Hand-Carved Culinary Molds
July 21 - 27, 2024
​John C Campbell Folk School
Brasstown, North Carolina
Design and carve a patterned mold for your kitchen using hand tools and food-safe woods. We’ll go over woodworking essentials and practice the basics of functional carving before you get started on your own cookie stamp, cake board, or pasta mold. We’ll also look at the history of culinary molds around the world and share some relevant recipes. Previous carving experience not required.

Details and registration
Carving Cottonwood Bark
August 11 - 16, 2024
Penland School of Craft
Penland, North Carolina
The bark shed by cottonwood trees is an intriguing material for carving that offers dramatically unpredictable patterns, irregular shapes, and a soft but smooth texture. Bark responds better to strategy than to force and is a great material for beginners or those with lower hand strength, as well as for experienced carvers looking to build skill and sensitivity. Students will learn bark preparation, layout and roughing, tool selection, detailing, and finishing. We will primarily use hand tools but demonstrations will also cover some power tools and creating larger carving blocks. This process requires patience; expect steady but slow progress. All levels.

Details and registration 


​Student Experience

I'm thrilled when a student whips up something great during class, but my real goal is to set each student up to succeed outside of class.  Whatever the subject or duration of the workshop, I want students to leave with solid skills, in-depth knowledge, and confidence in their own abilities and creative vision. 
What Students Have Said...

​"My experience was inspiring, motivating, and challenging--which is what I wanted--learned skills I will carry over and continue, lifelong lessons."

"[Julia] was extremely knowledgeable and experienced and very capable of communicating instruction, questions--very pleasant and enjoyable."

"Excellent class!  I loved the content, and Julia was great about explaining things in simple terms."

"Julia was extremely prepared with wealth of information and tips and tricks.  Lots of work time!  Worth the 12 hour + drive."

"Wonderful teaching style--perfect balance of demos & work time.  Really fun and much more depth to the work than I had imagined."

"Julia is an engaging instructor, clearly knows her medium, very generous."

"I really enjoyed this class...I'm excited to be about to do these things at home in my ill-equipped studio.  Very inspiring."