Each year, carvers gather for the Carving Kris Kringle class to carve their own unique St. Nick, Father Christmas, or Santa. It’s a great time of year to get started on carving gifts for family, friends, or yourself! Using a basswood roughout, Erik will lead you through each step. Using the Scandinavian flat-plane carving style, you will study caricature carving and facial details along with painting and finishing techniques. Bring your own carving tools, including a knife, u-gouges, and v-tools.

NOTE: This is a fast-paced class. Wood carving experience is recommended to get the most out of this workshop.

Erik Rinkleff learned to carve at The Clearing in 1998.  He now enjoys carving a variety of subjects, including Santas, snowmen, country characters, gnomes, and wood spirits.  Erik is the Creative Director of The Clearing and runs his own woodworking business, Rustic Road Studio.  He has been teaching wood carving and rustic furniture classes for over 20 years.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced quilter, this week of open studio will allow you the freedom to work on any quilting or sewing project(s) you choose and to work independently at your own pace.

This is a great opportunity to join with other quilters for a fun, relaxing and encouraging week of sharing and sewing together. Individual instruction and guidance will be provided by Kathy, as needed, and students are encouraged to bring information and tips to share that they find useful or interesting for their quilting.

Bring your favorite patterns, fabric, tools and projects to spend a week sewing and creating in the beautiful Schoolhouse at The Clearing. If you are a beginner, you will learn and practice the fundamentals of quilting and can complete your first quilt all in this one, wonderful week! Kathy will contact students prior to class. 

Kathy Swanson took her first quilting class in 1981 as part of The Clearing’s Winter Program, and she has taught quilting at The Clearing for over 15 years. She enjoys designing and teaching fun classes to share her love of color and the art of traditional quilting techniques. Kathy lives in Ellison Bay and is The Clearing’s Registrar. 

Level: All Levels 

Here’s a great opportunity to improve your wood turning skills while working on your holiday gift list! Ornaments are just the start of what you can make this week. You can also make pepper grinders, bottle stoppers, pens, garden tools and much, much more. By the end of the week, you’ll have beautiful, one-of-a-kind, handmade gifts for your family and friends. (Or for yourself!)

Although all levels are welcome, this class is ideally for turners who know the basics and want to advance their turning skills to a point where the technical part of turning becomes second nature.

The Clearing has a very well-equipped shop for wood turning. You’ll have your own lathe, tools and supplies. If you have any of your own tools and safety equipment, please feel free to bring them along, since learning something new is usually easier with familiar tools. As always, safety will be discussed and stressed throughout the week. A safe turner is one who will enjoy turning for a long time! Rob will contact students prior to class.

Robert Nelson grew up on his family’s dairy farm in the town of Winchester, Wisconsin, and owned and operated the farm for 30 years. He began turning wood in the 1970s. Since then, his passion for taking what would otherwise be firewood and turning it into something beautiful that can last for generations has become a second career. He has logged over 7,000 hours of learning and teaching wood turning. Being a member of three wood turning groups gives him the opportunity to demonstrate different types of turning to many fellow turners. Robert turns pieces for sale, teaches at The Clearing and in his studio, and is an adjunct instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in Green Bay.

Level: All Levels

In this class, you’ll learn the basic techniques used to forge metal with a hammer and anvil, while making several small projects. Topics covered will include hammering techniques, the use of tongs, anvils and vises, and coal forge maintenance. James’ demonstrations will cover the major introductory forging processes, including variations of tapering, upsetting, shouldering and twists to produce single piece objects—hooks, handles, etc.

Once you’ve learned the basics, some advanced techniques will be introduced, including hot cutting, punching, drifting and forge welding, a technique that allows multiple pieces of metal to be joined.

Expect to leave with some items of your own making, along with basic skills for and an understanding of forging hot steel. If you have prior experience, this class will help you refresh and refine your skills.

Please bring the following items to class: cotton clothing, some form of hair restraint (if needed), leather-palm gloves, safety glasses, ear protection and closed-toe shoes or boots. James will contact students prior to class.

James Viste was raised on a farm in Door County. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a master of fine art degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He is a nationally known blacksmithing demonstrator and exhibitor and has participated in several national Ironwork Restoration Projects, including at Cranbrook Educational Community, The Charles Lang Freer House and The Detroit Institute of Arts. He has worked for studios in Minnesota, Wisconsin, New Mexico and Michigan. He is currently the Manager of Edgewise Forge LLC in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

Level: Beginner

Turned pens make beautiful gifts for someone or even yourself. Each student will choose their pen styles, pen blanks and we will go step-by-step through the pen making process. Special attention will be given to the types of finishes used to give your pen that mirror finish. Both wood and resin pen blanks will be discussed and available. Expect to go home with a couple of finished pens. You may bring your own turning tools, but all tools will be provided. Students should supply their own face shield and dust mask. Class is open to all skill levels. Dave will be in contact with students prior to the first-class session to help them select their pen kit styles.

David has been involved in woodworking his entire life and it continues as one of his main pastimes.   His woodworking experience includes turning (bowls, finials, hollow ornaments), cabinetry, chip-carving, intarsia, furniture, carving, box making and more.  David grew up in DePere, WI. on a family dairy farm.  After earning his degree in Instrumentation and Controls, he worked for 40+ years in engineering before recently retiring with his wife to Ellison Bay. He is excited to teach again in the Workshop program at The Clearing!