Handwork Week 2026 | Woodworking, Special Event
Make a Salish-Style Cedar Bentwood Box
Join Suquamish Carver Randi Purser for a deep dive into the construction of cedar bentwood boxes.
Member (With Knife Purchase)$1,610.00 (any noted materials fee included) |
Member (No Knife Purchase)$1,310.00 (any noted materials fee included) |
Guest (With Knife Purchase)$1,740.00 (any noted materials fee included) |
Guest (No Knife Purchase)$1,440.00 (any noted materials fee included) |
Cancellation, Tuition Assistance, and Other Policies
Meeting Times
- Mon, 4/27/2026 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Tue, 4/28/2026 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Wed, 4/29/2026 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Thur, 4/30/2026 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Fri, 5/1/2026 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Mon, 4/27/2026 - Fri, 5/1/2026
Registration does not include lunches or the May 1 Celebration Dinner. Purchase lunch tickets or purchase Celebration Dinner tickets.
Handwork Week is made possible with support from:
Handwork Week at BARN
Join us for an extraordinary exploration of American craft as BARN participates in Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, a national initiative led by PBS's Craft in America and the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery.
About This Workshop
Transform a piece of western red cedar into a traditional bentwood box carved with Salish design elements under the guidance of a Suquamish Tribe elder.
This one-week, full-day class will start with a discussion about the wood and which planks from a log are likely to work for bentwood boxes. You'll receive a piece of locally milled, old-growth cedar, lay out your box, and cut V-shape kerfs for each corner. Then you'll put your prepared plank in a steam chamber to make the fibers pliable enough to bend without breaking, but only for a few minutes as you quickly fold the sides together to form a box.
You'll use wooden dowels, a modern version of the traditional hand-carved pins, to secure the only joint, where the beginning and end of the board meet. You'll also make a lid and a base for the box and attach the base. The final days will be devoted to embellishing your box by carving a traditional design suggested by the instructor or your own design.
Woven into the whole class will be a discussion about Salish design, how boxes were used, and other woodworking traditions. Salish designs were developed by people from the Columbia River north through Puget Sound and up to about the middle of Vancouver Island along its east coast. Salish designs aren't as well known as the styles used by more northern, coastal indigenous groups.
Details
Skill level: Beginners.
Project
Materials
- The class fee covers all materials and use of all tools needed to complete your box.
- If you opt to purchase the key carving tools as part of your registration fee, you'll go home with a J-shaped knife and what instructor Randi Purser calls a "not-so-crooked" knife, both traditional Salish tools that she made. To make a bentwood box, you also need a straight knife, but you can purchase that from any carving-supply company or use BARN's.
Class Policies
- Ages 14 and up are welcome.
- You must wear safety glasses and closed-toe shoes, tie back long hair, and avoid dangling clothing and jewelry. We recommend bringing your own safety glasses.
Handwork Week Schedule
This preliminary schedule is subject to change.
Sunday, April 26
- 2 PM: BARN tour for new students and visitors
- 4 PM: Studio-specific orientations (TBD)
Monday, April 27 - Thursday, April 30
- 9 AM - 12 PM: Classes
- 12 PM - 1 PM: Lunch
- 1 - 4 or 5 PM: Classes
- 5 or 6 PM - 10 PM: Open Studios (unstructured work time for Handwork students and community)
- 7 - 9 PM: Community events (TBD)
Friday, May 1
- 9 AM - 12 PM: Classes
- 12 PM - 1 PM: Lunch
- 1 PM - 4 PM: Classes
- 3 PM: Optional item dropoff for Silent Auction participants
- 4 - 6 PM: Studio walkthrough, Silent Auction, drinks and appetizers (open to community)
- 6 - 8 PM: Celebration Dinner (not included in course registration; tickets required).
Handwork Week Dining Options
Class registration does not include catered lunches or tickets to the May 1 Celebration Dinner.
Lunch Options
Join us for lunches catered each day by Fig & Spice! View the menu and purchase lunch tickets.
If you'd prefer to explore Bainbridge Island during lunch, check out restaurant options.
You're also welcome to bring a packed lunch. BARN's lower level has a refrigerator and microwave for community use.
Dinner Options
Dinners are on your own during Handwork Week. We hope you'll join us for our Celebration Dinner on May 1 (purchase tickets here)! During Handwork Week, explore delicious food options a short distance from BARN and across the Agate Pass Bridge in Poulsbo.
Evening Activities
We're planning community art events during the evenings of Handwork Week. Stay tuned!
Silent Auction
Handwork Week participants are invited to submit work to our Silent Auction, happening Friday, May 1 at 4:30 PM. Proceeds benefit BARN programs. More details coming soon!
BARN Handwork 2026 Policies
- Cancellation Policies for Handwork Classes: We understand schedules can be unpredictable. Because there is a lot of planning for this event, BARN is implementing a special Handwork 2026 cancellation and refund policy.
- Cancellations requested prior to Feb. 13, 2026, will be eligible for a refund of 85% of all class fees.
- Cancellations requested between Feb. 13 and March 13, 2026, will be eligible for a refund of 50% of all class fees.
- Cancellations requested on March 14, 2026, or later will not be eligible for refunds.
- To request a cancellation, click the link in your profile or email registrar@bainbridgebarn.org.
- We strongly encourage out-of-town visitors to make refundable reservations.
- Tuition Assistance is available. We will prioritize Handwork 2026 tuition assistance for local students, who are eligible to apply at any time. Out-of-town applications will be processed after Jan. 1, 2026. Fill out the application before registering.
- BARN is committed to accessibility. We try to make accommodations when requested; the earlier you contact us, the more likely we can help. Fill out the Accommodation Request Form before any class for which you require an accommodation. Email accessibility@bainbridgebarn.org if you have any questions.
- Sensory Statement: Makerspaces like BARN can be noisy and cluttered, smell strongly, and have bright or flickering lights. BARN is not an allergen-free facility. If you have concerns, please email info@bainbridgebarn.org.
Instructors or Guides
Randi Purser
Photo credit: Sue Larkin
Handwork Week is made possible with support from:
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