Instructors

Marc Spagnuolo

Marc Spagnuolo is a woodworker, educator, and content creator best known as the founder and host of The Wood Whisperer, one of the first and most enduring online woodworking video series, launched in 2006. With a focus on craftsmanship, humor, and accessibility, Marc has spent nearly two decades helping woodworkers of all skill levels build their confidence and skills in the shop.

He is the author of two widely praised books, Hybrid Woodworking and Essential Joinery, that reflect his balanced approach to hand and power tools. Marc is also the creator of The Wood Whisperer Guild, a premium online woodworking school featuring in-depth furniture-building courses taught by top instructors. He co-hosts and created the long-running Wood Talk Podcast, a casual and informative woodworking show with a loyal community of listeners with co-hosts Matt Cremona and Shannon Rogers.

Marc’s work has been featured in Fine Woodworking, Popular Woodworking, WOOD Magazine, Woodcraft Magazine and Furniture and Cabinetmaking Magazine, and he has taught at leading venues such as the Marc Adams School of Woodworking, William Ng School of Fine Woodworking, Weekend with Wood, and Fine Woodworking Live. He’s also been a speaker at national events like AWFS and IWF.

When he’s not in the shop or behind a camera, Marc is likely getting a new tattoo, reading comic books, or entertaining his kids with dad jokes of questionable quality. You can find him sharing projects and behind-the-scenes content on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and begrudgingly on TikTok 😉

Matt Cremona

Matt Cremona is a woodworker, content creator, and sawmill enthusiast known for taking woodworking from log to finished furniture—quite literally. Based in Minnesota, Matt gained national recognition after building his own massive bandsaw mill in 2017, a project that showcased his engineering ingenuity and deep commitment to working with lumber from its rawest form. He uses the mill to create massive slabs, which he and other makers transform into heirloom-quality furniture.

Matt launched his YouTube channel in 2014, where he shares everything from milling and drying lumber to intricate furniture builds, tool reviews, and project walkthroughs. His woodworking style spans a wide range—from sleek modern pieces to detailed classic reproductions—and his approachable, often humorous delivery has earned him a loyal following online.

A Guild instructor since 2016, Matt brings his signature blend of skill, creativity, and down-to-earth teaching to his courses, including standout projects like the Queen Anne Highboy, Ultimate Wall-Hanging Tool Cabinet, and Outdoor Bench. He also co-hosts the long-running Wood Talk podcast alongside Marc Spagnuolo and Shannon Rogers, where the trio covers all things woodworking with insight and humor.

Matt frequently travels to teach and speak at woodworking events, including Woodworking in America and local Guild gatherings. Whether he’s felling trees, milling logs, or crafting fine furniture, Matt’s work reflects a deep respect for the craft—and the trees that make it possible.

You can follow Matt on YouTube, Instagram, and his website.

Frank Strazza

Frank Strazza builds heirloom quality furniture one piece at a time in his small studio workshop in Central Texas. He uses traditional joinery throughout and utilizes handtools for much of his work. He has won multiple Awards for his work. He has participated in building furniture for the White House in Washington D.C.

Frank has taught at different venues including the Heritage School of Woodworking in Waco Texas as well as Lie-Nielsen Toolworks in Maine and for the Alaska Creative Woodworkers Assc. in Anchorage. He has also demonstrated at different woodworking venues across the country.

Follow him on his website or Instagram.

Jory Brigham

Jory Brigham is a California-born artist, designer and builder with a passion for creating lasting works by hand. Growing up among generations of woodworkers and craftsmen, Jory discovered his own creative voice within the family trade at an early age. Though his artistic inspiration pulls from decades throughout the twentieth century, many of Jory’s designs play with colors and textures to pair unique perspectives with classic, mid-century balance.

Jory now creates in his dream shop located in Paso Robles, California, where he pulls inspiration from the beautiful landscape that surrounds him. He loves sharing his knowledge and space while teaching workshops for woodworking and furniture design, along with running his primary furniture business. His main motivation is to show his two children the value of hard work and passion for their chosen career path, while constantly growing personally and pushing the limits as an artist.

