woodworking is a journey
the recess grove woodshop is designed around your journey as a woodworker — from absolute beginners to experienced craftspeople, this is a supportive space for learning, practicing, and building
we offer a mix of classes and an open studio to make it accessible to everyone
about our woodshop
for many people, woodworking conjures images of industrial machinery: loud things with spinning blades. while those can be wonderful tools, they’re built primarily to aid efficiency and make woodworking faster and more replicable.
by contrast, our woodshop is built around the art of hand tools, and places the craftsperson at the center of the process. it’s not about production, it’s about tactile judgment, studied technique, and human workmanship — the maker and the tool in harmony
hand tools allow us to develop hand feel and technique, experiment with form and texture, master joinery, and learn the architecture of furniture and other objects. here you can build, shape, whittle, and carve in a space that is both safe for learning and experimentation while also being supportive of mastery
classes for beginners
beginner woodshop
an approachable, hands-on intro to hand tool woodworking at recess grove
get a taste of the foundational tools as you saw, chisel, plane, and carve wood on our classic workbenches
taught by recess grove co-creators Justin Wheeler & Corey Belaief
apartment DIY
begin your DIY journey with this intro workshop and learn the basic skills to build, drill, hang, fix and be more self-sufficient in your apartment. this class is a friendly way to learn the skills and mindset to take on basic furniture and decor projects in your own space.
taught by recess grove co-creators Corey Belaief & Justin Wheeler
beginner carving
surface carving is the meditative process of adding texture and patterns to wood. carved surfaces catch light and attract the eye; they invite touch and are a way of imbuing an object or furniture form with aesthetic and even cultural meaning.
in this introductory class, we will learn how to construct patterns and translate them onto a wooden surface using core tools such as gouges, chisels, and knives.
taught by Alyssa Colon
foundational woodworking classes
woodworking foundations
the class for anyone looking to begin a journey of woodworking
this four-week journey covers the core aspects of woodworking as we design a beautiful household object with a small cohort of learners
students will learn about wood as a design material, understand the techniques of core hand tools, gain familiarity with basic joinery, and practice introductory finishing methods
co-taught by Rose Matsa and recess grove co-creator Justin Wheeler
shape carving
carving is one of the purest forms of expression in woodworking — a direct connection between a craftsperson and a workpiece, where aesthetics, texture, and function meld through the process of shaping wood with hand tools.
in this four session class, students will embark on a journey into the world of wood carving. we’ll gain comfort with the core tools as we practice shaping objects of all kinds.
this class is a beginner friendly, and no prior experience with wood or the tools is required.
taught by Alyssa Colon
next class TBA
surface carving
surface carving is the process of adding texture and patterns to wood
this four-session class will introduce students to principles of carving. we’ll learn how to construct patterns and translate them onto a wooden surface using core tools such as mallets, gouges, chisels, knives, and rasps.
students will make a plaque as the primary application of their skill, with plenty of smaller objects accompanying it as part of learning exercises.
this class is a beginner friendly, and no prior experience with wood or the tools is required.
taught by Alyssa Colon
next class TBA
project classes
frame making
a great frame is a work of art in itself.
in this one-night, beginner friendly class, students will learn the process of designing and building a wooden frame using hand tools.
class dates to be announced
more coming soon…
supported studio
coming soon
for anyone looking to make something out of left field — or just a set of custom shelves, our ‘supported studio’ is like an open studio but with guidance, assistance, and encouragement from our in-house woodshop instructors
got a vision? want to play with a design concept? want to just make cool stuff and have fun? come to work through a project, bounce ideas around, or collaborate with other woodworkers
access the space, tools, stock, and support you need to step up to the workbench and create something
prerequisite: completion of ‘woodworking foundations’ class, or demonstrated comparable expertise