Traditional Brasstown Carving January 2026

Instructor: Helen Gibson

Day & Date: Wednesdays, January 14, 21, 28, & February 4

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Tuition: $180.00

Ages: 18 and Up. Minors who are interested in taking this workshop will need to contact Olive’s Porch prior to registering and have a parent registered for the same workshop and be present throughout.

All levels are welcome. No experience required.

Explore the woodcarving traditions of The Brasstown Carvers. Carve animals, ornaments, or walking sticks while you practice knife work to better grasp the intricacies of forms, tools, and techniques. Along with technical instruction in three-dimensional and relief carving, Helen will share her experiences growing up and developing as an artist within the carving community, sharing a unique oral history that explores the aesthetic and background of this tradition.

*This is a multi-session workshop that amounts to 12 hours of workshop time. *

Experience needed: All levels are welcome. No experience required.

Students Please Bring:

• Note taking materials.
• Apron or work clothes you don’t mind getting shavings on.
• (Optional) A snack and/or water bottle. Filtered water is available in the classroom.

An additional fee for materials provided by your instructor for this workshop is estimated at $20.00. THIS FEE IS PAYABLE TO THE INSTRUCTOR at the time of the workshop. Material fees may change depending on the number of participants and price of materials at the workshop. *Payment by cash or check is required for materials fees. 

* We contract with local and regional instructors for short workshops that generally require a minimum of students to run. If you have any questions, you’re welcome to call Olive’s Porch for up-to-date enrollment information. To respect our instructor’s time and preparation for workshops, please contact us as soon as possible if you are unable to attend a workshop. Cancellations made more than 14 days prior to a workshop will be issued a full refund. Cancellations made 14 or less days prior to your workshop are not eligible for a refund. If Olive’s Porch needs to cancel a workshop for any reason, we will issue a full refund. See our General Information and Policies page on our website for more information. 

About Instructor: Helen, the Folk School's Resident Woodcarver since 1990, is a Brasstown Carver in the famed local tradition. She studied with Jack Hall and is one of the few instructors who still carves and teaches the Brasstown Nativity figures she illustrates in her books, "Carving the Nativity" and "The Animals of the Nativity." These, along with her books on carving Moses and St. Francis of Assisi, depict her highly detailed style of carving in the round. Helen teaches workshops throughout the Southeast.