Add a warm, hand-crafted glow to your home! In this supportive, hands-on workshop designed specifically for women, participants will build a stylish hardwood votive centerpiece featuring an elegant curved wood accent strip and elevated support feet.

You’ll craft a beautiful tabletop piece using rich solid wood (like walnut), learning how to create custom curved inlay lines, bore precise recessed pockets for glass votives, and join support legs for an elevated finish. It’s a wonderful project that combines creative design with fundamental woodworking skills, sending you home with a functional, elegant centerpiece to display on your dining table, mantle, or patio!

What You'll Learn

This engaging project introduces creative woodworking techniques in a welcoming, empowering environment. Here are just a few of the things we'll cover in our session:

How to accurately measure, mark, and layout stock for clean proportion and alignment
Techniques for creating organic curved accents and fitting contrasting wood strips
Using a drill press and Forstner bits to cut precise, flat-bottomed recesses for glass votives
Creating, fitting, and attaching support feet for a floating base effect
Safe operation of stationary and handheld power tools
Methods for flush-sanding surfaces and shaping clean, smooth edges
Sanding and surface preparation to highlight natural wood grain
Applying protective finishes for a rich, low-sheen shine

Take these fundamental skills home to tackle future custom home decor projects, gift making, and woodworking designs!

Tools Used

We've got a shop full of great tools we're excited to share with you. You'll learn to safely use the following tools during our class:

Miter saw
Table saw - rip and crosscut
Bandsaw
Drill press with Forstner bits
Orbital / Edge sander
Router table or trim router
Clamps and assembly jigs

While we're excited to have you learn to use these tools, safety and comfort are our top priorities. Instructors will provide close, hands-on supervision at all times, and assistance is always available whenever requested!

Skill Level & Prerequisites

Beginner to Intermediate

You’re a woman or gender non-conforming. These classes are designed to bring women together through woodworking - fostering creativity, confidence, and connection. We provide an inclusive, hands-on environment where participants of all skill levels can learn, share, and build both projects and lasting community.

You are interested in the craft, but haven’t been in the shop yet. You’ve made a few things before, but want to up your game with a new project and some additional skills. No prior knowledge or experience necessary!

Ages 16+; minors are required to be accompanied by an adult.

Schedule

2 day class; 2 hours each day. Make sure you're available for both dates!

Safety

PPE: We provide safety glasses, hearing protection, and dust masks if requested. Safety glasses are required in the shop at all times.

Dress: We’re probably going to get a little dusty! Make sure to wear sturdy, closed-toed shoes. Avoid loose clothing and jewelry. Anything that may get caught in machinery, like long hair, must be tied back and secured.

Accommodations: While we’ll be moving about the shop for most of our time together, we aim to make the craft as accessible as possible for everyone. Please reach out if you have any questions about our space or may need accommodations of any kind.

What to Bring

A water bottle to stay hydrated.

All tools, materials, safety gear, and supplies are provided!

Instructor Bio

Karen Cavotta is a dedicated Technology Education teacher at Saratoga Springs High School with a passion for empowering the next generation of makers, engineers, and craftspeople. With extensive experience teaching hands-on engineering, architecture, and woodworking courses, Karen specializes in breaking down technical skills into fun, approachable, and confidence-building projects for students of all ages.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Karen serves as a board member at The Saratoga Joinery, where she actively helps guide educational programming and community outreach. She is also a long-time member of the Design Review Board for the City of Saratoga Springs. When she isn't teaching or working in the shop, she enjoys continuing her learning and pursuing her passion for design, architecture, summer gardening, and spending time with her family.

Women+ in Woodworking: Votive Centerpiece