THE WAY OF THE WOODSHOP: Creating, Designing & Decorating with Wood

Shop Class as Soulcraft meets Norwegian Wood in this gorgeously illustrated DIY guide for aspiring woodworkers of all levels.

“There’s just something about wood. It’s an imperfect material with cracks, knots, and irregularities. As an imperfect being, I find that by working with wood and all its inconsistencies, I can also tackle my own.” —Aleksandra Zee

Roll up your sleeves and get ready to master the basics of woodworking in Aleksandra Zee’s cozy Bay Area studio. The Way of the Woodshop is a meditative guidebook and a feast for the eyes, an illustrated journey through the joys of crafting with wood. Packed with gorgeous photography and a wide range of woodworking projects, from easy to advanced, The Way of the Woodshop takes you step by step through the process of creating nesting cutting boards, a blanket ladder, a daybed, a table and bench, and more.

Zee covers the basics, from choosing the right lumber and understanding different wood types, to a complete guide to woodworking tools, along with tips on decorating with wood and curating a space that you love. Along the way, she encourages you to tap into your creativity and relish the joys of working with your hands, and she shares lessons from her own empowering journey as a woman woodworker carving out her space in a stereotypically male profession.

Whether you want to decorate your home, create personal gifts, or just love handmade objects, The Way of the Woodshop will inspire you to grab a sander and discover the joy of making!

This beautifully photographed guide to finding your creative calling includes:

• Step-by-Step Projects: Learn how to build furniture and beautiful handmade objects for your home, with clear instructions for projects like nesting cutting boards, a blanket ladder, and even a custom daybed.
• Woodworking for Beginners: Master the fundamentals, from choosing the right lumber and understanding wood grain to safely using essential power tools like miter saws and orbital sanders.
• An Empowering Creative Journey: Follow Aleksandra Zee’s personal story as she shares the lessons learned carving out her own space and finding joy and meditation in her craft.
• The Beauty of Imperfection: Embrace the wabi-sabi philosophy of finding beauty in the natural flaws of wood and discover how working with your hands can be a form of self-care.

Aleksandra Zee is an Oakland based woodworker with a degree in Fine Arts who got into woodworking after working as a display artist for Anthropologie. She creates and sells original and commissioned pieces, teaches monthly woodshops at her studio in Oakland, and speaks regularly to audiences on her craft. Her work has been featured in San Francisco Gate, Esquire, 7x7 Make Things Well, and on the Urban Outfitters blog. Her website is http://www.aleksandrazee.com