Our Shaker Box Workshop in Dwellingup (April 19–21, 2024) was a fantastic success, blending hands-on learning with great company and delicious food. With presenters Carolyn, Ian, Kevin, and myself, we kicked off Friday by setting up the workshop and refurbishing benches for the Forest Discovery Centre. Eight participants settled into their accommodation before enjoying a group dinner at the Dwellingup Hotel, joined by Steph Ryan. Saturday began bright and early with Kevin’s hearty breakfast, followed by a deep dive into the history of the Shaker movement and practical sessions on scroll saw cutting and shaping the iconic “swallow tails.” By the afternoon, participants were bending their bands around prepared cores and securing them with copper tacks—an exciting milestone in the box-making process.

Sunday brought more progress as everyone completed three different-sized Shaker boxes, learning to fine-tune their fits and finishes. Ian, Carolyn, and several members also completed sanding and gluing a second heritage benchtop. A plunge router demo rounded out the day, with everyone drilling and pegging their box tops into place. Huge thanks go to Jacqui for her amazing catering, Kevin for his tireless cooking and generous donation of materials, and John Smith and Eric Pintar for their essential contributions to the kits and resources. The workshop was a perfect blend of skill-building, creativity, and camaraderie—everything we aim for in our club events!