DSC_0079_5-min - Little Acorn Furniture

commission

Our Courses

Family “greenwood” experience
Alasdair will take you through the basic principles of Green Woodworking and provide the knowledge, tools and materials needed to get you using a pole lathe. Turn as many items as you like using a variety of local hard woods and unlock the full potential of this ancient craft.
Introduction to pole lathing
During this one or two day course, you will get to practice the principles of green woodworking: cleaving and shaping the wood using side axe and draw knife before turning on a pole lathe to produce a range of items - as long as it is round!
Simply stools
This two-day course offers you the chance to produce a simple three or four legged stool with hard wood top and turned or draw knifed legs.
From tree to table
This three day course gives you time to produce a table or bench with stretchered legs using more advanced techniques. The addition of stretchers between the legs allows you to make larger items with more refinement.
Table making course
This four-day course gives you time to explore the intricacies of green wood furniture design to produce a dramatic and unique piece of furniture of your own design.
Chair making course
Over this full four day course you will make and assemble a complete chair from local Ash and Beech. Choosing from one of two traditional designs you will be responsible for shaping all components and joining therm using traditional wedged mortice and tenon joints
Make your own shaving horse
In order to make a traditional shaving horse you will need a pole lathe, in order to use a pole lathe a shaving horse is essential. Get around this catch 22 situation by making your very own shaving horse over two days in Alasdair's fully equipped Greenwood workshop.
Handle making and tool restoration
This is a one day course aimed at giving you the basic knowledge and skills required to make a tool handle of any sore from green Ash. Be it an axe, hammer, chisel or spade you can restore personalise and bring back to life any old tool. We will go back to the days when things were done 'proper' and a tool handle could last a lifetime of use.
Cleft hurdle gate making
Discover the ancient art of gate making using authentic traditional tools and techniques. Using the true nature of the wood to ensure both beauty and strength, start with a freshly cut log and explore the entire process of cleaving , shaping and jointing.
One-to-one tuition
Work and learn at your own pace - receive uninterrupted expert tuition in the art of green wood furniture making and have exclusive access to the range of hardwoods available in the workshop.

What our customer’s say…

Had a great two day Stool Making workshop with Alastair and Simon. Very welcoming, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I enjoyed myself very much and now have a piece of furniture made with my own hand (any wobbles are completely my own fault😉)!! Thoroughly recommend it for everyone!

Fiona Sansom

Completed the 2 day 'Simply Stools' course this weekend and loved it. Alasdair is absolutely passionate about his chosen subject and incredibly generous in sharing both his passion and knowledge. I have not just learnt a huge amount but found the whole experience massively rewarding. I can not recommend completing any of Alasdair's courses enough and will be back as soon as I can. Thank You!!

David Smith

My family and I recently spent an incredibly happy and gratifying time making a green wood table with Alasdair and his assistant, Simon. I cannot overstate what a special, stimulating and satisfying time it was - working together as a family; learning about the wood, the tools and the processes; and making a table which we will have forever and which will always remind us of that bonding time together. It was genuinely one of the most harmonious and fulfilling things we have ever done as a family and I would highly recommend it to anyone, however inexperienced. I have also never met two more gentle and patient teachers and craftsmen, with two more overdeveloped sets of forearms!

Alice Morgan

We shared a fantastic weekend with Alastair, Simon and Joel making some wonderful hand crafted stools with a great mix of humour, help and encouragement. The workshop is situated in beautiful Dartmoor countryside giving the opportunity to create our own designs from techniques dating back hundreds of years using hand tools and a dose of elbow grease. Alastair has a flexible approach and encourages you to do as much of the work as you can with a bit of hand holding where needed. Overall an unforgettable experience turning a felled tree into a finished piece of furniture over two busy days.

Steve Bessant

I can't recommend Alasdair's courses enough. His passion for natural woodwork and the forests in general is a joy. He makes the experience fun, accessible and very informative. To understand the whole process from starting with a 3 meter long log and ending up with a turned piece was the thing that sold this course to me above others I looked at. I will be back!

Lorna Kennard

Birthday gift from my wife who knew I liked mucking about with wood. Probably the best birthday present I've ever had, I was totally in my element. Alasdair, Simon and Joel make the whole experience interesting, fun and challenging. They leave you to get on with things, if that's what you want, or are always there to help with a helpful demo or gentle nudge in the right direction. At the end you will feel like you've really achieved something e.g turning a log into a working tool, or piece of furniture, all whilst using the same tools and techniques that were used hundreds of years ago. No sounds of power tools here, just the gentle sounds of the forest and some eager woodworkers creating some amazing things from scratch. Seriously, it really is that good.

Kevin Henry

I took a one day pole lathing class and had a great time. Great group of lads running the class, very friendly and realy know their stuff. They keep the classes small (5 in mine) which allows you to work closely with the instructors and ask any questions as needed. The venue is a spacious, converted farm building in the beautiful Devonshire countryside. Comfortable. At the end of the day I'd learned a lot, had a great time and went home with a piece of work that I made myself and was very happy with. I highly recommend.

Robin Jordan

I would highly recommend the shaving course run by Little Acorn Furniture. The course, which is week run by Alasdair, teaches you how to make a shaving horse which you take away with you, and how to use a pole lathe. The facilities provided are good and the support and tuition given is excellent. Alasdair is ably supported by Simon who complements the course. Thank you Alasdair for an enjoyable course.

ian stainer

We did a family woodworking day with Alisdair and Simon whilst staying at Clifford Barton. We have three boys aged 9, 13 and 16 and all were involved and engaged with brilliantly throughout the day. We made a small table, starting with splitting an ash trunk, then axing, then using the shaving horse, as well as preparing the top from a piece of rough sawn oak. We also all learned some pole lathing skills. It was a fantastic way to send time together, in good company. We hope to be back!

Rebecca Bird

Had a great weekend making a stool from scratch. Alistair and Simon were great teachers. Loved making everything from scratch using traditional methods and very please with the stool I took home.

Claire Fallow

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