TOM DONAHEY has been a professional post-and-rung chairmaker since 1992. Tom learned to make ladderback chairs in 1991 (with Dan Mayner) and rocking chairs in 1992 (with Brian Boggs). He was juried into the Southern Highland Craft Guild in 1993. In 1997 Tom and his friend John Kraus greatly impressed visitors at the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands in Asheville, NC, with their tree-to-chair demonstration – 4 days from oak log to a finished rocker with a woven seat. His work has been displayed in various exhibitions - most recently, The Language of Wood, at Gallery W.D.O. in Charlotte, NC. Tom also builds the shaving mules which are sold through the CW Store. This will be Tom's fifth year teaching at Country Workshops. He can be contacted by phone at 828-649-2085.
PETER FOLLANSBEE began learning traditional woodworking in 1980 when he attended John D. Alexander's second chairmaking course at Country Workshops. He continued as an informal apprentice (and later collaborator) when John began to investigate 17th century joinery. Peter has been employed as the joiner at Plimoth Plantation since 1994. He has written about 17th century joinery for The Chipstone Foundation's journal "American Furniture." Peter did a presentation at Colonial Williamsburg's symposium on 17th Century Joined and Turned Furniture in January 2007. He was the featured cover story for the June 2005 issue "Woodwork" magazine. Visit his Web site: PeterFollansbee.com His e-mail address is: peter.follansbee@verizon.net
DREW LANGSNER has been doing traditional woodworking since 1972 when he apprenticed with master cooper Ruedi Kohler in the Swiss Alps. He was introduced to Swedish spoon and bowl carving in 1977 under the tutelage of Wille Sundqvist. Drew began making ladderback chairs in 1979 (with John Alexander) and Windsor chairs in 1983 (with Dave Sawyer). He is the author of numerous articles that have appeared in "Fine Woodworking", "American Woodworker", "Woodwork" and other magazines. His five books on woodworking include Country Woodcraft and Green Woodworking. Drew's latest book, The Chairmaker's Workshop, is now out of print. Visit Drew's new Web site: www.DrewLangsner.com. His e-mail address is: langsner@countryworkshops.org
LOUISE LANGSNER is best known to Country Workshops' students as our hostess, gardner and the cook who puts so many fine meals on our dining table. One of Louise's other interests -- going back over 30 years -- is making functional baskets. Louise started working with white oak splints and this may still be her favorite material. But finding suitable small oak trees is increasingly more difficult. About 10 years ago Louise began growing coppiced willows, with the idea of having a continual renewable supply. The willows are ready for harvest by their second year, and are cut annually after that. Because they are round instead of flat, weaving willow is very different than using splints. Her e-mail address is: langsner@countryworkshops.org
MARILYN MACEWEN has been doing woodworking since 1978. Marilyn is mostly self-taught, but she has attended four Country Workshops classes spread over the last 25 years. A western North Carolina native, Marilyn builds furniture and home accessories at her studio in Fairview, North Carolina. Her work has been shown in numerous exhibitions including "Craftswomen of the Southern Appalachians" at the Grovewood Gallery, in Asheville, N.C. Her work was also featured in the June 1998 issue of "Woodwork Magazine". She is currently writing a book on woodworking for women that will be published this year. Marilyn can be contacted by e-mail: mermac@wildblue.net
CARL SWENSSON'S wide interests in woodworking include furniture design and construction, making shoji screens, post-and-rung chairmaking, and architectural work. Carl studied Japanese woodworking with Makoto Imai, a master tea house builder from Japan. In 1993 and 1995 Carl worked in Japan on the timber framing and entrance doors for a Buddhist temple. Carl's woodworking has been the subject of feature articles in "Fine Woodworking", "Home Furniture", and "Woodwork Magazine". He has taught courses at Country Workshops since 1983. Besides woodworking, Carl enjoys racing sailboats in Baltimore harbor. E-mail: carlswensson@yahoo.comE-mail:
Drew Langsner
Phone:
828-656-2280 (M-F, 9-6 Eastern time)
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