You can catch him on Instagram, or his website.

Megan Fitzpatrick

Megan Fitzpatrick, a.k.a. @1snugthejoiner, is a woodworker and the editor at Lost Art Press. She is short one dissertation of a Ph.D. in English literature (focused on early modern drama), and a former editor of The Chronicle and of Popular Woodworking Magazine. When she’s not at the computer or teaching, you’ll find her building furniture (mostly tool chests) or at the bar alongside, Christopher Schwarz, publisher at Lost Art Press.

In addition to woodworking teaching woodworking, writing about woodworking, and editing writing about woodworking, Megan is restoring a circa-1905 four square in Cincinnati’s Northside neighborhood, and living amidst the chaos with her cat, Olivia the Greyt. Her personal blog is rudemechanicalspress.com.

Philip Morley

Originally from London, England, Philip Morley discovered his passion for woodworking after a challenging academic start due to dyslexia. Trade school proved to be a turning point—he trained for four years under the City and Guilds program to become a joiner. After graduation, he honed his craft restoring historic buildings throughout central London.

Philip’s journey eventually brought him to the United States, where he studied furniture design under Richard Chillcott in Ruskin, Florida. He later moved to Texas and began a seven-year apprenticeship with master craftsman Michael Colca. Today, Philip is an accomplished furniture maker known for his refined designs and meticulous craftsmanship. He now lives and works in Vermont, where he continues to build bespoke pieces from his studio.

In addition to running his own shop, Philip is a contributing author for Fine Woodworking Magazine and has also been featured in Woodworker West and Woodskills Magazine. He’s passionate about sharing his knowledge and has taught at institutions including Austin Community College, the Marc Adams School of Woodworking, and the Austin School of Furniture and Design.

You can catch him on Instagram, or his website.

Christopher Schwarz

Christopher Schwarz is a furniture maker, writer, and publisher who works from a storefront in Covington, Ky. He is one of the founders and the editor of Lost Art Press, which publishes books on hand tool woodworking. And he is one of the founders of Crucible Tool. He is a former editor of Popular Woodworking Magazine, and has been published in Fine Woodworking, Mortise & Tenon Magazine, and many other woodworking publications. He teaches hand-tool woodworking around the world. Christopher is the author of five Lost Art Press books and a contributor to two, “The Joiner and Cabinet Maker” and “The Art of Joinery.”

You can catch him on Instagram or take an in-person class with him in Kentucky!

Darrell Peart

Darrell Peart started his career in the early 1970’s making and selling small wooden items at Seattle’s Pike Place Market. To broaden his experience, he then went on to work for various high-end custom shops throughout the Puget Sound area gaining an extensive background in both commercial and custom furniture making.

Exploring new design ideas is where Darrell’s passion lies. Although the influence of Greene and Greene can clearly be seen in his work – he draws inspiration from other varied sources as well.

Darrell also writes and lectures about design, woodworking, and the history of Greene & Greene. He has written articles for Home Furniture, Today’s Woodworker, Fine Woodworking, Woodwork, Popular Woodworking, American Woodworker, Woodworker West, Style 1900,  British Woodworking, 360 Woodworking, The SAPFM Journal, and Australian Wood Review.

His first book, Greene and Greene: Design Elements for the Workshop, was published in April 2006 by Linden Press followed by his second book In the Greene & Greene Style: Projects and Details for the Woodworker, in 2013.

Ashley Harwood

Ashley lives in Charleston, SC, where she creates her work and teaches at her personal studio. She has demonstrated and taught woodturning in a number of professional venues throughout the US and abroad, visiting seven other countries and traveling as far as Australia. She has been featured in various publications including the American Association of Woodturning’s Journal, Woodturning magazine, Popular Woodworking magazine, and Charleston magazine. Her teaching focuses on fine spindle turning and the Push Cut method of bowl turning along with the 40/40 grind on a bowl gouge, with a strong emphasis on tool control. She received a BFA from Carnegie Mellon with a focus in sculpture and installation art, and her design aesthetic is heavily influenced by her background in glassblowing. Find out more about Ashley by visiting her website: ashleyharwood.net,  on Instagram, or on Facebook.

