110 yards of (5/8)" tape will be required to weave the seat and back. Tape in a variety of colours is available from the nearby Canterbury Shaker Village gift store (1.5 miles). Click here to view samples of colours available.

For further information contact Peter or Patricia Hindle by telephone 001-44-1905-640070 or via the other options on our Contact page

To apply for the course and for Tom's new 2008 colour course prospectus please contact Tom or Kristy McLaughlin on (603) 783-9700 at:

McLaughlin Woods
336 Baptist Road
Canterbury
New Hampshire
03224

Participant's Comments on 2006 Course

Bradley and I want to thank you and Patricia for a wonderful class. We left there with a new education making chairs and a new set of friends. We find wood workers are all kind, friendly people. Working side by side creating a project develops a bond between people.

I also think Tom McLaughlin was such a gracious host. He is such a magnificent woodworker himself. The furniture he was making made us want to come back for his lessons.

Mary (received November 2006)