I'm excited to be teaching this class again. It's the kind of woodworking I love best, and I love getting to share it. And I'm especially excited to be teaching with Eric Cannizzaro again - he's an excellent chairmaker, a good teacher and a really nice...
Elia Bizzarri
Of Chair Design and Chair Classes
by Elia Bizzarri | Jan 28, 2024 | Built for Speed Book Project | 3 Comments
It's been a long time since I've posted on this blog. It seems that spending hours each day sitting in front of a computer writing a book, limits my motivation for sitting in front of a computer writing a blog post. Oh well. The book is coming along great...
Wheelbarrow Making Class Photos
by Elia Bizzarri | Oct 15, 2023 | Classes | 2 Comments
Last week's wheelbarrow making class with Peter Ross was a great success. And a lot of fun. First everyone spent a day moving my firewood around, so they could learn the proper use of a wheelbarrow. (I'm mostly kidding.) My mentor Curtis Buchanan took the class,...
It’s round!
by Elia Bizzarri | Sep 23, 2023 | Craft Films | 2 Comments
I've been getting ready for the wheelbarrow class in a couple weeks, including building some test wheels. Here's a finished wheel: Oops! Wrong photo! Here's a finished wheel: Well, at least the wooden parts are done - now it's off to Peter Ross's to shrink the...
18th Century Loop Back Chairmaking Class
by Elia Bizzarri | Aug 19, 2023 | Classes | 0 Comments
Boy, I've been busy! I taught a wonderful class with Eric Cannizzaro at Penland, NC in July, building Jennie Alexander ladderback chairs. Then my wife Morgan and I toured around for ten days, visiting family, friends and Lost Art Press in Cincinnati. ...
Make a Wheelbarrow with me and Peter Ross
by Elia Bizzarri | Jun 13, 2023 | Classes | 4 Comments
My wife Morgan and I got back from our honeymoon in Italy a couple weeks ago. We focused on eating and walking, but I did see a 15th century riven-oak square thing (wardrobe?) in a museum, so I know they did have respectable trees once upon a time. ...
For Sale: Continuous Arm Settee – Some Assembly Required
by Elia Bizzarri | Jun 3, 2023 | Chairmaking Tools and Supplies, Chairs For Sale | 7 Comments
I've been rooting around in my shop's attic and I found this partially finished chair, abandoned by a student in one of my classes long ago. I can't remember what happened - maybe he got sick or something. I've been tripping over it long enough, so I'm selling it for...
40 Chairs and a Barrel
by Elia Bizzarri | Apr 29, 2023 | Chair Stories | 13 Comments
I have just returned from a road trip to Michigan with my friend Bill Anderson. The trip had a dual focus: deliver 40 chairs and learn to make a barrel. This by far the largest chair order I've ever gotten. What fun! I'd take another job like this tomorrow -...
Spinning Wheels
by Elia Bizzarri | Apr 3, 2023 | Craft Films | 4 Comments
One of my readers sent me this video. It's from 1964 Sweden, of an old fellow making a spinning wheel. The film is beautifully shot and silent, so you can can choose your own soundtrack. There's a lot of great parts, but my favorite is the boring and...
Samuel Wing Chair Class
by Elia Bizzarri | Feb 20, 2023 | Built for Speed Book Project, Classes | 5 Comments
Last week I had four friends over for a trial run of a class set in the year 1803, building a copy of Samuel Wing's loop back chair. It was a great week. We all learned a lot, none more than me. Thanks to Damon O'Gan for the black-and-white photos below: We split,...
Subscribe to Elia's Blog
Recent Posts
Search the Blog
Categories
- Built for Speed Book Project (8)
- Chair Stories (29)
- Chairmaking Tools and Supplies (39)
- Chairs For Sale (5)
- Classes (50)
- Craft Films (41)
- How-To (39)
- Antique Chairs (8)
- Drill Bits (3)
- Spoon Bits (3)
- Finishing (9)
- No-Glue joints (1)
- Sprinpole Lathe (2)
Donate
If you enjoy this blog and would like to donate, click the link below. Thanks!