 |
 |
| Jack Schwass... | |
|
Just a note to express my appreciation for the weekend dovetail course. It was extremely well run and edifying. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone. The challenge remains to put into practice (lots of practice) what I learned in those two days.
|
| Mike Bell... | |
|
|
| Knud Lunde... | |
|
|
|
Even had I not come home with much improved woodworking skills - and a bag full of clever tricks for getting the best out of my woodworking machines - I would still be very happy with the six weeks I spent at Rosewood Studio. It was pure bliss working in this well equipped, well kept, and well tuned workshop. The enthusiastic welcome every morning from Cleo, the excellent instruction and observant supervision from Ron and Nick, the caring and friendly atmosphere among the students, made for memorable days. And Baker Bob’s of course, and the many other friendly places in Almonte. And Canada in the autumn.|
John Nephew...
- John Nephew
|
 |
|
Dianne Looker... I think it was pretty clear while I was there that I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Rosewood. I had spent some time beforehand researching different options for the vacation time I was organizing to give myself a treat. Included in the options I considered were a week in Tuscany and a cruise up the west coast to Alaska. I opted for the two week "Design and Build with Garrett Hack" course at Rosewood Studios, and I didn't regret the decision for a minute. I learned an incredible amount, all the while having a grand time. What is more, I gained a new appreciation for the possibilities of working with wood using hand tools. I always knew a master craftsman like Garrett Hack could achieve results like that, with tight tolerances and amazing finishes. What I hadn't even conceived was that a hobbyist like me could do that - not to say I'm there yet, but I'm on my way! |
|
 |
Garrett was only too happy to share both his love of woodworking and his skills with us all, regardless of our skill levels. I am the first to admit that mine was low - lower than any of us might have liked, at least where it came to experience with hand tools. However, at no point did he (or anyone else there) make me feel like I was a bother or nuisance or that I shouldn't be there. Everyone was willing to share and advise, so that we learned from each other. I was also pleased that I was never made to feel like an outsider because I was a woman. I was accepted and encouraged along with everyone else. Having experienced sexism in many guises in many settings, that in itself was refreshing and reassuring. I want to reiterate that I had a wonderful time. I have not stopped talking about it since being back, and I am already plotting when I can next afford the time and money to do another course. |
|
- Dianne Looker Wolfville, Nova Scotia |
|
Peter Murdock ... |
|
|
As a career criminal prosecutor, I’ve faced a bit of stress on occasion. I bought a piece of land on a beautiful lake and put up a great wooden tent. On weekends, holidays, etc., my family and I would try our hand at carpentry and it eventually became a cottage. While researching a matter at work I came across a woodworking magazine that said I could build a dining room table. I needed a dining room table, so I ordered every back issue, read them all and built the table. I was hooked. I continued building little projects and was quite content - for a while. The more I learned, the more I wanted to know. I’d heard nothing but good things about Rosewood Studio, so with some trepidation, I took the plunge and signed up for classes. It was one of the best decisions I've made. I thought I knew how to sharpen and use a plane, and that my joinery, like my furniture, was good enough. I didn’t know what I thought I did. My joinery, like my furniture, was good enough, but Rosewood taught me that “good enough”, wasn't. I learned to take my time and try to make things as close to perfect as possible. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about attending the school, from the town, the workshop, the instructors, the methods - in short, all of it. I initially took two weeks, then two more, and I am coming back for more this fall. I would recommend Rosewood Studio to anyone interested in seriously improving their skills and enjoying their passion for furniture making. - Peter Murdock, Winnipeg, MB |
 |
||
| Don Spry... | |
|
I’m always amazed when I complete a course a Rosewood Studio that not only have I learned the skills listed in the course brochure, but also tips and tricks too numerous to mention. The days are well planned out and materials are prepared, except when material prep is part of the instruction. Despite a curriculum that is jam packed, Rosewood always has extra instructors around to make sure there is someone available who can help me with my specific problems or just answer any general questions I may have. The experienced instructors are able to provide a technique that works best for me and makes my finished product better and my woodworking process more efficient. The shop space is enviable as well. It is well lit, with lots of space around the benches and a wide variety of top of the line hand and machine tools for student use. On more than one occasion my tool purchase decisions have been swayed after getting a chance to try the different brands or models of tools at Rosewood. The facilities overlooking the Mississippi River in Almonte make attending a course at Rosewood a joy in all seasons. Please keep up the good work; I look forward my next visit. - Don Spy Carp, Ontario |
|
| Roch Laviolette... | |
 |
After retiring, I decided to take up woodworking has a hobby. Not having worked with wood before, I enrolled in beginner courses at Rosewood Studio, guided by my philosophy that the right way is the only way. And that's exactly what I learned at Rosewood Studio. The right way for me to do everything from sharpening, to cutting dovetails, to designing a piece of furniture and executing each stage to completion. I return often to take courses provided by some of the best furniture makers and instructors in Canada and the U.S., guys like Michael Fortune, Adrian Ferrazzutti, Garrett Hack and more. The facilities and teachers at Rosewood are excellent. The instructors go out of their way to assure that you understand and can apply the techniques they demonstrate, so that you can achieve the same results when you get home. |
