First Day Spice Bowl Class Description:
Spice Bowl, Salt Bowl, Pinch Bowl; whatever you call them, these small bowls are endlessly useful and a pleasure to make. In this class we’ll make a matching pair of bowls: simple forms with clean lines, gentle curves, and a finish that feels good in the hand.
Spice bowls don’t take much time or material, and they work with almost any species and finish. They’re a great project for any skill level — a warm-up for those returning to the lathe, a confidence builder for newer turners, and a satisfying design exercise for more experienced turners.
Creating a matching pair is a good way to build muscle memory, refine your eye, and develop techniques that carry over to larger bowls. Even if repetition isn’t your thing, or if you’ve never made two pieces that truly match, you’ll pick up practical tips you can apply to whatever you enjoy turning.
Second Day Pepper Grinder Class Description:
Create a beautifully functional 5″ tall salt or pepper grinder from a solid piece of wood. In this class, students will turn a seamless one-piece body and install a modern Windsor-style ceramic grinding mechanism — a compact, durable design that grinds either salt or pepper and will not corrode. The grinding mechanism is self-contained and mounts from the bottom, making this an approachable project for turners of all skill levels.
You’ll learn how to shape the exterior for comfort and balance, drill the interior to accept the mechanism, and fit the ceramic grinder cleanly and securely. We’ll cover best practices for sanding and finishing small functional forms, along with tips for achieving crisp details and a refined silhouette on a short spindle project.
Students will leave class with a completed grinder ready for the kitchen or gifting — a compact, elegant piece that showcases both the wood and the craftsmanship. This is a great small project for anyone looking to build skills and make something genuinely useful.
