workshop tour

Dec 13

our barn has been under construction pretty much since we moved here four years ago! but thanks be to God, whose ways and timing are always perfect, we were able to complete the project debt-free! by september it was finally ready to move in, and we’re delighting in this long-awaited creative space for home/folkschooling (along with the upstairs gathering space, and josh’s own creative workshop—his music studio)! many years ago the Lord gave me a vision for how we were to educate the kids at home, with the simple phrases tools at hand, meaningful occupation, and cottage industry. without this space it’s been difficult to fully live into that vision, which the Lord knows, but now, here we are, and it’s been well worth the wait! creative work + entrepreneurship now enjoy a prominent part of our daily school rhythm.

this is the woodshop area, with bandsaw and lathe. we also use the island for everything from fabric cutting & pattern layout, to cutting + sawing + carving wood, to candlemaking. soon the boys and i hope to have spoons, cutting boards, hand-turned candleholders, and hand-dipped candles for sale in the shop!

our sweet neighbor john helped me and the kids make our workspace tabletops out of local white oak that he milled himself—the countertop for the boys (with scrap spindles he had in his shop that we spray-painted brick red), and a large L-shaped sewing desk for me & the girls (well, the boys sew, too!). john shares his scraps with us from his own woodshop, & is sharing new skills with us, as well! our sewing studio (& office) is just through those windows. the woodshop gets pretty loud & dusty, so we appreciate having a little clean & quiet place!