|
In 5 years, I've gone from no knowledge of woodworking to being able to design and make a piece of furniture with good lines and proportions, strong and accurate joinery and a finish appropriate for it's intended use. I love it. -Roch Laviolette Westport, Ontario |
|
| Stan Le Ber... | |
|
I just wanted to drop you a note to express my appreciation for the two weeks I just spent at Rosewood and the opportunity to learn under Garrett Hack and yourself. It was a very supportive environment that was a pleasure to work in. I especially appreciate the manner in which I was encouraged to challenge myself and take my skills to a higher level. I now have the confidence and the skills to finish the project I started and will send you a picture when I am done. I look forward to returning to Rosewood for another course. - Stan Le Ber London, Ontario |
 |
||
| Jim Sinclair... | |
| I have enjoyed woodworking as a hobby for many years, but I was never satisfied that my self- taught skills were allowing me to do the best I could. Then a friend told me about Rosewood Studio. | |||
 |
Over the last few years I have completed all but one of the craftsman series of courses, plus several courses with guest instructors. Time at Rosewood is always enjoyable. Every instructor I have had has been knowledgeable and friendly. My time at Rosewood has given me confidence, taught me skills with both hand tools and power tools, taught me what procedures are safe, what are not, and why. Rosewood has not only made me a better woodworker, it has given me the opportunity to develop a sense of wonder and enjoyment as I work with the steps of building a piece, all the way from the concept, through design, construction and finishing. All the pieces I do now are my own design. I find that the joy comes not only from the time at Rosewood, but afterward at home in my own shop when I am working away and I notice simple things like the fact that I know I can get a beautiful smooth surface ready for finishing with a hand plane, or that I now instinctively reach for the correct hand tool for the job at hand. |
||
|
I keep returning to Rosewood. With every new class there is an opportunity to share the experience with other woodworkers and the chance to make new friends. The Rosewood staff care about my progress as a woodworker and continue to challenge and encourage me to grow and improve my woodworking skills with each visit. I thoroughly enjoy my time at Rosewood, and recommend it to anyone who is serious about improving their woodworking skills. - Jim Sinclair Ottawa, Ontario |
|
|
Dennis Martin.. |
|
|
My name is Dennis Martin. I live on the North shore of Nova Scotia just outside of the town of New Glasgow. I first became aware of Rosewood Studio at a Woodworking Show in Halifax about six years ago. From that meeting I enrolled in their six week Craftsman program. Over the past number of years I have completed the five of the six programs with the last scheduled this October 2008. As a retired Engineer the challenge of learning a new skill from the ground up very much appealed to me. I have always enjoyed working with wood but never had any formal instructions on using hand or shop tools. |
|
|
At Rosewood I have learned what shop tools are necessary, how to tune them to work properly and where they should be placed in the workshop. I have reached a fair level of confidence in sharpening and using hand tools like planes, chisels and scrapers. I have made and use my own wood planes. With the instructions in basic joinery and bending I have been able to complete a number of pieces of furniture that otherwise I would never have been able to attempt before. I look forward to my visits to Rosewood to learn new skills, meet and talk with other woodworkers and to discuss new ideas and problems I come across at home. The shop at Rosewood is very well equipped and I found the instructors made every effort to insure that everyone got full benefit from the various programs. To me the programs are set up in such a way as to allow me to progress gradually while at the same time presenting a challenge to reach excellence in fine woodworking. - Dennis Martin Trenton, Nova Scotia |
 |
||
|
Real Fortin... |
 |
Thank you very much and looking forward to see you this fall. |
|
- Réal Fortin, Sudbury, Ontario |
|
|
Steve Der-Garabedian... I'm proud to be alumni of Rosewood Studio. In my many weeks at the school I have been given many skills but beyond that I have been given the confidence to try things I have not yet learned. As variety is the spice of life, the input different instructors has added a new dimension to my style of woodworking. It has been a great place to forge new friendships and to push my passion of woodworking to new levels. I look forward to my next visit, as I know each time has been better than one before. Thank you.
Karel Aelterman...
In 2003, I realized the time had come for me to face some of those old fears. In November of the same year I made a wonderful discovery at the Ottawa Woodshow: the Rosewood Studio. I was delighted to find out that there was such a great teaching facility right next door (being from the area).
Great school, great teachers, great environment!
- Karel Aelterman
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I have always been impressed by people who have been doing woodworking since they were kids. I thought that this was the way it ought to be if you wanted to become a talented, successful cabinetmaker. I didn’t discover woodworking myself, however, until I moved to Canada in my early thirties. This paradigm kept me from developing a career as a furniture maker for quite some time. But the desire to become a cabinetmaker did not go away. As time went by, it was becoming more evident that enhancing the inherent beauty of wood was very fulfilling for me.
I decided to take some time off at work and registered for the 12-week artisan program. I thought that this program had the potential of offering everything I needed to kick start a new career. And indeed it did! On top of the fine woodworking education, the course gave me confidence in the fact that I am able to accomplish fine work. It also provided me with the necessary knowledge to shop around for the right tools for my future home shop.
