April 21-22: Build a Diminuative New York Chest on Frame, Part I, , with Bess Naylor. This highly unusual and very distinctive piece is most appealing. It dates to the very early 18th century and its approximate dimensions are 41.1/2" high by 27.1/2" wide by 13.1/2" deep. The original is made from red gum and poplar. Authors Roderic Blackburn and Ruth Piwonka state, "The chest of drawers is an English form popular with neither the Netherlands nor the early New York Dutch, who continued to use the kas for the same purposes. However, the spiral leg is found on both Netherlands and English furniture from the late seventeenth century. This distinctive form of turning required great skill and was, therefore, found on the highest quality objects. Curiously, although there were accomplished cabinetmakers and turners in the major colonial cities, the only surviving pieces with spiral legs (or stretchers) come from New York, suggesting that Dutch influence may be a factor. This chest is one of only three such pieces known with spiral legs." (Remembrance of Patria) Class cost is $350.00. You will provide your own tools and materials. Class begins at 9am on each day and ends around 5pm, though the shop is usually open again in the evening for those who wish to work. Note: Since the legs are so unusual in this piece, a special jig will be recommended for you to build prior to class. Turnings can be provided with advance notice. Three parts to this project.

May 19-20: Historic Paint Techniques , with Bess Naylor. Olde Mill will present a hands-on class in Historic Paint Techniques. Students will learn the basics of the history of paint composition materials and then use that knowledge to make a variety of their own paints to apply on a small project they keep. Some of the materials that will be discussed and used include pigments, tempera based paints, distemper paints, casein paints, shellac paints, other base paints, waxes, crackling medias. Non-toxic and historic! Excellent for beginners and experienced. 9am-5pm. $350.00 plus possible materials fee, dependent upon actual paint project.

June 9-10: Build a Small Chest Over Drawers, with Vine and Berry Decorative Inlay, Part I, , with Bess Naylor. The original this piece is based on was built in Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1747. This stunner will be approximately 14.1/2" high by 21" wide by 13.1/2" high. There will be an interior till, bun feet and, of course, lots of challenging Vine and Bery inlay. Steve Latta will conduct a separate Class on Vine and Berry Inlay Techniques (see TBD) to introduce students to this unique technique he has refined. Steve and Lie Neilsen Toolworks have collaborated to manufacture the necessary specialized tools to perform this inlay (also very useful for other inlay techniques as well). Due to the specialized nature of this inlay techniques, a class with Steve will be a pre-requisite. You will be given a list of recommended tools and supplies to purchase as well. To see the original please refernce the terrific new book from Winterthur, "Paint, Pattern & People, Furniture of Southeastern Pennsylvania 1725-1850" by Wendy Cooper and Lisa Minardi. Overall, this is a stunning and challenging piece to build! Class cost is $350.00 per class and there are three sessions (plus a class with Steve if you have not already attended a Line and Berry Class with him). You will provide your own materials and tools.

TBD: Vine (Line) and Berry Decorative Technique, , with Steve Latta, Instructor at the Thaddeus Stevens School. This historic South-Central Pennsylvania decorative technique is unique to this geographical area (South Central Pennsylvania) and creates a most appealing look. Associated especially with Chester County, this compass inlay technique features holly and aromatic cedar berries inlaid into walnut with curvilinear lines. He will discuss all the necessary tools and tricks to laying down this beautiful inlay. Lie Neilsen Toolworks now manufactures the tools designed by Steve and you may wish to invest in some or all of them to make your work go smoothly. They are beautifully and very practically made. Students will inlay their own work. Materials fee extra. This class is a prerequisite for the Line and Berry Box class. Class cost is $350.00.

July 28-29: Build a Diminuative New York Chest on Frame, Part II, with Bess Naylor. See Previous Description.

August 4-7: Plane Making with Expert Plane Maker Tod Herrli. 3 ogees in 4 days!! Work with Plane maker Tod Herrli to make 3 different sized ogee planes in 4 days of class. You will learn to layout and design your own side escapement planes and utilize the spring angle concept to minimize the mouth opening and improve the plane's performance. Solid blocks of beech wood will be cut to rough dimension, the mouths will be hand sawn. The mortise will be excavated and tuned with chisel and plane making floats. Templates and graph paper will be used to guide the cutting of the planes sole with hand planes. High carbon steel will be cut to dimension, rough ground, heat treated then ground to match the plane's profile. The final task is to polish the cutting blades to a razor edge on the Tod"s buffing wheels. Alternate: tiny sash plane (Bess has one and it is awesome!!!) Class cost $425.00. May be additional materials fee.

September 8-9: Colorants and Shellac Techniques , with Bess Naylor. Olde Mill's Bess Naylor will conduct a class on Basics of Colorants and Shellac Techniques. Learn the basics of how, when and where to use a variety of techniques and materials to apply color to new or existing surfaces. We will also explore the application and appropriate use of a variety of topcoats, with a special emphasis on shellac. Class will be directed to student's problem areas. Beginners encouraged. 9am-5pm. $350.00.

September 22-23: Small Chest Over Drawers with Vine and Berry Inlay Part II, , with Bess Naylor.

October 6-7: 18th Century Carving Techniques , with Christopher Storb. more to follow.

October 20-21: Build a Diminuative New York Chest on Frame, Part III, ,with Bess Naylor. See previous descrition.

November 3-4: Small Chest Over Drawers with Vine and Berry Inlay Part III, , with Bess Naylor.

Dates to be Determined: Build a Federal Sideboard, Parts IV, V, VI, with Steve Latta.

Seminar Registration, Please read carefully!

Seminar Policy:
Thank you for your interest in attending a woodworking seminar with us at Olde Mill. It should be an exciting and rewarding learning experience. The following is Olde Mill's Seminar Attendance Policy. In order to register for a class, you must pay a minimum deposit of $75.00 per person,per session. Full payment is due 4 weeks in advance of the class.There will be no exceptions. Your full payment will ensure that a space will be held for you in the class. Please comply with our policy or you may lose your spot in the class.

Single Session Seminars:
In the event that you cancel attendance to a single session seminar, you will be refunded ONLY if we are contacted in writing a minimum of four weeks prior to the course. This may be done by written US Mail or an email to Bess's email address that is confirmed back to you by email. If you do not provide us with proper notification, you will not be refunded your money. Our cancellation of a class will result in a complete refund. If you cancel attendence to a class for any reason, without following the above-stated policy, you are still expected to make full payment.

Multi-Session Seminars:
Due to the nature of on-going instruction with a more complex piece, we cannot fill a vacant bench space after a project has been started. If you cancel out of a class 60 days prior to the first session, then we will refund monies paid minus a $75.00 cancellation fee. If you cancel out of a class after the first session has been held, full payment is expected for all remaining classes of that project. Our cancellation of a class will result in a complete refund.

Strict adherence to this policy will be enforced for the mutual benefit of all involved. If you have any questions about this policy, please do not hesitate to call us. We greatly appreciate your cooperation.

Email seminar questions to Bess: oldemillseminars @ yahoo.com