Brian Benham

Brian’s journey in the trades began at a young age, working alongside his father and learning the fundamentals of construction. By the age of 13, he was already employed in a steel fabrication shop for a bridge construction company. Surrounded by seasoned welders, Brian was mentored in essential shop skills—from welding and jig building to safely setting up a workspace and interpreting shop drawings with precision.

In his mid-20s, Brian transitioned into a project management role for a design-remodel company serving both residential and commercial clients. With an in-house cabinet shop at his disposal, he split his time between managing job sites and collaborating with the shop master to create custom cabinetry and built-ins, further refining his eye for detail and craftsmanship.

Years of hands-on experience and design work laid the foundation for Brian to launch his own business in 2010: Benham Design Concepts. His firm specializes in custom furniture and artistic design-build projects that push creative boundaries. His passion for continual learning and innovation has earned him a reputation for crafting the unique and unexpected.

Brian has also been a long-time contributor to The Wood Whisperer and The Wood Whisperer Guild, creating detailed woodworking plans and offering design consultation to help bring high-quality, thoughtful projects to life.  Find Brian here: Website and Instagram

Alex Dolese

Mike Farrington

Mike’s journey in woodworking began as a teenager, working in a cabinet shop to support himself through college. After earning his degree and spending time in a traditional office role, he quickly discovered that his true calling was in the shop, not behind a desk. Returning to his roots, he launched a one-man cabinetmaking business and hasn’t looked back since.

Over the years, woodworking has grown from a means to an end into both his vocation and his avocation. It’s a craft he continues to refine and take pride in every day. From the quiet moment of turning on the shop lights each morning—coffee in hand—to the anticipation of beginning a new project, Mike still finds inspiration in the simple rituals of his work.

Through teaching, he aims to share the skills he’s developed over decades of hands-on experience—and, if possible, instill some of the passion that has fueled his career in the craft of woodworking.  Find Mike here: Website and Instagram

Caleb James

Caleb lives in Greenville, SC with his wife and two daughters. His first exposure to fine woodworking was in a middle school shop class where he built a stool. His interest in woodworking reemerged as a young adult building practical furniture for his first home. His interest (read obsession) and research into Danish chair design and construction began c.2005. He spent 6 years making furniture as a hobby before selling a successful business to make chairs full time in 2011.

He has designed and produced a number of woodworking tools in the 18th and 19th century style most notably his line of spokeshaves for chairmaking. He has written several articles for Popular Woodworking magazine. He currently teaches Danish Modern chairmaking and is writing on that topic for a forthcoming book with Lost Art Press.  Find Caleb here: Website and Instagram

Anne Briggs

Anne Briggs learned to love woodworking at her grandfather’s workbench as a child. Six years ago, upon moving to Seattle, Anne decided to begin pursuing woodworking seriously as a hobby, and her obsession grew quickly. Anne writes for Furniture and Cabinet Making Magazine and travels with Lie-Nielsen Toolworks’ Hand Tool Event staff to offer guidance for hand tool woodworkers interested in the craft. In 2015 she was hired as the Wood Studio Manager at Pratt Fine Arts Center to develop their woodworking education and artist access program. She has had features published about her in Wood Magazine, Modern Farmer, Flavorwire, Lee Valley and more. In January 2018 she resigned her position at Pratt so she could finish writing her book on preserving traditional craft and life rhythms, do more teaching, and to pursue her furniture building and educational content creation business full-time.

If you’d like to follow Anne’s work and her precious menagerie of fluffy friends on her farm in Seattle, you can find her on Instagram, YouTube, or on her blog anneofalltrades.com. 

Johnny Brooke

Johnny started Crafted Workshop in May of 2016 and he’s built countless projects since then. He loves making things with his hands but, when he’s not in the shop, Johnny also loves craft beer, playing music, and hanging out with his wife. Johnny took Crafted Workshop full time in July of 2016 and hasn’t looked back since! You can catch him on Instagram, YouTube, or his website.