Since I was young, I have always wanted to pursue Woodworking as a future career. The problem, however, is that there is no one in our area that has the skillset I have been wanting to learn that could take me on as an apprentice. So, I decided to just continue learning by doing, as much as I could. But, it turns out, it is easy to become discouraged when the dovetails you cut have a 1/8 inch gap on all sides, or when you have to apply all the force you can muster to the plane with a dull, chipped blade, cutting against the grain of a board.
A few years ago, my dad spoke at a conference in Texas to Homestead Heritage, an intentional Christian community that has an emphasis on agriculture and traditional craft. The community operates a craft village open year round to the public, complete with a gristmill, pottery shop, blacksmithing forge, leatherworking shop, fiber arts gallery, basketry shop, restaurant, and, best of all (in my eyes), a woodworking shop.
While we were there, we got to meet many wonderful families, including the Borman’s, who run the Woodworking shop. We’ve kept in touch over the past couple of years through other conferences and events. Well, last year, my dad asked me how I would feel about going to Homestead Heritage to apprentice with the Borman’s. My reply was yes, of course, and from then on whenever I thought about it I was practically ecstatic. My dad worked out the details with Mr. Borman and it was decided that I would begin a month-long apprenticeship at the end of September. So that’s how it happened! I got to stay with the Borman family while I was there.
I started out by making spindles for an order of Windsor chairs that had just come in. When I started out, I was able to make just under two spindles an hour. Just a few days later, I could make six an hour. I also learned a lot about turning on a lathe, making honey dippers, rolling pins, and roughing out chair legs. I got to be part of a 6 day class the shop was holding, teaching hand-tool joinery. In this class I got to make a dovetailed candle box, a small bookshelf, and an occasional table—all by hand. The class was very informative and helpful for me to grasp the significance of careful layout and sharp tools when it comes to joinery. Being at the shop that month, working eight hour days, learning how they run the shop was an incredible experience for me in so many different ways. Not only did I get to learn the basics of hand tool woodworking, but I got to see the business of woodworking: how they relate customers, sell products, teach classes, and do deliveries. And this is not your low-end, cut-corners shop… Pieces out of the shop can be found in the White House!
So now, back home, I am trying to implement everything I learned there so that I can continue building up my skillset. Looking back, I have very fond memories of my trip to Texas. The people I met, the relationships I built, and the skills I learned are and will be very influential to my future in woodworking.
